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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes index 6833f05..d7b82bc 100644 --- a/.gitattributes +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -1,3 +1,4 @@ -* text=auto -*.txt text -*.md text +*.txt text eol=lf +*.htm text eol=lf +*.html text eol=lf +*.md text eol=lf diff --git a/12187-0.txt b/12187-0.txt index 942b383..cacdb9a 100644 --- a/12187-0.txt +++ b/12187-0.txt @@ -1,5 +1,8 @@ *** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 12187 *** + + + THE MYSTERY OF 31 NEW INN BY R. AUSTIN FREEMAN @@ -4447,8 +4450,8 @@ proportional distances on the ordnance map, found them in every case as nearly correct as could be expected. "Yes," said Thorndyke, laying down the dividers, "I think we have -narrowed down the locality of Mr. Weiss's house to a few yards in a -known street. We shall get further help from your note of nine +narrowed down the locality of Mr. Weiss's house to a few yards in +a known street. We shall get further help from your note of nine twenty-three thirty, which records a patch of newly laid macadam extending up to the house." @@ -8825,11 +8828,4 @@ THE END - - - - - -End of Project Gutenberg's The Mystery of 31 New Inn, by R. Austin Freeman - *** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 12187 *** diff --git a/12187-8.txt b/12187-8.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 39bff89..0000000 --- a/12187-8.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,9256 +0,0 @@ -Project Gutenberg's The Mystery of 31 New Inn, by R. Austin Freeman - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org - - -Title: The Mystery of 31 New Inn - -Author: R. Austin Freeman - -Release Date: April 28, 2004 [EBook #12187] -Last updated: February 3, 2011 -Last updated: November 25, 1012 - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MYSTERY OF 31 NEW INN *** - - - - -Produced by Steven desJardins and Distributed Proofreaders - - - - - -THE MYSTERY OF 31 NEW INN - -BY R. AUSTIN FREEMAN - -Author of "The Red Thumb Mark," -"The Eye of Osiris," etc. - - - - -TO MY FRIEND - -BERNARD E. BISHOP - - - - -Preface - - -Commenting upon one of my earlier novels, in respect of which I had -claimed to have been careful to adhere to common probabilities and to -have made use only of really practicable methods of investigation, a -critic remarked that this was of no consequence whatever, so long as the -story was amusing. - -Few people, I imagine, will agree with him. To most readers, and -certainly to the kind of reader for whom an author is willing to take -trouble, complete realism in respect of incidents and methods is an -essential factor in maintaining the interest of a detective story. Hence -it may be worth while to mention that Thorndyke's method of producing -the track chart, described in Chapters II and III, has been actually -used in practice. It is a modification of one devised by me many years -ago when I was crossing Ashanti to the city of Bontuku, the whereabouts -of which in the far interior was then only vaguely known. My -instructions were to fix the positions of all towns, villages, rivers -and mountains as accurately as possible; but finding ordinary methods of -surveying impracticable in the dense forest which covers the whole -region, I adopted this simple and apparently rude method, checking the -distances whenever possible by astronomical observation. - -The resulting route-map was surprisingly accurate, as shown by the -agreement of the outward and homeward tracks, It was published by the -Royal Geographical Society, and incorporated in the map of this region -compiled by the Intelligence Branch of the War Office, and it formed the -basis of the map which accompanied my volume of <i>Travels in Ashanti and -Jaman</i>. So that Thorndyke's plan must be taken as quite a practicable -one. - -New Inn, the background of this story, and one of the last surviving -inns of Chancery, has recently passed away after upwards of four -centuries of newness. Even now, however, a few of the old, dismantled -houses (including perhaps, the mysterious 31) may be seen from the -Strand peeping over the iron roof of the skating rink which has -displaced the picturesque hall, the pension-room and the garden. The -postern gate, too, in Houghton Street still remains, though the arch is -bricked up inside. Passing it lately, I made the rough sketch which -appears on next page, and which shows all that is left of this pleasant -old London backwater. - -R. A. F. - -GRAVESEND - - - - -[Illustration: New Inn] - - - - -Contents - - -CHAPTER. - - I THE MYSTERIOUS PATIENT - II THORNDYKE DEVISES A SCHEME - III "A CHIEL'S AMANG YE TAKIN' NOTES" - IV THE OFFICIAL VIEW - V JEFFREY BLACKMORE'S WILL - VI JEFFREY BLACKMORE, DECEASED - VII THE CUNEIFORM INSCRIPTION -VIII THE TRACK CHART - IX THE HOUSE OF MYSTERY - X THE HUNTER HUNTED - XI THE BLACKMORE CASE REVIEWED - XII THE PORTRAIT -XIII THE STATEMENT OF SAMUEL WILKINS - XIV THORNDYKE LAYS THE MINE - XV THORNDYKE EXPLODES THE MINE - XVI AN EXPOSITION AND A TRAGEDY - - - - -Chapter I - -The Mysterious Patient - - -As I look back through the years of my association with John Thorndyke, -I am able to recall a wealth of adventures and strange experiences such -as falls to the lot of very few men who pass their lives within hearing -of Big Ben. Many of these experiences I have already placed on record; -but it now occurs to me that I have hitherto left unrecorded one that -is, perhaps, the most astonishing and incredible of the whole series; an -adventure, too, that has for me the added interest that it inaugurated -my permanent association with my learned and talented friend, and marked -the close of a rather unhappy and unprosperous period of my life. - -Memory, retracing the journey through the passing years to the -starting-point of those strange events, lands me in a shabby little -ground-floor room in a house near the Walworth end of Lower Kennington -Lane. A couple of framed diplomas on the wall, a card of Snellen's -test-types and a stethoscope lying on the writing-table, proclaim it a -doctor's consulting-room; and my own position in the round-backed chair -at the said table, proclaims me the practitioner in charge. - -It was nearly nine o'clock. The noisy little clock on the mantelpiece -announced the fact, and, by its frantic ticking, seemed as anxious as I -to get the consultation hours over. I glanced wistfully at my -mud-splashed boots and wondered if I might yet venture to assume the -slippers that peeped coyly from under the shabby sofa. I even allowed my -thoughts to wander to the pipe that reposed in my coat pocket. Another -minute and I could turn down the surgery gas and shut the outer door. -The fussy little clock gave a sort of preliminary cough or hiccup, as if -it should say: "Ahem! ladies and gentlemen, I am about to strike." And -at that moment, the bottle-boy opened the door and, thrusting in his -head, uttered the one word: "Gentleman." - -Extreme economy of words is apt to result in ambiguity. But I -understood. In Kennington Lane, the race of mere men and women appeared -to be extinct. They were all gentlemen--unless they were ladies or -children--even as the Liberian army was said to consist entirely of -generals. Sweeps, labourers, milkmen, costermongers--all were -impartially invested by the democratic bottle-boy with the rank and -title of <i>armigeri</i>. The present nobleman appeared to favour the -aristocratic recreation of driving a cab or job-master's carriage, and, -as he entered the room, he touched his hat, closed the door somewhat -carefully, and then, without remark, handed me a note which bore the -superscription "Dr. Stillbury." - -"You understand," I said, as I prepared to open the envelope, "that I -am not Dr. Stillbury. He is away at present and I am looking after his -patients." - -"It doesn't signify," the man replied. "You'll do as well." - -On this, I opened the envelope and read the note, which was quite brief, -and, at first sight, in no way remarkable. - -"DEAR SIR," it ran, "Would you kindly come and see a friend of mine who -is staying with me? The bearer of this will give you further particulars -and convey you to the house. Yours truly, H. WEISS." - -There was no address on the paper and no date, and the writer was -unknown to me. - -"This note," I said, "refers to some further particulars. What are -they?" - -The messenger passed his hand over his hair with a gesture of -embarrassment. "It's a ridicklus affair," he said, with a contemptuous -laugh. "If I had been Mr. Weiss, I wouldn't have had nothing to do with -it. The sick gentleman, Mr. Graves, is one of them people what can't -abear doctors. He's been ailing now for a week or two, but nothing would -induce him to see a doctor. Mr. Weiss did everything he could to -persuade him, but it was no go. He wouldn't. However, it seems Mr. Weiss -threatened to send for a medical man on his own account, because, you -see, he was getting a bit nervous; and then Mr. Graves gave way. But -only on one condition. He said the doctor was to come from a distance -and was not to be told who he was or where he lived or anything about -him; and he made Mr. Weiss promise to keep to that condition before he'd -let him send. So Mr. Weiss promised, and, of course, he's got to keep -his word." - -"But," I said, with a smile, "you've just told me his name--if his name -really is Graves." - -"You can form your own opinion on that," said the coachman. - -"And," I added, "as to not being told where he lives, I can see that for -myself. I'm not blind, you know." - -"We'll take the risk of what you see," the man replied. "The question -is, will you take the job on?" - -Yes; that was the question, and I considered it for some time before -replying. We medical men are pretty familiar with the kind of person who -"can't abear doctors," and we like to have as little to do with him as -possible. He is a thankless and unsatisfactory patient. Intercourse with -him is unpleasant, he gives a great deal of trouble and responds badly -to treatment. If this had been my own practice, I should have declined -the case off-hand. But it was not my practice. I was only a deputy. I -could not lightly refuse work which would yield a profit to my -principal, unpleasant though it might be. - -As I turned the matter over in my mind, I half unconsciously scrutinized -my visitor--somewhat to his embarrassment--and I liked his appearance -as little as I liked his mission. He kept his station near the door, -where the light was dim--for the illumination was concentrated on the -table and the patient's chair--but I could see that he had a somewhat -sly, unprepossessing face and a greasy, red moustache that seemed out of -character with his rather perfunctory livery; though this was mere -prejudice. He wore a wig, too--not that there was anything discreditable -in that--and the thumb-nail of the hand that held his hat bore -disfiguring traces of some injury--which, again, though unsightly, in no -wise reflected on his moral character. Lastly, he watched me keenly with -a mixture of anxiety and sly complacency that I found distinctly -unpleasant. In a general way, he impressed me disagreeably. I did not -like the look of him at all; but nevertheless I decided to undertake the -case. - -"I suppose," I answered, at length, "it is no affair of mine who the -patient is or where he lives. But how do you propose to manage the -business? Am I to be led to the house blindfolded, like the visitor to -the bandit's cave?" - -The man grinned slightly and looked very decidedly relieved. - -"No, sir," he answered; "we ain't going to blindfold you. I've got a -carriage outside. I don't think you'll see much out of that." - -"Very well," I rejoined, opening the door to let him out, "I'll be with -you in a minute. I suppose you can't give me any idea as to what is the -matter with the patient?" - -"No, sir, I can't," he replied; and he went out to see to the carriage. - -I slipped into a bag an assortment of emergency drugs and a few -diagnostic instruments, turned down the gas and passed out through the -surgery. The carriage was standing at the kerb, guarded by the coachman -and watched with deep interest by the bottle-boy. I viewed it with -mingled curiosity and disfavour. It was a kind of large brougham, such -as is used by some commercial travellers, the usual glass windows being -replaced by wooden shutters intended to conceal the piles of -sample-boxes, and the doors capable of being locked from outside with a -railway key. - -As I emerged from the house, the coachman unlocked the door and held it -open. - -"How long will the journey take?" I asked, pausing with my foot on the -step. - -The coachman considered a moment or two and replied: - -"It took me, I should say, nigh upon half an hour to get here." - -This was pleasant hearing. A half an hour each way and a half an hour at -the patient's house. At that rate it would be half-past ten before I was -home again, and then it was quite probable that I should find some other -untimely messenger waiting on the doorstep. With a muttered anathema on -the unknown Mr. Graves and the unrestful life of a locum tenens, I -stepped into the uninviting vehicle. Instantly the coachman slammed the -door and turned the key, leaving me in total darkness. - -One comfort was left to me; my pipe was in my pocket. I made shift to -load it in the dark, and, having lit it with a wax match, took the -opportunity to inspect the interior of my prison. It was a shabby -affair. The moth-eaten state of the blue cloth cushions seemed to -suggest that it had been long out of regular use; the oil-cloth -floor-covering was worn into holes; ordinary internal fittings there -were none. But the appearances suggested that the crazy vehicle had been -prepared with considerable forethought for its present use. The inside -handles of the doors had apparently been removed; the wooden shutters -were permanently fixed in their places; and a paper label, stuck on the -transom below each window, had a suspicious appearance of having been -put there to cover the painted name and address of the job-master or -livery-stable keeper who had originally owned the carriage. - -These observations gave me abundant food for reflection. This Mr. Weiss -must be an excessively conscientious man if he had considered that his -promise to Mr. Graves committed him to such extraordinary precautions. -Evidently no mere following of the letter of the law was enough to -satisfy his sensitive conscience. Unless he had reasons for sharing Mr. -Graves's unreasonable desire for secrecy--for one could not suppose that -these measures of concealment had been taken by the patient himself. - -The further suggestions that evolved themselves from this consideration -were a little disquieting. Whither was I being carried and for what -purpose? The idea that I was bound for some den of thieves where I -might be robbed and possibly murdered, I dismissed with a smile. Thieves -do not make elaborately concerted plans to rob poor devils like me. -Poverty has its compensations in that respect. But there were other -possibilities. Imagination backed by experience had no difficulty in -conjuring up a number of situations in which a medical man might be -called upon, with or without coercion, either to witness or actively to -participate in the commission of some unlawful act. - -Reflections of this kind occupied me pretty actively if not very -agreeably during this strange journey. And the monotony was relieved, -too, by other distractions. I was, for example, greatly interested to -notice how, when one sense is in abeyance, the other senses rouse into a -compensating intensity of perception. I sat smoking my pipe in darkness -which was absolute save for the dim glow from the smouldering tobacco in -the bowl, and seemed to be cut off from all knowledge of the world -without. But yet I was not. The vibrations of the carriage, with its -hard springs and iron-tired wheels, registered accurately and plainly -the character of the roadway. The harsh rattle of granite setts, the -soft bumpiness of macadam, the smooth rumble of wood-pavement, the -jarring and swerving of crossed tram-lines; all were easily recognizable -and together sketched the general features of the neighbourhood through -which I was passing. And the sense of hearing filled in the details. Now -the hoot of a tug's whistle told of proximity to the river. A sudden -and brief hollow reverberation announced the passage under a railway -arch (which, by the way, happened several times during the journey); -and, when I heard the familiar whistle of a railway-guard followed by -the quick snorts of a skidding locomotive, I had as clear a picture of a -heavy passenger-train moving out of a station as if I had seen it in -broad daylight. - -I had just finished my pipe and knocked out the ashes on the heel of my -boot, when the carriage slowed down and entered a covered way--as I -could tell by the hollow echoes. Then I distinguished the clang of heavy -wooden gates closed behind me, and a moment or two later the carriage -door was unlocked and opened. I stepped out blinking into a covered -passage paved with cobbles and apparently leading down to a mews; but it -was all in darkness, and I had no time to make any detailed -observations, as the carriage had drawn up opposite a side door which -was open and in which stood a woman holding a lighted candle. - -"Is that the doctor?" she asked, speaking with a rather pronounced -German accent and shading the candle with her hand as she peered at me. - -I answered in the affirmative, and she then exclaimed: - -"I am glad you have come. Mr. Weiss will be so relieved. Come in, -please." - -I followed her across a dark passage into a dark room, where she set the -candle down on a chest of drawers and turned to depart. At the door, -however, she paused and looked back. - -"It is not a very nice room to ask you into," she said. "We are very -untidy just now, but you must excuse us. We have had so much anxiety -about poor Mr. Graves." - -"He has been ill some time, then?" - -"Yes. Some little time. At intervals, you know. Sometimes better, -sometimes not so well." - -As she spoke, she gradually backed out into the passage but did not go -away at once. I accordingly pursued my inquiries. - -"He has not been seen by any doctor, has he?" - -"No," she answered, "he has always refused to see a doctor. That has -been a great trouble to us. Mr. Weiss has been very anxious about him. -He will be so glad to hear that you have come. I had better go and tell -him. Perhaps you will kindly sit down until he is able to come to you," -and with this she departed on her mission. - -It struck me as a little odd that, considering his anxiety and the -apparent urgency of the case, Mr. Weiss should not have been waiting to -receive me. And when several minutes elapsed without his appearing, the -oddness of the circumstance impressed me still more. Having no desire, -after the journey in the carriage, to sit down, I whiled away the time -by an inspection of the room. And a very curious room it was; bare, -dirty, neglected and, apparently, unused. A faded carpet had been flung -untidily on the floor. A small, shabby table stood in the middle of the -room; and beyond this, three horsehair-covered chairs and a chest of -drawers formed the entire set of furniture. No pictures hung on the -mouldy walls, no curtains covered the shuttered windows, and the dark -drapery of cobwebs that hung from the ceiling to commemorate a long and -illustrious dynasty of spiders hinted at months of neglect and disuse. - -The chest of drawers--an incongruous article of furniture for what -seemed to be a dining-room--as being the nearest and best lighted object -received most of my attention. It was a fine old chest of nearly black -mahogany, very battered and in the last stage of decay, but originally a -piece of some pretensions. Regretful of its fallen estate, I looked it -over with some interest and had just observed on its lower corner a -little label bearing the printed inscription "Lot 201" when I heard -footsteps descending the stairs. A moment later the door opened and a -shadowy figure appeared standing close by the threshold. - -"Good evening, doctor," said the stranger, in a deep, quiet voice and -with a distinct, though not strong, German accent. "I must apologize for -keeping you waiting." - -I acknowledged the apology somewhat stiffly and asked: "You are Mr. -Weiss, I presume?" - -"Yes, I am Mr. Weiss. It is very good of you to come so far and so late -at night and to make no objection to the absurd conditions that my poor -friend has imposed." - -"Not at all," I replied. "It is my business to go when and where I am -wanted, and it is not my business to inquire into the private affairs of -my patients." - -"That is very true, sir," he agreed cordially, "and I am much obliged -to you for taking that very proper view of the case. I pointed that out -to my friend, but he is not a very reasonable man. He is very secretive -and rather suspicious by nature." - -"So I inferred. And as to his condition; is he seriously ill?" - -"Ah," said Mr. Weiss, "that is what I want you to tell me. I am very -much puzzled about him." - -"But what is the nature of his illness? What does he complain of?" - -"He makes very few complaints of any kind although he is obviously ill. -But the fact is that he is hardly ever more than half awake. He lies in -a kind of dreamy stupor from morning to night." - -This struck me as excessively strange and by no means in agreement with -the patient's energetic refusal to see a doctor. - -"But," I asked, "does he never rouse completely?" - -"Oh, yes," Mr. Weiss answered quickly; "he rouses from time to time and -is then quite rational, and, as you may have gathered, rather obstinate. -That is the peculiar and puzzling feature in the case; this alternation -between a state of stupor and an almost normal and healthy condition. -But perhaps you had better see him and judge for yourself. He had a -rather severe attack just now. Follow me, please. The stairs are rather -dark." - -The stairs were very dark, and I noticed that they were without any -covering of carpet, or even oil-cloth, so that our footsteps resounded -dismally as if we were in an empty house. I stumbled up after my guide, -feeling my way by the hand-rail, and on the first floor followed him -into a room similar in size to the one below and very barely furnished, -though less squalid than the other. A single candle at the farther end -threw its feeble light on a figure in the bed, leaving the rest of the -room in a dim twilight. - -As Mr. Weiss tiptoed into the chamber, a woman--the one who had spoken -to me below--rose from a chair by the bedside and quietly left the room -by a second door. My conductor halted, and looking fixedly at the figure -in the bed, called out: - -"Philip! Philip! Here is the doctor come to see you." - -He paused for a moment or two, and, receiving no answer, said: "He seems -to be dozing as usual. Will you go and see what you can make of him?" - -I stepped forward to the bedside, leaving Mr. Weiss at the end of the -room near the door by which we had entered, where he remained, slowly -and noiselessly pacing backwards and forwards in the semi-obscurity. By -the light of the candle I saw an elderly man with good features and a -refined, intelligent and even attractive face, but dreadfully emaciated, -bloodless and sallow. He lay quite motionless except for the scarcely -perceptible rise and fall of his chest; his eyes were nearly closed, his -features relaxed, and, though he was not actually asleep, he seemed to -be in a dreamy, somnolent, lethargic state, as if under the influence of -some narcotic. - -I watched him for a minute or so, timing his slow breathing by my -watch, and then suddenly and sharply addressed him by name; but the only -response was a slight lifting of the eyelids, which, after a brief, -drowsy glance at me, slowly subsided to their former position. - -I now proceeded to make a physical examination. First, I felt his pulse, -grasping his wrist with intentional brusqueness in the hope of rousing -him from his stupor. The beats were slow, feeble and slightly irregular, -giving clear evidence, if any were needed, of his generally lowered -vitality. I listened carefully to his heart, the sounds of which were -very distinct through the thin walls of his emaciated chest, but found -nothing abnormal beyond the feebleness and uncertainty of its action. -Then I turned my attention to his eyes, which I examined closely with -the aid of the candle and my ophthalmoscope lens, raising the lids -somewhat roughly so as to expose the whole of the irises. He submitted -without resistance to my rather ungentle handling of these sensitive -structures, and showed no signs of discomfort even when I brought the -candle-flame to within a couple of inches of his eyes. - -But this extraordinary tolerance of light was easily explained by closer -examination; for the pupils were contracted to such an extreme degree -that only the very minutest point of black was visible at the centre of -the grey iris. Nor was this the only abnormal peculiarity of the sick -man's eyes. As he lay on his back, the right iris sagged down slightly -towards its centre, showing a distinctly concave surface; and, when I -contrived to produce a slight but quick movement of the eyeball, a -perceptible undulatory movement could be detected. The patient had, in -fact, what is known as a tremulous iris, a condition that is seen in -cases where the crystalline lens has been extracted for the cure of -cataract, or where it has become accidentally displaced, leaving the -iris unsupported. In the present case, the complete condition of the -iris made it clear that the ordinary extraction operation had not been -performed, nor was I able, on the closest inspection with the aid of my -lens, to find any trace of the less common "needle operation." The -inference was that the patient had suffered from the accident known as -"dislocation of the lens"; and this led to the further inference that he -was almost or completely blind in the right eye. - -This conclusion was, indeed, to some extent negatived by a deep -indentation on the bridge of the nose, evidently produced by spectacles, -and by marks which I looked for and found behind the ears, corresponding -to the hooks or "curl sides" of the glasses. For those spectacles which -are fitted with curl sides to hook over the ears are usually intended to -be worn habitually, and this agreed with the indentation on the nose; -which was deeper than would have been accounted for by the merely -occasional use of spectacles for reading. But if only one eye was -useful, a single eye-glass would have answered the purpose; not that -there was any weight in this objection, for a single eye-glass worn -constantly would be much less convenient than a pair of hook-sided -spectacles. - -As to the nature of the patient's illness, only one opinion seemed -possible. It was a clear and typical case of opium or morphine -poisoning. To this conclusion all his symptoms seemed to point with -absolute certainty. The coated tongue, which he protruded slowly and -tremulously in response to a command bawled in his ear; his yellow skin -and ghastly expression; his contracted pupils and the stupor from which -he could hardly be roused by the roughest handling and which yet did not -amount to actual insensibility; all these formed a distinct and coherent -group of symptoms, not only pointing plainly to the nature of the drug, -but also suggesting a very formidable dose. - -But this conclusion in its turn raised a very awkward and difficult -question. If a large--a poisonous--dose of the drug had been taken, how, -and by whom had that dose been administered? The closest scrutiny of -the patient's arms and legs failed to reveal a single mark such as would -be made by a hypodermic needle. This man was clearly no common -morphinomaniac; and in the absence of the usual sprinkling of -needlemarks, there was nothing to show or suggest whether the drug had -been taken voluntarily by the patient himself or administered by someone -else. - -And then there remained the possibility that I might, after all, be -mistaken in my diagnosis. I felt pretty confident. But the wise man -always holds a doubt in reserve. And, in the present case, having regard -to the obviously serious condition of the patient, such a doubt was -eminently disturbing. Indeed, as I pocketed my stethoscope and took a -last look at the motionless, silent figure, I realized that my position -was one of extraordinary difficulty and perplexity. On the one hand my -suspicions--aroused, naturally enough, by the very unusual circumstances -that surrounded my visit--inclined me to extreme reticence; while, on -the other, it was evidently my duty to give any information that might -prove serviceable to the patient. - -As I turned away from the bed Mr. Weiss stopped his slow pacing to and -fro and faced me. The feeble light of the candle now fell on him, and I -saw him distinctly for the first time. He did not impress me favourably. -He was a thick-set, round-shouldered man, a typical fair German with -tow-coloured hair, greased and brushed down smoothly, a large, ragged, -sandy beard and coarse, sketchy features. His nose was large and thick -with a bulbous end, and inclined to a reddish purple, a tint which -extended to the adjacent parts of his face as if the colour had run. His -eyebrows were large and beetling, overhanging deep-set eyes, and he wore -a pair of spectacles which gave him a somewhat owlish expression. His -exterior was unprepossessing, and I was in a state of mind that rendered -me easily receptive of an unfavourable impression. - -"Well," he said, "what do you make of him?" I hesitated, still perplexed -by the conflicting necessities of caution and frankness, but at length -replied: - -"I think rather badly of him, Mr. Weiss. He is in a very low state." - -"Yes, I can see that. But have you come to any decision as to the nature -of his illness?" - -There was a tone of anxiety and suppressed eagerness in the question -which, while it was natural enough in the circumstances, by no means -allayed my suspicions, but rather influenced me on the side of caution. - -"I cannot give a very definite opinion at present," I replied guardedly. -"The symptoms are rather obscure and might very well indicate several -different conditions. They might be due to congestion of the brain, and, -if no other explanation were possible, I should incline to that view. -The alternative is some narcotic poison, such as opium or morphia." - -"But that is quite impossible. There is no such drug in the house, and -as he never leaves his room now, he could not get any from outside." - -"What about the servants?" I asked. - -"There are no servants excepting my housekeeper, and she is absolutely -trustworthy." - -"He might have some store of the drug that you are not aware of. Is he -left alone much?" - -"Very seldom indeed. I spend as much time with him as I can, and when I -am not able to be in the room, Mrs Schallibaum, my housekeeper, sits -with him." - -"Is he often as drowsy as he is now?" - -"Oh, very often; in fact, I should say that is his usual condition. He -rouses up now and again, and then he is quite lucid and natural for, -perhaps, an hour or so; but presently he becomes drowsy again and doses -off, and remains asleep, or half asleep, for hours on end. Do you know -of any disease that takes people in that way?" - -"No," I answered. "The symptoms are not exactly like those of any -disease that is known to me. But they are much very like those of opium -poisoning." - -"But, my dear sir," Mr. Weiss retorted impatiently, "since it is clearly -impossible that it can be opium poisoning, it must be something else. -Now, what else can it be? You were speaking of congestion of the brain." - -"Yes. But the objection to that is the very complete recovery that seems -to take place in the intervals." - -"I would not say very complete," said Mr. Weiss. "The recovery is rather -comparative. He is lucid and fairly natural in his manner, but he is -still dull and lethargic. He does not, for instance, show any desire to -go out, or even to leave his room." - -I pondered uncomfortably on these rather contradictory statements. -Clearly Mr. Weiss did not mean to entertain the theory of opium -poisoning; which was natural enough if he had no knowledge of the drug -having been used. But still-- - -"I suppose," said Mr. Weiss, "you have experience of sleeping sickness?" - -The suggestion startled me. I had not. Very few people had. At that time -practically nothing was known about the disease. It was a mere -pathological curiosity, almost unheard of excepting by a few -practitioners in remote parts of Africa, and hardly referred to in the -text-books. Its connection with the trypanosome-bearing insects was as -yet unsuspected, and, to me, its symptoms were absolutely unknown. - -"No, I have not," I replied. "The disease is nothing more than a name to -me. But why do you ask? Has Mr. Graves been abroad?" - -"Yes. He has been travelling for the last three or four years, and I -know that he spent some time recently in West Africa, where this disease -occurs. In fact, it was from him that I first heard about it." - -This was a new fact. It shook my confidence in my diagnosis very -considerably, and inclined me to reconsider my suspicions. If Mr. Weiss -was lying to me, he now had me at a decided disadvantage. - -"What do you think?" he asked. "Is it possible that this can be sleeping -sickness?" - -"I should not like to say that it is impossible," I replied. "The -disease is practically unknown to me. I have never practised out of -England and have had no occasion to study it. Until I have looked the -subject up, I should not be in a position to give an opinion. Of course, -if I could see Mr. Graves in one of what we may call his 'lucid -intervals' I should be able to form a better idea. Do you think that -could be managed?" - -"It might. I see the importance of it and will certainly do my best; but -he is a difficult man; a very difficult man. I sincerely hope it is not -sleeping sickness." - -"Why?" - -"Because--as I understood from him--that disease is invariably fatal, -sooner or later. There seem to be no cure. Do you think you will be able -to decide when you see him again?" - -"I hope so," I replied. "I shall look up the authorities and see exactly -what the symptoms are--that is, so far as they are known; but my -impression is that there is very little information available." - -"And in the meantime?" - -"We will give him some medicine and attend to his general condition, and -you had better let me see him again as soon as possible." I was about to -say that the effect of the medicine itself might throw some light on the -patient's condition, but, as I proposed to treat him for morphine -poisoning, I thought it wiser to keep this item of information to -myself. Accordingly, I confined myself to a few general directions as to -the care of the patient, to which Mr. Weiss listened attentively. "And," -I concluded, "we must not lose sight of the opium question. You had -better search the room carefully and keep a close watch on the patient, -especially during his intervals of wakefulness." - -"Very well, doctor," Mr. Weiss replied, "I will do all that you tell me -and I will send for you again as soon as possible, if you do not object -to poor Graves's ridiculous conditions. And now, if you will allow me to -pay your fee, I will go and order the carriage while you are writing the -prescription." - -"There is no need for a prescription," I said. "I will make up some -medicine and give it to the coachman." - -Mr. Weiss seemed inclined to demur to this arrangement, but I had my own -reasons for insisting on it. Modern prescriptions are not difficult to -read, and I did not wish Mr. Weiss to know what treatment the patient -was having. - -As soon as I was left alone, I returned to the bedside and once more -looked down at the impassive figure. And as I looked, my suspicions -revived. It was very like morphine poisoning; and, if it was morphine, -it was no common, medicinal dose that had been given. I opened my bag -and took out my hypodermic case from which I extracted a little tube of -atropine tabloids. Shaking out into my hand a couple of the tiny discs, -I drew down the patient's under-lip and slipped the little tablets under -his tongue. Then I quickly replaced the tube and dropped the case into -my bag; and I had hardly done so when the door opened softly and the -housekeeper entered the room. - -"How do you find Mr. Graves?" she asked in what I thought a very -unnecessarily low tone, considering the patient's lethargic state. - -"He seems to be very ill," I answered. - -"So!" she rejoined, and added: "I am sorry to hear that. We have been -anxious about him." - -She seated herself on the chair by the bedside, and, shading the candle -from the patient's face--and her own, too--produced from a bag that hung -from her waist a half-finished stocking and began to knit silently and -with the skill characteristic of the German housewife. I looked at her -attentively (though she was so much in the shadow that I could see her -but indistinctly) and somehow her appearance prepossessed me as little -as did that of the other members of the household. Yet she was not an -ill-looking woman. She had an excellent figure, and the air of a person -of good social position; her features were good enough and her -colouring, although a little unusual, was not unpleasant. Like Mr. -Weiss, she had very fair hair, greased, parted in the middle and brushed -down as smoothly as the painted hair of a Dutch doll. She appeared to -have no eyebrows at all--owing, no doubt, to the light colour of the -hair--and the doll-like character was emphasized by her eyes, which were -either brown or dark grey, I could not see which. A further peculiarity -consisted in a "habit spasm," such as one often sees in nervous -children; a periodical quick jerk of the head, as if a cap-string or -dangling lock were being shaken off the cheek. Her age I judged to be -about thirty-five. - -The carriage, which one might have expected to be waiting, seemed to -take some time in getting ready. I sat, with growing impatience, -listening to the sick man's soft breathing and the click of the -housekeeper's knitting-needles. I wanted to get home, not only for my -own sake; the patient's condition made it highly desirable that the -remedies should be given as quickly as possible. But the minutes dragged -on, and I was on the point of expostulating when a bell rang on the -landing. - -"The carriage is ready," said Mrs. Schallibaum. "Let me light you down -the stairs." - -She rose, and, taking the candle, preceded me to the head of the stairs, -where she stood holding the light over the baluster-rail as I descended -and crossed the passage to the open side door. The carriage was drawn up -in the covered way as I could see by the faint glimmer of the distant -candle; which also enabled me dimly to discern the coachman standing -close by in the shadow. I looked round, rather expecting to see Mr. -Weiss, but, as he made no appearance, I entered the carriage. The door -was immediately banged to and locked, and I then heard the heavy bolts -of the gates withdrawn and the loud creaking of hinges. The carriage -moved out slowly and stopped; the gates slammed to behind me; I felt the -lurch as the coachman climbed to his seat and we started forward. - -My reflections during the return journey were the reverse of agreeable. -I could not rid myself of the conviction that I was being involved in -some very suspicious proceedings. It was possible, of course, that this -feeling was due to the strange secrecy that surrounded my connection -with this case; that, had I made my visit under ordinary conditions, I -might have found in the patient's symptoms nothing to excite suspicion -or alarm. It might be so, but that consideration did not comfort me. - -Then, my diagnosis might be wrong. It might be that this was, in -reality, a case of some brain affection accompanied by compression, such -as slow haemorrhage, abscess, tumour or simple congestion. These cases -were very difficult at times. But the appearances in this one did not -consistently agree with the symptoms accompanying any of these -conditions. As to sleeping sickness, it was, perhaps a more hopeful -suggestion, but I could not decide for or against it until I had more -knowledge; and against this view was the weighty fact that the symptoms -did exactly agree with the theory of morphine poisoning. - -But even so, there was no conclusive evidence of any criminal act. The -patient might be a confirmed opium-eater, and the symptoms heightened by -deliberate deception. The cunning of these unfortunates is proverbial -and is only equalled by their secretiveness and mendacity. It would be -quite possible for this man to feign profound stupor so long as he was -watched, and then, when left alone for a few minutes, to nip out of bed -and help himself from some secret store of the drug. This would be quite -in character with his objection to seeing a doctor and his desire for -secrecy. But still, I did not believe it to be the true explanation. In -spite of all the various alternative possibilities, my suspicions came -back to Mr. Weiss and the strange, taciturn woman, and refused to budge. - -For all the circumstances of the case were suspicious. The elaborate -preparations implied by the state of the carriage in which I was -travelling; the make-shift appearance of the house; the absence of -ordinary domestic servants, although a coachman was kept; the evident -desire of Mr. Weiss and the woman to avoid thorough inspection of their -persons; and, above all, the fact that the former had told me a -deliberate lie. For he had lied, beyond all doubt. His statement as to -the almost continuous stupor was absolutely irreconcilable with his -other statement as to the patient's wilfulness and obstinacy and even -more irreconcilable with the deep and comparatively fresh marks of the -spectacles on the patient's nose. That man had certainly worn spectacles -within twenty-four hours, which he would hardly have done if he had been -in a state bordering on coma. - -My reflections were interrupted by the stopping of the carriage. The -door was unlocked and thrown open, and I emerged from my dark and stuffy -prison opposite my own house. - -"I will let you have the medicine in a minute or two," I said to the -coachman; and, as I let myself in with my latch-key, my mind came back -swiftly from the general circumstances of the case to the very critical -condition of the patient. Already I was regretting that I had not taken -more energetic measures to rouse him and restore his flagging vitality; -for it would be a terrible thing if he should take a turn for the worse -and die before the coachman returned with the remedies. Spurred on by -this alarming thought, I made up the medicines quickly and carried the -hastily wrapped bottles out to the man, whom I found standing by the -horse's head. - -"Get back as quickly as you can," I said, "and tell Mr. Weiss to lose no -time in giving the patient the draught in the small bottle. The -directions are on the labels." - -The coachman took the packages from me without reply, climbed to his -seat, touched the horse with his whip and drove off at a rapid pace -towards Newington Butts. - -The little clock in the consulting-room showed that it was close on -eleven; time for a tired G.P. to be thinking of bed. But I was not -sleepy. Over my frugal supper I found myself taking up anew the thread -of my meditations, and afterwards, as I smoked my last pipe by the -expiring surgery fire, the strange and sinister features of the case -continued to obtrude themselves on my notice. I looked up Stillbury's -little reference library for information on the subject of sleeping -sickness, but learned no more than that it was "a rare and obscure -disease of which very little was known at present." I read up morphine -poisoning and was only further confirmed in the belief that my diagnosis -was correct; which would have been more satisfactory if the -circumstances had been different. - -For the interest of the case was not merely academic. I was in a -position of great difficulty and responsibility and had to decide on a -course of action. What ought I to do? Should I maintain the professional -secrecy to which I was tacitly committed, or ought I to convey a hint to -the police? - -Suddenly, and with a singular feeling of relief, I bethought myself of -my old friend and fellow-student, John Thorndyke, now an eminent -authority on Medical Jurisprudence. I had been associated with him -temporarily in one case as his assistant, and had then been deeply -impressed by his versatile learning, his acuteness and his marvellous -resourcefulness. Thorndyke was a barrister in extensive practice, and so -would be able to tell me at once what was my duty from a legal point of -view; and, as he was also a doctor of medicine, he would understand the -exigencies of medical practice. If I could find time to call at the -Temple and lay the case before him, all my doubts and difficulties would -be resolved. - -Anxiously, I opened my visiting-list to see what kind of day's work was -in store for me on the morrow. It was not a heavy day, even allowing for -one or two extra calls in the morning, but yet I was doubtful whether it -would allow of my going so far from my district, until my eye caught, -near the foot of the page, the name of Burton. Now Mr. Burton lived in -one of the old houses on the east side of Bouverie Street, less than -five minutes' walk from Thorndyke's chambers in King's Bench Walk; and -he was, moreover, a "chronic" who could safely be left for the last. -When I had done with Mr. Burton I could look in on my friend with a very -good chance of catching him on his return from the hospital. I could -allow myself time for quite a long chat with him, and, by taking a -hansom, still get back in good time for the evening's work. - -This was a great comfort. At the prospect of sharing my responsibilities -with a friend on whose judgment I could so entirely rely, my -embarrassments seemed to drop from me in a moment. Having entered the -engagement in my visiting-list, I rose, in greatly improved spirits, and -knocked out my pipe just as the little clock banged out impatiently the -hour of midnight. - - - - -Chapter II - -Thorndyke Devises a Scheme - - -As I entered the Temple by the Tudor Street gate the aspect of the place -smote my senses with an air of agreeable familiarity. Here had I spent -many a delightful hour when working with Thorndyke at the remarkable -Hornby case, which the newspapers had called "The Case of the Red Thumb -Mark"; and here had I met the romance of my life, the story whereof is -told elsewhere. The place was thus endeared to me by pleasant -recollections of a happy past, and its associations suggested hopes of -happiness yet to come and in the not too far distant future. - -My brisk tattoo on the little brass knocker brought to the door no less -a person than Thorndyke himself; and the warmth of his greeting made me -at once proud and ashamed. For I had not only been an absentee; I had -been a very poor correspondent. - -"The prodigal has returned, Polton," he exclaimed, looking into the -room. "Here is Dr. Jervis." - -I followed him into the room and found Polton--his confidential servant, -laboratory assistant, artificer and general "familiar"--setting out the -tea-tray on a small table. The little man shook hands cordially with me, -and his face crinkled up into the sort of smile that one might expect to -see on a benevolent walnut. - -"We've often talked about you, sir," said he. "The doctor was wondering -only yesterday when you were coming back to us." - -As I was not "coming back to them" quite in the sense intended I felt a -little guilty, but reserved my confidences for Thorndyke's ear and -replied in polite generalities. Then Polton fetched the tea-pot from the -laboratory, made up the fire and departed, and Thorndyke and I subsided, -as of old, into our respective arm-chairs. - -"And whence do you spring from in this unexpected fashion?" my colleague -asked. "You look as if you had been making professional visits." - -"I have. The base of operations is in Lower Kennington Lane." - -"Ah! Then you are 'back once more on the old trail'?" - -"Yes," I answered, with a laugh, "'the old trail, the long trail, the -trail that is always new.'" - -"And leads nowhere," Thorndyke added grimly. - -I laughed again; not very heartily, for there was an uncomfortable -element of truth in my friend's remark, to which my own experience bore -only too complete testimony. The medical practitioner whose lack of -means forces him to subsist by taking temporary charge of other men's -practices is apt to find that the passing years bring him little but -grey hairs and a wealth of disagreeable experience. - -"You will have to drop it, Jervis; you will, indeed," Thorndyke resumed -after a pause. "This casual employment is preposterous for a man of your -class and professional attainments. Besides, are you not engaged to be -married and to a most charming girl?" - -"Yes, I know. I have been a fool. But I will really amend my ways. If -necessary, I will pocket my pride and let Juliet advance the money to -buy a practice." - -"That," said Thorndyke, "is a very proper resolution. Pride and reserve -between people who are going to be husband and wife, is an absurdity. -But why buy a practice? Have you forgotten my proposal?" - -"I should be an ungrateful brute if I had." - -"Very well. I repeat it now. Come to me as my junior, read for the Bar -and work with me, and, with your abilities, you will have a chance of -something like a career. I want you, Jervis," he added, earnestly. "I -must have a junior, with my increasing practice, and you are the junior -I want. We are old and tried friends; we have worked together; we like -and trust one another, and you are the best man for the job that I know. -Come; I am not going to take a refusal. This is an ultimatum." - -"And what is the alternative?" I asked with a smile at his eagerness. - -"There isn't any. You are going to say yes." - -"I believe I am," I answered, not without emotion; "and I am more -rejoiced at your offer and more grateful than I can tell you. But we -must leave the final arrangements for our next meeting--in a week or so, -I hope--for I have to be back in an hour, and I want to consult you on -a matter of some importance." - -"Very well," said Thorndyke; "we will leave the formal agreement for -consideration at our next meeting. What is it that you want my opinion -on?" - -"The fact is," I said, "I am in a rather awkward dilemma, and I want you -to tell me what you think I ought to do." - -Thorndyke paused in the act of refilling my cup and glanced at me with -unmistakable anxiety. - -"Nothing of an unpleasant nature, I hope," said he. - -"No, no; nothing of that kind," I answered with a smile as I interpreted -the euphemism; for "something unpleasant," in the case of a young and -reasonably presentable medical man is ordinarily the equivalent of -trouble with the female of his species. "It is nothing that concerns me -personally at all," I continued; "it is a question of professional -responsibility. But I had better give you an account of the affair in a -complete narrative, as I know that you like to have your data in a -regular and consecutive order." - -Thereupon I proceeded to relate the history of my visit to the -mysterious Mr. Graves, not omitting any single circumstance or detail -that I could recollect. - -Thorndyke listened from the very beginning of my story with the closest -attention. His face was the most impassive that I have ever seen; -ordinarily as inscrutable as a bronze mask; but to me, who knew him -intimately, there was a certain something--a change of colour, perhaps, -or an additional sparkle of the eye--that told me when his curious -passion for investigation was fully aroused. And now, as I told him of -that weird journey and the strange, secret house to which it had brought -me, I could see that it offered a problem after his very heart. During -the whole of my narration he sat as motionless as a statue, evidently -committing the whole story to memory, detail by detail; and even when I -had finished he remained for an appreciable time without moving or -speaking. - -At length he looked up at me. "This is a very extraordinary affair, -Jervis," he said. - -"Very," I agreed; "and the question that is agitating me is, what is to -be done?" - -"Yes," he said, meditatively, "that is the question; and an uncommonly -difficult question it is. It really involves the settlement of the -antecedent question: What is it that is happening at that house?" - -"What do you think is happening at that house?" I asked. - -"We must go slow, Jervis," he replied. "We must carefully separate the -legal tissues from the medical, and avoid confusing what we know with -what we suspect. Now, with reference to the medical aspects of the case. -The first question that confronts us is that of sleeping sickness, or -negro-lethargy as it is sometimes called; and here we are in a -difficulty. We have not enough knowledge. Neither of us, I take it, has -ever seen a case, and the extant descriptions are inadequate. From what -I know of the disease, its symptoms agree with those in your case in -respect of the alleged moroseness and in the gradually increasing -periods of lethargy alternating with periods of apparent recovery. On -the other hand, the disease is said to be confined to negroes; but that -probably means only that negroes alone have hitherto been exposed to the -conditions that produce it. A more important fact is that, as far as I -know, extreme contraction of the pupils is not a symptom of sleeping -sickness. To sum up, the probabilities are against sleeping sickness, -but with our insufficient knowledge, we cannot definitely exclude it." - -"You think that it may really be sleeping sickness?" - -"No; personally I do not entertain that theory for a moment. But I am -considering the evidence apart from our opinions on the subject. We have -to accept it as a conceivable hypothesis that it may be sleeping -sickness because we cannot positively prove that it is not. That is all. -But when we come to the hypothesis of morphine poisoning, the case is -different. The symptoms agree with those of morphine poisoning in every -respect. There is no exception or disagreement whatever. The common -sense of the matter is therefore that we adopt morphine poisoning as our -working diagnosis; which is what you seem to have done." - -"Yes. For purposes of treatment." - -"Exactly. For medical purposes you adopted the more probable view and -dismissed the less probable. That was the reasonable thing to do. But -for legal purposes you must entertain both possibilities; for the -hypothesis of poisoning involves serious legal issues, whereas the -hypothesis of disease involves no legal issues at all." - -"That doesn't sound very helpful," I remarked. - -"It indicates the necessity for caution," he retorted. - -"Yes, I see that. But what is your own opinion of the case?" - -"Well," he said, "let us consider the facts in order. Here is a man who, -we assume, is under the influence of a poisonous dose of morphine. The -question is, did he take that dose himself or was it administered to him -by some other person? If he took it himself, with what object did he -take it? The history that was given to you seems completely to exclude -the idea of suicide. But the patient's condition seems equally to -exclude the idea of morphinomania. Your opium-eater does not reduce -himself to a state of coma. He usually keeps well within the limits of -the tolerance that has been established. The conclusion that emerges is, -I think, that the drug was administered by some other person; and the -most likely person seems to be Mr. Weiss." - -"Isn't morphine a very unusual poison?" - -"Very; and most inconvenient except in a single, fatal dose, by reason -of the rapidity with which tolerance of the drug is established. But we -must not forget that slow morphine poisoning might be eminently -suitable in certain cases. The manner in which it enfeebles the will, -confuses the judgment and debilitates the body might make it very useful -to a poisoner whose aim was to get some instrument or document executed, -such as a will, deed or assignment. And death could be produced -afterwards by other means. You see the important bearing of this?" - -"You mean in respect of a death certificate?" - -"Yes. Suppose Mr. Weiss to have given a large dose of morphine. He then -sends for you and throws out a suggestion of sleeping sickness. If you -accept the suggestion he is pretty safe. He can repeat the process until -he kills his victim and then get a certificate from you which will cover -the murder. It was quite an ingenious scheme--which, by the way, is -characteristic of intricate crimes; your subtle criminal often plans his -crime like a genius, but he generally executes it like a fool--as this -man seems to have done, if we are not doing him an injustice." - -"How has he acted like a fool?" - -"In several respects. In the first place, he should have chosen his -doctor. A good, brisk, confident man who 'knows his own mind' is the -sort of person who would have suited him; a man who would have jumped at -a diagnosis and stuck to it; or else an ignorant weakling of alcoholic -tendencies. It was shockingly bad luck to run against a cautious -scientific practitioner like my learned friend. Then, of course, all -this secrecy was sheer tomfoolery, exactly calculated to put a careful -man on his guard; as it has actually done. If Mr. Weiss is really a -criminal, he has mismanaged his affairs badly." - -"And you apparently think that he is a criminal?" - -"I suspect him deeply. But I should like to ask you one or two questions -about him. You say he spoke with a German accent. What command of -English had he? Was his vocabulary good? Did he use any German idioms?" - -"No. I should say that his English was perfect, and I noticed that his -phrases were quite well chosen even for an Englishman." - -"Did he seem to you 'made up' in any way; disguised, I mean?" - -"I couldn't say. The light was so very feeble." - -"You couldn't see the colour of his eyes, for instance?" - -"No. I think they were grey, but I couldn't be sure." - -"And as to the coachman. He wore a wig, you said. Could you see the -colour of his eyes? Or any peculiarity by which you could recognize -him?" - -"He had a malformed thumb-nail on his right hand. That is all I can say -about him." - -"He didn't strike you as resembling Weiss in any way; in voice or -features?" - -"Not at all; and he spoke, as I told you, with a distinct Scotch -accent." - -"The reason I ask is that if Weiss is attempting to poison this man, the -coachman is almost certain to be a confederate and might be a relative. -You had better examine him closely if you get another chance." - -"I will. And that brings me back to the question, What am I to do? Ought -I to report the case to the police?" - -"I am inclined to think not. You have hardly enough facts. Of course, if -Mr. Weiss has administered poison 'unlawfully and maliciously' he has -committed a felony, and is liable under the Consolidation Acts of 1861 -to ten years' penal servitude. But I do not see how you could swear an -information. You don't know that he administered the poison--if poison -has really been administered--and you cannot give any reliable name or -any address whatever. Then there is the question of sleeping sickness. -You reject it for medical purposes, but you could not swear, in a court -of law, that this is not a case of sleeping sickness." - -"No," I admitted, "I could not." - -"Then I think the police would decline to move in the matter, and you -might find that you had raised a scandal in Dr. Stillbury's practice to -no purpose." - -"So you think I had better do nothing in the matter?" - -"For the present. It is, of course, a medical man's duty to assist -justice in any way that is possible. But a doctor is not a detective; he -should not go out of his way to assume police functions. He should keep -his eyes and ears open, and, though, in general, he should keep his own -counsel, it is his duty to note very carefully anything that seems to -him likely to bear on any important legal issues. It is not his -business officiously to initiate criminal inquiries, but it is -emphatically his business to be ready, if called upon, to assist justice -with information that his special knowledge and opportunities have -rendered accessible to him. You see the bearing of this?" - -"You mean that I should note down what I have seen and heard and say -nothing about it until I am asked." - -"Yes; if nothing further happens. But if you should be sent for again, I -think it is your duty to make further observations with a view, if -necessary, to informing the police. It may be, for instance, of vital -importance to identify the house, and it is your duty to secure the -means of doing so." - -"But, my dear Thorndyke," I expostulated, "I have told you how I was -conveyed to the house. Now, will you kindly explain to me how a man, -boxed up in a pitch-dark carriage, is going to identify any place to -which he may be carried?" - -"The problem doesn't appear to me to present any serious difficulties," -he replied. - -"Doesn't it?" said I. "To me it looks like a pretty solid impossibility. -But what do you suggest? Should I break out of the house and run away up -the street? Or should I bore a hole through the shutter of the carriage -and peep out?" - -Thorndyke smiled indulgently. "The methods proposed by my learned friend -display a certain crudity inappropriate to the character of a man of -science; to say nothing of the disadvantage of letting the enemy into -our counsels. No, no, Jervis; we can do something better than that. -Just excuse me for a minute while I run up to the laboratory." - -He hurried away to Polton's sanctum on the upper floor, leaving me to -speculate on the method by which he proposed that a man should be -enabled, as Sam Weller would express it, "to see through a flight of -stairs and a deal door"; or, what was equally opaque, the wooden -shutters of a closed carriage. - -"Now," he said, when he returned a couple of minutes later with a small, -paper-covered notebook in his hand, "I have set Polton to work on a -little appliance that will, I think, solve our difficulty, and I will -show you how I propose that you should make your observations. First of -all, we have to rule the pages of this book into columns." - -He sat down at the table and began methodically to rule the pages each -into three columns, two quite narrow and one broad. The process occupied -some time, during which I sat and watched with impatient curiosity the -unhurried, precise movements of Thorndyke's pencil, all agog to hear the -promised explanation. He was just finishing the last page when there -came a gentle tap at the door, and Polton entered with a satisfied smile -on his dry, shrewd-looking face and a small board in his hand. - -"Will this do, sir?" he asked. - -As he spoke he handed the little board to Thorndyke, who looked at it -and passed it to me. - -"The very thing, Polton," my friend replied. "Where did you find it? -It's of no use for you to pretend that you've made it in about two -minutes and a half." - -Polton smiled one of his queer crinkly smiles, and remarking that "it -didn't take much making," departed much gratified by the compliment. - -"What a wonderful old fellow that is, Jervis," Thorndyke observed as his -factotum retired. "He took in the idea instantly and seems to have -produced the finished article by magic, as the conjurers bring forth -rabbits and bowls of goldfish at a moment's notice. I suppose you see -what your <i>modus operandi</i> is to be?" - -I had gathered a clue from the little appliance--a plate of white -fret-wood about seven inches by five, to one corner of which a -pocket-compass had been fixed with shellac--but was not quite clear as -to the details of the method. - -"You can read a compass pretty quickly, I think?" Thorndyke said. - -"Of course I can. Used we not to sail a yacht together when we were -students?" - -"To be sure we did; and we will again before we die. And now as to your -method of locating this house. Here is a pocket reading-lamp which you -can hook on the carriage lining. This notebook can be fixed to the board -with an india-rubber band--thus. You observe that the thoughtful Polton -has stuck a piece of thread on the glass of the compass to serve as a -lubber's line. This is how you will proceed. As soon as you are locked -in the carriage, light your lamp--better have a book with you in case -the light is noticed--take out your watch and put the board on your -knee, keeping its long side exactly in a line with the axis of the -carriage. Then enter in one narrow column of your notebook the time, in -the other the direction shown by the compass, and in the broad column -any particulars, including the number of steps the horse makes in a -minute. Like this." - -He took a loose sheet of paper and made one or two sample entries on it -in pencil, thus-- - - "9.40. S.E. Start from home. - 9.41 S.W. Granite setts. - 9.43. S.W. Wood pavement. Hoofs 104. - 9.47. W. by S Granite crossing. Macadam-- - -and so on. Note every change of direction, with the time; and whenever -you hear or feel anything from outside, note it, with the time and -direction; and don't forget to note any variations in the horse's pace. -You follow the process?" - -"Perfectly. But do you think the method is accurate enough to fix the -position of a house? Remember, this is only a pocket-compass with no -dial, and it will jump frightfully. And the mode of estimating distance -is very rough." - -"That is all perfectly true," Thorndyke answered. "But you are -overlooking certain important facts. The track-chart that you will -produce can be checked by other data. The house, for instance, has a -covered way by which you could identify it if you knew approximately -where to look for it. Then you must remember that your carriage is not -travelling over a featureless plain. It is passing through streets which -have a determined position and direction and which are accurately -represented on the ordnance map. I think, Jervis, that, in spite of the -apparent roughness of the method, if you make your observations -carefully, we shall have no trouble in narrowing down the inquiry to a -quite small area. If we get the chance, that is to say." - -"Yes, if we do. I am doubtful whether Mr. Weiss will require my services -again, but I sincerely hope he will. It would be rare sport to locate -his secret burrow, all unsuspected. But now I must really be off." - -"Good-bye, then," said Thorndyke, slipping a well-sharpened pencil -through the rubber band that fixed the notebook to the board. "Let me -know how the adventure progresses--if it progresses at all--and -remember, I hold your promise to come and see me again quite soon in any -case." - -He handed me the board and the lamp, and, when I had slipped them into -my pocket, we shook hands and I hurried away, a little uneasy at having -left my charge so long. - - - - -Chapter III - -"A Chiel's Amang Ye Takin' Notes" - - -The attitude of the suspicious man tends to generate in others the kind -of conduct that seems to justify his suspicions. In most of us there -lurks a certain strain of mischief which trustfulness disarms but -distrust encourages. The inexperienced kitten which approaches us -confidingly with arched back and upright tail, soliciting caresses, -generally receives the gentle treatment that it expects; whereas the -worldly-wise tom-cat, who, in response to friendly advances, scampers -away and grins at us suspiciously from the fancied security of an -adjacent wall, impels us to accelerate his retreat with a well-directed -clod. - -Now the proceedings of Mr. H. Weiss resembled those of the tom-cat -aforesaid and invited an analogous reply. To a responsible professional -man his extraordinary precautions were at once an affront and a -challenge. Apart from graver considerations, I found myself dwelling -with unholy pleasure on the prospect of locating the secret hiding-place -from which he seemed to grin at me with such complacent defiance; and I -lost no time and spared no trouble in preparing myself for the -adventure. The very hansom which bore me from the Temple to Kennington -Lane was utilized for a preliminary test of Thorndyke's little -apparatus. During the whole of that brief journey I watched the compass -closely, noted the feel and sound of the road-material and timed the -trotting of the horse. And the result was quite encouraging. It is true -that the compass-needle oscillated wildly to the vibration of the cab, -but still its oscillations took place around a definite point which was -the average direction, and it was evident to me that the data it -furnished were very fairly reliable. I felt very little doubt, after the -preliminary trial, as to my being able to produce a moderately -intelligible track-chart if only I should get an opportunity to exercise -my skill. - -But it looked as if I should not. Mr. Weiss's promise to send for me -again soon was not fulfilled. Three days passed and still he made no -sign. I began to fear that I had been too outspoken; that the shuttered -carriage had gone forth to seek some more confiding and easy-going -practitioner, and that our elaborate preparations had been made in vain. -When the fourth day drew towards a close and still no summons had come, -I was disposed reluctantly to write the case off as a lost opportunity. - -And at that moment, in the midst of my regrets, the bottle-boy thrust an -uncomely head in at the door. His voice was coarse, his accent was -hideous, and his grammatical construction beneath contempt; but I -forgave him all when I gathered the import of his message. - -"Mr. Weiss's carriage is waiting, and he says will you come as quickly -as you can because he's took very bad to-night." - -I sprang from my chair and hastily collected the necessaries for the -journey. The little board and the lamp I put in my overcoat pocket; I -overhauled the emergency bag and added to its usual contents a bottle of -permanganate of potassium which I thought I might require. Then I tucked -the evening paper under my arm and went out. - -The coachman, who was standing at the horse's head as I emerged, touched -his hat and came forward to open the door. - -"I have fortified myself for the long drive, you see," I remarked, -exhibiting the newspaper as I stepped into the carriage. - -"But you can't read in the dark," said he. - -"No, but I have provided myself with a lamp," I replied, producing it -and striking a match. - -He watched me as I lit the lamp and hooked it on the back cushion, and -observed: - -"I suppose you found it rather a dull ride last time. It's a longish -way. They might have fitted the carriage with an inside lamp. But we -shall have to make it a quicker passage to-night. Governor says Mr. -Graves is uncommon bad." - -With this he slammed the door and locked it. I drew the board from my -pocket, laid it on my knee, glanced at my watch, and, as the coachman -climbed to his seat, I made the first entry in the little book. - -"8.58. W. by S. Start from home. Horse 13 hands." - -The first move of the carriage on starting was to turn round as if -heading for Newington Butts, and the second entry accordingly read: - -"8.58.30. E. by N." - -But this direction was not maintained long. Very soon we turned south -and then west and then south again. I sat with my eyes riveted on the -compass, following with some difficulty its rapid changes. The needle -swung to and fro incessantly but always within a definite arc, the -centre of which was the true direction. But this direction varied from -minute to minute in the most astonishing manner. West, south, east, -north, the carriage turned, "boxing" the compass until I lost all count -of direction. It was an amazing performance. Considering that the man -was driving against time on a mission of life and death urgency, his -carelessness as to direction was astounding. The tortuousness of the -route must have made the journey twice as long as it need have been -with a little more careful selection. At least so it appeared to me, -though, naturally, I was not in a position to offer an authoritative -criticism. - -As far as I could judge, we followed the same route as before. Once I -heard a tug's whistle and knew that we were near the river, and we -passed the railway station, apparently at the same time as on the -previous occasion, for I heard a passenger train start and assumed that -it was the same train. We crossed quite a number of thoroughfares with -tram-lines--I had no idea there were so many--and it was a revelation to -me to find how numerous the railway arches were in this part of London -and how continually the nature of the road-metal varied. - -It was by no means a dull journey this time. The incessant changes of -direction and variations in the character of the road kept me most -uncommonly busy; for I had hardly time to scribble down one entry before -the compass-needle would swing round sharply, showing that we had once -more turned a corner; and I was quite taken by surprise when the -carriage slowed down and turned into the covered way. Very hastily I -scribbled down the final entry ("9.24. S.E. In covered way"), and having -closed the book and slipped it and the board into my pocket, had just -opened out the newspaper when the carriage door was unlocked and opened, -whereupon I unhooked and blew out the lamp and pocketed that too, -reflecting that it might be useful later. - -As on the last occasion, Mrs. Schallibaum stood in the open doorway with -a lighted candle. But she was a good deal less self-possessed this time. -In fact she looked rather wild and terrified. Even by the candle-light -I could see that she was very pale and she seemed unable to keep still. -As she gave me the few necessary words of explanation, she fidgeted -incessantly and her hands and feet were in constant movement. - -"You had better come up with me at once," she said. "Mr. Graves is much -worse to-night. We will wait not for Mr. Weiss." - -Without waiting for a reply she quickly ascended the stairs and I -followed. The room was in much the same condition as before. But the -patient was not. As soon as I entered the room, a soft, rhythmical -gurgle from the bed gave me a very clear warning of danger. I stepped -forward quickly and looked down at the prostrate figure, and the warning -gathered emphasis. The sick man's ghastly face was yet more ghastly; his -eyes were more sunken, his skin more livid; "his nose was as sharp as a -pen," and if he did not "babble of green fields" it was because he -seemed to be beyond even that. If it had been a case of disease, I -should have said at once that he was dying. He had all the appearance of -a man <i>in articulo mortis</i>. Even as it was, feeling convinced that the -case was one of morphine poisoning, I was far from confident that I -should be able to draw him back from the extreme edge of vitality on -which he trembled so insecurely. - -"He is very ill? He is dying?" - -It was Mrs. Schallibaum's voice; very low, but eager and intense. I -turned, with my finger on the patient's wrist, and looked into the face -of the most thoroughly scared woman I have ever seen. She made no -attempt now to avoid the light, but looked me squarely in the face, and -I noticed, half-unconsciously, that her eyes were brown and had a -curious strained expression. - -"Yes," I answered, "he is very ill. He is in great danger." - -She still stared at me fixedly for some seconds. And then a very odd -thing occurred. Suddenly she squinted--squinted horribly; not with the -familiar convergent squint which burlesque artists imitate, but with -external or divergent squint of extreme near sight or unequal vision. -The effect was quite startling. One moment both her eyes were looking -straight into mine; the next, one of them rolled round until it looked -out of the uttermost corner, leaving the other gazing steadily forward. - -She was evidently conscious of the change, for she turned her head away -quickly and reddened somewhat. But it was no time for thoughts of -personal appearance. - -"You can save him, doctor! You will not let him die! He must not be -allowed to die!" - -She spoke with as much passion as if he had been the dearest friend that -she had in the world, which I suspected was far from being the case. But -her manifest terror had its uses. - -"If anything is to be done to save him," I said, "it must be done -quickly. I will give him some medicine at once, and meanwhile you must -make some strong coffee." - -"Coffee!" she exclaimed. "But we have none in the house. Will not tea -do, if I make it very strong?" - -"No, it will not. I must have coffee; and I must have it quickly." - -"Then I suppose I must go and get some. But it is late. The shops will -be shut. And I don't like leaving Mr. Graves." - -"Can't you send the coachman?" I asked. - -She shook her head impatiently. "No, that is no use. I must wait until -Mr. Weiss comes." - -"That won't do," I said, sharply. "He will slip through our fingers -while you are waiting. You must go and get that coffee at once and bring -it to me as soon as it is ready. And I want a tumbler and some water." - -She brought me a water-bottle and glass from the wash-stand and then, -with a groan of despair, hurried from the room. - -I lost no time in applying the remedies that I had to hand. Shaking out -into the tumbler a few crystals of potassium permanganate, I filled it -up with water and approached the patient. His stupor was profound. I -shook him as roughly as was safe in his depressed condition, but -elicited no resistance or responsive movement. As it seemed very -doubtful whether he was capable of swallowing, I dared not take the risk -of pouring the liquid into his mouth for fear of suffocating him. A -stomach-tube would have solved the difficulty, but, of course, I had not -one with me. I had, however, a mouth-speculum which also acted as a gag, -and, having propped the patient's mouth open with this, I hastily -slipped off one of the rubber tubes from my stethoscope and inserted -into one end of it a vulcanite ear-speculum to serve as a funnel. Then, -introducing the other end of the tube into the gullet as far as its -length would permit, I cautiously poured a small quantity of the -permanganate solution into the extemporized funnel. To my great relief a -movement of the throat showed that the swallowing reflex still existed, -and, thus encouraged, I poured down the tube as much of the fluid as I -thought it wise to administer at one time. - -The dose of permanganate that I had given was enough to neutralize any -reasonable quantity of the poison that might yet remain in the stomach. -I had next to deal with that portion of the drug which had already been -absorbed and was exercising its poisonous effects. Taking my hypodermic -case from my bag, I prepared in the syringe a full dose of atropine -sulphate, which I injected forthwith into the unconscious man's arm. And -that was all that I could do, so far as remedies were concerned, until -the coffee arrived. - -I cleaned and put away the syringe, washed the tube, and then, returning -to the bedside, endeavoured to rouse the patient from his profound -lethargy. But great care was necessary. A little injudicious roughness -of handling, and that thready, flickering pulse might stop for ever; and -yet it was almost certain that if he were not speedily aroused, his -stupor would gradually deepen until it shaded off imperceptibly into -death. I went to work very cautiously, moving his limbs about, flicking -his face and chest with the corner of a wet towel, tickling the soles -of his feet, and otherwise applying stimuli that were strong without -being violent. - -So occupied was I with my efforts to resuscitate my mysterious patient -that I did not notice the opening of the door, and it was with something -of a start that, happening to glance round, I perceived at the farther -end of the room the shadowy figure of a man relieved by two spots of -light reflected from his spectacles. How long he had been watching me I -cannot say, but, when he saw that I had observed him, he came -forward--though not very far--and I saw that he was Mr. Weiss. - -"I am afraid," he said, "that you do not find my friend so well -to-night?" - -"So well!" I exclaimed. "I don't find him well at all. I am exceedingly -anxious about him." - -"You don't--er--anticipate anything of a--er--anything serious, I hope?" - -"There is no need to anticipate," said I. "It is already about as -serious as it can be. I think he might die at any moment." - -"Good God!" he gasped. "You horrify me!" - -He was not exaggerating. In his agitation, he stepped forward into the -lighter part of the room, and I could see that his face was pale to -ghastliness--except his nose and the adjacent red patches on his cheeks, -which stood out in grotesquely hideous contrast. Presently, however, he -recovered a little and said: - -"I really think--at least I hope--that you take an unnecessarily serious -view of his condition. He has been like this before, you know." - -I felt pretty certain that he had not, but there was no use in -discussing the question. I therefore replied, as I continued my efforts -to rouse the patient: - -"That may or may not be. But in any case there comes a last time; and it -may have come now." - -"I hope not," he said; "although I understand that these cases always -end fatally sooner or later." - -"What cases?" I asked. - -"I was referring to sleeping sickness; but perhaps you have formed some -other opinion as to the nature of this dreadful complaint." - -I hesitated for a moment, and he continued: "As to your suggestion that -his symptoms might be due to drugs, I think we may consider that as -disposed of. He has been watched, practically without cessation since -you came last, and, moreover, I have myself turned out the room and -examined the bed and have not found a trace of any drug. Have you gone -into the question of sleeping sickness?" - -I looked at the man narrowly before answering, and distrusted him more -than ever. But this was no time for reticence. My concern was with the -patient and his present needs. After all, I was, as Thorndyke had said, -a doctor, not a detective, and the circumstances called for -straightforward speech and action on my part. - -"I have considered that question," I said, "and have come to a perfectly -definite conclusion. His symptoms are not those of sleeping sickness. -They are in my opinion undoubtedly due to morphine poisoning." - -"But my dear sir!" he exclaimed, "the thing is impossible! Haven't I -just told you that he has been watched continuously?" - -"I can only judge by the appearances that I find," I answered; and, -seeing that he was about to offer fresh objections, I continued: "Don't -let us waste precious time in discussion, or Mr. Graves may be dead -before we have reached a conclusion. If you will hurry them up about the -coffee that I asked for some time ago, I will take the other necessary -measures, and perhaps we may manage to pull him round." - -The rather brutal decision of my manner evidently daunted him. It must -have been plain to him that I was not prepared to accept any explanation -of the unconscious man's condition other than that of morphine -poisoning; whence the inference was pretty plain that the alternatives -were recovery or an inquest. Replying stiffly that I "must do as I -thought best," he hurried from the room, leaving me to continue my -efforts without further interruption. - -For some time these efforts seemed to make no impression. The man lay as -still and impassive as a corpse excepting for the slow, shallow and -rather irregular breathing with its ominous accompanying rattle. But -presently, by imperceptible degrees, signs of returning life began to -make their appearance. A sharp slap on the cheek with the wet towel -produced a sensible flicker of the eyelids; a similar slap on the chest -was followed by a slight gasp. A pencil, drawn over the sole of the -foot, occasioned a visible shrinking movement, and, on looking once -more at the eyes, I detected a slight change that told me that the -atropine was beginning to take effect. - -This was very encouraging, and, so far, quite satisfactory, though it -would have been premature to rejoice. I kept the patient carefully -covered and maintained the process of gentle irritation, moving his -limbs and shoulders, brushing his hair and generally bombarding his -deadened senses with small but repeated stimuli. And under this -treatment, the improvement continued so far that on my bawling a -question into his ear he actually opened his eyes for an instant, though -in another moment, the lids had sunk back into their former position. - -Soon after this, Mr. Weiss re-entered the room, followed by Mrs. -Schallibaum, who carried a small tray, on which were a jug of coffee, a -jug of milk, a cup and saucer and a sugar basin. - -"How do you find him now?" Mr. Weiss asked anxiously. - -"I am glad to say that there is a distinct improvement," I replied. "But -we must persevere. He is by no means out of the wood yet." - -I examined the coffee, which looked black and strong and had a very -reassuring smell, and, pouring out half a cupful, approached the bed. - -"Now, Mr. Graves," I shouted, "we want you to drink some of this." - -The flaccid eyelids lifted for an instant but there was no other -response. I gently opened the unresisting mouth and ladled in a couple -of spoonfuls of coffee, which were immediately swallowed; whereupon I -repeated the proceeding and continued at short intervals until the cup -was empty. The effect of the new remedy soon became apparent. He began -to mumble and mutter obscurely in response to the questions that I -bellowed at him, and once or twice he opened his eyes and looked -dreamily into my face. Then I sat him up and made him drink some coffee -from the cup, and, all the time, kept up a running fire of questions, -which made up in volume of sound for what they lacked of relevancy. - -Of these proceedings Mr. Weiss and his housekeeper were highly -interested spectators, and the former, contrary to his usual practice, -came quite close up to the bed, to get a better view. - -"It is really a most remarkable thing," he said, "but it almost looks as -if you were right, after all. He is certainly much better. But tell me, -would this treatment produce a similar improvement if the symptoms were -due to disease?" - -"No," I answered, "it certainly would not." - -"Then that seems to settle it. But it is a most mysterious affair. Can -you suggest any way in which he can have concealed a store of the drug?" - -I stood up and looked him straight in the face; it was the first chance -I had had of inspecting him by any but the feeblest light, and I looked -at him very attentively. Now, it is a curious fact--though one that most -persons must have observed--that there sometimes occurs a considerable -interval between the reception of a visual impression and its complete -transfer to the consciousness. A thing may be seen, as it were, -unconsciously, and the impression consigned, apparently, to instant -oblivion; and yet the picture may be subsequently revived by memory with -such completeness that its details can be studied as though the object -were still actually visible. - -Something of this kind must have happened to me now. Preoccupied as I -was, by the condition of the patient, the professional habit of rapid -and close observation caused me to direct a searching glance at the man -before me. It was only a brief glance--for Mr. Weiss, perhaps -embarrassed by my keen regard of him, almost immediately withdrew into -the shadow--and my attention seemed principally to be occupied by the -odd contrast between the pallor of his face and the redness of his nose -and by the peculiar stiff, bristly character of his eyebrows. But there -was another fact, and a very curious one, that was observed by me -subconsciously and instantly forgotten, to be revived later when I -reflected on the events of the night. It was this: - -As Mr. Weiss stood, with his head slightly turned, I was able to look -through one glass of his spectacles at the wall beyond. On the wall was -a framed print; and the edge of the frame, seen through the -spectacle-glass, appeared quite unaltered and free from distortion, -magnification or reduction, as if seen through plain window-glass; and -yet the reflections of the candle-flame in the spectacles showed the -flame upside down, proving conclusively that the glasses were concave on -one surface at least. The strange phenomenon was visible only for a -moment or two, and as it passed out of my sight it passed also out of my -mind. - -"No," I said, replying to the last question; "I can think of no way in -which he could have effectually hidden a store of morphine. Judging by -the symptoms, he has taken a large dose, and, if he has been in the -habit of consuming large quantities, his stock would be pretty bulky. I -can offer no suggestion whatever." - -"I suppose you consider him quite out of danger now?" - -"Oh, not at all. I think we can pull him round if we persevere, but he -must not be allowed to sink back into a state of coma. We must keep him -on the move until the effects of the drug have really passed off. If you -will put him into his dressing-gown we will walk him up and down the -room for a while." - -"But is that safe?" Mr. Weiss asked anxiously. - -"Quite safe," I answered. "I will watch his pulse carefully. The danger -is in the possibility, or rather certainty, of a relapse if he is not -kept moving." - -With obvious unwillingness and disapproval, Mr. Weiss produced a -dressing-gown and together we invested the patient in it. Then we -dragged him, very limp, but not entirely unresisting, out of bed and -stood him on his feet. He opened his eyes and blinked owlishly first at -one and then at the other of us, and mumbled a few unintelligible words -of protest; regardless of which, we thrust his feet into slippers and -endeavoured to make him walk. At first he seemed unable to stand, and we -had to support him by his arms as we urged him forward; but presently -his trailing legs began to make definite walking movements, and, after -one or two turns up and down the room, he was not only able partly to -support his weight, but showed evidence of reviving consciousness in -more energetic protests. - -At this point Mr. Weiss astonished me by transferring the arm that he -held to the housekeeper. - -"If you will excuse me, doctor," said he, "I will go now and attend to -some rather important business that I have had to leave unfinished. Mrs. -Schallibaum will be able to give you all the assistance that you -require, and will order the carriage when you think it safe to leave the -patient. In case I should not see you again I will say 'good night.' I -hope you won't think me very unceremonious." - -He shook hands with me and went out of the room, leaving me, as I have -said, profoundly astonished that he should consider any business of more -moment than the condition of his friend, whose life, even now, was but -hanging by a thread. However, it was really no concern of mine. I could -do without him, and the resuscitation of this unfortunate half-dead man -gave me occupation enough to engross my whole attention. - -The melancholy progress up and down the room re-commenced, and with it -the mumbled protests from the patient. As we walked, and especially as -we turned, I caught frequent glimpses of the housekeeper's face. But it -was nearly always in profile. She appeared to avoid looking me in the -face, though she did so once or twice; and on each of these occasions -her eyes were directed at me in a normal manner without any sign of a -squint. Nevertheless, I had the impression that when her face was turned -away from me she squinted. The "swivel eye"--the left--was towards me as -she held the patient's right arm, and it was almost continuously turned -in my direction, whereas I felt convinced that she was really looking -straight before her, though, of course, her right eye was invisible to -me. It struck me, even at the time, as an odd affair, but I was too much -concerned about my charge to give it much consideration. - -Meanwhile the patient continued to revive apace. And the more he -revived, the more energetically did he protest against this wearisome -perambulation. But he was evidently a polite gentleman, for, muddled as -his faculties were, he managed to clothe his objections in courteous and -even gracious forms of speech singularly out of agreement with the -character that Mr. Weiss had given him. - -"I thangyou," he mumbled thickly. "Ver' good take s'much trouble. Think -I will lie down now." He looked wistfully at the bed, but I wheeled him -about and marched him once more down the room. He submitted -unresistingly, but as we again approached the bed he reopened the -matter. - -"S'quite s'fficient, thang you. Gebback to bed now. Much 'bliged frall -your kindness"--here I turned him round--"no, really; m'feeling rather -tired. Sh'like to lie down now, f'you'd be s'good." - -"You must walk about a little longer, Mr. Graves," I said. "It would be -very bad for you to go to sleep again." - -He looked at me with a curious, dull surprise, and reflected awhile as -if in some perplexity. Then he looked at me again and said: - -"Thing, sir, you are mistake--mistaken me--mist--" - -Here Mrs. Schallibaum interrupted sharply: - -"The doctor thinks it's good for you to walk about. You've been sleeping -too much. He doesn't want you to sleep any more just now." - -"Don't wanter sleep; wanter lie down," said the patient. - -"But you mustn't lie down for a little while. You must walk about for a -few minutes more. And you'd better not talk. Just walk up and down." - -"There's no harm in his talking," said I; "in fact it's good for him. It -will help to keep him awake." - -"I should think it would tire him," said Mrs. Schallibaum; "and it -worries me to hear him asking to lie down when we can't let him." - -She spoke sharply and in an unnecessarily high tone so that the patient -could not fail to hear. Apparently he took in the very broad hint -contained in the concluding sentence, for he trudged wearily and -unsteadily up and down the room for some time without speaking, though -he continued to look at me from time to time as if something in my -appearance puzzled him exceedingly. At length his intolerable longing -for repose overcame his politeness and he returned to the attack. - -"Surely v' walked enough now. Feeling very tired. Am really. Would you -be s'kind 's t'let me lie down few minutes?" - -"Don't you think he might lie down for a little while?" Mrs. Schallibaum -asked. - -I felt his pulse, and decided that he was really becoming fatigued, and -that it would be wiser not to overdo the exercise while he was so weak. -Accordingly, I consented to his returning to bed, and turned him round -in that direction; whereupon he tottered gleefully towards his -resting-place like a tired horse heading for its stable. - -As soon as he was tucked in, I gave him a full cup of coffee, which he -drank with some avidity as if thirsty. Then I sat down by the bedside, -and, with a view to keeping him awake, began once more to ply him with -questions. - -"Does your head ache, Mr. Graves?" I asked. - -"The doctor says 'does your head ache?'" Mrs. Schallibaum squalled, so -loudly that the patient started perceptibly. - -"I heard him, m'dear girl," he answered with a faint smile. "Not deaf -you know. Yes. Head aches a good deal. But I thing this gennleman -mistakes--" - -"He says you are to keep awake. You mustn't go to sleep again, and you -are not to close your eyes." - -"All ri' Pol'n. Keep'm open," and he proceeded forthwith to shut them -with an air of infinite peacefulness. I grasped his hand and shook it -gently, on which he opened his eyes and looked at me sleepily. The -housekeeper stroked his head, keeping her face half-turned from me--as -she had done almost constantly, to conceal the squinting eye, as I -assumed--and said: - -"Need we keep you any longer, doctor? It is getting very late and you -have a long way to go." - -I looked doubtfully at the patient. I was loath to leave him, -distrusting these people as I did. But I had my work to do on the -morrow, with, perhaps, a night call or two in the interval, and the -endurance even of a general practitioner has its limits. - -"I think I heard the carriage some time ago," Mrs. Schallibaum added. - -I rose hesitatingly and looked at my watch. It had turned half-past -eleven. - -"You understand," I said in a low voice, "that the danger is not over? -If he is left now he will fall asleep, and in all human probability will -never wake. You clearly understand that?" - -"Yes, quite clearly. I promise you he shall not be allowed to fall -asleep again." - -As she spoke, she looked me full in the face for a few moments, and I -noted that her eyes had a perfectly normal appearance, without any trace -whatever of a squint. - -"Very well," I said. "On that understanding I will go now; and I shall -hope to find our friend quite recovered at my next visit." - -I turned to the patient, who was already dozing, and shook his hand -heartily. - -"Good-bye, Mr. Graves!" I said. "I am sorry to have to disturb your -repose so much; but you must keep awake, you know. Won't do to go to -sleep." - -"Ver' well," he replied drowsily. "Sorry t' give you all this trouble. -L' keep awake. But I think you're mistak'n--" - -"He says it's very important that you shouldn't go to sleep, and that I -am to see that you don't. Do you understand?" - -"Yes, I un'stan'. But why does this gennlem'n--?" - -"Now it's of no use for you to ask a lot of questions," Mrs. Schallibaum -said playfully; "we'll talk to you to-morrow. Good night, doctor. I'll -light you down the stairs, but I won't come down with you, or the -patient will be falling asleep again." - -Taking this definite dismissal, I retired, followed by a dreamily -surprised glance from the sick man. The housekeeper held the candle over -the balusters until I reached the bottom of the stairs, when I perceived -through the open door along the passage a glimmer of light from the -carriage lamps. The coachman was standing just outside, faintly -illuminated by the very dim lamplight, and as I stepped into the -carriage he remarked in his Scotch dialect that I "seemed to have been -makin' a nicht of it." He did not wait for any reply--none being in fact -needed--but shut the door and locked it. - -I lit my little pocket-lamp and hung it on the back cushion. I even drew -the board and notebook from my pocket. But it seemed rather unnecessary -to take a fresh set of notes, and, to tell the truth, I rather shirked -the labour, tired as I was after my late exertions; besides, I wanted -to think over the events of the evening, while they were fresh in my -memory. Accordingly I put away the notebook, filled and lighted my pipe, -and settled myself to review the incidents attending my second visit to -this rather uncanny house. - -Considered in leisurely retrospect, that visit offered quite a number of -problems that called for elucidation. There was the patient's condition, -for instance. Any doubt as to the cause of his symptoms was set at rest -by the effect of the antidotes. Mr. Graves was certainly under the -influence of morphine, and the only doubtful question was how he had -become so. That he had taken the poison himself was incredible. No -morphinomaniac would take such a knock-down dose. It was practically -certain that the poison had been administered by someone else, and, on -Mr. Weiss's own showing, there was no one but himself and the -housekeeper who could have administered it. And to this conclusion all -the other very queer circumstances pointed. - -What were these circumstances? They were, as I have said, numerous, -though many of them seemed trivial. To begin with, Mr. Weiss's habit of -appearing some time after my arrival and disappearing some time before -my departure was decidedly odd. But still more odd was his sudden -departure this evening on what looked like a mere pretext. That -departure coincided in time with the sick man's recovery of the power of -speech. Could it be that Mr. Weiss was afraid that the half-conscious -man might say something compromising to him in my presence? It looked -rather like it. And yet he had gone away and left me with the patient -and the housekeeper. - -But when I came to think about it I remembered that Mrs. Schallibaum had -shown some anxiety to prevent the patient from talking. She had -interrupted him more than once, and had on two occasions broken in when -he seemed to be about to ask me some question. I was "mistaken" about -something. What was that something that he wanted to tell me? - -It had struck me as singular that there should be no coffee in the -house, but a sufficiency of tea. Germans are not usually tea-drinkers -and they do take coffee. But perhaps there was nothing in this. Rather -more remarkable was the invisibility of the coachman. Why could he not -be sent to fetch the coffee, and why did not he, rather than the -housekeeper, come to take the place of Mr. Weiss when the latter had to -go away. - -There were other points, too. I recalled the word that sounded like -"Pol'n," which Mr. Graves had used in speaking to the housekeeper. -Apparently it was a Christian name of some kind; but why did Mr. Graves -call the woman by her Christian name when Mr. Weiss addressed her -formally as Mrs. Schallibaum? And, as to the woman herself: what was the -meaning of that curious disappearing squint? Physically it presented no -mystery. The woman had an ordinary divergent squint, and, like many -people, who suffer from this displacement, could, by a strong muscular -effort, bring the eyes temporarily into their normal parallel position. -I had detected the displacement when she had tried to maintain the -effort too long, and the muscular control had given way. But why had she -done it? Was it only feminine vanity--mere sensitiveness respecting a -slight personal disfigurement? It might be so; or there might be some -further motive. It was impossible to say. - -Turning this question over, I suddenly remembered the peculiarity of Mr. -Weiss's spectacles. And here I met with a real poser. I had certainly -seen through those spectacles as clearly as if they had been plain -window-glass; and they had certainly given an inverted reflection of the -candle-flame like that thrown from the surface of a concave lens. Now -they obviously could not be both flat and concave; but yet they had the -properties peculiar to both flatness and concavity. And there was a -further difficulty. If I could see objects unaltered through them, so -could Mr. Weiss. But the function of spectacles is to alter the -appearances of objects, by magnification, reduction or compensating -distortion. If they leave the appearances unchanged they are useless. I -could make nothing of it. After puzzling over it for quite a long time, -I had to give it up; which I did the less unwillingly inasmuch as the -construction of Mr. Weiss's spectacles had no apparent bearing on the -case. - -On arriving home, I looked anxiously at the message-book, and was -relieved to find that there were no further visits to be made. Having -made up a mixture for Mr. Graves and handed it to the coachman, I raked -the ashes of the surgery fire together and sat down to smoke a final -pipe while I reflected once more on the singular and suspicious case in -which I had become involved. But fatigue soon put an end to my -meditations; and having come to the conclusion that the circumstances -demanded a further consultation with Thorndyke, I turned down the gas to -a microscopic blue spark and betook myself to bed. - - - - -Chapter IV - -The Official View - - -I rose on the following morning still possessed by the determination to -make some oportunity during the day to call on Thorndyke and take his -advice on the now urgent question as to what I was to do. I use the word -"urgent" advisedly; for the incidents of the preceding evening had left -me with the firm conviction that poison was being administered for some -purpose to my mysterious patient, and that no time must be lost if his -life was to be saved. Last night he had escaped only by the narrowest -margin--assuming him to be still alive--and it was only my unexpectedly -firm attitude that had compelled Mr. Weiss to agree to restorative -measures. - -That I should be sent for again I had not the slightest expectation. If -what I so strongly suspected was true, Weiss would call in some other -doctor, in the hope of better luck, and it was imperative that he -should be stopped before it was too late. This was my view, but I meant -to have Thorndyke's opinion, and act under his direction, but - - - "The best laid plans of mice and men - Gang aft agley." - -When I came downstairs and took a preliminary glance at the rough -memorandum-book, kept by the bottle-boy, or, in his absence, by the -housemaid, I stood aghast. The morning's entries looked already like a -sample page of the Post Office directory. The new calls alone were more -than equal to an ordinary day's work, and the routine visits remained to -be added. Gloomily wondering whether the Black Death had made a sudden -reappearance in England, I hurried to the dining-room and made a hasty -breakfast, interrupted at intervals by the apparition of the bottle-boy -to announce new messages. - -The first two or three visits solved the mystery. An epidemic of -influenza had descended on the neighbourhood, and I was getting not only -our own normal work but a certain amount of overflow from other -practices. Further, it appeared that a strike in the building trade had -been followed immediately by a widespread failure of health among the -bricklayers who were members of a certain benefit club; which accounted -for the remarkable suddenness of the outbreak. - -Of course, my contemplated visit to Thorndyke was out of the question. I -should have to act on my own responsibility. But in the hurry and rush -and anxiety of the work--for some of the cases were severe and even -critical--I had no opportunity to consider any course of action, nor -time to carry it out. Even with the aid of a hansom which I chartered, -as Stillbury kept no carriage, I had not finished my last visit until -near on midnight, and was then so spent with fatigue that I fell asleep -over my postponed supper. - -As the next day opened with a further increase of work, I sent a -telegram to Dr. Stillbury at Hastings, whither he had gone, like a wise -man, to recruit after a slight illness. I asked for authority to engage -an assistant, but the reply informed me that Stillbury himself was on -his way to town; and to my relief, when I dropped in at the surgery for -a cup of tea, I found him rubbing his hands over the open day-book. - -"It's an ill wind that blows nobody good," he remarked cheerfully as we -shook hands. "This will pay the expenses of my holiday, including you. -By the way, you are not anxious to be off, I suppose?" - -As a matter of fact, I was; for I had decided to accept Thorndyke's -offer, and was now eager to take up my duties with him. But it would -have been shabby to leave Stillbury to battle alone with this rush of -work or to seek the services of a strange assistant. - -"I should like to get off as soon as you can spare me," I replied, "but -I'm not going to leave you in the lurch." - -"That's a good fellow," said Stillbury. "I knew you wouldn't. Let us -have some tea and divide up the work. Anything of interest going?" - -There were one or two unusual cases on the list, and, as we marked off -our respective patients, I gave him the histories in brief synopsis. And -then I opened the subject of my mysterious experiences at the house of -Mr. Weiss. - -"There's another affair that I want to tell you about; rather an -unpleasant business." - -"Oh, dear!" exclaimed Stillbury. He put down his cup and regarded me -with quite painful anxiety. - -"It looks to me like an undoubted case of criminal poisoning," I -continued. - -Stillbury's face cleared instantly. "Oh, I'm glad it's nothing more than -that," he said with an air of relief. "I was afraid, it was some -confounded woman. There's always that danger, you know, when a locum is -young and happens--if I may say so, Jervis--to be a good-looking fellow. -Let us hear about this case." - -I gave him a condensed narrative of my connection with the mysterious -patient, omitting any reference to Thorndyke, and passing lightly over -my efforts to fix the position of the house, and wound up with the -remark that the facts ought certainly to be communicated to the police. - -"Yes," he admitted reluctantly, "I suppose you're right. Deuced -unpleasant though. Police cases don't do a practice any good. They waste -a lot of time, too; keep you hanging about to give evidence. Still, you -are quite right. We can't stand by and see the poor devil poisoned -without making some effort. But I don't believe the police will do -anything in the matter." - -"Don't you really?" - -"No, I don't. They like to have things pretty well cut and dried before -they act. A prosecution is an expensive affair, so they don't care to -prosecute unless they are fairly sure of a conviction. If they fail they -get hauled over the coals." - -"But don't you think they would get a conviction in this case?" - -"Not on your evidence, Jervis. They might pick up something fresh, but, -if they didn't they would fail. You haven't got enough hard-baked facts -to upset a capable defence. Still, that isn't our affair. You want to -put the responsibility on the police and I entirely agree with you." - -"There ought not to be any delay," said I. - -"There needn't be. I shall look in on Mrs. Wackford and you have to see -the Rummel children; we shall pass the station on our way. Why shouldn't -we drop in and see the inspector or superintendent?" - -The suggestion met my views exactly. As soon as we had finished tea, we -set forth, and in about ten minutes found ourselves in the bare and -forbidding office attached to the station. - -The presiding officer descended from a high stool, and, carefully laying -down his pen, shook hands cordially. - -"And what can I do for you gentlemen?" he asked, with an affable smile. - -Stillbury proceeded to open our business. - -"My friend here, Dr. Jervis, who has very kindly been looking after my -work for a week or two, has had a most remarkable experience, and he -wants to tell you about it." - -"Something in my line of business?" the officer inquired. - -"That," said I, "is for you to judge. I think it is, but you may think -otherwise"; and hereupon, without further preamble, I plunged into the -history of the case, giving him a condensed statement similar to that -which I had already made to Stillbury. - -He listened with close attention, jotting down from time to time a brief -note on a sheet of paper; and, when I had finished, he wrote out in a -black-covered notebook a short précis of my statement. - -"I have written down here," he said, "the substance of what you have -told me. I will read the deposition over to you, and, if it is correct, -I will ask you to sign it." - -He did so, and, when I had signed the document, I asked him what was -likely to be done in the matter. - -"I am afraid," he replied, "that we can't take any active measures. You -have put us on our guard and we shall keep our eyes open. But I think -that is all we can do, unless we hear something further." - -"But," I exclaimed, "don't you think that it is a very suspicious -affair?" - -"I do," he replied. "A very fishy business indeed, and you were quite -right to come and tell us about it." - -"It seems a pity not to take some measures," I said. "While you are -waiting to hear something further, they may give the poor wretch a fresh -dose and kill him." - -"In which case we should hear something further, unless some fool of a -doctor were to give a death certificate." - -"But that is very unsatisfactory. The man ought not to be allowed to -die." - -"I quite agree with you, sir. But we've no evidence that he is going to -die. His friends sent for you, and you treated him skilfully and left -him in a fair way to recovery. That's all that we really know about it. -Yes, I know," the officer continued as I made signs of disagreement, -"you think that a crime is possibly going to be committed and that we -ought to prevent it. But you overrate our powers. We can only act on -evidence that a crime has actually been committed or is actually being -attempted. Now we have no such evidence. Look at your statement, and -tell me what you can swear to." - -"I think I could swear that Mr. Graves had taken a poisonous dose of -morphine." - -"And who gave him that poisonous dose?" - -"I very strongly suspect--" - -"That's no good, sir," interrupted the officer. "Suspicion isn't -evidence. We should want you to swear an information and give us enough -facts to make out a <i>primâ facie</i> case against some definite person. And -you couldn't do it. Your information amounts to this: that a certain -person has taken a poisonous dose of morphine and apparently recovered. -That's all. You can't swear that the names given to you are real names, -and you can't give us any address or even any locality." - -"I took some compass bearings in the carriage," I said. "You could -locate the house, I think, without much difficulty." - -The officer smiled faintly and fixed an abstracted gaze on the clock. - -"<i>You</i> could, sir," he replied. "I have no doubt whatever that <i>you</i> -could. <i>I</i> couldn't. But, in any case, we haven't enough to go upon. If -you learn anything fresh, I hope you will let me know; and I am very -much obliged to you for taking so much trouble in the matter. Good -evening sir. Good evening, Dr. Stillbury." - -He shook hands with us both genially, and, accepting perforce this very -polite but unmistakable dismissal, we took our departure. - -Outside the station, Stillbury heaved a comfortable sigh. He was -evidently relieved to find that no upheavals were to take place in his -domain. - -"I thought that would be their attitude," he said, "and they are quite -right, you know. The function of law is to prevent crime, it is true; -but prophylaxis in the sense in which we understand it is not possible -in legal practice." - -I assented without enthusiasm. It was disappointing to find that no -precautionary measures were to be taken. However, I had done all that I -could in the matter. No further responsibility lay upon me, and, as it -was practically certain that I had seen and heard the last of Mr. Graves -and his mysterious household, I dismissed the case from my mind. At the -next corner Stillbury and I parted to go our respective ways; and my -attention was soon transferred from the romance of crime to the -realities of epidemic influenza. - -The plethora of work in Dr. Stillbury's practice continued longer than I -had bargained for. Day after day went by and still found me tramping the -dingy streets of Kennington or scrambling up and down narrow stairways; -turning in at night dead tired, or turning out half awake to the hideous -jangle of the night bell. - -It was very provoking. For months I had resisted Thorndyke's persuasion -to give up general practice and join him. Not from lack of inclination, -but from a deep suspicion that he was thinking of my wants rather than -his own; that his was a charitable rather than a business proposal. Now -that I knew this not to be the case, I was impatient to join him; and, -as I trudged through the dreary thoroughfares of this superannuated -suburb, with its once rustic villas and its faded gardens, my thoughts -would turn enviously to the quiet dignity of the Temple and my friend's -chambers in King's Bench Walk. - -The closed carriage appeared no more; nor did any whisper either of good -or evil reach me in connection with the mysterious house from which it -had come. Mr. Graves had apparently gone out of my life for ever. - -But if he had gone out of my life, he had not gone out of my memory. -Often, as I walked my rounds, would the picture of that dimly-lit room -rise unbidden. Often would I find myself looking once more into that -ghastly face, so worn, so wasted and haggard, and yet so far from -repellent. All the incidents of that last night would reconstitute -themselves with a vividness that showed the intensity of the impression -that they had made at the time. I would have gladly forgotten the whole -affair, for every incident of it was fraught with discomfort. But it -clung to my memory; it haunted me; and ever as it returned it bore with -it the disquieting questions: Was Mr. Graves still alive? And, if he was -not, was there really nothing which could have been done to save him? - -Nearly a month passed before the practice began to show signs of -returning to its normal condition. Then the daily lists became more and -more contracted and the day's work proportionately shorter. And thus the -term of my servitude came to an end. One evening, as we were writing up -the day-book, Stillbury remarked: - -"I almost think, Jervis, I could manage by myself now. I know you are -only staying on for my sake." - -"I am staying on to finish my engagement, but I shan't be sorry to clear -out if you can do without me." - -"I think I can. When would you like to be off?" - -"As soon as possible. Say to-morrow morning, after I have made a few -visits and transferred the patients to you." - -"Very well," said Stillbury. "Then I will give you your cheque and -settle up everything to-night, so that you shall be free to go off when -you like to-morrow morning." - -Thus ended my connection with Kennington Lane. On the following day at -about noon, I found myself strolling across Waterloo Bridge with the -sensations of a newly liberated convict and a cheque for twenty-five -guineas in my pocket. My luggage was to follow when I sent for it. Now, -unhampered even by a hand-bag, I joyfully descended the steps at the -north end of the bridge and headed for King's Bench Walk by way of the -Embankment and Middle Temple Lane. - - - - -Chapter V - -Jeffrey Blackmore's Will - - -My arrival at Thorndyke's chambers was not unexpected, having been -heralded by a premonitory post-card. The "oak" was open and an -application of the little brass knocker of the inner door immediately -produced my colleague himself and a very hearty welcome. - -"At last," said Thorndyke, "you have come forth from the house of -bondage. I began to think that you had taken up your abode in Kennington -for good." - -"I was beginning, myself, to wonder when I should escape. But here I am; -and I may say at once that I am ready to shake the dust of general -practice off my feet for ever--that is, if you are still willing to have -me as your assistant." - -"Willing!" exclaimed Thorndyke, "Barkis himself was not more willing -than I. You will be invaluable to me. Let us settle the terms of our -comradeship forthwith, and to-morrow we will take measures to enter you -as a student of the Inner Temple. Shall we have our talk in the open air -and the spring sunshine?" - -I agreed readily to this proposal, for it was a bright, sunny day and -warm for the time of year--the beginning of April. We descended to the -Walk and thence slowly made our way to the quiet court behind the -church, where poor old Oliver Goldsmith lies, as he would surely have -wished to lie, in the midst of all that had been dear to him in his -chequered life. I need not record the matter of our conversation. To -Thorndyke's proposals I had no objections to offer but my own -unworthiness and his excessive liberality. A few minutes saw our -covenants fully agreed upon, and when Thorndyke had noted the points on -a slip of paper, signed and dated it and handed it to me, the business -was at an end. - -"There," my colleague said with a smile as he put away his pocket-book, -"if people would only settle their affairs in that way, a good part of -the occupation of lawyers would be gone. Brevity is the soul of wit; and -the fear of simplicity is the beginning of litigation." - -"And now," I said, "I propose that we go and feed. I will invite you to -lunch to celebrate our contract." - -"My learned junior is premature," he replied. "I had already arranged a -little festivity--or rather had modified one that was already arranged. -You remember Mr. Marchmont, the solicitor?" - -"Yes." - -"He called this morning to ask me to lunch with him and a new client at -the 'Cheshire Cheese.' I accepted and notified him that I should bring -you." - -"Why the 'Cheshire Cheese'?" I asked. - -"Why not? Marchmont's reasons for the selection were, first, that his -client has never seen an old-fashioned London tavern, and second, that -this is Wednesday and he, Marchmont, has a gluttonous affection for a -really fine beef-steak pudding. You don't object, I hope?" - -"Oh, not at all. In fact, now that you mention it, my own sensations -incline me to sympathize with Marchmont. I breakfasted rather early." - -"Then come," said Thorndyke. "The assignation is for one o'clock, and, -if we walk slowly, we shall just hit it off." - -We sauntered up Inner Temple Lane, and, crossing Fleet Street, headed -sedately for the tavern. As we entered the quaint old-world dining-room, -Thorndyke looked round and a gentleman, who was seated with a companion -at a table in one of the little boxes or compartments, rose and saluted -us. - -"Let me introduce you to my friend Mr. Stephen Blackmore," he said as we -approached. Then, turning to his companion, he introduced us by our -respective names. - -"I engaged this box," he continued, "so that we might be private if we -wished to have a little preliminary chat; not that beef-steak pudding is -a great help to conversation. But when people have a certain business -in view, their talk is sure to drift towards it, sooner or later." - -Thorndyke and I sat down opposite the lawyer and his client, and we -mutually inspected one another. Marchmont I already knew; an elderly, -professional-looking man, a typical solicitor of the old school; -fresh-faced, precise, rather irascible, and conveying a not unpleasant -impression of taking a reasonable interest in his diet. The other man -was quite young, not more than five-and-twenty, and was a fine -athletic-looking fellow with a healthy, out-of-door complexion and an -intelligent and highly prepossessing face. I took a liking to him at the -first glance, and so, I saw, did Thorndyke. - -"You two gentlemen," said Blackmore, addressing us, "seem to be quite -old acquaintances. I have heard so much about you from my friend, Reuben -Hornby." - -"Ah!" exclaimed Marchmont, "that was a queer case--'The Case of the Red -Thumb Mark,' as the papers called it. It was an eye-opener to -old-fashioned lawyers like myself. We've had scientific witnesses -before--and bullied 'em properly, by Jove! when they wouldn't give the -evidence that we wanted. But the scientific lawyer is something new. His -appearance in court made us all sit up, I can assure you." - -"I hope we shall make you sit up again," said Thorndyke. - -"You won't this time," said Marchmont. "The issues in this case of my -friend Blackmore's are purely legal; or rather, there are no issues at -all. There is nothing in dispute. I tried to prevent Blackmore from -consulting you, but he wouldn't listen to reason. Here! Waiter! How much -longer are we to be waiters? We shall die of old age before we get our -victuals!" - -The waiter smiled apologetically. "Yessir!" said he. "Coming now, sir." -And at this very moment there was borne into the room a Gargantuan -pudding in a great bucket of a basin, which being placed on a -three-legged stool was forthwith attacked ferociously by the -white-clothed, white-capped carver. We watched the process--as did every -one present--with an interest not entirely gluttonous, for it added a -pleasant touch to the picturesque old room, with its sanded floor, its -homely, pew-like boxes, its high-backed settles and the friendly -portrait of the "great lexicographer" that beamed down on us from the -wall. - -"This is a very different affair from your great, glittering modern -restaurant," Mr. Marchmont remarked. - -"It is indeed," said Blackmore, "and if this is the way in which our -ancestors lived, it would seem that they had a better idea of comfort -than we have." - -There was a short pause, during which Mr. Marchmont glared hungrily at -the pudding; then Thorndyke said: - -"So you refused to listen to reason, Mr. Blackmore?" - -"Yes. You see, Mr. Marchmont and his partner had gone into the matter -and decided that there was nothing to be done. Then I happened to -mention the affair to Reuben Hornby, and he urged me to ask your advice -on the case." - -"Like his impudence," growled Marchmont, "to meddle with my client." - -"On which," continued Blackmore, "I spoke to Mr. Marchmont and he agreed -that it was worth while to take your opinion on the case, though he -warned me to cherish no hopes, as the affair was not really within your -specialty." - -"So you understand," said Marchmont, "that we expect nothing. This is -quite a forlorn hope. We are taking your opinion as a mere formality, to -be able to say that we have left nothing untried." - -"That is an encouraging start," Thorndyke remarked. "It leaves me -unembarrassed by the possibility of failure. But meanwhile you are -arousing in me a devouring curiosity as to the nature of the case. Is it -highly confidential? Because if not, I would mention that Jervis has now -joined me as my permanent colleague." - -"It isn't confidential at all," said Marchmont. "The public are in full -possession of the facts, and we should be only too happy to put them in -still fuller possession, through the medium of the Probate Court, if we -could find a reasonable pretext. But we can't." - -Here the waiter charged our table with the fussy rapidity of the -overdue. - -"Sorry to keep you waiting, sir. Rather early, sir. Wouldn't like it -underdone, sir." - -Marchmont inspected his plate critically and remarked: - -"I sometimes suspect these oysters of being mussels; and I'll swear the -larks are sparrows." - -"Let us hope so," said Thorndyke. "The lark is better employed 'at -Heaven's gate singing' than garnishing a beef-steak pudding. But you -were telling us about your case." - -"So I was. Well it's just a matter of--ale or claret? Oh, claret, I -know. You despise the good old British John Barleycorn." - -"He that drinks beer thinks beer," retorted Thorndyke. "But you were -saying that it is just a matter of--?" - -"A matter of a perverse testator and an ill-drawn will. A peculiarly -irritating case, too, because the defective will replaces a perfectly -sound one, and the intentions of the testator were--er--were--excellent -ale, this. A little heady, perhaps, but sound. Better than your sour -French wine, Thorndyke--were--er--were quite obvious. What he evidently -desired was--mustard? Better have some mustard. No? Well, well! Even a -Frenchman would take mustard. You can have no appreciation of flavour, -Thorndyke, if you take your victuals in that crude, unseasoned state. -And, talking of flavour, do you suppose that there is really any -difference between that of a lark and that of a sparrow?" - -Thorndyke smiled grimly. "I should suppose," said he, "that they were -indistinguishable; but the question could easily be put to the test of -experiment." - -"That is true," agreed Marchmont, "and it would really be worth trying, -for, as you say, sparrows are more easily obtainable than larks. But, -about this will. I was saying--er--now, what was I saying?" - -"I understood you to say," replied Thorndyke, "that the intentions of -the testator were in some way connected with mustard. Isn't that so, -Jervis?" - -"That was what I gathered," said I. - -Marchmont gazed at us for a moment with a surprised expression and then, -laughing good-humouredly, fortified himself with a draught of ale. - -"The moral of which is," Thorndyke added, "that testamentary -dispositions should not be mixed up with beef-steak pudding." - -"I believe you're right, Thorndyke," said the unabashed solicitor. -"Business is business and eating is eating. We had better talk over our -case in my office or your chambers after lunch." - -"Yes," said Thorndyke, "come over to the Temple with me and I will give -you a cup of coffee to clear your brain. Are there any documents?" - -"I have all the papers here in my bag," replied Marchmont; and the -conversation--such conversation as is possible "when beards wag all" -over the festive board--drifted into other channels. - -As soon as the meal was finished and the reckoning paid, we trooped out -of Wine Office Court, and, insinuating ourselves through the line of -empty hansoms that, in those days, crawled in a continuous procession -on either side of Fleet Street, betook ourselves by way of Mitre Court -to King's Bench Walk. There, when the coffee had been requisitioned and -our chairs drawn up around the fire, Mr. Marchmont unloaded from his bag -a portentous bundle of papers, and we addressed ourselves to the -business in hand. - -"Now," said Marchmont, "let me repeat what I said before. Legally -speaking, we have no case--not the ghost of one. But my client wished to -take your opinion, and I agreed on the bare chance that you might detect -some point that we had overlooked. I don't think you will, for we have -gone into the case very thoroughly, but still, there is the -infinitesimal chance and we may as well take it. Would you like to read -the two wills, or shall I first explain the circumstances?" - -"I think," replied Thorndyke, "a narrative of the events in the order of -their occurrence would be most helpful. I should like to know as much as -possible about the testator before I examine the documents." - -"Very well," said Marchmont. "Then I will begin with a recital of the -circumstances, which, briefly stated, are these: My client, Stephen -Blackmore, is the son of Mr. Edward Blackmore, deceased. Edward -Blackmore had two brothers who survived him, John, the elder, and -Jeffrey, the younger. Jeffrey is the testator in this case. - -"Some two years ago, Jeffrey Blackmore executed a will by which he made -his nephew Stephen his executor and sole legatee; and a few months later -he added a codicil giving two hundred and fifty pounds to his brother -John." - -"What was the value of the estate?" Thorndyke asked. - -"About three thousand five hundred pounds, all invested in Consols. The -testator had a pension from the Foreign Office, on which he lived, -leaving his capital untouched. Soon after having made his will, he left -the rooms in Jermyn Street, where he had lived for some years, stored -his furniture and went to Florence. From thence he moved on to Rome and -then to Venice and other places in Italy, and so continued to travel -about until the end of last September, when it appears that he returned -to England, for at the beginning of October he took a set of chambers in -New Inn, which he furnished with some of the things from his old rooms. -As far as we can make out, he never communicated with any of his -friends, excepting his brother, and the fact of his being in residence -at New Inn or of his being in England at all became known to them only -when he died." - -"Was this quite in accordance with his ordinary habits?" Thorndyke -asked. - -"I should say not quite," Blackmore answered. "My uncle was a studious, -solitary man, but he was not formerly a recluse. He was not much of a -correspondent but he kept up some sort of communication with his -friends. He used, for instance, to write to me sometimes, and, when I -came down from Cambridge for the vacations, he had me to stay with him -at his rooms." - -"Is there anything known that accounts for the change in his habits?" - -"Yes, there is," replied Marchmont. "We shall come to that presently. To -proceed with the narrative: On the fifteenth of last March he was found -dead in his chambers, and a more recent will was then discovered, dated -the twelfth of November of last year. Now no change had taken place in -the circumstances of the testator to account for the new will, nor was -there any appreciable alteration in the disposition of the property. As -far as we can make out, the new will was drawn with the idea of stating -the intentions of the testator with greater exactness and for the sake -of doing away with the codicil. The entire property, with the exception -of two hundred and fifty pounds, was, as before, bequeathed to Stephen, -but the separate items were specified, and the testator's brother, John -Blackmore, was named as the executor and residuary legatee." - -"I see," said Thorndyke. "So that your client's interest in the will -would appear to be practically unaffected by the change." - -"Yes. There it is," exclaimed the lawyer, slapping the table to add -emphasis to his words. "That is the pity of it! If people who have no -knowledge of law would only refrain from tinkering at their wills, what -a world of trouble would be saved!" - -"Oh, come!" said Thorndyke. "It is not for a lawyer to say that." - -"No, I suppose not," Marchmont agreed. "Only, you see, we like the -muddle to be made by the other side. But, in this case, the muddle is on -our side. The change, as you say, seems to leave our friend Stephen's -interests unaffected. That is, of course, what poor Jeffrey Blackmore -thought. But he was mistaken. The effect of the change is absolutely -disastrous." - -"Indeed!" - -"Yes. As I have said, no alteration in the testator's circumstances had -taken place at the time the new will was executed. <i>But</i> only two days -before his death, his sister, Mrs. Edmund Wilson, died; and on her will -being proved it appeared that she had bequeathed to him her entire -personalty, estimated at about thirty thousand pounds." - -"Heigho!" exclaimed Thorndyke. "What an unfortunate affair!" - -"You are right," said Mr. Marchmont; "it was a disaster. By the original -will this great sum would have accrued to our friend Mr. Stephen, -whereas now, of course, it goes to the residuary legatee, Mr. John -Blackmore. And what makes it even more exasperating is the fact that -this is obviously not in accordance with the wishes and intentions of -Mr. Jeffrey, who clearly desired his nephew to inherit his property." - -"Yes," said Thorndyke; "I think you are justified in assuming that. But -do you know whether Mr. Jeffrey was aware of his sister's intentions?" - -"We think not. Her will was executed as recently as the third of -September last, and it seems that there had been no communication -between her and Mr. Jeffrey since that date. Besides, if you consider -Mr. Jeffrey's actions, you will see that they suggest no knowledge or -expectation of this very important bequest. A man does not make -elaborate dispositions in regard to three thousand pounds and then leave -a sum of thirty thousand to be disposed of casually as the residue of -the estate." - -"No," Thorndyke agreed. "And, as you have said, the manifest intention -of the testator was to leave the bulk of his property to Mr. Stephen. So -we may take it as virtually certain that Mr. Jeffrey had no knowledge of -the fact that he was a beneficiary under his sister's will." - -"Yes," said Mr. Marchmont, "I think we may take that as nearly certain." - -"With reference to the second will," said Thorndyke, "I suppose there is -no need to ask whether the document itself has been examined; I mean as -to its being a genuine document and perfectly regular?" - -Mr. Marchmont shook his head sadly. - -"No," he said, "I am sorry to say that there can be no possible doubt as -to the authenticity and regularity of the document. The circumstances -under which it was executed establish its genuineness beyond any -question." - -"What were those circumstances?" Thorndyke asked. - -"They were these: On the morning of the twelfth of November last, Mr. -Jeffrey came to the porter's lodge with a document in his hand. 'This,' -he said, 'is my will. I want you to witness my signature. Would you mind -doing so, and can you find another respectable person to act as the -second witness?' Now it happened that a nephew of the porter's, a -painter by trade, was at work in the Inn. The porter went out and -fetched him into the lodge and the two men agreed to witness the -signature. 'You had better read the will,' said Mr. Jeffrey. 'It is not -actually necessary, but it is an additional safeguard and there is -nothing of a private nature in the document.' The two men accordingly -read the document, and, when Mr. Jeffrey had signed it in their -presence, they affixed their signatures; and I may add that the painter -left the recognizable impressions of three greasy fingers." - -"And these witnesses have been examined?" - -"Yes. They have both sworn to the document and to their own signatures, -and the painter recognized his finger-marks." - -"That," said Thorndyke, "seems to dispose pretty effectually of any -question as to the genuineness of the will; and if, as I gather, Mr. -Jeffrey came to the lodge alone, the question of undue influence is -disposed of too." - -"Yes," said Mr. Marchmont. "I think we must pass the will as absolutely -flawless." - -"It strikes me as rather odd," said Thorndyke, "that Jeffrey should have -known so little about his sister's intentions. Can you explain it, Mr. -Blackmore?" - -"I don't think that it is very remarkable," Stephen replied. "I knew -very little of my aunt's affairs and I don't think my uncle Jeffrey knew -much more, for he was under the impression that she had only a life -interest in her husband's property. And he may have been right. It is -not clear what money this was that she left to my uncle. She was a very -taciturn woman and made few confidences to anyone." - -"So that it is possible," said Thorndyke, "that she, herself, may have -acquired this money recently by some bequest?" - -"It is quite possible," Stephen answered. - -"She died, I understand," said Thorndyke, glancing at the notes that he -had jotted down, "two days before Mr. Jeffrey. What date would that be?" - -"Jeffrey died on the fourteenth of March," said Marchmont. - -"So that Mrs. Wilson died on the twelfth of March?" - -"That is so," Marchmont replied; and Thorndyke then asked: - -"Did she die suddenly?" - -"No," replied Stephen; "she died of cancer. I understand that it was -cancer of the stomach." - -"Do you happen to know," Thorndyke asked, "what sort of relations -existed between Jeffrey and his brother John?" - -"At one time," said Stephen, "I know they were not very cordial; but the -breach may have been made up later, though I don't know that it actually -was." - -"I ask the question," said Thorndyke, "because, as I dare say you have -noticed, there is, in the first will, some hint of improved relations. -As it was originally drawn that will makes Mr. Stephen the sole legatee. -Then, a little later, a codicil is added in favour of John, showing that -Jeffrey had felt the necessity of making some recognition of his -brother. This seems to point to some change in the relations, and the -question arises: if such a change did actually occur, was it the -beginning of a new and further improving state of feeling between the -two brothers? Have you any facts bearing on that question?" - -Marchmont pursed up his lips with the air of a man considering an -unwelcome suggestion, and, after a few moments of reflection, answered: - -"I think we must say 'yes' to that. There is the undeniable fact that, -of all Jeffrey's friends, John Blackmore was the only one who knew that -he was living in New Inn." - -"Oh, John knew that, did he?" - -"Yes, he certainly did; for it came out in the evidence that he had -called on Jeffrey at his chambers more than once. There is no denying -that. But, mark you!" Mr. Marchmont added emphatically, "that does not -cover the inconsistency of the will. There is nothing in the second will -to suggest that Jeffrey intended materially to increase the bequest to -his brother." - -"I quite agree with you, Marchmont. I think that is a perfectly sound -position. You have, I suppose, fully considered the question as to -whether it would be possible to set aside the second will on the ground -that it fails to carry out the evident wishes and intentions of the -testator?" - -"Yes. My partner, Winwood, and I went into that question very carefully, -and we also took counsel's opinion--Sir Horace Barnaby--and he was of -the same opinion as ourselves; that the court would certainly uphold the -will." - -"I think that would be my own view," said Thorndyke, "especially after -what you have told me. Do I understand that John Blackmore was the only -person who knew that Jeffrey was in residence at New Inn?" - -"The only one of his private friends. His bankers knew and so did the -officials from whom he drew his pension." - -"Of course he would have to notify his bankers of his change of -address." - -"Yes, of course. And à propos of the bank, I may mention that the -manager tells me that, of late, they had noticed a slight change in the -character of Jeffrey's signature--I think you will see the reason of the -change when you hear the rest of his story. It was very trifling; not -more than commonly occurs when a man begins to grow old, especially if -there is some failure of eyesight." - -"Was Mr. Jeffrey's eyesight failing?" asked Thorndyke. - -"Yes, it was, undoubtedly," said Stephen. "He was practically blind in -one eye and, in the very last letter that I ever had from him, he -mentioned that there were signs of commencing cataract in the other." - -"You spoke of his pension. He continued to draw that regularly?" - -"Yes; he drew his allowance every month, or rather, his bankers drew it -for him. They had been accustomed to do so when he was abroad, and the -authorities seem to have allowed the practice to continue." - -Thorndyke reflected a while, running his eye over the notes on the slips -of paper in his hand, and Marchmont surveyed him with a malicious smile. -Presently the latter remarked: - -"Methinks the learned counsel is floored." - -Thorndyke laughed. "It seems to me," he retorted, "that your proceedings -are rather like those of the amiable individual who offered the bear a -flint pebble, that he might crack it and extract the kernel. Your -confounded will seems to offer no soft spot on which one could commence -an attack. But we won't give up. We seem to have sucked the will dry. -Let us now have a few facts respecting the parties concerned in it; and, -as Jeffrey is the central figure, let us begin with him and the tragedy -at New Inn that formed the starting-point of all this trouble." - - - - -Chapter VI - -Jeffrey Blackmore, Deceased - - -Having made the above proposition, Thorndyke placed a fresh slip of -paper on the blotting pad on his knee and looked inquiringly at Mr. -Marchmont; who, in his turn, sighed and looked at the bundle of -documents on the table. - -"What do you want to know?" he asked a little wearily. - -"Everything," replied Thorndyke. "You have hinted at circumstances that -would account for a change in Jeffrey's habits and that would explain an -alteration in the character of his signature. Let us have those -circumstances. And, if I might venture on a suggestion, it would be that -we take the events in the order in which they occurred or in which they -became known." - -"That's the worst of you, Thorndyke," Marchmont grumbled. "When a case -has been squeezed out to the last drop, in a legal sense, you want to -begin all over again with the family history of every one concerned and -a list of his effects and household furniture. But I suppose you will -have to be humoured; and I imagine that the best way in which to give -you the information you want will be to recite the circumstances -surrounding the death of Jeffrey Blackmore. Will that suit you?" - -"Perfectly," replied Thorndyke; and thereupon Marchmont began: - -"The death of Jeffrey Blackmore was discovered at about eleven o'clock -in the morning of the fifteenth of March. It seems that a builder's man -was ascending a ladder to examine a gutter on number 31, New Inn, when, -on passing a second-floor window that was open at the top, he looked in -and perceived a gentleman lying on a bed. The gentleman was fully -clothed and had apparently lain down on the bed to rest; at least so the -builder thought at the time, for he was merely passing the window on -his way up, and, very properly, did not make a minute examination. But -when, some ten minutes later, he came down and saw that the gentleman -was still in the same position, he looked at him more attentively; and -this is what he noticed--but perhaps we had better have it in his own -words as he told the story at the inquest. - -"'When I came to look at the gentleman a bit more closely, it struck me -that he looked rather queer. His face looked very white, or rather pale -yellow, like parchment, and his mouth was open. He did not seem to be -breathing. On the bed by his side was a brass object of some kind--I -could not make out what it was--and he seemed to be holding some small -metal object in his hand. I thought it rather a queer affair, so, when I -came down I went across to the lodge and told the porter about it. The -porter came out across the square with me and I showed him the window. -Then he told me to go up the stairs to Mr. Blackmore's chambers on the -second pair and knock and keep on knocking until I got an answer. I went -up and knocked and kept on knocking as loud as I could, but, though I -fetched everybody out of all the other chambers in the house, I couldn't -get any answer from Mr. Blackmore. So I went downstairs again and then -Mr. Walker, the porter, sent me for a policeman. - -"'I went out and met a policeman just by Dane's Inn and told him about -the affair, and he came back with me. He and the porter consulted -together, and then they told me to go up the ladder and get in at the -window and open the door of the chambers from the inside. So I went up; -and as soon as I got in at the window I saw that the gentleman was dead. -I went through the other room and opened the outer door and let in the -porter and the policeman.' - -"That," said Mr. Marchmont, laying down the paper containing the -depositions, "is the way in which poor Jeffrey Blackmore's death came to -be discovered. - -"The constable reported to his inspector and the inspector sent for the -divisional surgeon, whom he accompanied to New Inn. I need not go into -the evidence given by the police officers, as the surgeon saw all that -they saw and his statement covers everything that is known about -Jeffrey's death. This is what he says, after describing how he was sent -for and arrived at the Inn: - -"'In the bedroom I found the body of a man between fifty and sixty years -of age, which has since been identified in my presence as that of Mr. -Jeffrey Blackmore. It was fully dressed and wore boots on which was a -moderate amount of dry mud. It was lying on its back on the bed, which -did not appear to have been slept in, and showed no sign of any struggle -or disturbance. The right hand loosely grasped a hypodermic syringe -containing a few drops of clear liquid which I have since analysed and -found to be a concentrated solution of strophanthin. - -"'On the bed, close to the left side of the body, was a brass opium-pipe -of a pattern which I believe is made in China. The bowl of the pipe -contained a small quantity of charcoal, and a fragment of opium -together with some ash, and there was on the bed a little ash which -appeared to have dropped from the bowl when the pipe fell or was laid -down. On the mantelshelf in the bedroom I found a small glass-stoppered -jar containing about an ounce of solid opium, and another, larger jar -containing wood charcoal broken up into small fragments. Also a bowl -containing a quantity of ash with fragments of half-burned charcoal and -a few minute particles of charred opium. By the side of the bowl were a -knife, a kind of awl or pricker and a very small pair of tongs, which I -believe to have been used for carrying a piece of lighted charcoal to -the pipe. - -"'On the dressing-table were two glass tubes labelled "Hypodermic -Tabloids: Strophanthin 1/500 grain," and a minute glass mortar and -pestle, of which the former contained a few crystals which have since -been analysed by me and found to be strophanthin. - -"'On examining the body, I found that it had been dead about twelve -hours. There were no marks of violence or any abnormal condition -excepting a single puncture in the right thigh, apparently made by the -needle of the hypodermic syringe. The puncture was deep and vertical in -direction as if the needle had been driven in through the clothing. - -"'I made a post-mortem examination of the body and found that death was -due to poisoning by strophanthin, which appeared to have been injected -into the thigh. The two tubes which I found on the dressing-table would -each have contained, if full, twenty tabloids, each tabloid -representing one five-hundredth of a grain of strophanthin. Assuming -that the whole of this quantity was injected the amount taken would be -forty five-hundredths, or about one twelfth of a grain. The ordinary -medicinal dose of strophanthin is one five-hundredth of a grain. - -"'I also found in the body appreciable traces of morphine--the principal -alkaloid of opium--from which I infer that the deceased was a confirmed -opium-smoker. This inference was supported by the general condition of -the body, which was ill-nourished and emaciated and presented all the -appearances usually met with in the bodies of persons addicted to the -habitual use of opium.' - -"That is the evidence of the surgeon. He was recalled later, as we shall -see, but, meanwhile, I think you will agree with me that the facts -testified to by him fully account, not only for the change in Jeffrey's -habits--his solitary and secretive mode of life--but also for the -alteration in his handwriting." - -"Yes," agreed Thorndyke, "that seems to be so. By the way, what did the -change in the handwriting amount to?" - -"Very little," replied Marchmont. "It was hardly perceptible. Just a -slight loss of firmness and distinctness; such a trifling change as you -would expect to find in the handwriting of a man who had taken to drink -or drugs, or anything that might impair the steadiness of his hand. I -should not have noticed it, myself, but, of course, the people at the -bank are experts, constantly scrutinizing signatures and scrutinizing -them with a very critical eye." - -"Is there any other evidence that bears on the case?" Thorndyke asked. - -Marchmont turned over the bundle of papers and smiled grimly. - -"My dear Thorndyke," he said, "none of this evidence has the slightest -bearing on the case. It is all perfectly irrelevant as far as the will -is concerned. But I know your little peculiarities and I am indulging -you, as you see, to the top of your bent. The next evidence is that of -the chief porter, a very worthy and intelligent man named Walker. This -is what he says, after the usual preliminaries. - -"'I have viewed the body which forms the subject of this inquiry. It is -that of Mr. Jeffrey Blackmore, the tenant of a set of chambers on the -second floor of number thirty-one, New Inn. I have known the deceased -nearly six months, and during that time have seen and conversed with him -frequently. He took the chambers on the second of last October and came -into residence at once. Tenants at New Inn have to furnish two -references. The references that the deceased gave were his bankers and -his brother, Mr. John Blackmore. I may say that the deceased was very -well known to me. He was a quiet, pleasant-mannered gentleman, and it -was his habit to drop in occasionally at the lodge and have a chat with -me. I went into his chambers with him once or twice on some small -matters of business and I noticed that there were always a number of -books and papers on the table. I understood from him that he spent most -of his time indoors engaged in study and writing. I know very little -about his way of living. He had no laundress to look after his rooms, so -I suppose he did his own house-work and cooking; but he told me that he -took most of his meals outside, at restaurants or his club. - -"'Deceased impressed me as a rather melancholy, low-spirited gentleman. -He was very much troubled about his eyesight and mentioned the matter to -me on several occasions. He told me that he was practically blind in one -eye and that the sight of the other was failing rapidly. He said that -this afflicted him greatly, because his only pleasure in life was in the -reading of books, and that if he could not read he should not wish to -live. On another occasion he said that "to a blind man life was not -worth living." - -"'On the twelfth of last November he came to the lodge with a paper in -his hand which he said was his will'--But I needn't read that," said -Marchmont, turning over the leaf, "I've told you how the will was signed -and witnessed. We will pass on to the day of poor Jeffrey's death. - -"'On the fourteenth of March,' the porter says, 'at about half-past six -in the evening, the deceased came to the Inn in a four-wheeled cab. That -was the day of the great fog. I do not know if there was anyone in the -cab with the deceased, but I think not, because he came to the lodge -just before eight o'clock and had a little talk with me. He said that -he had been overtaken by the fog and could not see at all. He was quite -blind and had been obliged to ask a stranger to call a cab for him as he -could not find his way through the streets. He then gave me a cheque for -the rent. I reminded him that the rent was not due until the -twenty-fifth, but he said he wished to pay it now. He also gave me some -money to pay one or two small bills that were owing to some of the -tradespeople--a milk-man, a baker and a stationer. - -"'This struck me as very strange, because he had always managed his -business and paid the tradespeople himself. He told me that the fog had -irritated his eye so that he could hardly read, and he was afraid he -should soon be quite blind. He was very depressed; so much so that I -felt quite uneasy about him. When he left the lodge, he went back across -the square as if returning to his chambers. There was then no gate open -excepting the main gate where the lodge is situated. That was the last -time that I saw the deceased alive.'" - -Mr. Marchmont laid the paper on the table. "That is the porter's -evidence. The remaining depositions are those of Noble, the night -porter, John Blackmore and our friend here, Mr. Stephen. The night -porter had not much to tell. This is the substance of his evidence: - -"'I have viewed the body of the deceased and identify it as that of Mr. -Jeffrey Blackmore. I knew the deceased well by sight and occasionally -had a few words with him. I know nothing of his habits excepting that he -used to sit up rather late. It is one of my duties to go round the Inn -at night and call out the hours until one o'clock in the morning. When -calling out "one o'clock" I often saw a light in the sitting-room of the -deceased's chambers. On the night of the fourteenth instant, the light -was burning until past one o'clock, but it was in the bedroom. The light -in the sitting-room was out by ten o'clock.' - -"We now come to John Blackmore's evidence. He says: - -"'I have viewed the body of the deceased and recognize it as that of my -brother Jeffrey. I last saw him alive on the twenty-third of February, -when I called at his chambers. He then seemed in a very despondent state -of mind and told me that his eyesight was fast failing. I was aware that -he occasionally smoked opium, but I did not know that it was a confirmed -habit. I urged him, on several occasions, to abandon the practice. I -have no reason to believe that his affairs were in any way embarrassed -or that he had any reason for making away with himself other than his -failing eyesight; but, having regard to his state of mind when I last -saw him, I am not surprised at what has happened.' - -"That is the substance of John Blackmore's evidence, and, as to Mr. -Stephen, his statement merely sets forth the fact that he had identified -the body as that of his uncle Jeffrey. And now I think you have all the -facts. Is there anything more that you want to ask me before I go, for I -must really run away now?" - -"I should like," said Thorndyke, "to know a little more about the -parties concerned in this affair. But perhaps Mr. Stephen can give me -the information." - -"I expect he can," said Marchmont; "at any rate, he knows more about -them than I do; so I will be off. If you should happen to think of any -way," he continued, with a sly smile, "of upsetting that will, just let -me know, and I will lose no time in entering a caveat. Good-bye! Don't -trouble to let me out." - -As soon as he was gone, Thorndyke turned to Stephen Blackmore. - -"I am going," he said, "to ask you a few questions which may appear -rather trifling, but you must remember that my methods of inquiry -concern themselves with persons and things rather than with documents. -For instance, I have not gathered very completely what sort of person -your uncle Jeffrey was. Could you tell me a little more about him?" - -"What shall I tell you?" Stephen asked with a slightly embarrassed air. - -"Well, begin with his personal appearance." - -"That is rather difficult to describe," said Stephen. "He was a -medium-sized man and about five feet seven--fair, slightly grey, -clean-shaved, rather spare and slight, had grey eyes, wore spectacles -and stooped a little as he walked. He was quiet and gentle in manner, -rather yielding and irresolute in character, and his health was not at -all robust though he had no infirmity or disease excepting his bad -eyesight. His age was about fifty-five." - -"How came he to be a civil-service pensioner at fifty-five?" asked -Thorndyke. - -"Oh, that was through an accident. He had a nasty fall from a horse, -and, being a rather nervous man, the shock was very severe. For some -time after he was a complete wreck. But the failure of his eyesight was -the actual cause of his retirement. It seems that the fall damaged his -eyes in some way; in fact he practically lost the sight of one--the -right--from that moment; and, as that had been his good eye, the -accident left his vision very much impaired. So that he was at first -given sick leave and then allowed to retire on a pension." - -Thorndyke noted these particulars and then said: - -"Your uncle has been more than once referred to as a man of studious -habits. Does that mean that he pursued any particular branch of -learning?" - -"Yes. He was an enthusiastic Oriental scholar. His official duties had -taken him at one time to Yokohama and Tokio and at another to Bagdad, -and while at those places he gave a good deal of attention to the -languages, literature and arts of the countries. He was also greatly -interested in Babylonian and Assyrian archaeology, and I believe he -assisted for some time in the excavations at Birs Nimroud." - -"Indeed!" said Thorndyke. "This is very interesting. I had no idea that -he was a man of such considerable attainments. The facts mentioned by -Mr. Marchmont would hardly have led one to think of him as what he seems -to have been: a scholar of some distinction." - -"I don't know that Mr. Marchmont realized the fact himself," said -Stephen; "or that he would have considered it of any moment if he had. -Nor, as far as that goes, do I. But, of course, I have no experience of -legal matters." - -"You can never tell beforehand," said Thorndyke, "what facts may turn -out to be of moment, so that it is best to collect all you can get. By -the way, were you aware that your uncle was an opium-smoker?" - -"No, I was not. I knew that he had an opium-pipe which he brought with -him when he came home from Japan; but I thought it was only a curio. I -remember him telling me that he once tried a few puffs at an opium-pipe -and found it rather pleasant, though it gave him a headache. But I had -no idea he had contracted the habit; in fact, I may say that I was -utterly astonished when the fact came out at the inquest." - -Thorndyke made a note of this answer, too, and said: - -"I think that is all I have to ask you about your uncle Jeffrey. And now -as to Mr. John Blackmore. What sort of man is he?" - -"I am afraid I can't tell you very much about him. Until I saw him at -the inquest, I had not met him since I was a boy. But he is a very -different kind of man from Uncle Jeffrey; different in appearance and -different in character." - -"You would say that the two brothers were physically quite unlike, -then?" - -"Well," said Stephen, "I don't know that I ought to say that. Perhaps I -am exaggerating the difference. I am thinking of Uncle Jeffrey as he was -when I saw him last and of uncle John as he appeared at the inquest. -They were very different then. Jeffrey was thin, pale, clean shaven, -wore spectacles and walked with a stoop. John is a shade taller, a shade -greyer, has good eyesight, a healthy, florid complexion, a brisk, -upright carriage, is distinctly stout and wears a beard and moustache -which are black and only very slightly streaked with grey. To me they -looked as unlike as two men could, though their features were really of -the same type; indeed, I have heard it said that, as young men, they -were rather alike, and they both resembled their mother. But there is no -doubt as to their difference in character. Jeffrey was quiet, serious -and studious, whereas John rather inclined to what is called a fast -life; he used to frequent race meetings, and, I think, gambled a good -deal at times." - -"What is his profession?" - -"That would be difficult to tell; he has so many; he is so very -versatile. I believe he began life as an articled pupil in the -laboratory of a large brewery, but he soon left that and went on the -stage. He seems to have remained in 'the profession' for some years, -touring about this country and making occasional visits to America. The -life seemed to suit him and I believe he was decidedly successful as an -actor. But suddenly he left the stage and blossomed out in connection -with a bucket-shop in London." - -"And what is he doing now?" - -"At the inquest he described himself as a stockbroker, so I presume he -is still connected with the bucket-shop." - -Thorndyke rose, and taking down from the reference shelves a list of -members of the Stock Exchange, turned over the leaves. - -"Yes," he said, replacing the volume, "he must be an outside broker. His -name is not in the list of members of 'the House.' From what you tell -me, it is easy to understand that there should have been no great -intimacy between the two brothers, without assuming any kind of -ill-feeling. They simply had very little in common. Do you know of -anything more?" - -"No. I have never heard of any actual quarrel or disagreement. My -impression that they did not get on very well may have been, I think, -due to the terms of the will, especially the first will. And they -certainly did not seek one another's society." - -"That is not very conclusive," said Thorndyke. "As to the will, a -thrifty man is not usually much inclined to bequeath his savings to a -gentleman who may probably employ them in a merry little flutter on the -turf or the Stock Exchange. And then there was yourself; clearly a more -suitable subject for a legacy, as your life is all before you. But this -is mere speculation and the matter is not of much importance, as far as -we can see. And now, tell me what John Blackmore's relations were with -Mrs. Wilson. I gather that she left the bulk of her property to Jeffrey, -her younger brother. Is that so?" - -"Yes. She left nothing to John. The fact is that they were hardly on -speaking terms. I believe John had treated her rather badly, or, at any -rate, she thought he had. Mr. Wilson, her late husband, dropped some -money over an investment in connection with the bucket-shop that I spoke -of, and I think she suspected John of having let him in. She may have -been mistaken, but you know what ladies are when they get an idea into -their heads." - -"Did you know your aunt well?" - -"No; very slightly. She lived down in Devonshire and saw very little of -any of us. She was a taciturn, strong-minded woman; quite unlike her -brothers. She seems to have resembled her father's family." - -"You might give me her full name." - -"Julia Elizabeth Wilson. Her husband's name was Edmund Wilson." - -"Thank you. There is just one more point. What has happened to your -uncle's chambers in New Inn since his death?" - -"They have remained shut up. As all his effects were left to me, I have -taken over the tenancy for the present to avoid having them disturbed. I -thought of keeping them for my own use, but I don't think I could live -in them after what I have seen." - -"You have inspected them, then?" - -"Yes; I have just looked through them. I went there on the day of the -inquest." - -"Now tell me: as you looked through those rooms, what kind of impression -did they convey to you as to your uncle's habits and mode of life?" - -Stephen smiled apologetically. "I am afraid," said he, "that they did -not convey any particular impression in that respect. I looked into the -sitting-room and saw all his old familiar household gods, and then I -went into the bedroom and saw the impression on the bed where his corpse -had lain; and that gave me such a sensation of horror that I came away -at once." - -"But the appearance of the rooms must have conveyed something to your -mind," Thorndyke urged. - -"I am afraid it did not. You see, I have not your analytical eye. But -perhaps you would like to look through them yourself? If you would, pray -do so. They are my chambers now." - -"I think I should like to glance round them," Thorndyke replied. - -"Very well," said Stephen. "I will give you my card now, and I will look -in at the lodge presently and tell the porter to hand you the key -whenever you like to look over the rooms." - -He took a card from his case, and, having written a few lines on it, -handed it to Thorndyke. - -"It is very good of you," he said, "to take so much trouble. Like Mr. -Marchmont, I have no expectation of any result from your efforts, but I -am very grateful to you, all the same, for going into the case so -thoroughly. I suppose you don't see any possibility of upsetting that -will--if I may ask the question?" - -"At present," replied Thorndyke, "I do not. But until I have carefully -weighed every fact connected with the case--whether it seems to have any -bearing or not--I shall refrain from expressing, or even entertaining, -an opinion either way." - -Stephen Blackmore now took his leave; and Thorndyke, having collected -the papers containing his notes, neatly punched a couple of holes in -their margins and inserted them into a small file, which he slipped into -his pocket. - -"That," said he, "is the nucleus of the body of data on which our -investigations must be based; and I very much fear that it will not -receive any great additions. What do you think, Jervis?" - -"The case looks about as hopeless as a case could look," I replied. - -"That is what I think," said he; "and for that reason I am more than -ordinarily keen on making something of it. I have not much more hope -than Marchmont has; but I shall squeeze the case as dry as a bone before -I let go. What are you going to do? I have to attend a meeting of the -board of directors of the Griffin Life Office." - -"Shall I walk down with you?" - -"It is very good of you to offer, Jervis, but I think I will go alone. I -want to run over these notes and get the facts of the case arranged in -my mind. When I have done that, I shall be ready to pick up new matter. -Knowledge is of no use unless it is actually in your mind, so that it -can be produced at a moment's notice. So you had better get a book and -your pipe and spend a quiet hour by the fire while I assimilate the -miscellaneous mental feast that we have just enjoyed. And you might do a -little rumination yourself." - -With this, Thorndyke took his departure; and I, adopting his advice, -drew my chair closer to the fire and filled my pipe. But I did not -discover any inclination to read. The curious history that I had just -heard, and Thorndyke's evident determination to elucidate it further, -disposed me to meditation. Moreover, as his subordinate, it was my -business to occupy myself with his affairs. Wherefore, having stirred -the fire and got my pipe well alight, I abandoned myself to the renewed -consideration of the facts relating to Jeffrey Blackmore's will. - - - - -Chapter VII - -The Cuneiform Inscription - - -The surprise which Thorndyke's proceedings usually occasioned, -especially to lawyers, was principally due, I think, to my friend's -habit of viewing occurrences from an unusual standpoint. He did not look -at things quite as other men looked at them. He had no prejudices and he -knew no conventions. When other men were cocksure, Thorndyke was -doubtful. When other men despaired, he entertained hopes; and thus it -happened that he would often undertake cases that had been rejected -contemptuously by experienced lawyers, and, what is more, would bring -them to a successful issue. - -Thus it had been in the only other case in which I had been personally -associated with him--the so-called "Red Thumb Mark" case. There he was -presented with an apparent impossibility; but he had given it careful -consideration. Then, from the category of the impossible he had brought -it to that of the possible; from the merely possible to the actually -probable; from the probable to the certain; and in the end had won the -case triumphantly. - -Was it conceivable that he could make anything of the present case? He -had not declined it. He had certainly entertained it and was probably -thinking it over at this moment. Yet could anything be more impossible? -Here was the case of a man making his own will, probably writing it out -himself, bringing it voluntarily to a certain place and executing it in -the presence of competent witnesses. There was no suggestion of any -compulsion or even influence or persuasion. The testator was admittedly -sane and responsible; and if the will did not give effect to his -wishes--which, however, could not be proved--that was due to his own -carelessness in drafting the will and not to any unusual circumstances. -And the problem--which Thorndyke seemed to be considering--was how to -set aside that will. - -I reviewed the statements that I had heard, but turn them about as I -would, I could get nothing out of them but confirmation of Mr. -Marchmont's estimate of the case. One fact that I had noted with some -curiosity I again considered; that was Thorndyke's evident desire to -inspect Jeffrey Blackmore's chambers. He had, it is true, shown no -eagerness, but I had seen at the time that the questions which he put to -Stephen were put, not with any expectation of eliciting information but -for the purpose of getting an opportunity to look over the rooms -himself. - -I was still cogitating on the subject when my colleague returned, -followed by the watchful Polton with the tea-tray, and I attacked him -forthwith. - -"Well, Thorndyke," I said, "I have been thinking about this Blackmore -case while you have been gadding about." - -"And may I take it that the problem is solved?" - -"No, I'm hanged if you may. I can make nothing of it." - -"Then you are in much the same position as I am." - -"But, if you can make nothing of it, why did you undertake it?" - -"I only undertook to think about it," said Thorndyke. "I never reject a -case off-hand unless it is obviously fishy. It is surprising how -difficulties, and even impossibilities, dwindle if you look at them -attentively. My experience has taught me that the most unlikely case is, -at least, worth thinking over." - -"By the way, why do you want to look over Jeffrey's chambers? What do -you expect to find there?" - -"I have no expectations at all. I am simply looking for stray facts." - -"And all those questions that you asked Stephen Blackmore; had you -nothing in your mind--no definite purpose?" - -"No purpose beyond getting to know as much about the case as I can." - -"But," I exclaimed, "do you mean that you are going to examine those -rooms without any definite object at all?" - -"I wouldn't say that," replied Thorndyke. "This is a legal case. Let me -put an analogous medical case as being more within your present sphere. -Supposing that a man should consult you, say, about a progressive loss -of weight. He can give no explanation. He has no pain, no discomfort, no -symptoms of any kind; in short, he feels perfectly well in every -respect; <i>but</i> he is losing weight continuously. What would you do?" - -"I should overhaul him thoroughly," I answered. - -"Why? What would you expect to find?" - -"I don't know that I should start by expecting to find anything in -particular. But I should overhaul him organ by organ and function by -function, and if I could find nothing abnormal I should have to give it -up." - -"Exactly," said Thorndyke. "And that is just my position and my line of -action. Here is a case which is perfectly regular and straightforward -excepting in one respect. It has a single abnormal feature. And for that -abnormality there is nothing to account. - -"Jeffrey Blackmore made a will. It was a well-drawn will and it -apparently gave full effect to his intentions. Then he revoked that will -and made another. No change had occurred in his circumstances or in his -intentions. The provisions of the new will were believed by him to be -identical with those of the old one. The new will differed from the old -one only in having a defect in the drafting from which the first will -was free, and of which he must have been unaware. Now why did he revoke -the first will and replace it with another which he believed to be -identical in its provisions? There is no answer to that question. It is -an abnormal feature in the case. There must be some explanation of that -abnormality and it is my business to discover it. But the facts in my -possession yield no such explanation. Therefore it is my purpose to -search for new facts which may give me a starting-point for an -investigation." - -This exposition of Thorndyke's proposed conduct of the case, reasonable -as it was, did not impress me as very convincing. I found myself coming -back to Marchmont's position, that there was really nothing in dispute. -But other matters claimed our attention at the moment, and it was not -until after dinner that my colleague reverted to the subject. - -"How should you like to take a turn round to New Inn this evening?" he -asked. - -"I should have thought," said I, "that it would be better to go by -daylight. Those old chambers are not usually very well illuminated." - -"That is well thought of," said Thorndyke. "We had better take a lamp -with us. Let us go up to the laboratory and get one from Polton." - -"There is no need to do that," said I. "The pocket-lamp that you lent me -is in my overcoat pocket. I put it there to return it to you." - -"Did you have occasion to use it?" he asked. - -"Yes. I paid another visit to the mysterious house and carried out your -plan. I must tell you about it later." - -"Do. I shall be keenly interested to hear all about your adventures. Is -there plenty of candle left in the lamp?" - -"Oh yes. I only used it for about an hour." - -"Then let us be off," said Thorndyke; and we accordingly set forth on -our quest; and, as we went, I reflected once more on the apparent -vagueness of our proceedings. Presently I reopened the subject with -Thorndyke. - -"I can't imagine," said I, "that you have absolutely nothing in view. -That you are going to this place with no defined purpose whatever." - -"I did not say exactly that," replied Thorndyke. "I said that I was not -going to look for any particular thing or fact. I am going in the hope -that I may observe something that may start a new train of speculation. -But that is not all. You know that an investigation follows a certain -logical course. It begins with the observation of the conspicuous facts. -We have done that. The facts were supplied by Marchmont. The next stage -is to propose to oneself one or more provisional explanations or -hypotheses. We have done that, too--or, at least I have, and I suppose -you have." - -"I haven't," said I. "There is Jeffrey's will, but why he should have -made the change I cannot form the foggiest idea. But I should like to -hear your provisional theories on the subject." - -"You won't hear them at present. They are mere wild conjectures. But to -resume: what do we do next?" - -"Go to New Inn and rake over the deceased gentleman's apartments." - -Thorndyke smilingly ignored my answer and continued-- - -"We examine each explanation in turn and see what follows from it; -whether it agrees with all the facts and leads to the discovery of new -ones, or, on the other hand, disagrees with some facts or leads us to an -absurdity. Let us take a simple example. - -"Suppose we find scattered over a field a number of largish masses of -stone, which are entirely different in character from the rocks found in -the neighbourhood. The question arises, how did those stones get into -that field? Three explanations are proposed. One: that they are the -products of former volcanic action; two: that they were brought from a -distance by human agency; three: that they were carried thither from -some distant country by icebergs. Now each of those explanations -involves certain consequences. If the stones are volcanic, then they -were once in a state of fusion. But we find that they are unaltered -limestone and contain fossils. Then they are not volcanic. If they were -borne by icebergs, then they were once part of a glacier and some of -them will probably show the flat surfaces with parallel scratches which -are found on glacier-borne stones. We examine them and find the -characteristic scratched surfaces. Then they have probably been brought -to this place by icebergs. But this does not exclude human agency, for -they might have been brought by men to this place from some other where -the icebergs had deposited them. A further comparison with other facts -would be needed. - -"So we proceed in cases like this present one. Of the facts that are -known to us we invent certain explanations. From each of those -explanations we deduce consequences; and if those consequences agree -with new facts, they confirm the explanation, whereas if they disagree -they tend to disprove it. But here we are at our destination." - -We turned out of Wych Street into the arched passage leading into New -Inn, and, halting at the half-door of the lodge, perceived a stout, -purple-faced man crouching over the fire, coughing violently. He held up -his hand to intimate that he was fully occupied for the moment, and we -accordingly waited for his paroxysm to subside. At length he turned -towards us, wiping his eyes, and inquired our business. - -"Mr. Stephen Blackmore," said Thorndyke, "has given me permission to -look over his chambers. He said that he would mention the matter to -you." - -"So he has, sir," said the porter; "but he has just taken the key -himself to go to the chambers. If you walk across the Inn you'll find -him there; it's on the farther side; number thirty-one, second floor." - -We made our way across to the house indicated, the ground floor of which -was occupied by a solicitor's offices and was distinguished by a -good-sized brass plate. Although it had now been dark some time there -was no light on the lower stairs, but we encountered on the first-floor -landing a man who had just lit the lamp there. Thorndyke halted to -address him. - -"Can you tell me who occupies the chambers on the third floor?" - -"The third floor has been empty about three months," was the reply. - -"We are going up to look at the chambers on the second floor," said -Thorndyke. "Are they pretty quiet?" - -"Quiet!" exclaimed the man. "Lord bless you the place is like a cemetery -for the deaf and dumb. There's the solicitors on the ground floor and -the architects on the first floor. They both clear out about six, and -when they're gone the house is as empty as a blown hegg. I don't wonder -poor Mr. Blackmore made away with his-self. Livin' up there all alone, -it must have been like Robinson Crusoe without no man Friday and not -even a blooming goat to talk to. Quiet! It's quiet enough, if that's -what you want. Wouldn't be no good to <i>me</i>." - -With a contemptuous shake of the head, he turned and retired down the -next flight, and, as the echoes of his footsteps died away we resumed -our ascent. - -"So it would appear," Thorndyke commented, "that when Jeffrey Blackmore -came home that last evening, the house was empty." - -Arrived on the second-floor landing, we were confronted by a -solid-looking door on the lintel of which the deceased man's name was -painted in white lettering which still looked new and fresh. Thorndyke -knocked at the door, which was at once opened by Stephen Blackmore. - -"I haven't wasted any time before taking advantage of your permission, -you see," my colleague said as we entered. - -"No, indeed," said Stephen; "you are very prompt. I have been rather -wondering what kind of information you expect to gather from an -inspection of these rooms." - -Thorndyke smiled genially, amused, no doubt, by the similarity of -Stephen's remarks to those of mine which he had so recently criticized. - -"A man of science, Mr. Blackmore," he said, "expects nothing. He -collects facts and keeps an open mind. As to me, I am a mere legal -Autolycus, a snapper-up of unconsidered trifles of evidence. When I have -accumulated a few facts, I arrange them, compare them and think about -them. Sometimes the comparison yields new matter and sometimes it -doesn't; but in any case, believe me, it is a capital error to decide -beforehand what data are to be sought for." - -"Yes, I suppose that is so," said Stephen; "though, to me, it almost -looks as if Mr. Marchmont was right; that there is nothing to -investigate." - -"You should have thought of that before you consulted me," laughed -Thorndyke. "As it is, I am engaged to look into the case and I shall do -so; and, as I have said, I shall keep an open mind until I have all the -facts in my possession." - -He glanced round the sitting-room, which we had now entered, and -continued: - -"These are fine, dignified old rooms. It seems a sin to have covered up -all this oak panelling and that carved cornice and mantel with paint. -Think what it must have been like when the beautiful figured wood was -exposed." - -"It would be very dark," Stephen observed. - -"Yes," Thorndyke agreed, "and I suppose we care more for light and less -for beauty than our ancestors did. But now, tell me; looking round these -rooms, do they convey to you a similar impression to that which the old -rooms did? Have they the same general character?" - -"Not quite, I think. Of course the rooms in Jermyn Street were in a -different kind of house, but beyond that, I seem to feel a certain -difference; which is rather odd, seeing that the furniture is the same. -But the old rooms were more cosy, more homelike. I find something rather -bare and cheerless, I was almost going to say squalid, in the look of -these chambers." - -"That is rather what I should have expected," said Thorndyke. "The opium -habit alters a man's character profoundly; and, somehow, apart from the -mere furnishing, a room reflects in some subtle way, but very -distinctly, the personality of its occupant, especially when that -occupant lives a solitary life. Do you see any evidences of the -activities that used to occupy your uncle?" - -"Not very much," replied Stephen. "But the place may not be quite as he -left it. I found one or two of his books on the table and put them back -in the shelves, but I found no manuscript or notes such as he used to -make. I noticed, too, that his ink-slab which he used to keep so -scrupulously clean is covered with dry smears and that the stick of ink -is all cracked at the end, as if he had not used it for months. It seems -to point to a great change in his habits." - -"What used he to do with Chinese ink?" Thorndyke asked. - -"He corresponded with some of his native friends in Japan, and he used -to write in the Japanese character even if they understood English. That -was what he chiefly used the Chinese ink for. But he also used to copy -the inscriptions from these things." Here Stephen lifted from the -mantelpiece what looked like a fossil Bath bun, but was actually a clay -tablet covered with minute indented writing. - -"Your uncle could read the cuneiform character, then?" - -"Yes; he was something of an expert. These tablets are, I believe, -leases and other legal documents from Eridu and other Babylonian cities. -He used to copy the inscriptions in the cuneiform writing and then -translate them into English. But I mustn't stay here any longer as I -have an engagement for this evening. I just dropped in to get these two -volumes--<i>Thornton's History of Babylonia</i>, which he once advised me to -read. Shall I give you the key? You'd better have it and leave it with -the porter as you go out." - -He shook hands with us and we walked out with him to the landing and -stood watching him as he ran down the stairs. Glancing at Thorndyke by -the light of the gas lamp on the landing, I thought I detected in his -impassive face that almost imperceptible change of expression to which I -have already alluded as indicating pleasure or satisfaction. - -"You are looking quite pleased with yourself," I remarked. - -"I am not displeased," he replied calmly. "Autolycus has picked up a few -crumbs; very small ones, but still crumbs. No doubt his learned junior -has picked up a few likewise?" - -I shook my head--and inwardly suspected it of being rather a thick head. - -"I did not perceive anything in the least degree significant in what -Stephen was telling you," said I. "It was all very interesting, but it -did not seem to have any bearing on his uncle's will." - -"I was not referring only to what Stephen has told us, although that -was, as you say, very interesting. While he was talking I was looking -about the room, and I have seen a very strange thing. Let me show it to -you." - -He linked his arm in mine and, walking me back into the room, halted -opposite the fire-place. - -"There," said he, "look at that. It is a most remarkable object." - -[Illustration: THE INVERTED INSCRIPTION.] - -I followed the direction of his gaze and saw an oblong frame enclosing a -large photograph of an inscription in the weird and cabalistic -arrow-head character. I looked at it in silence for some seconds and -then, somewhat disappointed, remarked: - -"I don't see anything very remarkable in it, under the circumstances. In -any ordinary room it would be, I admit; but Stephen has just told us -that his uncle was something of an expert in cuneiform writing." - -"Exactly," said Thorndyke. "That is my point. That is what makes it so -remarkable." - -"I don't follow you at all," said I. "That a man should hang upon his -wall an inscription that is legible to him does not seem to me at all -out of the way. It would be much more singular if he should hang up an -inscription that he could <i>not</i> read." - -"No doubt," replied Thorndyke. "But you will agree with me that it would -be still more singular if a man should hang upon his wall an inscription -that he <i>could</i> read--and hang it upside down." - -I stared at Thorndyke in amazement. - -"Do you mean to tell me," I exclaimed, "that that photograph is really -upside down?" - -"I do indeed," he replied. - -"But how do you know? Have we here yet another Oriental scholar?" - -Thorndyke chuckled. "Some fool," he replied, "has said that 'a little -knowledge is a dangerous thing.' Compared with much knowledge, it may -be; but it is a vast deal better than no knowledge. Here is a case in -point. I have read with very keen interest the wonderful history of the -decipherment of the cuneiform writing, and I happen to recollect one or -two of the main facts that seemed to me to be worth remembering. This -particular inscription is in the Persian cuneiform, a much more simple -and open form of the script than the Babylonian or Assyrian; in fact, I -suspect that this is the famous inscription from the gateway at -Persepolis--the first to be deciphered; which would account for its -presence here in a frame. Now this script consists, as you see, of two -kinds of characters; the small, solid, acutely pointed characters which -are known as wedges, and the larger, more obtuse characters, somewhat -like our government broad arrows, and called arrow-heads. The names are -rather unfortunate, as both forms are wedge-like and both resemble -arrow-heads. The script reads from left to right, like our own writing, -and unlike that of the Semitic peoples and the primitive Greeks; and the -rule for the placing of the characters is that all the 'wedges' point to -the right or downwards and the arrow-head forms are open towards the -right. But if you look at this photograph you will see that all the -wedges point upwards to the left and that the arrow-head characters are -open towards the left. Obviously the photograph is upside down." - -"But," I exclaimed, "this is really most mysterious. What do you suppose -can be the explanation?" - -"I think," replied Thorndyke, "that we may perhaps get a suggestion from -the back of the frame. Let us see." - -He disengaged the frame from the two nails on which it hung, and, -turning it round, glanced at the back; which he then presented for my -inspection. A label on the backing paper bore the words, "J. Budge, -Frame-maker and Gilder, 16, Gt. Anne Street, W.C." - -"Well?" I said, when I had read the label without gathering from it -anything fresh. - -"The label, you observe, is the right way up as it hangs on the wall." - -"So it is," I rejoined hastily, a little annoyed that I had not been -quicker to observe so obvious a fact. "I see your point. You mean that -the frame-maker hung the thing upside down and Jeffrey never noticed the -mistake?" - -"That is a perfectly sound explanation," said Thorndyke. "But I think -there is something more. You will notice that the label is an old one; -it must have been on some years, to judge by its dingy appearance, -whereas the two mirror-plates look to me comparatively new. But we can -soon put that matter to the test, for the label was evidently stuck on -when the frame was new, and if the plates were screwed on at the same -time, the wood that they cover will be clean and new-looking." - -He drew from his pocket a "combination" knife containing, among other -implements, a screw-driver, with which he carefully extracted the screws -from one of the little brass plates by which the frame had been -suspended from the nails. - -"You see," he said, when he had removed the plate and carried the -photograph over to the gasjet, "the wood covered by the plate is as -dirty and time-stained as the rest of the frame. The plates have been -put on recently." - -"And what are we to infer from that?" - -"Well, since there are no other marks of plates or rings upon the -frame, we may safely infer that the photograph was never hung up until -it came to these rooms." - -"Yes, I suppose we may. But what then? What inference does that lead -to?" - -Thorndyke reflected for a few moments and I continued: - -"It is evident that this photograph suggests more to you than it does to -me. I should like to hear your exposition of its bearing on the case, if -it has any." - -"Whether or no it has any real bearing on the case," Thorndyke answered, -"it is impossible for me to say at this stage. I told you that I had -proposed to myself one or two hypotheses to account for and explain -Jeffrey Blackmore's will, and I may say that the curious misplacement of -this photograph fits more than one of them. I won't say more than that, -because I think it would be profitable to you to work at this case -independently. You have all the facts that I have and you shall have a -copy of my notes of Marchmont's statement of the case. With this -material you ought to be able to reach some conclusion. Of course -neither of us may be able to make anything of the case--it doesn't look -very hopeful at present--but whatever happens, we can compare notes -after the event and you will be the richer by so much experience of -actual investigation. But I will start you off with one hint, which is -this: that neither you nor Marchmont seem to appreciate in the least the -very extraordinary nature of the facts that he communicated to us." - -"I thought Marchmont seemed pretty much alive to the fact that it was a -very queer will." - -"So he did," agreed Thorndyke. "But that is not quite what I mean. The -whole set of circumstances, taken together and in relation to one -another, impressed me as most remarkable; and that is why I am giving so -much attention to what looks at first sight like such a very unpromising -case. Copy out my notes, Jervis, and examine the facts critically. I -think you will see what I mean. And now let us proceed." - -He replaced the brass plate and having reinserted the screws, hung up -the frame, and proceeded to browse slowly round the room, stopping now -and again to inspect the Japanese colour-prints and framed photographs -of buildings and other objects of archaeological interest that formed -the only attempts at wall-decoration. To one of the former he drew my -attention. - -"These things are of some value," he remarked. "Here is one by -Utamaro--that little circle with the mark over it is his signature--and -you notice that the paper is becoming spotted in places with mildew. The -fact is worth noting in more than one connection." - -I accordingly made a mental note and the perambulation continued. - -"You observe that Jeffrey used a gas-stove, instead of a coal fire, no -doubt to economize work, but perhaps for other reasons. Presumably he -cooked by gas, too; let us see." - -We wandered into the little cupboard-like kitchen and glanced round. A -ring-burner on a shelf, a kettle, a frying-pan and a few pieces of -crockery were its sole appointments. Apparently the porter was correct -in his statement as to Jeffrey's habits. - -Returning to the sitting-room, Thorndyke resumed his inspection, pulling -out the table drawers, peering inquisitively into cupboards and -bestowing a passing glance on each of the comparatively few objects that -the comfortless room contained. - -"I have never seen a more characterless apartment," was his final -comment. "There is nothing that seems to suggest any kind of habitual -activity on the part of the occupant. Let us look at the bedroom." - -We passed through into the chamber of tragic memories, and, when -Thorndyke had lit the gas, we stood awhile looking about us in silence. -It was a bare, comfortless room, dirty, neglected and squalid. The bed -appeared not to have been remade since the catastrophe, for an -indentation still marked the place where the corpse had lain, and even a -slight powdering of ash could still be seen on the shabby counterpane. -It looked to me a typical opium-smoker's bedroom. - -"Well," Thorndyke remarked at length, "there is character enough -here--of a kind. Jeffrey Blackmore would seem to have been a man of few -needs. One could hardly imagine a bedroom in which less attention seemed -to have been given to the comfort of the occupant." - -He looked about him keenly and continued: "The syringe and the rest of -the lethal appliances and material have been taken away, I see. -Probably the analyst did not return them. But there are the opium-pipe -and the jar and the ash-bowl, and I presume those are the clothes that -the undertakers removed from the body. Shall we look them over?" - -He took up the clothes which lay, roughly folded, on a chair and held -them up, garment by garment. - -"These are evidently the trousers," he remarked, spreading them out on -the bed. "Here is a little white spot on the middle of the thigh which -looks like a patch of small crystals from a drop of the solution. Just -light the lamp, Jervis, and let us examine it with a lens." - -I lit the lamp, and when we had examined the spot minutely and -identified it as a mass of minute crystals, Thorndyke asked: - -"What do you make of those creases? You see there is one on each leg." - -"It looks as if the trousers had been turned up. But if they have been -they must have been turned up about seven inches. Poor Jeffrey couldn't -have had much regard for appearances, for they would have been right -above his socks. But perhaps the creases were made in undressing the -body." - -"That is possible," said Thorndyke: "though I don't quite see how it -would have happened. I notice that his pockets seem to have been -emptied--no, wait; here is something in the waistcoat pocket." - -He drew out a shabby, pigskin card-case and a stump of lead pencil, at -which latter he looked with what seemed to me much more interest than -was deserved by so commonplace an object. - -"The cards, you observe," said he, "are printed from type, not from a -plate. I would note that fact. And tell me what you make of that." - -He handed me the pencil, which I examined with concentrated attention, -helping myself even with the lamp and my pocket lens. But even with -these aids I failed to discover anything unusual in its appearance. -Thorndyke watched me with a mischievous smile, and, when I had finished, -inquired: - -"Well; what is it?" - -"Confound you!" I exclaimed. "It's a pencil. Any fool can see that, and -this particular fool can't see any more. It's a wretched stump of a -pencil, villainously cut to an abominably bad point. It is coloured dark -red on the outside and was stamped with some name that began with -C--O--Co-operative Stores, perhaps." - -"Now, my dear Jervis," Thorndyke protested, "don't begin by confusing -speculation with fact. The letters which remain are C--O. Note that fact -and find out what pencils there are which have inscriptions beginning -with those letters. I am not going to help you, because you can easily -do this for yourself. And it will be good discipline even if the fact -turns out to mean nothing." - -At this moment he stepped back suddenly, and, looking down at the floor, -said: - -"Give me the lamp, Jervis, I've trodden on something that felt like -glass." - -I brought the lamp to the place where he had been standing, close by -the bed, and we both knelt on the floor, throwing the light of the lamp -on the bare and dusty boards. Under the bed, just within reach of the -foot of a person standing close by, was a little patch of fragments of -glass. Thorndyke produced a piece of paper from his pocket and -delicately swept the little fragments on to it, remarking: - -"By the look of things, I am not the first person who has trodden on -that object, whatever it is. Do you mind holding the lamp while I -inspect the remains?" - -I took the lamp and held it over the paper while he examined the little -heap of glass through his lens. - -"Well," I asked. "What have you found?" - -"That is what I am asking myself," he replied. "As far as I can judge by -the appearance of these fragments, they appear to be portions of a small -watch-glass. I wish there were some larger pieces." - -"Perhaps there are," said I. "Let us look about the floor under the -bed." - -We resumed our groping about the dirty floor, throwing the light of the -lamp on one spot after another. Presently, as we moved the lamp about, -its light fell on a small glass bead, which I instantly picked up and -exhibited to Thorndyke. - -"Is this of any interest to you?" I asked. - -Thorndyke took the bead and examined it curiously. - -"It is certainly," he said, "a very odd thing to find in the bedroom of -an old bachelor like Jeffrey, especially as we know that he employed no -woman to look after his rooms. Of course, it may be a relic of the last -tenant. Let us see if there are any more." - -We renewed our search, crawling under the bed and throwing the light of -the lamp in all directions over the floor. The result was the discovery -of three more beads, one entire bugle and the crushed remains of -another, which had apparently been trodden on. All of these, including -the fragments of the bugle that had been crushed, Thorndyke placed -carefully on the paper, which he laid on the dressing-table the more -conveniently to examine our find. - -"I am sorry," said he, "that there are no more fragments of the -watch-glass, or whatever it was. The broken pieces were evidently picked -up, with the exception of the one that I trod on, which was an isolated -fragment that had been overlooked. As to the beads, judging by their -number and the position in which we found some of them--that crushed -bugle, for instance--they must have been dropped during Jeffrey's -tenancy and probably quite recently." - -"What sort of garment do you suppose they came from?" I asked. - -"They may have been part of a beaded veil or the trimming of a dress, -but the grouping rather suggests to me a tag of bead fringe. The colour -is rather unusual." - -"I thought they looked like black beads." - -"So they do by this light, but I think that by daylight we shall find -them to be a dark, reddish-brown. You can see the colour now if you look -at the smaller fragments of the one that is crushed." - -He handed me his lens, and, when I had verified his statement, he -produced from his pocket a small tin box with a closely-fitting lid in -which he deposited the paper, having first folded it up into a small -parcel. - -"We will put the pencil in too," said he; and, as he returned the box to -his pocket he added: "you had better get one of these little boxes from -Polton. It is often useful to have a safe receptacle for small and -fragile articles." - -He folded up and replaced the dead man's clothes as we had found them. -Then, observing a pair of shoes standing by the wall, he picked them up -and looked them over thoughtfully, paying special attention to the backs -of the soles and the fronts of the heels. - -"I suppose we may take it," said he, "that these are the shoes that poor -Jeffrey wore on the night of his death. At any rate there seem to be no -others. He seems to have been a fairly clean walker. The streets were -shockingly dirty that day, as I remember most distinctly. Do you see any -slippers? I haven't noticed any." - -He opened and peeped into a cupboard in which an overcoat surmounted by -a felt hat hung from a peg like an attenuated suicide; he looked in all -the corners and into the sitting-room, but no slippers were to be seen. - -"Our friend seems to have had surprisingly little regard for comfort," -Thorndyke remarked. "Think of spending the winter evenings in damp boots -by a gas fire!" - -"Perhaps the opium-pipe compensated," said I; "or he may have gone to -bed early." - -"But he did not. The night porter used to see the light in his rooms at -one o'clock in the morning. In the sitting-room, too, you remember. But -he seems to have been in the habit of reading in bed--or perhaps -smoking--for here is a candlestick with the remains of a whole dynasty -of candles in it. As there is gas in the room, he couldn't have wanted -the candle to undress by. He used stearine candles, too; not the common -paraffin variety. I wonder why he went to that expense." - -"Perhaps the smell of the paraffin candle spoiled the aroma of the -opium," I suggested; to which Thorndyke made no reply but continued his -inspection of the room, pulling out the drawer of the washstand--which -contained a single, worn-out nail-brush--and even picking up and -examining the dry and cracked cake of soap in the dish. - -"He seems to have had a fair amount of clothing," said Thorndyke, who -was now going through the chest of drawers, "though, by the look of it, -he didn't change very often, and the shirts have a rather yellow and -faded appearance. I wonder how he managed about his washing. Why, here -are a couple of pairs of boots in the drawer with his clothes! And here -is his stock of candles. Quite a large box--though nearly empty now--of -stearine candles, six to the pound." - -He closed the drawer and cast another inquiring look round the room. - -"I think we have seen all now, Jervis," he said, "unless there is -anything more that you would like to look into?" - -"No," I replied. "I have seen all that I wanted to see and more than I -am able to attach any meaning to. So we may as well go." - -I blew out the lamp and put it in my overcoat pocket, and, when we had -turned out the gas in both rooms, we took our departure. - -As we approached the lodge, we found our stout friend in the act of -retiring in favour of the night porter. Thorndyke handed him the key of -the chambers, and, after a few sympathetic inquiries, about his -health--which was obviously very indifferent--said: - -"Let me see; you were one of the witnesses to Mr. Blackmore's will, I -think?" - -"I was, sir," replied the porter. - -"And I believe you read the document through before you witnessed the -signature?" - -"I did, sir." - -"Did you read it aloud?" - -"Aloud, sir! Lor' bless you, no, sir! Why should I? The other witness -read it, and, of course, Mr. Blackmore knew what was in it, seeing that -it was in his own handwriting. What should I want to read it aloud for?" - -"No, of course you wouldn't want to. By the way, I have been wondering -how Mr. Blackmore managed about his washing." - -The porter evidently regarded this question with some disfavour, for he -replied only with an interrogative grunt. It was, in fact, rather an odd -question. - -"Did you get it done for him," Thorndyke pursued. - -"No, certainly not, sir. He got it done for himself. The laundry people -used to deliver the basket here at the lodge, and Mr. Blackmore used to -take it in with him when he happened to be passing." - -"It was not delivered at his chambers, then?" - -"No, sir. Mr. Blackmore was a very studious gentleman and he didn't like -to be disturbed. A studious gentleman would naturally not like to be -disturbed." - -Thorndyke cordially agreed with these very proper sentiments and finally -wished the porter "good night." We passed out through the gateway into -Wych Street, and, turning our faces eastward towards the Temple, set -forth in silence, each thinking his own thoughts. What Thorndyke's were -I cannot tell, though I have no doubt that he was busily engaged in -piecing together all that he had seen and heard and considering its -possible application to the case in hand. - -As to me, my mind was in a whirl of confusion. All this searching and -examining seemed to be the mere flogging of a dead horse. The will was -obviously a perfectly valid and regular will and there was an end of the -matter. At least, so it seemed to me. But clearly that was not -Thorndyke's view. His investigations were certainly not purposeless; -and, as I walked by his side trying to conceive some purpose in his -actions, I only became more and more mystified as I recalled them one -by one, and perhaps most of all by the cryptic questions that I had just -heard him address to the equally mystified porter. - - - - -Chapter VIII - -The Track Chart - - -As Thorndyke and I arrived at the main gateway of the Temple and he -swung round into the narrow lane, it was suddenly borne in on me that I -had made no arrangements for the night. Events had followed one another -so continuously and each had been so engrossing that I had lost sight of -what I may call my domestic affairs. - -"We seem to be heading for your chambers, Thorndyke," I ventured to -remark. "It is a little late to think of it, but I have not yet settled -where I am to put up to-night." - -"My dear fellow," he replied, "you are going to put up in your own -bedroom which has been waiting in readiness for you ever since you left -it. Polton went up and inspected it as soon as you arrived. I take it -that you will consider my chambers yours until such time as you may join -the benedictine majority and set up a home for yourself." - -"That is very handsome of you," said I. "You didn't mention that the -billet you offered was a resident appointment." - -"Rooms and commons included," said Thorndyke; and when I protested that -I should at least contribute to the costs of living he impatiently -waved the suggestion away. We were still arguing the question when we -reached our chambers--as I will now call them--and a diversion was -occasioned by my taking the lamp from my pocket and placing it on the -table. - -"Ah," my colleague remarked, "that is a little reminder. We will put it -on the mantelpiece for Polton to collect and you shall give me a full -account of your further adventures in the wilds of Kennington. That was -a very odd affair. I have often wondered how it ended." - -He drew our two arm-chairs up to the fire, put on some more coal, placed -the tobacco jar on the table exactly equidistant from the two chairs, -and settled himself with the air of a man who is anticipating an -agreeable entertainment. - -I filled my pipe, and, taking up the thread of the story where I had -broken off on the last occasion, began to outline my later experiences. -But he brought me up short. - -"Don't be sketchy, Jervis. To be sketchy is to be vague. Detail, my -child, detail is the soul of induction. Let us have all the facts. We -can sort them out afterwards." - -I began afresh in a vein of the extremest circumstantiality. With -deliberate malice I loaded a prolix narrative with every triviality that -a fairly retentive memory could rake out of the half-forgotten past. I -cudgelled my brains for irrelevant incidents. I described with the -minutest accuracy things that had not the faintest significance. I drew -a vivid picture of the carriage inside and out; I painted a lifelike -portrait of the horse, even going into particulars of the harness--which -I was surprised to find that I had noticed. I described the furniture of -the dining-room and the cobwebs that had hung from the ceiling; the -auction-ticket on the chest of drawers, the rickety table and the -melancholy chairs. I gave the number per minute of the patient's -respirations and the exact quantity of coffee consumed on each occasion, -with an exhaustive description of the cup from which it was taken; and I -left no personal details unconsidered, from the patient's finger-nails -to the roseate pimples on Mr. Weiss's nose. - -But my tactics of studied prolixity were a complete failure. The attempt -to fatigue Thorndyke's brain with superabundant detail was like trying -to surfeit a pelican with whitebait. He consumed it all with calm -enjoyment and asked for more; and when, at last, I did really begin to -think that I had bored him a little, he staggered me by reading over his -notes and starting a brisk cross-examination to elicit fresh facts! And -the most surprising thing of all was that when I had finished I seemed -to know a great deal more about the case than I had ever known before. - -"It was a very remarkable affair," he observed, when the -cross-examination was over--leaving me somewhat in the condition of a -cider-apple that has just been removed from a hydraulic press--"a very -suspicious affair with a highly unsatisfactory end. I am not sure that I -entirely agree with your police officer. Nor do I fancy that some of my -acquaintances at Scotland Yard would have agreed with him." - -"Do you think I ought to have taken any further measures?" I asked -uneasily. - -"No; I don't see how you could. You did all that was possible under the -circumstances. You gave information, which is all that a private -individual can do, especially if he is an overworked general -practitioner. But still, an actual crime is the affair of every good -citizen. I think we ought to take some action." - -"You think there really was a crime, then?" - -"What else can one think? What do you think about it yourself?" - -"I don't like to think about it at all. The recollection of that -corpse-like figure in that gloomy bedroom has haunted me ever since I -left the house. What do you suppose has happened?" - -Thorndyke did not answer for a few seconds. At length he said gravely: - -"I am afraid, Jervis, that the answer to that question can be given in -one word." - -"Murder?" I asked with a slight shudder. - -He nodded, and we were both silent for a while. - -"The probability," he resumed after a pause, "that Mr. Graves is alive -at this moment seems to me infinitesimal. There was evidently a -conspiracy to murder him, and the deliberate, persistent manner in which -that object was being pursued points to a very strong and definite -motive. Then the tactics adopted point to considerable forethought and -judgment. They are not the tactics of a fool or an ignoramus. We may -criticize the closed carriage as a tactical mistake, calculated to -arouse suspicion, but we have to weigh it against its alternative." - -"What is that?" - -"Well, consider the circumstances. Suppose Weiss had called you in in -the ordinary way. You would still have detected the use of poison. But -now you could have located your man and made inquiries about him in the -neighbourhood. You would probably have given the police a hint and they -would almost certainly have taken action, as they would have had the -means of identifying the parties. The result would have been fatal to -Weiss. The closed carriage invited suspicion, but it was a great -safeguard. Weiss's method's were not so unsound after all. He is a -cautious man, but cunning and very persistent. And he could be bold on -occasion. The use of the blinded carriage was a decidedly audacious -proceeding. I should put him down as a gambler of a very discreet, -courageous and resourceful type." - -"Which all leads to the probability that he has pursued his scheme and -brought it to a successful issue." - -"I am afraid it does. But--have you got your notes of the -compass-bearings?" - -"The book is in my overcoat pocket with the board. I will fetch them." - -I went into the office, where our coats hung, and brought back the -notebook with the little board to which it was still attached by the -rubber band. Thorndyke took them from me, and, opening the book, ran -his eye quickly down one page after another. Suddenly he glanced at the -clock. - -"It is a little late to begin," said he, "but these notes look rather -alluring. I am inclined to plot them out at once. I fancy, from their -appearance, that they will enable us to locate the house without much -difficulty. But don't let me keep you up if you are tired. I can work -them out by myself." - -"You won't do anything of the kind," I exclaimed. "I am as keen on -plotting them as you are, and, besides, I want to see how it is done. It -seems to be a rather useful accomplishment." - -"It is," said Thorndyke. "In our work, the ability to make a rough but -reliable sketch survey is often of great value. Have you ever looked -over these notes?" - -"No. I put the book away when I came in and have never looked at it -since." - -"It is a quaint document. You seem to be rich in railway bridges in -those parts, and the route was certainly none of the most direct, as you -noticed at the time. However, we will plot it out and then we shall see -exactly what it looks like and whither it leads us." - -He retired to the laboratory and presently returned with a T-square, a -military protractor, a pair of dividers and a large drawing-board on -which was pinned a sheet of cartridge paper. - -"Now," said he, seating himself at the table with the board before him, -"as to the method. You started from a known position and you arrived at -a place the position of which is at present unknown. We shall fix the -position of that spot by applying two factors, the distance that you -travelled and the direction in which you were moving. The direction is -given by the compass; and, as the horse seems to have kept up a -remarkably even pace, we can take time as representing distance. You -seem to have been travelling at about eight miles an hour, that is, -roughly, a seventh of a mile in one minute. So if, on our chart, we take -one inch as representing one minute, we shall be working with a scale of -about seven inches to the mile." - -"That doesn't sound very exact as to distance," I objected. - -"It isn't. But that doesn't matter much. We have certain landmarks, such -as these railway arches that you have noted, by which the actual -distance can be settled after the route is plotted. You had better read -out the entries, and, opposite each, write a number for reference, so -that we need not confuse the chart by writing details on it. I shall -start near the middle of the board, as neither you nor I seem to have -the slightest notion what your general direction was." - -I laid the open notebook before me and read out the first entry: - -"'Eight fifty-eight. West by South. Start from home. Horse thirteen -hands.'" - -"You turned round at once, I understand," said Thorndyke, "so we draw no -line in that direction. The next is--?" - -"'Eight fifty-eight minutes, thirty seconds, East by North'; and the -next is 'Eight fifty-nine, North-east.'" - -"Then you travelled east by north about a fifteenth of a mile and we -shall put down half an inch on the chart. Then you turned north-east. -How long did you go on?" - -"Exactly a minute. The next entry is 'Nine. West north-west.'" - -"Then you travelled about the seventh of a mile in a north-easterly -direction and we draw a line an inch long at an angle of forty-five -degrees to the right of the north and south line. From the end of that -we carry a line at an angle of fifty-six and a quarter degrees to the -left of the north and south line, and so on. The method is perfectly -simple, you see." - -"Perfectly; I quite understand it now." - -I went back to my chair and continued to read out the entries from the -notebook while Thorndyke laid off the lines of direction with the -protractor, taking out the distances with the dividers from a scale of -equal parts on the back of the instrument. As the work proceeded, I -noticed, from time to time, a smile of quiet amusement spread over my -colleague's keen, attentive face, and at each new reference to a railway -bridge he chuckled softly. - -"What, again!" he laughed, as I recorded the passage of the fifth or -sixth bridge. "It's like a game of croquet. Go on. What is the next?" - -I went on reading out the notes until I came to the final one: - -"'Nine twenty-four. South-east. In covered way. Stop. Wooden gates -closed.'" - -Thorndyke ruled off the last line, remarking: "Then your covered way is -on the south side of a street which bears north-east. So we complete our -chart. Just look at your route, Jervis." - -He held up the board with a quizzical smile and I stared in astonishment -at the chart. The single line, which represented the route of the -carriage, zigzagged in the most amazing manner, turning, re-turning and -crossing itself repeatedly, evidently passing more than once down the -same thoroughfares and terminating at a comparatively short distance -from its commencement. - -"Why!" I exclaimed, the "rascal must have lived quite near to -Stillbury's house!" - -Thorndyke measured with the dividers the distance between the starting -and arriving points of the route and took it off from the scale. - -"Five-eighths of a mile, roughly," he said. "You could have walked it in -less than ten minutes. And now let us get out the ordnance map and see -if we can give to each of those marvellously erratic lines 'a local -habitation and a name.'" - -He spread the map out on the table and placed our chart by its side. - -"I think," said he, "you started from Lower Kennington Lane?" - -"Yes, from this point," I replied, indicating the spot with a pencil. - -"Then," said Thorndyke, "if we swing the chart round twenty degrees to -correct the deviation of the compass, we can compare it with the -ordnance map." - -He set off with the protractor an angle of twenty degrees from the -north and south line and turned the chart round to that extent. After -closely scrutinizing the map and the chart and comparing the one with -the other, he said: - -"By mere inspection it seems fairly easy to identify the thoroughfares -that correspond to the lines of the chart. Take the part that is near -your destination. At nine twenty-one you passed under a bridge, going -westward. That would seem to be Glasshouse Street. Then you turned -south, apparently along the Albert Embankment, where you heard the tug's -whistle. Then you heard a passenger train start on your left; that would -be Vauxhall Station. Next you turned round due east and passed under a -large railway bridge, which suggests the bridge that carries the Station -over Upper Kennington Lane. If that is so, your house should be on the -south side of Upper Kennington Lane, some three hundred yards from the -bridge. But we may as well test our inferences by one or two -measurements." - -"How can you do that if you don't know the exact scale of the chart?" - -"I will show you," said Thorndyke. "We shall establish the true scale -and that will form part of the proof." - -He rapidly constructed on the upper blank part of the paper, a -proportional diagram consisting of two intersecting lines with a single -cross-line. - -"This long line," he explained, "is the distance from Stillbury's house -to the Vauxhall railway bridge as it appears on the chart; the shorter -cross-line is the same distance taken from the ordnance map. If our -inference is correct and the chart is reasonably accurate, all the other -distances will show a similar proportion. Let us try some of them. Take -the distance from Vauxhall bridge to the Glasshouse Street bridge." - -[Illustration: The Track Chart, showing the route followed by Weiss's -carriage. - -A.--Starting-point in Lower Kennington Lane. - -B.--Position of Mr. Weiss's house. The dotted lines connecting the -bridges indicate probable railway lines.] - -He made the two measurements carefully, and, as the point of the -dividers came down almost precisely in the correct place on the diagram, -he looked up at me. - -"Considering the roughness of the method by which the chart was made, I -think that is pretty conclusive, though, if you look at the various -arches that you passed under and see how nearly they appear to follow -the position of the South-Western Railway line, you hardly need further -proof. But I will take a few more proportional measurements for the -satisfaction of proving the case by scientific methods before we proceed -to verify our conclusions by a visit to the spot." - -He took off one or two more distances, and on comparing them with the -proportional distances on the ordnance map, found them in every case as -nearly correct as could be expected. - -"Yes," said Thorndyke, laying down the dividers, "I think we have -narrowed down the locality of Mr. Weiss's house to a few yards in a -known street. We shall get further help from your note of nine -twenty-three thirty, which records a patch of newly laid macadam -extending up to the house." - -"That new macadam will be pretty well smoothed down by now," I objected. - -"Not so very completely," answered Thorndyke. "It is only a little over -a month ago, and there has been very little wet weather since. It may be -smooth, but it will be easily distinguishable from the old." - -"And do I understand that you propose to go and explore the -neighbourhood?" - -"Undoubtedly I do. That is to say, I intend to convert the locality of -this house into a definite address; which, I think, will now be -perfectly easy, unless we should have the bad luck to find more than one -covered way. Even then, the difficulty would be trifling." - -"And when you have ascertained where Mr. Weiss lives? What then?" - -"That will depend on circumstances. I think we shall probably call at -Scotland Yard and have a little talk with our friend Mr. Superintendent -Miller; unless, for any reason, it seems better to look into the case -ourselves." - -"When is this voyage of exploration to take place?" - -Thorndyke considered this question, and, taking out his pocket-book, -glanced through his engagements. - -"It seems to me," he said, "that to-morrow is a fairly free day. We -could take the morning without neglecting other business. I suggest that -we start immediately after breakfast. How will that suit my learned -friend?" - -"My time is yours," I replied; "and if you choose to waste it on matters -that don't concern you, that's your affair." - -"Then we will consider the arrangement to stand for to-morrow morning, -or rather, for this morning, as I see that it is past twelve." - -With this Thorndyke gathered up the chart and instruments and we -separated for the night. - - - - -Chapter IX - -The House of Mystery - - -Half-past nine on the following morning found us spinning along the -Albert Embankment in a hansom to the pleasant tinkle of the horse's -bell. Thorndyke appeared to be in high spirits, though the full -enjoyment of the matutinal pipe precluded fluent conversation. As a -precaution, he had put my notebook in his pocket before starting, and -once or twice he took it out and looked over its pages; but he made no -reference to the object of our quest, and the few remarks that he -uttered would have indicated that his thoughts were occupied with other -matters. - -Arrived at Vauxhall Station, we alighted and forthwith made our way to -the bridge that spans Upper Kennington Lane near its junction with -Harleyford Road. - -"Here is our starting point," said Thorndyke. "From this place to the -house is about three hundred yards--say four hundred and twenty -paces--and at about two hundred paces we ought to reach our patch of new -road-metal. Now, are you ready? If we keep step we shall average our -stride." - -We started together at a good pace, stepping out with military -regularity and counting aloud as we went. As we told out the hundred and -ninety-fourth pace I observed Thorndyke nod towards the roadway a little -ahead, and, looking at it attentively as we approached, it was easy to -see by the regularity of surface and lighter colour, that it had -recently been re-metalled. - -Having counted out the four hundred and twenty paces, we halted, and -Thorndyke turned to me with a smile of triumph. - -"Not a bad estimate, Jervis," said he. "That will be your house if I am -not much mistaken. There is no other mews or private roadway in sight." - -He pointed to a narrow turning some dozen yards ahead, apparently the -entrance to a mews or yard and closed by a pair of massive wooden gates. - -"Yes," I answered, "there can be no doubt that this is the place; but, -by Jove!" I added, as we drew nearer, "the nest is empty! Do you see?" - -I pointed to a bill that was stuck on the gate, bearing, as I could see -at this distance, the inscription "To Let." - -"Here is a new and startling, if not altogether unexpected, -development," said Thorndyke, as we stood gazing at the bill; which set -forth that "these premises, including stabling and workshops," were "to -be let on lease or otherwise," and referred inquiries to Messrs. Ryebody -Brothers, house-agents and valuers, Upper Kennington Lane. "The question -is, should we make a few inquiries of the agent, or should we get the -keys and have a look at the inside of the house? I am inclined to do -both, and the latter first, if Messrs. Ryebody Brothers will trust us -with the keys." - -We proceeded up the lane to the address given, and, entering the -office, Thorndyke made his request--somewhat to the surprise of the -clerk; for Thorndyke was not quite the kind of person whom one naturally -associates with stabling and workshops. However, there was no -difficulty, but as the clerk sorted out the keys from a bunch hanging -from a hook, he remarked: - -"I expect you will find the place in a rather dirty and neglected -condition. The house has not been cleaned yet; it is just as it was left -when the brokers took away the furniture." - -"Was the last tenant sold up, then?" Thorndyke asked. - -"Oh, no. He had to leave rather unexpectedly to take up some business in -Germany." - -"I hope he paid his rent," said Thorndyke. - -"Oh, yes. Trust us for that. But I should say that Mr. Weiss--that was -his name--was a man of some means. He seemed to have plenty of money, -though he always paid in notes. I don't fancy he had a banking account -in this country. He hadn't been here more than about six or seven months -and I imagine he didn't know many people in England, as he paid us a -cash deposit in lieu of references when he first came." - -"I think you said his name was Weiss. It wouldn't be H. Weiss by any -chance?" - -"I believe it was. But I can soon tell you." He opened a drawer and -consulted what looked like a book of receipt forms. "Yes; H Weiss. Do -you know him, sir?" - -"I knew a Mr. H. Weiss some years ago. He came from Bremen, I -remember." - -"This Mr. Weiss has gone back to Hamburg," the clerk observed. - -"Ah," said Thorndyke, "then it would seem not to be the same. My -acquaintance was a fair man with a beard and a decidedly red nose and he -wore spectacles." - -"That's the man. You've described him exactly," said the clerk, who was -apparently rather easily satisfied in the matter of description. - -"Dear me," said Thorndyke; "what a small world it is. Do you happen to -have a note of his address in Hamburg?" - -"I haven't," the clerk replied. "You see we've done with him, having got -the rent, though the house is not actually surrendered yet. Mr Weiss's -housekeeper still has the front-door key. She doesn't start for Hamburg -for a week or so, and meanwhile she keeps the key so that she can call -every day and see if there are any letters." - -"Indeed," said Thorndyke. "I wonder if he still has the same -housekeeper." - -"This lady is a German," replied the clerk, "with a regular jaw-twisting -name. Sounded like Shallybang." - -"Schallibaum. That is the lady. A fair woman with hardly any eyebrows -and a pronounced cast in the left eye." - -"Now that's very curious, sir," said the clerk. "It's the same name, and -this is a fair woman with remarkably thin eyebrows, I remember, now that -you mention it. But it can't be the same person. I have only seen her a -few times and then only just for a minute or so; but I'm quite certain -she had no cast in her eye. So, you see, sir, she can't be the same -person. You can dye your hair or you can wear a wig or you can paint -your face; but a squint is a squint. There's no faking a swivel eye." - -Thorndyke laughed softly. "I suppose not; unless, perhaps, some one -might invent an adjustable glass eye. Are these the keys?" - -"Yes, sir. The large one belongs to the wicket in the front gate. The -other is the latch-key belonging to the side door. Mrs. Shallybang has -the key of the front door." - -"Thank you," said Thorndyke. He took the keys, to which a wooden label -was attached, and we made our way back towards the house of mystery, -discussing the clerk's statements as we went. - -"A very communicable young gentleman, that," Thorndyke remarked. "He -seemed quite pleased to relieve the monotony of office work with a -little conversation. And I am sure I was very delighted to indulge him." - -"He hadn't much to tell, all the same," said I. - -Thorndyke looked at me in surprise. "I don't know what you would have, -Jervis, unless you expect casual strangers to present you with a -ready-made body of evidence, fully classified, with all the inferences -and implications stated. It seemed to me that he was a highly -instructive young man." - -"What did you learn from him?" I asked. - -"Oh, come, Jervis," he protested; "is that a fair question, under our -present arrangement? However, I will mention a few points. We learn that -about six or seven months ago, Mr. H. Weiss dropped from the clouds into -Kennington Lane and that he has now ascended from Kennington Lane into -the clouds. That is a useful piece of information. Then we learn that -Mrs. Schallibaum has remained in England; which might be of little -importance if it were not for a very interesting corollary that it -suggests." - -"What is that?" - -"I must leave you to consider the facts at your leisure; but you will -have noticed the ostensible reason for her remaining behind. She is -engaged in puttying up the one gaping joint in their armour. One of them -has been indiscreet enough to give this address to some -correspondent--probably a foreign correspondent. Now, as they obviously -wish to leave no tracks, they cannot give their new address to the Post -Office to have their letters forwarded, and, on the other hand, a letter -left in the box might establish such a connection as would enable them -to be traced. Moreover, the letter might be of a kind that they would -not wish to fall into the wrong hands. They would not have given this -address excepting under some peculiar circumstances." - -"No, I should think not, if they took this house for the express purpose -of committing a crime in it." - -"Exactly. And then there is one other fact that you may have gathered -from our young friend's remarks." - -"What is that?" - -"That a controllable squint is a very valuable asset to a person who -wishes to avoid identification." - -"Yes, I did note that. The fellow seemed to think that it was absolutely -conclusive." - -"And so would most people; especially in the case of a squint of that -kind. We can all squint towards our noses, but no normal person can turn -his eyes away from one another. My impression is that the presence or -absence, as the case might be, of a divergent squint would be accepted -as absolute disproof of identity. But here we are." - -He inserted the key into the wicket of the large gate, and, when we had -stepped through into the covered way, he locked it from the inside. - -"Why have you locked us in?" I asked, seeing that the wicket had a -latch. - -"Because," he replied, "if we now hear any one on the premises we shall -know who it is. Only one person besides ourselves has a key." - -His reply startled me somewhat. I stopped and looked at him. - -"That is a quaint situation, Thorndyke. I hadn't thought of it. Why she -may actually come to the house while we are here; in fact, she may be in -the house at this moment." - -"I hope not," said he. "We don't particularly want Mr. Weiss to be put -on his guard, for I take it, he is a pretty wide-awake gentleman under -any circumstances. If she does come, we had better keep out of sight. I -think we will look over the house first. That is of the most interest to -us. If the lady does happen to come while we are here, she may stay to -show us over the place and keep an eye on us. So we will leave the -stables to the last." - -We walked down the entry to the side door at which I had been admitted -by Mrs. Schallibaum on the occasion of my previous visits. Thorndyke -inserted the latch-key, and, as soon as we were inside, shut the door -and walked quickly through into the hall, whither I followed him. He -made straight for the front door, where, having slipped up the catch of -the lock, he began very attentively to examine the letter-box. It was a -somewhat massive wooden box, fitted with a lock of good quality and -furnished with a wire grille through which one could inspect the -interior. - -"We are in luck, Jervis," Thorndyke remarked. "Our visit has been most -happily timed. There is a letter in the box." - -"Well," I said, "we can't get it out; and if we could, it would be -hardly justifiable." - -"I don't know," he replied, "that I am prepared to assent off-hand to -either of those propositions; but I would rather not tamper with another -person's letter, even if that person should happen to be a murderer. -Perhaps we can get the information we want from the outside of the -envelope." - -He produced from his pocket a little electric lamp fitted with a -bull's-eye, and, pressing the button, threw a beam of light in through -the grille. The letter was lying on the bottom of the box face upwards, -so that the address could easily be read. - -"Herrn Dr. H. Weiss," Thorndyke read aloud. "German stamp, postmark -apparently Darmstadt. You notice that the 'Herrn Dr.' is printed and the -rest written. What do you make of that?" - -"I don't quite know. Do you think he is really a medical man?" - -"Perhaps we had better finish our investigation, in case we are -disturbed, and discuss the bearings of the facts afterwards. The name of -the sender may be on the flap of the envelope. If it is not, I shall -pick the lock and take out the letter. Have you got a probe about you?" - -"Yes; by force of habit I am still carrying my pocket case." - -I took the little case from my pocket and extracting from it a jointed -probe of thickish silver wire, screwed the two halves together and -handed the completed instrument to Thorndyke; who passed the slender rod -through the grille and adroitly turned the letter over. - -"Ha!" he exclaimed with deep satisfaction, as the light fell on the -reverse of the envelope, "we are saved from the necessity of theft--or -rather, unauthorized borrowing--'Johann Schnitzler, Darmstadt.' That is -all that we actually want. The German police can do the rest if -necessary." - -He handed me back my probe, pocketed his lamp, released the catch of the -lock on the door, and turned away along the dark, musty-smelling hall. - -"Do you happen to know the name of Johann Schnitzler?" he asked. - -I replied that I had no recollection of ever having heard the name -before. - -"Neither have I," said he; "but I think we may form a pretty shrewd -guess as to his avocation. As you saw, the words 'Herrn Dr.' were -printed on the envelope, leaving the rest of the address to be written -by hand. The plain inference is that he is a person who habitually -addresses letters to medical men, and as the style of the envelope and -the lettering--which is printed, not embossed--is commercial, we may -assume that he is engaged in some sort of trade. Now, what is a likely -trade?" - -"He might be an instrument maker or a drug manufacturer; more probably -the latter, as there is an extensive drug and chemical industry in -Germany, and as Mr. Weiss seemed to have more use for drugs than -instruments." - -"Yes, I think you are right; but we will look him up when we get home. -And now we had better take a glance at the bedroom; that is, if you can -remember which room it was." - -"It was on the first floor," said I, "and the door by which I entered -was just at the head of the stairs." - -We ascended the two flights, and, as we reached the landing, I halted. - -"This was the door," I said, and was about to turn the handle when -Thorndyke caught me by the arm. - -"One moment, Jervis," said he. "What do you make of this?" - -He pointed to a spot near the bottom of the door where, on close -inspection, four good-sized screw-holes were distinguishable. They had -been neatly stopped with putty and covered with knotting, and were so -nearly the colour of the grained and varnished woodwork as to be hardly -visible. - -"Evidently," I answered, "there has been a bolt there, though it seems a -queer place to fix one." - -"Not at all," replied Thorndyke. "If you look up you will see that there -was another at the top of the door, and, as the lock is in the middle, -they must have been highly effective. But there are one or two other -points that strike one. First, you will notice that the bolts have been -fixed on quite recently, for the paint that they covered is of the same -grimy tint as that on the rest of the door. Next, they have been taken -off, which, seeing that they could hardly have been worth the trouble of -removal, seems to suggest that the person who fixed them considered that -their presence might appear remarkable, while the screw-holes, which -have been so skilfully and carefully stopped, would be less conspicuous. - -"Then, they are on the outside of the door--an unusual situation for -bedroom bolts--and were of considerable size. They were long and thick." - -"I can see, by the position of the screw-holes, that they were long; but -how do you arrive at their thickness?" - -"By the size of the counter-holes in the jamb of the door. These holes -have been very carefully filled with wooden plugs covered with knotting; -but you can make out their diameter, which is that of the bolts, and -which is decidedly out of proportion for an ordinary bedroom door. Let -me show you a light." - -He flashed his lamp into the dark corner, and I was able to see -distinctly the portentously large holes into which the bolts had fitted, -and also to note the remarkable neatness with which they had been -plugged. - -"There was a second door, I remember," said I. "Let us see if that was -guarded in a similar manner." - -We strode through the empty room, awakening dismal echoes as we trod the -bare boards, and flung open the other door. At top and bottom, similar -groups of screw-holes showed that this also had been made secure, and -that these bolts had been of the same very substantial character as the -others. - -Thorndyke turned away from the door with a slight frown. - -"If we had any doubts," said he, "as to what has been going on in this -house, these traces of massive fastenings would be almost enough to -settle them." - -"They might have been there before Weiss came," I suggested. "He only -came about seven months ago and there is no date on the screw-holes." - -"That is quite true. But when, with their recent fixture, you couple the -facts that they have been removed, that very careful measures have been -taken to obliterate the traces of their presence, and that they would -have been indispensable for the commission of the crime that we are -almost certain was being committed here, it looks like an excess of -caution to seek other explanations." - -"But," I objected, "if the man, Graves, was really imprisoned, could not -he have smashed the window and called for help?" - -"The window looks out on the yard, as you see; but I expect it was -secured too." - -He drew the massive, old-fashioned shutters out of their recess and -closed them. - -"Yes, here we are." He pointed to four groups of screw-holes at the -corners of the shutters, and, once more producing his lamp, narrowly -examined the insides of the recesses into which the shutters folded. - -"The nature of the fastening is quite evident," said he. "An iron bar -passed right across at the top and bottom and was secured by a staple -and padlock. You can see the mark the bar made in the recess when the -shutters were folded. When these bars were fixed and padlocked and the -bolts were shot, this room was as secure, for a prisoner unprovided with -tools, as a cell in Newgate." - -We looked at one another for awhile without speaking; and I fancy that -if Mr. H. Weiss could have seen our faces he might have thought it -desirable to seek some retreat even more remote than Hamburg. - -"It was a diabolical affair, Jervis," Thorndyke said at length, in an -ominously quiet and even gentle tone. "A sordid, callous, cold-blooded -crime of a type that is to me utterly unforgivable and incapable of -extenuation. Of course, it may have failed. Mr. Graves may even now be -alive. I shall make it my very especial business to ascertain whether he -is or not. And if he is not, I shall take it to myself as a sacred duty -to lay my hand on the man who has compassed his death." - -I looked at Thorndyke with something akin to awe. In the quiet -unemotional tone of his voice, in his unruffled manner and the stony -calm of his face, there was something much more impressive, more -fateful, than there could have been in the fiercest threats or the most -passionate denunciations. I felt that in those softly spoken words he -had pronounced the doom of the fugitive villain. - -He turned away from the window and glanced round the empty room. It -seemed that our discovery of the fastenings had exhausted the -information that it had to offer. - -"It is a thousand pities," I remarked, "that we were unable to look -round before they moved out the furniture. We might have found some clue -to the scoundrel's identity." - -"Yes," replied Thorndyke; "there isn't much information to be gathered -here, I am afraid. I see they have swept up the small litter from the -floor and poked it under the grate. We will turn that over, as there -seems to be nothing else, and then look at the other rooms." - -He raked out the little heap of rubbish with his stick and spread it out -on the hearth. It certainly looked unpromising enough, being just such a -rubbish heap as may be swept up in any untidy room during a move. But -Thorndyke went through it systematically, examining each item -attentively, even to the local tradesmen's bills and empty paper bags, -before laying them aside. Another rake of his stick scattered the bulky -masses of crumpled paper and brought into view an object which he picked -up with some eagerness. It was a portion of a pair of spectacles, which -had apparently been trodden on, for the side-bar was twisted and bent -and the glass was shattered into fragments. - -"This ought to give us a hint," said he. "It will probably have belonged -either to Weiss or Graves, as Mrs. Schallibaum apparently did not wear -glasses. Let us see if we can find the remainder." - -We both groped carefully with our sticks amongst the rubbish, spreading -it out on the hearth and removing the numerous pieces of crumpled paper. -Our search was rewarded by the discovery of the second eye-piece of the -spectacles, of which the glass was badly cracked but less shattered than -the other. I also picked up two tiny sticks at which Thorndyke looked -with deep interest before laying them on the mantelshelf. - -"We will consider them presently," said he. "Let us finish with the -spectacles first. You see that the left eye-glass is a concave -cylindrical lens of some sort. We can make out that much from the -fragments that remain, and we can measure the curvature when we get them -home, although that will be easier if we can collect some more fragments -and stick them together. The right eye is plain glass; that is quite -evident. Then these will have belonged to your patient, Jervis. You said -that the tremulous iris was in the right eye, I think?" - -"Yes," I replied. "These will be his spectacles, without doubt." - -"They are peculiar frames," he continued. "If they were made in this -country, we might be able to discover the maker. But we must collect as -many fragments of glass as we can." - -Once more we searched amongst the rubbish and succeeded, eventually, in -recovering some seven or eight small fragments of the broken -spectacle-glasses, which Thorndyke laid on the mantelshelf beside the -little sticks. - -"By the way, Thorndyke," I said, taking up the latter to examine them -afresh, "what are these things? Can you make anything of them?" - -He looked at them thoughtfully for a few moments and then replied: - -"I don't think I will tell you what they are. You should find that out -for yourself, and it will be well worth your while to do so. They are -rather suggestive objects under the circumstances. But notice their -peculiarities carefully. Both are portions of some smooth, stout reed. -There is a long, thin stick--about six inches long--and a thicker piece -only three inches in length. The longer piece has a little scrap of red -paper stuck on at the end; apparently a portion of a label of some kind -with an ornamental border. The other end of the stick has been broken -off. The shorter, stouter stick has had its central cavity artificially -enlarged so that it fits over the other to form a cap or sheath. Make a -careful note of those facts and try to think what they probably mean; -what would be the most likely use for an object of this kind. When you -have ascertained that, you will have learned something new about this -case. And now, to resume our investigations. Here is a very suggestive -thing." He picked up a small, wide-mouthed bottle and, holding it up for -my inspection, continued: "Observe the fly sticking to the inside, and -the name on the label, 'Fox, Russell Street, Covent Garden.'" - -"I don't know Mr. Fox." - -"Then I will inform you that he is a dealer in the materials for -'make-up,' theatrical or otherwise, and will leave you to consider the -bearing of this bottle on our present investigation. There doesn't seem -to be anything else of interest in this El Dorado excepting that screw, -which you notice is about the size of those with which the bolts were -fastened on the doors. I don't think it is worth while to unstop any of -the holes to try it; we should learn nothing fresh." - -He rose, and, having kicked the discarded rubbish back under the grate, -gathered up his gleanings from the mantelpiece, carefully bestowing the -spectacles and the fragments of glass in the tin box that he appeared -always to carry in his pocket, and wrapping the larger objects in his -handkerchief. - -"A poor collection," was his comment, as he returned the box and -handkerchief to his pocket, "and yet not so poor as I had feared. -Perhaps, if we question them closely enough, these unconsidered trifles -may be made to tell us something worth learning after all. Shall we go -into the other room?" - -We passed out on to the landing and into the front room, where, guided -by experience, we made straight for the fire-place. But the little heap -of rubbish there contained nothing that even Thorndyke's inquisitive eye -could view with interest. We wandered disconsolately round the room, -peering into the empty cupboards and scanning the floor and the corners -by the skirting, without discovering a single object or relic of the -late occupants. In the course of my perambulations I halted by the -window and was looking down into the street when Thorndyke called to me -sharply: - -"Come away from the window, Jervis! Have you forgotten that Mrs. -Schallibaum may be in the neighbourhood at this moment?" - -As a matter of fact I had entirely forgotten the matter, nor did it now -strike me as anything but the remotest of possibilities. I replied to -that effect. - -"I don't agree with you," Thorndyke rejoined. "We have heard that she -comes here to look for letters. Probably she comes every day, or even -oftener. There is a good deal at stake, remember, and they cannot feel -quite as secure as they would wish. Weiss must have seen what view you -took of the case and must have had some uneasy moments thinking of what -you might do. In fact, we may take it that the fear of you drove them -out of the neighbourhood, and that they are mighty anxious to get that -letter and cut the last link that binds them to this house." - -"I suppose that is so," I agreed; "and if the lady should happen to pass -this way and should see me at the window and recognize me, she would -certainly smell a rat." - -"A rat!" exclaimed Thorndyke. "She would smell a whole pack of foxes, -and Mr. H. Weiss would be more on his guard than ever. Let us have a -look at the other rooms; there is nothing here." - -We went up to the next floor and found traces of recent occupation in -one room only. The garrets had evidently been unused, and the kitchen -and ground-floor rooms offered nothing that appeared to Thorndyke worth -noting. Then we went out by the side door and down the covered way into -the yard at the back. The workshops were fastened with rusty padlocks -that looked as if they had not been disturbed for months. The stables -were empty and had been tentatively cleaned out, the coach-house was -vacant, and presented no traces of recent use excepting a half-bald -spoke-brush. We returned up the covered way and I was about to close the -side door, which Thorndyke had left ajar, when he stopped me. - -"We'll have another look at the hall before we go," said he; and, -walking softly before me, he made his way to the front door, where, -producing his lamp, he threw a beam of light into the letter-box. - -"Any more letters?" I asked. - -"Any more!" he repeated. "Look for yourself." - -I stooped and peered through the grille into the lighted interior; and -then I uttered an exclamation. - -The box was empty. - -Thorndyke regarded me with a grim smile. "We have been caught on the -hop, Jervis, I suspect," said he. - -"It is queer," I replied. "I didn't hear any sound of the opening or -closing of the door; did you?" - -"No; I didn't hear any sound; which makes me suspect that she did. She -would have heard our voices and she is probably keeping a sharp look-out -at this very moment. I wonder if she saw you at the window. But whether -she did or not, we must go very warily. Neither of us must return to the -Temple direct, and we had better separate when we have returned the keys -and I will watch you out of sight and see if anyone is following you. -What are you going to do?" - -"If you don't want me, I shall run over to Kensington and drop in to -lunch at the Hornbys'. I said I would call as soon as I had an hour or -so free." - -"Very well. Do so; and keep a look-out in case you are followed. I have -to go down to Guildford this afternoon. Under the circumstances, I shall -not go back home, but send Polton a telegram and take a train at -Vauxhall and change at some small station where I can watch the -platform. Be as careful as you can. Remember that what you have to -avoid is being followed to any place where you are known, and, above -all, revealing your connection with number Five A, King's Bench Walk." - -Having thus considered our immediate movements, we emerged together from -the wicket, and locking it behind us, walked quickly to the -house-agents', where an opportune office-boy received the keys without -remark. As we came out of the office, I halted irresolutely and we both -looked up and down the lane. - -"There is no suspicious looking person in sight at present," Thorndyke -said, and then asked: "Which way do you think of going?" - -"It seems to me," I replied, "that my best plan would be to take a cab -or an omnibus so as to get out of the neighbourhood as quickly as -possible. If I go through Ravensden Street into Kennington Park Road, I -can pick up an omnibus that will take me to the Mansion House, where I -can change for Kensington. I shall go on the top so that I can keep a -look-out for any other omnibus or cab that may be following." - -"Yes," said Thorndyke, "that seems a good plan. I will walk with you and -see that you get a fair start." - -We walked briskly along the lane and through Ravensden Street to the -Kennington Park Road. An omnibus was approaching from the south at a -steady jog-trot and we halted at the corner to wait for it. Several -people passed us in different directions, but none seemed to take any -particular notice of us, though we observed them rather narrowly, -especially the women. Then the omnibus crawled up. I sprang on the -foot-board and ascended to the roof, where I seated myself and surveyed -the prospect to the rear. No one else got on the omnibus--which had not -stopped--and no cab or other passenger vehicle was in sight. I continued -to watch Thorndyke as he stood sentinel at the corner, and noted that no -one appeared to be making any effort to overtake the omnibus. Presently -my colleague waved his hand to me and turned back towards Vauxhall, and -I, having satisfied myself once more that no pursuing cab or hurrying -foot-passenger was in sight, decided that our precautions had been -unnecessary and settled myself in a rather more comfortable position. - - - - -Chapter X - -The Hunter Hunted - - -The omnibus of those days was a leisurely vehicle. Its ordinary pace was -a rather sluggish trot, and in a thickly populated thoroughfare its -speed was further reduced by frequent stoppages. Bearing these facts in -mind, I gave an occasional backward glance as we jogged northward, -though my attention soon began to wander from the rather remote -possibility of pursuit to the incidents of our late exploration. - -It had not been difficult to see that Thorndyke was very well pleased -with the results of our search, but excepting the letter--which -undoubtedly opened up a channel for further inquiry and possible -identification--I could not perceive that any of the traces that we had -found justified his satisfaction. There were the spectacles, for -instance. They were almost certainly the pair worn by Mr. Graves. But -what then? It was exceedingly improbable that we should be able to -discover the maker of them, and if we were, it was still more improbable -that he would be able to give us any information that would help us. -Spectacle-makers are not usually on confidential terms with their -customers. - -As to the other objects, I could make nothing of them. The little sticks -of reed evidently had some use that was known to Thorndyke and -furnished, by inference, some kind of information about Weiss, Graves, -or Mrs. Schallibaum. But I had never seen anything like them before and -they conveyed nothing whatever to me. Then the bottle that had seemed so -significant to Thorndyke was to me quite uninforming. It did, indeed, -suggest that some member of the household might be connected with the -stage, but it gave no hint as to which one. Certainly that person was -not Mr. Weiss, whose appearance was as remote from that of an actor as -could well be imagined. At any rate, the bottle and its label gave me no -more useful hint than it might be worth while to call on Mr. Fox and -make inquiries; and something told me very emphatically that this was -not what it had conveyed to Thorndyke. - -These reflections occupied me until the omnibus, having rumbled over -London Bridge and up King William Street, joined the converging streams -of traffic at the Mansion House. Here I got down and changed to an -omnibus bound for Kensington; on which I travelled westward pleasantly -enough, looking down into the teeming streets and whiling away the time -by meditating upon the very agreeable afternoon that I promised myself, -and considering how far my new arrangement with Thorndyke would justify -me in entering into certain domestic engagements of a highly interesting -kind. - -What might have happened under other circumstances it is impossible to -tell and useless to speculate; the fact is that my journey ended in a -disappointment. I arrived, all agog, at the familiar house in Endsley -Gardens only to be told by a sympathetic housemaid that the family was -out; that Mrs. Hornby had gone into the country and would not be home -until night, and--which mattered a good deal more to me--that her niece, -Miss Juliet Gibson, had accompanied her. - -Now a man who drops into lunch without announcing his intention or -previously ascertaining those of his friends has no right to quarrel -with fate if he finds an empty house. Thus philosophically I reflected -as I turned away from the house in profound discontent, demanding of the -universe in general why Mrs. Hornby need have perversely chosen my first -free day to go gadding into the country, and above all, why she must -needs spirit away the fair Juliet. This was the crowning misfortune (for -I could have endured the absence of the elder lady with commendable -fortitude), and since I could not immediately return to the Temple it -left me a mere waif and stray for the time being. - -Instinct--of the kind that manifests itself especially about one -o'clock in the afternoon--impelled me in the direction of Brompton Road, -and finally landed me at a table in a large restaurant apparently -adjusted to the needs of ladies who had come from a distance to engage -in the feminine sport of shopping. Here, while waiting for my lunch, I -sat idly scanning the morning paper and wondering what I should do with -the rest of the day; and presently it chanced that my eye caught the -announcement of a matinée at the theatre in Sloane Square. It was quite -a long time since I had been at a theatre, and, as the play--light -comedy--seemed likely to satisfy my not very critical taste, I decided -to devote the afternoon to reviving my acquaintance with the drama. -Accordingly as soon as my lunch was finished, I walked down the Brompton -Road, stepped on to an omnibus, and was duly deposited at the door of -the theatre. A couple of minutes later I found myself occupying an -excellent seat in the second row of the pit, oblivious alike of my -recent disappointment and of Thorndyke's words of warning. - -I am not an enthusiastic play-goer. To dramatic performances I am -disposed to assign nothing further than the modest function of -furnishing entertainment. I do not go to a theatre to be instructed or -to have my moral outlook elevated. But, by way of compensation, I am not -difficult to please. To a simple play, adjusted to my primitive taste, I -can bring a certain bucolic appreciation that enables me to extract from -the performance the maximum of enjoyment; and when, on this occasion, -the final curtain fell and the audience rose, I rescued my hat from its -insecure resting-place and turned to go with the feeling that I had -spent a highly agreeable afternoon. - -Emerging from the theatre, borne on the outgoing stream, I presently -found myself opposite the door of a tea-shop. Instinct--the five o'clock -instinct this time--guided me in; for we are creatures of habit, -especially of the tea habit. The unoccupied table to which I drifted was -in a shady corner not very far from the pay-desk; and here I had been -seated less than a minute when a lady passed me on her way to the -farther table. The glimpse that I caught of her as she approached--it -was but a glimpse, since she passed behind me--showed that she was -dressed in black, that she wore a beaded veil and hat, and in addition -to the glass of milk and the bun that she carried, she was encumbered by -an umbrella and a small basket, apparently containing some kind of -needlework. I must confess that I gave her very little attention at the -time, being occupied in anxious speculation as to how long it would be -before the fact of my presence would impinge on the consciousness of the -waitress. - -The exact time by the clock on the wall was three minutes and a quarter, -at the expiration of which an anaemic young woman sauntered up to the -table and bestowed on me a glance of sullen interrogation, as if mutely -demanding what the devil I wanted. I humbly requested that I might be -provided with a pot of tea; whereupon she turned on her heel (which was -a good deal worn down on the offside) and reported my conduct to a lady -behind a marble-topped counter. - -It seemed that the counter lady took a lenient view of the case, for in -less than four minutes the waitress returned and gloomily deposited on -the table before me a tea-pot, a milk-jug, a cup and saucer, a jug of -hot water, and a small pool of milk. Then she once more departed in -dudgeon. - -I had just given the tea in the pot a preliminary stir and was about to -pour out the first cup when I felt some one bump lightly against my -chair and heard something rattle on the floor. I turned quickly and -perceived the lady, whom I had seen enter, stooping just behind my -chair. It seemed that having finished her frugal meal she was on her way -out when she had dropped the little basket that I had noticed hanging -from her wrist; which basket had promptly disgorged its entire contents -on the floor. - -Now every one must have noticed the demon of agility that seems to enter -into an inanimate object when it is dropped, and the apparently -intelligent malice with which it discovers, and rolls into, the most -inaccessible places. Here was a case in point. This particular basket -had contained materials for Oriental bead-work; and no sooner had it -reached the floor than each item of its contents appeared to become -possessed of a separate and particular devil impelling it to travel at -headlong speed to some remote and unapproachable corner as distant as -possible from its fellows. - -As the only man--and almost the only person--near, the duty of -salvage-agent manifestly devolved upon me; and down I went, accordingly, -on my hands and knees, regardless of a nearly new pair of trousers, to -grope under tables, chairs and settles in reach of the scattered -treasure. A ball of the thick thread or twine I recovered from a dark -and dirty corner after a brief interview with the sharp corner of a -settle, and a multitude of the large beads with which this infernal -industry is carried on I gathered from all parts of the compass, coming -forth at length (quadrupedally) with a double handful of the -treasure-trove and a very lively appreciation of the resistant qualities -of a cast-iron table-stand when applied to the human cranium. - -The owner of the lost and found property was greatly distressed by the -accident and the trouble it had caused me; in fact she was quite -needlessly agitated about it. The hand which held the basket into which -I poured the rescued trash trembled visibly, and the brief glance that I -bestowed on her as she murmured her thanks and apologies--with a very -slight foreign accent--showed me that she was excessively pale. That -much I could see plainly in spite of the rather dim light in this part -of the shop and the beaded veil that covered her face; and I could also -see that she was a rather remarkable looking woman, with a great mass of -harsh, black hair and very broad black eyebrows that nearly met above -her nose and contrasted strikingly with the dead white of her skin. But, -of course, I did not look at her intently. Having returned her property -and received her acknowledgments, I resumed my seat and left her to go -on her way. - -I had once more grasped the handle of the tea-pot when I made a rather -curious discovery. At the bottom of the tea-cup lay a single lump of -sugar. To the majority of persons it would have meant nothing. They -would have assumed that they had dropped it in and forgotten it and -would have proceeded to pour out the tea. But it happened that, at this -time, I did not take sugar in my tea; whence it followed that the lump -had not been put in by me. Assuming, therefore, that it had been -carelessly dropped in by the waitress, I turned it out on the table, -filled the cup, added the milk, and took a tentative draught to test the -temperature. - -The cup was yet at my lips when I chanced to look into the mirror that -faced my table. Of course it reflected the part of the shop that was -behind me, including the cashier's desk; at which the owner of the -basket now stood paying for her refreshment. Between her and me was a -gas chandelier which cast its light on my back but full on her face; and -her veil notwithstanding, I could see that she was looking at me -steadily; was, in fact, watching me intently and with a very curious -expression--an expression of expectancy mingled with alarm. But this was -not all. As I returned her intent look--which I could do unobserved, -since my face, reflected in the mirror, was in deep shadow--I suddenly -perceived that that steady gaze engaged her right eye only; the other -eye was looking sharply towards her left shoulder. In short, she had a -divergent squint of the left eye. - -I put down my cup with a thrill of amazement and a sudden surging up of -suspicion and alarm. An instant's reflection reminded me that when she -had spoken to me a few moments before, both her eyes had looked into -mine without the slightest trace of a squint. My thoughts flew back to -the lump of sugar, to the unguarded milk-jug and the draught of tea that -I had already swallowed; and, hardly knowing what I intended, I started -to my feet and turned to confront her. But as I rose, she snatched up -her change and darted from the shop. Through the glass door, I saw her -spring on to the foot-board of a passing hansom and give the driver some -direction. I saw the man whip up his horse, and, by the time I reached -the door, the cab was moving off swiftly towards Sloane Street. - -I stood irresolute. I had not paid and could not run out of the shop -without making a fuss, and my hat and stick were still on the rail -opposite my seat. The woman ought to be followed, but I had no fancy for -the task. If the tea that I had swallowed was innocuous, no harm was -done and I was rid of my pursuer. So far as I was concerned, the -incident was closed. I went back to my seat, and picking up the lump of -sugar which still lay on the table where I had dropped it, put it -carefully in my pocket. But my appetite for tea was satisfied for the -present. Moreover it was hardly advisable to stay in the shop lest some -fresh spy should come to see how I fared. Accordingly I obtained my -check, handed it in at the cashier's desk and took my departure. - -All this time, it will be observed, I had been taking it for granted -that the lady in black had followed me from Kensington to this shop; -that, in fact, she was none other than Mrs. Schallibaum. And, indeed, -the circumstances had rendered the conclusion inevitable. In the very -instant when I had perceived the displacement of the left eye, complete -recognition had come upon me. When I had stood facing the woman, the -brief glance at her face had conveyed to me something dimly reminiscent -of which I had been but half conscious and had instantly forgotten. But -the sight of that characteristic squint had at once revived and -explained it. That the woman was Mrs. Schallibaum I now felt no doubt -whatever. - -Nevertheless, the whole affair was profoundly mysterious. As to the -change in the woman's appearance, there was little in that. The coarse, -black hair might be her own, dyed, or it might be a wig. The eyebrows -were made-up; it was a simple enough proceeding and made still more -simple by the beaded veil. But how did she come to be there at all? How -did she happen to be made-up in this fashion at this particular time? -And, above all, how came she to be provided with a lump of what I had -little doubt was poisoned sugar? - -I turned over the events of the day, and the more I considered them the -less comprehensible they appeared. No one had followed the omnibus -either on foot or in a vehicle, as far as I could see; and I had kept a -careful look-out, not only at starting but for some considerable time -after. Yet, all the time, Mrs. Schallibaum must have been following. -But how? If she had known that I was intending to travel by the omnibus -she might have gone to meet it and entered before I did. But she could -not have known: and moreover she did not meet the omnibus, for we -watched its approach from some considerable distance. I considered -whether she might not have been concealed in the house and overheard me -mention my destination to Thorndyke. But this failed to explain the -mystery, since I had mentioned no address beyond "Kensington." I had, -indeed, mentioned the name of Mrs. Hornby, but the supposition that my -friends might be known by name to Mrs. Schallibaum, or even that she -might have looked the name up in the directory, presented a probability -too remote to be worth entertaining. - -But, if I reached no satisfactory conclusion, my cogitations had one -useful effect; they occupied my mind to the exclusion of that -unfortunate draught of tea. Not that I had been seriously uneasy after -the first shock. The quantity that I had swallowed was not large--the -tea being hotter than I cared for--and I remembered that, when I had -thrown out the lump of sugar, I had turned the cup upside down on the -table; so there could have been nothing solid left in it. And the lump -of sugar was in itself reassuring, for it certainly would not have been -used in conjunction with any less conspicuous but more incriminating -form of poison. That lump of sugar was now in my pocket, reserved for -careful examination at my leisure; and I reflected with a faint grin -that it would be a little disconcerting if it should turn out to -contain nothing but sugar after all. - -On leaving the tea-shop, I walked up Sloane Street with the intention of -doing what I ought to have done earlier in the day. I was going to make -perfectly sure that no spy was dogging my footsteps. But for my -ridiculous confidence I could have done so quite easily before going to -Endsley Gardens; and now, made wiser by a startling experience, I -proceeded with systematic care. It was still broad daylight--for the -lamps in the tea-shop had been rendered necessary only by the faulty -construction of the premises and the dullness of the afternoon--and in -an open space I could see far enough for complete safety. Arriving at -the top of Sloane Street, I crossed Knightsbridge, and, entering Hyde -Park, struck out towards the Serpentine. Passing along the eastern -shore, I entered one of the long paths that lead towards the Marble Arch -and strode along it at such a pace as would make it necessary for any -pursuer to hurry in order to keep me in sight. Half-way across the great -stretch of turf, I halted for a few moments and noted the few people who -were coming in my direction. Then I turned sharply to the left and -headed straight for the Victoria Gate, but again, half-way, I turned off -among a clump of trees, and, standing behind the trunk of one of them, -took a fresh survey of the people who were moving along the paths. All -were at a considerable distance and none appeared to be coming my way. - -I now moved cautiously from one tree to another and passed through the -wooded region to the south, crossed the Serpentine bridge at a rapid -walk and hurrying along the south shore left the Park by Apsley House. -From hence I walked at the same rapid pace along Piccadilly, insinuating -myself among the crowd with the skill born of long acquaintance with the -London streets, crossed amidst the seething traffic at the Circus, -darted up Windmill Street and began to zigzag amongst the narrow streets -and courts of Soho. Crossing the Seven Dials and Drury Lane I passed -through the multitudinous back-streets and alleys that then filled the -area south of Lincoln's Inn, came out by Newcastle Street, Holywell -Street and Half-Moon Alley into the Strand, which I crossed immediately, -ultimately entering the Temple by Devereux Court. - -Even then I did not relax my precautions. From one court to another I -passed quickly, loitering in those dark entries and unexpected passages -that are known to so few but the regular Templars, and coming out into -the open only at the last where the wide passage of King's Bench Walk -admits of no evasion. Half-way up the stairs, I stood for some time in -the shadow, watching the approaches from the staircase window; and when, -at length, I felt satisfied that I had taken every precaution that was -possible, I inserted my key and let myself into our chambers. - -Thorndyke had already arrived, and, as I entered, he rose to greet me -with an expression of evident relief. - -"I am glad to see you, Jervis," he said. "I have been rather anxious -about you." - -"Why?" I asked. - -"For several reasons. One is that you are the sole danger that threatens -these people--as far as they know. Another is that we made a most -ridiculous mistake. We overlooked a fact that ought to have struck us -instantly. But how have you fared?" - -"Better than I deserved. That good lady stuck to me like a burr--at -least I believe she did." - -"I have no doubt she did. We have been caught napping finely, Jervis." - -"How?" - -"We'll go into that presently. Let us hear about your adventures first." - -I gave him a full account of my movements from the time when we parted -to that of my arrival home, omitting no incident that I was able to -remember and, as far as I could, reconstituting my exceedingly devious -homeward route. - -"Your retreat was masterly," he remarked with a broad smile. "I should -think that it would have utterly defeated any pursuer; and the only pity -is that it was probably wasted on the desert air. Your pursuer had by -that time become a fugitive. But you were wise to take these -precautions, for, of course, Weiss might have followed you." - -"But I thought he was in Hamburg?" - -"Did you? You are a very confiding young gentleman, for a budding -medical jurist. Of course we don't know that he is not; but the fact -that he has given Hamburg as his present whereabouts establishes a -strong presumption that he is somewhere else. I only hope that he has -not located you, and, from what you tell me of your later methods, I -fancy that you would have shaken him off even if he had started to -follow you from the tea-shop." - -"I hope so too. But how did that woman manage to stick to me in that -way? What was the mistake we made?" - -Thorndyke laughed grimly. "It was a perfectly asinine mistake, Jervis. -You started up Kennington Park Road on a leisurely, jog-trotting -omnibus, and neither you nor I remembered what there is underneath -Kennington Park Road." - -"Underneath!" I exclaimed, completely puzzled for the moment. Then, -suddenly realizing what he meant, "Of course!" I exclaimed. "Idiot that -I am! You mean the electric railway?" - -"Yes. That explains everything. Mrs. Schallibaum must have watched us -from some shop and quietly followed us up the lane. There were a good -many women about and several were walking in our direction. There was -nothing to distinguish her from the others unless you had recognized -her, which you would hardly have been able to do if she had worn a veil -and kept at a fair distance. At least I think not." - -"No," I agreed, "I certainly should not. I had only seen her in a -half-dark room. In outdoor clothes and with a veil, I should never have -been able to identify her without very close inspection. Besides there -was the disguise or make-up." - -"Not at that time. She would hardly come disguised to her own house, -for it might have led to her being challenged and asked who she was. I -think we may take it that there was no actual disguise, although she -would probably wear a shady hat and a veil; which would have prevented -either of us from picking her out from the other women in the street." - -"And what do you think happened next?" - -"I think that she simply walked past us--probably on the other side of -the road--as we stood waiting for the omnibus, and turned up Kennington -Park Road. She probably guessed that we were waiting for the omnibus and -walked up the road in the direction in which it was going. Presently the -omnibus would pass her, and there were you in full view on top keeping a -vigilant look-out in the wrong direction. Then she would quicken her -pace a little and in a minute or two would arrive at the Kennington -Station of the South London Railway. In a minute or two more she would -be in one of the electric trains whirling along under the street on -which your omnibus was crawling. She would get out at the Borough -Station, or she might take a more risky chance and go on to the -Monument; but in any case she would wait for your omnibus, hail it and -get inside. I suppose you took up some passengers on the way?" - -"Oh dear, yes. We were stopping every two or three minutes to take up or -set down passengers; and most of them were women." - -"Very well; then we may take it that when you arrived at the Mansion -House, Mrs. Schallibaum was one of your inside passengers. It was a -rather quaint situation, I think." - -"Yes, confound her! What a couple of noodles she must have thought us!" - -"No doubt. And that is the one consoling feature in the case. She will -have taken us for a pair of absolute greenhorns. But to continue. Of -course she travelled in your omnibus to Kensington--you ought to have -gone inside on both occasions, so that you could see every one who -entered and examine the inside passengers; she will have followed you to -Endsley Gardens and probably noted the house you went to. Thence she -will have followed you to the restaurant and may even have lunched -there." - -"It is quite possible," said I. "There were two rooms and they were -filled principally with women." - -"Then she will have followed you to Sloane Street, and, as you persisted -in riding outside, she could easily take an inside place in your -omnibus. As to the theatre, she must have taken it as a veritable gift -of the gods; an arrangement made by you for her special convenience." - -"Why?" - -"My dear fellow! consider. She had only to follow you in and see you -safely into your seat and there you were, left till called for. She -could then go home, make up for her part; draw out a plan of action, -with the help, perhaps, of Mr. Weiss, provide herself with the necessary -means and appliances and, at the appointed time, call and collect you." - -"That is assuming a good deal," I objected. "It is assuming, for -instance, that she lives within a moderate distance of Sloane Square. -Otherwise it would have been impossible." - -"Exactly. That is why I assume it. You don't suppose that she goes about -habitually with lumps of prepared sugar in her pocket. And if not, then -she must have got that lump from somewhere. Then the beads suggest a -carefully prepared plan, and, as I said just now, she can hardly have -been made-up when she met us in Kennington Lane. From all of which it -seems likely that her present abode is not very far from Sloane Square." - -"At any rate," said I, "it was taking a considerable risk. I might have -left the theatre before she came back." - -"Yes," Thorndyke agreed. "But it is like a woman to take chances. A man -would probably have stuck to you when once he had got you off your -guard. But she was ready to take chances. She chanced the railway, and -it came off; she chanced your remaining in the theatre, and that came -off too. She calculated on the probability of your getting tea when you -came out, and she hit it off again. And then she took one chance too -many; she assumed that you probably took sugar in your tea, and she was -wrong." - -"We are taking it for granted that the sugar was prepared," I remarked. - -"Yes. Our explanation is entirely hypothetical and may be entirely -wrong. But it all hangs together, and if we find any poisonous matter in -the sugar, it will be reasonable to assume that we are right. The sugar -is the Experimentum Crucis. If you will hand it over to me, we will go -up to the laboratory and make a preliminary test or two." - -I took the lump of sugar from my pocket and gave it to him, and he -carried it to the gas-burner, by the light of which he examined it with -a lens. - -"I don't see any foreign crystals on the surface," said he; "but we had -better make a solution and go to work systematically. If it contains any -poison we may assume that it will be some alkaloid, though I will test -for arsenic too. But a man of Weiss's type would almost certainly use an -alkaloid, on account of its smaller bulk and more ready solubility. You -ought not to have carried this loose in your pocket. For legal purposes -that would seriously interfere with its value as evidence. Bodies that -are suspected of containing poison should be carefully isolated and -preserved from contact with anything that might lead to doubt in the -analysis. It doesn't matter much to us, as this analysis is only for our -own information and we can satisfy ourselves as to the state of your -pocket. But bear the rule in mind another time." - -We now ascended to the laboratory, where Thorndyke proceeded at once to -dissolve the lump of sugar in a measured quantity of distilled water by -the aid of gentle heat. - -"Before we add any acid," said he, "or introduce any fresh matter, we -will adopt the simple preliminary measure of tasting the solution. The -sugar is a disturbing factor, but some of the alkaloids and most -mineral poisons excepting arsenic have a very characteristic taste." - -He dipped a glass rod in the warm solution and applied it gingerly to -his tongue. - -"Ha!" he exclaimed, as he carefully wiped his mouth with his -handkerchief, "simple methods are often very valuable. There isn't much -doubt as to what is in that sugar. Let me recommend my learned brother -to try the flavour. But be careful. A little of this will go a long -way." - -He took a fresh rod from the rack, and, dipping it in the solution, -handed it to me. I cautiously applied it to the tip of my tongue and was -immediately aware of a peculiar tingling sensation accompanied by a -feeling of numbness. - -"Well," said Thorndyke; "what is it?" - -"Aconite," I replied without hesitation. - -"Yes," he agreed; "aconite it is, or more probably aconitine. And that, -I think, gives us all the information we want. We need not trouble now -to make a complete analysis, though I shall have a quantitative -examination made later. You note the intensity of the taste and you see -what the strength of the solution is. Evidently that lump of sugar -contained a very large dose of the poison. If the sugar had been -dissolved in your tea, the quantity that you drank would have contained -enough aconitine to lay you out within a few minutes; which would -account for Mrs. Schallibaum's anxiety to get clear of the premises. She -saw you drink from the cup, but I imagine she had not seen you turn the -sugar out." - -"No, I should say not, to judge by her expression. She looked -terrified. She is not as hardened as her rascally companion." - -"Which is fortunate for you, Jervis. If she had not been in such a -fluster, she would have waited until you had poured out your tea, which -was what she probably meant to do, or have dropped the sugar into the -milk-jug. In either case you would have got a poisonous dose before you -noticed anything amiss." - -"They are a pretty pair, Thorndyke," I exclaimed. "A human life seems to -be no more to them than the life of a fly or a beetle." - -"No; that is so. They are typical poisoners of the worst kind; of the -intelligent, cautious, resourceful kind. They are a standing menace to -society. As long as they are at large, human lives are in danger, and it -is our business to see that they do not remain at large a moment longer -than is unavoidable. And that brings us to another point. You had better -keep indoors for the next few days." - -"Oh, nonsense," I protested. "I can take care of myself." - -"I won't dispute that," said Thorndyke, "although I might. But the -matter is of vital importance and we can't be too careful. Yours is the -only evidence that could convict these people. They know that and will -stick at nothing to get rid of you--for by this time they will almost -certainly have ascertained that the tea-shop plan has failed. Now your -life is of some value to you and to another person whom I could mention; -but apart from that, you are the indispensable instrument for ridding -society of these dangerous vermin. Moreover, if you were seen abroad and -connected with these chambers, they would get the information that their -case was really being investigated in a businesslike manner. If Weiss -has not already left the country he would do so immediately, and if he -has, Mrs. Schallibaum would join him at once, and we might never be able -to lay hands on them. You must stay indoors, out of sight, and you had -better write to Miss Gibson and ask her to warn the servants to give no -information about you to anyone." - -"And how long," I asked, "am I to be held on parole?" - -"Not long, I think. We have a very promising start. If I have any luck, -I shall be able to collect all the evidence I want in about a week. But -there is an element of chance in some of it which prevents me from -giving a date. And it is just possible that I may have started on a -false track. But that I shall be able to tell you better in a day or -two." - -"And I suppose," I said gloomily, "I shall be out of the hunt -altogether?" - -"Not at all," he replied. "You have got the Blackmore case to attend to. -I shall hand you over all the documents and get you to make an orderly -digest of the evidence. You will then have all the facts and can work -out the case for yourself. Also I shall ask you to help Polton in some -little operations which are designed to throw light into dark places and -which you will find both entertaining and instructive." - -"Supposing Mrs. Hornby should propose to call and take tea with us in -the gardens?" I suggested. - -"And bring Miss Gibson with her?" Thorndyke added dryly. "No, Jervis, it -would never do. You must make that quite clear to her. It is more -probable than not that Mrs. Schallibaum made a careful note of the house -in Endsley Gardens, and as that would be the one place actually known to -her, she and Weiss--if he is in England--would almost certainly keep a -watch on it. If they should succeed in connecting that house with these -chambers, a few inquiries would show them the exact state of the case. -No; we must keep them in the dark if we possibly can. We have shown too -much of our hand already. It is hard on you, but it cannot be helped." - -"Oh, don't think I am complaining," I exclaimed. "If it is a matter of -business, I am as keen as you are. I thought at first that you were -merely considering the safety of my vile body. When shall I start on my -job?" - -"To-morrow morning. I shall give you my notes on the Blackmore case and -the copies of the will and the depositions, from which you had better -draw up a digest of the evidence with remarks as to the conclusions that -it suggests. Then there are our gleanings from New Inn to be looked over -and considered; and with regard to this case, we have the fragments of a -pair of spectacles which had better be put together into a rather more -intelligible form in case we have to produce them in evidence. That will -keep you occupied for a day or two, together with some work -appertaining to other cases. And now let us dismiss professional topics. -You have not dined and neither have I, but I dare say Polton has made -arrangements for some sort of meal. We will go down and see." - -We descended to the lower floor, where Thorndyke's anticipations were -justified by a neatly laid table to which Polton was giving the -finishing touches. - - - - -Chapter XI - -The Blackmore Case Reviewed - - -One of the conditions of medical practice is the capability of -transferring one's attention at a moment's notice from one set of -circumstances to another equally important but entirely unrelated. At -each visit on his round, the practitioner finds himself concerned with a -particular, self-contained group of phenomena which he must consider at -the moment with the utmost concentration, but which he must instantly -dismiss from his mind as he moves on to the next case. It is a difficult -habit to acquire; for an important, distressing or obscure case is apt -to take possession of the consciousness and hinder the exercise of -attention that succeeding cases demand; but experience shows the faculty -to be indispensable, and the practitioner learns in time to forget -everything but the patient with whose condition he is occupied at the -moment. - -My first morning's work on the Blackmore case showed me that the same -faculty is demanded in legal practice; and it also showed me that I had -yet to acquire it. For, as I looked over the depositions and the copy of -the will, memories of the mysterious house in Kennington Lane -continually intruded into my reflections, and the figure of Mrs. -Schallibaum, white-faced, terrified, expectant, haunted me continually. - -In truth, my interest in the Blackmore case was little more than -academic, whereas in the Kennington case I was one of the parties and -was personally concerned. To me, John Blackmore was but a name, Jeffrey -but a shadowy figure to which I could assign no definite personality, -and Stephen himself but a casual stranger. Mr. Graves, on the other -hand, was a real person. I had seen him amidst the tragic circumstances -that had probably heralded his death, and had brought away with me, not -only a lively recollection of him, but a feeling of profound pity and -concern as to his fate. The villain Weiss, too, and the terrible woman -who aided, abetted and, perhaps, even directed him, lived in my memory -as vivid and dreadful realities. Although I had uttered no hint to -Thorndyke, I lamented inwardly that I had not been given some work--if -there was any to do--connected with this case, in which I was so deeply -interested, rather than with the dry, purely legal and utterly -bewildering case of Jeffrey Blackmore's will. - -Nevertheless, I stuck loyally to my task. I read through the depositions -and the will--without getting a single glimmer of fresh light on the -case--and I made a careful digest of all the facts. I compared my -digest with Thorndyke's notes--of which I also made a copy--and found -that, brief as they were, they contained several matters that I had -overlooked. I also drew up a brief account of our visit to New Inn, with -a list of the objects that we had observed or collected. And then I -addressed myself to the second part of my task, the statement of my -conclusions from the facts set forth. - -It was only when I came to make the attempt that I realized how -completely I was at sea. In spite of Thorndyke's recommendation to study -Marchmont's statement as it was summarized in those notes which I had -copied, and of his hint that I should find in that statement something -highly significant, I was borne irresistibly to one conclusion, and one -only--and the wrong one at that, as I suspected: that Jeffrey -Blackmore's will was a perfectly regular, sound and valid document. - -I tried to attack the validity of the will from various directions, and -failed every time. As to its genuineness, that was obviously not in -question. There seemed to me only two conceivable respects in which any -objection could be raised, viz. the competency of Jeffrey to execute a -will and the possibility of undue influence having been brought to bear -on him. - -With reference to the first, there was the undoubted fact that Jeffrey -was addicted to the opium habit, and this might, under some -circumstances, interfere with a testator's competency to make a will. -But had any such circumstances existed in this case? Had the drug habit -produced such mental changes in the deceased as would destroy or weaken -his judgment? There was not a particle of evidence in favour of any such -belief. Up to the very end he had managed his own affairs, and, if his -habits of life had undergone a change, they were still the habits of a -perfectly sane and responsible man. - -The question of undue influence was more difficult. If it applied to any -person in particular, that person could be none other than John -Blackmore. Now it was an undoubted fact that, of all Jeffrey's -acquaintance, his brother John was the only one who knew that he was in -residence at New Inn. Moreover John had visited him there more than -once. It was therefore possible that influence might have been brought -to bear on the deceased. But there was no evidence that it had. The fact -that the deceased man's only brother should be the one person who knew -where he was living was not a remarkable one, and it had been -satisfactorily explained by the necessity of Jeffrey's finding a -reference on applying for the chambers. And against the theory of undue -influence was the fact that the testator had voluntarily brought his -will to the lodge and executed it in the presence of entirely -disinterested witnesses. - -In the end I had to give up the problem in despair, and, abandoning the -documents, turned my attention to the facts elicited by our visit to New -Inn. - -What had we learned from our exploration? It was clear that Thorndyke -had picked up some facts that had appeared to him important. But -important in what respect? The only possible issue that could be raised -was the validity or otherwise of Jeffrey Blackmore's will; and since the -validity of that will was supported by positive evidence of the most -incontestable kind, it seemed that nothing that we had observed could -have any real bearing on the case at all. - -But this, of course, could not be. Thorndyke was no dreamer nor was he -addicted to wild speculation. If the facts observed by us seemed to him -to be relevant to the case, I was prepared to assume that they were -relevant, although I could not see their connection with it. And, on -this assumption, I proceeded to examine them afresh. - -Now, whatever Thorndyke might have observed on his own account, I had -brought away from the dead man's chambers only a single fact; and a very -extraordinary fact it was. The cuneiform inscription was upside down. -That was the sum of the evidence that I had collected; and the question -was, What did it prove? To Thorndyke it conveyed some deep significance. -What could that significance be? - -The inverted position was not a mere temporary accident, as it might -have been if the frame had been stood on a shelf or support. It was hung -on the wall, and the plates screwed on the frame showed that its -position was permanent and that it had never hung in any other. That it -could have been hung up by Jeffrey himself was clearly inconceivable. -But allowing that it had been fixed in its present position by some -workman when the new tenant moved in, the fact remained that there it -had hung, presumably for months, and that Jeffrey Blackmore, with his -expert knowledge of the cuneiform character, had never noticed that it -was upside down; or, if he had noticed it, that he had never taken the -trouble to have it altered. - -What could this mean? If he had noticed the error but had not troubled -to correct it, that would point to a very singular state of mind, an -inertness and indifference remarkable even in an opium-smoker. But -assuming such a state of mind, I could not see that it had any bearing -on the will, excepting that it was rather inconsistent with the tendency -to make fussy and needless alterations which the testator had actually -shown. On the other hand, if he had not noticed the inverted position of -the photograph he must have been nearly blind or quite idiotic; for the -photograph was over two feet long and the characters large enough to be -read easily by a person of ordinary eyesight at a distance of forty or -fifty feet. Now he obviously was not in a state of dementia, whereas his -eyesight was admittedly bad; and it seemed to me that the only -conclusion deducible from the photograph was that it furnished a measure -of the badness of the deceased man's vision--that it proved him to have -been verging on total blindness. - -But there was nothing startling new in this. He had, himself, declared -that he was fast losing his sight. And again, what was the bearing of -his partial blindness on the will? A totally blind man cannot draw up -his will at all. But if he has eyesight sufficient to enable him to -write out and sign a will, mere defective vision will not lead him to -muddle the provisions. Yet something of this kind seemed to be in -Thorndyke's mind, for now I recalled the question that he had put to the -porter: "When you read the will over in Mr. Blackmore's presence, did -you read it aloud?" That question could have but one significance. It -implied a doubt as to whether the testator was fully aware of the exact -nature of the document that he was signing. Yet, if he was able to write -and sign it, surely he was able also to read it through, to say nothing -of the fact that, unless he was demented, he must have remembered what -he had written. - -Thus, once more, my reasoning only led me into a blind alley at the end -of which was the will, regular and valid and fulfilling all the -requirements that the law imposed. Once again I had to confess myself -beaten and in full agreement with Mr. Marchmont that "there was no -case"; that "there was nothing in dispute." Nevertheless, I carefully -fixed in the pocket file that Thorndyke had given me the copy that I had -made of his notes, together with the notes on our visit to New Inn, and -the few and unsatisfactory conclusions at which I had arrived; and this -brought me to the end of my first morning in my new capacity. - -"And how," Thorndyke asked as we sat at lunch, "has my learned friend -progressed? Does he propose that we advise Mr. Marchmont to enter a -caveat?" - -"I've read all the documents and boiled all the evidence down to a stiff -jelly; and I am in a worse fog than ever." - -"There seems to be a slight mixture of metaphors in my learned friend's -remarks. But never mind the fog, Jervis. There is a certain virtue in -fog. It serves, like a picture frame, to surround the essential with a -neutral zone that separates it from the irrelevant." - -"That is a very profound observation, Thorndyke," I remarked ironically. - -"I was just thinking so myself," he rejoined. - -"And if you could contrive to explain what it means--" - -"Oh, but that is unreasonable. When one throws off a subtly philosophic -obiter dictum one looks to the discerning critic to supply the meaning. -By the way, I am going to introduce you to the gentle art of photography -this afternoon. I am getting the loan of all the cheques that were drawn -by Jeffrey Blackmore during his residence at New Inn--there are only -twenty-three of them, all told--and I am going to photograph them." - -"I shouldn't have thought the bank people would have let them go out of -their possession." - -"They are not going to. One of the partners, a Mr. Britton, is bringing -them here himself and will be present while the photographs are being -taken; so they will not go out of his custody. But, all the same, it is -a great concession, and I should not have obtained it but for the fact -that I have done a good deal of work for the bank and that Mr. Britton -is more or less a personal friend." - -"By the way, how comes it that the cheques are at the bank? Why were -they not returned to Jeffrey with the pass-book in the usual way?" - -"I understand from Britton," replied Thorndyke, "that all Jeffrey's -cheques were retained by the bank at his request. When he was travelling -he used to leave his investment securities and other valuable documents -in his bankers' custody, and, as he has never applied to have them -returned, the bankers still have them and are retaining them until the -will is proved, when they will, of course, hand over everything to the -executors." - -"What is the object of photographing these cheques?" I asked. - -"There are several objects. First, since a good photograph is -practically as good as the original, when we have the photographs we -practically have the cheques for reference. Then, since a photograph can -be duplicated indefinitely, it is possible to perform experiments on it -which involve its destruction; which would, of course, be impossible in -the case of original cheques." - -"But the ultimate object, I mean. What are you going to prove?" - -"You are incorrigible, Jervis," he exclaimed. "How should I know what I -am going to prove? This is an investigation. If I knew the result -beforehand, I shouldn't want to perform the experiment." - -He looked at his watch, and, as we rose from the table, he said: - -"If we have finished, we had better go up to the laboratory and see that -the apparatus is ready. Mr. Britton is a busy man, and, as he is doing -us a great service, we mustn't keep him waiting when he comes." - -We ascended to the laboratory, where Polton was already busy inspecting -the massively built copying camera which--with the long, steel guides on -which the easel or copy-holder travelled--took up the whole length of -the room on the side opposite to that occupied by the chemical bench. As -I was to be inducted into the photographic art, I looked at it with more -attention than I had ever done before. - -"We've made some improvements since you were here last, sir," said -Polton, who was delicately lubricating the steel guides. "We've fitted -these steel runners instead of the blackleaded wooden ones that we used -to have. And we've made two scales instead of one. Hallo! That's the -downstairs bell. Shall I go sir?" - -"Perhaps you'd better," said Thorndyke. "It may not be Mr. Britton, and -I don't want to be caught and delayed just now." - -However, it was Mr. Britton; a breezy alert-looking middle-aged man, who -came in escorted by Polton and shook our hands cordially, having been -previously warned of my presence. He carried a small but solid hand-bag, -to which he clung tenaciously up to the very moment when its contents -were required for use. - -"So that is the camera," said he, running an inquisitive eye over the -instrument. "Very fine one, too; I am a bit of a photographer myself. -What is that graduation on the side-bar?" - -"Those are the scales," replied Thorndyke, "that shows the degree of -magnification or reduction. The pointer is fixed to the easel and -travels with it, of course, showing the exact size of the photograph. -When the pointer is opposite 0 the photograph will be identical in size -with the object photographed; when it points to, say, × 6, the -photograph will be six times as long as the object, or magnified -thirty-six times superficially, whereas if the pointer is at ÷ 6, the -photograph will be a sixth of the length of the object, or one -thirty-sixth superficial." - -"Why are there two scales?" Mr. Britton asked. - -"There is a separate scale for each of the two lenses that we -principally use. For great magnification or reduction a lens of -comparatively short focus must be used, but, as a long-focus lens gives -a more perfect image, we use one of very long focus--thirty-six -inches--for copying the same size or for slight magnification or -reduction." - -"Are you going to magnify these cheques?" Mr. Britton asked. - -"Not in the first place," replied Thorndyke. "For convenience and speed -I am going to photograph them half-size, so that six cheques will go on -one whole plate. Afterwards we can enlarge from the negatives as much as -we like. But we should probably enlarge only the signatures in any -case." - -The precious bag was now opened and the twenty-three cheques brought out -and laid on the bench in a consecutive series in the order of their -dates. They were then fixed by tapes--to avoid making pin-holes in -them--in batches of six to small drawing boards, each batch being so -arranged that the signatures were towards the middle. The first board -was clamped to the easel, the latter was slid along its guides until -the pointer stood at ÷ 2 on the long-focus scale and Thorndyke proceeded -to focus the camera with the aid of a little microscope that Polton had -made for the purpose. When Mr. Britton and I had inspected the -exquisitely sharp image on the focusing-screen through the microscope, -Polton introduced the plate and made the first exposure, carrying the -dark-slide off to develop the plate while the next batch of cheques was -being fixed in position. - -In his photographic technique, as in everything else, Polton followed as -closely as he could the methods of his principal and instructor; methods -characterized by that unhurried precision that leads to perfect -accomplishment. When the first negative was brought forth, dripping, -from the dark-room, it was without spot or stain, scratch or pin-hole; -uniform in colour and of exactly the required density. The six cheques -shown on it--ridiculously small in appearance, though only reduced to -half-length--looked as clear and sharp as fine etchings; though, to be -sure, my opportunity for examining them was rather limited, for Polton -was uncommonly careful to keep the wet plate out of reach and so safe -from injury. - -"Well," said Mr. Britton, when, at the end of the séance, he returned -his treasures to the bag, "you have now got twenty-three of our cheques, -to all intents and purposes. I hope you are not going to make any -unlawful use of them--must tell our cashiers to keep a bright look-out; -and"--here he lowered his voice impressively and addressed himself to -me and Polton--"you understand that this is a private matter between Dr. -Thorndyke and me. Of course, as Mr. Blackmore is dead, there is no -reason why his cheques should not be photographed for legal purposes; -but we don't want it talked about; nor, I think, does Dr. Thorndyke." - -"Certainly not," Thorndyke agreed emphatically; "but you need not be -uneasy, Mr. Britton. We are very uncommunicative people in this -establishment." - -As my colleague and I escorted our visitor down the stairs, he returned -to the subject of the cheques. - -"I don't understand what you want them for," he remarked. "There is no -question turning on signatures in the case of Blackmore deceased, is -there?" - -"I should say not," Thorndyke replied rather evasively. - -"I should say very decidedly not," said Mr. Britton, "if I understood -Marchmont aright. And, even if there were, let me tell you, these -signatures that you have got wouldn't help you. I have looked them over -very closely--and I have seen a few signatures in my time, you know. -Marchmont asked me to glance over them as a matter of form, but I don't -believe in matters of form; I examined them very carefully. There is an -appreciable amount of variation; a very appreciable amount. <i>But</i> under -the variation one can trace the personal character (which is what -matters); the subtle, indescribable quality that makes it recognizable -to the expert eye as Jeffrey Blackmore's writing. You understand me. -There is such a quality, which remains when the coarser characteristics -vary; just as a man may grow old, or fat, or bald, or may take to drink, -and become quite changed; and yet, through it all, he preserves a -certain something which makes him recognizable as a member of a -particular family. Well, I find that quality in all those signatures, -and so will you, if you have had enough experience of handwriting. I -thought it best to mention it in case you might be giving yourself -unnecessary trouble." - -"It is very good of you," said Thorndyke, "and I need not say that the -information is of great value, coming from such a highly expert source. -As a matter of fact, your hint will be of great value to me." - -He shook hands with Mr. Britton, and, as the latter disappeared down the -stairs, he turned into the sitting-room and remarked: - -"There is a very weighty and significant observation, Jervis. I advise -you to consider it attentively in all its bearings." - -"You mean the fact that these signatures are undoubtedly genuine?" - -"I meant, rather, the very interesting general truth that is contained -in Britton's statement; that physiognomy is not a mere matter of facial -character. A man carries his personal trademark, not in his face only, -but in his nervous system and muscles--giving rise to characteristic -movements and gait; in his larynx--producing an individual voice; and -even in his mouth, as shown by individual peculiarities of speech and -accent. And the individual nervous system, by means of these -characteristic movements, transfers its peculiarities to inanimate -objects that are the products of such movements; as we see in pictures, -in carving, in musical execution and in handwriting. No one has ever -painted quite like Reynolds or Romney; no one has ever played exactly -like Liszt or Paganini; the pictures or the sounds produced by them, -were, so to speak, an extension of the physiognomy of the artist. And so -with handwriting. A particular specimen is the product of a particular -set of motor centres in an individual brain." - -"These are very interesting considerations, Thorndyke," I remarked; "but -I don't quite see their present application. Do you mean them to bear in -any special way on the Blackmore case?" - -"I think they do bear on it very directly. I thought so while Mr. -Britton was making his very illuminating remarks." - -"I don't see how. In fact I cannot see why you are going into the -question of the signatures at all. The signature on the will is -admittedly genuine, and that seems to me to dispose of the whole -affair." - -"My dear Jervis," said he, "you and Marchmont are allowing yourselves to -be obsessed by a particular fact--a very striking and weighty fact, I -will admit, but still, only an isolated fact. Jeffrey Blackmore executed -his will in a regular manner, complying with all the necessary -formalities and conditions. In the face of that single circumstance you -and Marchmont would 'chuck up the sponge,' as the old pugilists -expressed it. Now that is a great mistake. You should never allow -yourself to be bullied and browbeaten by a single fact." - -"But, my dear Thorndyke!" I protested, "this fact seems to be final. It -covers all possibilities---unless you can suggest any other that would -cancel it." - -"I could suggest a dozen," he replied. "Let us take an instance. -Supposing Jeffrey executed this will for a wager; that he immediately -revoked it and made a fresh will, that he placed the latter in the -custody of some person and that that person has suppressed it." - -"Surely you do not make this suggestion seriously!" I exclaimed. - -"Certainly I do not," he replied with a smile. "I merely give it as an -instance to show that your final and absolute fact is really only -conditional on there being no other fact that cancels it." - -"Do you think he might have made a third will?" - -"It is obviously possible. A man who makes two wills may make three or -more; but I may say that I see no present reason for assuming the -existence of another will. What I want to impress on you is the -necessity of considering all the facts instead of bumping heavily -against the most conspicuous one and forgetting all the rest. By the -way, here is a little problem for you. What was the object of which -these are the parts?" - -He pushed across the table a little cardboard box, having first removed -the lid. In it were a number of very small pieces of broken glass, some -of which had been cemented together by their edges. - -"These, I suppose," said I, looking with considerable curiosity at the -little collection, "are the pieces of glass that we picked up in poor -Blackmore's bedroom?" - -"Yes. You see that Polton has been endeavouring to reconstitute the -object, whatever it was; but he has not been very successful, for the -fragments were too small and irregular and the collection too -incomplete. However, here is a specimen, built up of six small pieces, -which exhibits the general character of the object fairly well." - -He picked out the little irregularly shaped object and handed it to me; -and I could not but admire the neatness with which Polton had joined the -tiny fragments together. - -I took the little "restoration," and, holding it up before my eyes, -moved it to and fro as I looked through it at the window. - -"It was not a lens," I pronounced eventually. - -"No," Thorndyke agreed, "it was not a lens." - -"And so cannot have been a spectacle-glass. But the surface was -curved--one side convex and the other concave--and the little piece that -remains of the original edge seems to have been ground to fit a bezel or -frame. I should say that these are portions of a watch-glass." - -"That is Polton's opinion," said Thorndyke, "and I think you are both -wrong." - -"What do you say to the glass of a miniature or locket?" - -"That is rather more probable, but it is not my view." - -"What do you think it is?" I asked. But Thorndyke was not to be drawn. - -"I am submitting the problem for solution by my learned friend," he -replied with an exasperating smile, and then added: "I don't say that -you and Polton are wrong; only that I don't agree with you. Perhaps you -had better make a note of the properties of this object, and consider it -at your leisure when you are ruminating on the other data referring to -the Blackmore case." - -"My ruminations," I said, "always lead me back to the same point." - -"But you mustn't let them," he replied. "Shuffle your data about. Invent -hypotheses. Never mind if they seem rather wild. Don't put them aside on -that account. Take the first hypothesis that you can invent and test it -thoroughly with your facts. You will probably have to reject it, but you -will be certain to have learned something new. Then try again with a -fresh one. You remember what I told you of my methods when I began this -branch of practice and had plenty of time on my hands?" - -"I am not sure that I do." - -"Well, I used to occupy my leisure in constructing imaginary cases, -mostly criminal, for the purpose of study and for the acquirement of -experience. For instance, I would devise an ingenious fraud and would -plan it in detail, taking every precaution that I could think of against -failure or detection, considering, and elaborately providing for, every -imaginable contingency. For the time being, my entire attention was -concentrated on it, making it as perfect and secure and undetectable as -I could with the knowledge and ingenuity at my command. I behaved -exactly as if I were proposing actually to carry it out, and my life or -liberty depended on its success--excepting that I made full notes of -every detail of the scheme. Then when my plans were as complete as I -could make them, and I could think of no way in which to improve them, I -changed sides and considered the case from the standpoint of detection. -I analysed the case, I picked out its inherent and unavoidable -weaknesses, and, especially, I noted the respects in which a fraudulent -proceeding of a particular kind differed from the <i>bona fide</i> proceeding -that it simulated. The exercise was invaluable to me. I acquired as much -experience from those imaginary cases as I should from real ones, and in -addition, I learned a method which is the one that I practise to this -day." - -"Do you mean that you still invent imaginary cases as mental exercises?" - -"No; I mean that, when I have a problem of any intricacy, I invent a -case which fits the facts and the assumed motives of one of the parties. -Then I work at that case until I find whether it leads to elucidation or -to some fundamental disagreement. In the latter case I reject it and -begin the process over again." - -"Doesn't that method sometimes involve a good deal of wasted time and -energy?" I asked. - -"No; because each time that you fail to establish a given case, you -exclude a particular explanation of the facts and narrow down the field -of inquiry. By repeating the process, you are bound, in the end, to -arrive at an imaginary case which fits all the facts. Then your -imaginary case is the real case and the problem is solved. Let me -recommend you to give the method a trial." - -I promised to do so, though with no very lively expectations as to the -result, and with this, the subject was allowed, for the present, to -drop. - - - - -Chapter XII - -The Portrait - - -The state of mind which Thorndyke had advised me to cultivate was one -that did not come easily. However much I endeavoured to shuffle the -facts of the Blackmore case, there was one which inevitably turned up on -the top of the pack. The circumstances surrounding the execution of -Jeffrey Blackmore's will intruded into all my cogitations on the subject -with hopeless persistency. That scene in the porter's lodge was to me -what King Charles's head was to poor Mr. Dick. In the midst of my -praiseworthy efforts to construct some intelligible scheme of the case, -it would make its appearance and reduce my mind to instant chaos. - -For the next few days, Thorndyke was very much occupied with one or two -civil cases, which kept him in court during the whole of the sitting; -and when he came home, he seemed indisposed to talk on professional -topics. Meanwhile, Polton worked steadily at the photographs of the -signatures, and, with a view to gaining experience, I assisted him and -watched his methods. - -In the present case, the signatures were enlarged from their original -dimensions--rather less than an inch and a half in length--to a length -of four and a half inches; which rendered all the little peculiarities -of the handwriting surprisingly distinct and conspicuous. Each signature -was eventually mounted on a slip of card bearing a number and the date -of the cheque from which it was taken, so that it was possible to place -any two signatures together for comparison. I looked over the whole -series and very carefully compared those which showed any differences, -but without discovering anything more than might have been expected in -view of Mr. Britton's statement. There were some trifling variations, -but they were all very much alike, and no one could doubt, on looking at -them, that they were all written by the same hand. - -As this, however, was apparently not in dispute, it furnished no new -information. Thorndyke's object--for I felt certain that he had -something definite in his mind--must be to test something apart from the -genuineness of the signatures. But what could that something be? I dared -not ask him, for questions of that kind were anathema, so there was -nothing for it but to lie low and see what he would do with the -photographs. - -The whole series was finished on the fourth morning after my adventure -at Sloane Square, and the pack of cards was duly delivered by Polton -when he brought in the breakfast tray. Thorndyke took up the pack -somewhat with the air of a whist player, and, as he ran through them, I -noticed that the number had increased from twenty-three to twenty-four. - -"The additional one," Thorndyke explained, "is the signature to the -first will, which was in Marchmont's possession. I have added it to the -collection as it carries us back to an earlier date. The signature of -the second will presumably resembles those of the cheques drawn about -the same date. But that is not material, or, if it should become so, we -could claim to examine the second will." - -He laid the cards out on the table in the order of their dates and -slowly ran his eye down the series. I watched him closely and ventured -presently to ask: - -"Do you agree with Mr. Britton as to the general identity of character -in the whole set of signatures?" - -"Yes," he replied. "I should certainly have put them down as being all -the signatures of one person. The variations are very slight. The later -signatures are a little stiffer, a little more shaky and indistinct, and -the B's and k's are both appreciably different from those in the earlier -ones. But there is another fact which emerges when the whole series is -seen together, and it is so striking and significant a fact, that I am -astonished at its not having been remarked on by Mr. Britton." - -"Indeed!" said I, stooping to examine the photographs with fresh -interest; "what is that?" - -"It is a very simple fact and very obvious, but yet, as I have said, -very significant. Look carefully at number one, which is the signature -of the first will, dated three years ago, and compare it with number -three, dated the eighteenth of September last year." - -"They look to me identical," said I, after a careful comparison. - -"So they do to me," said Thorndyke. "Neither of them shows the change -that occurred later. But if you look at number two, dated the sixteenth -of September, you will see that it is in the later style. So is number -four, dated the twenty-third of September; but numbers five and six, -both at the beginning of October, are in the earlier style, like the -signature of the will. Thereafter all the signatures are in the new -style; but, if you compare number two, dated the sixteenth of September -with number twenty-four, dated the fourteenth of March of this year--the -day of Jeffrey's death--you see that they exhibit no difference. Both -are in the 'later style,' but the last shows no greater change than the -first. Don't you consider these facts very striking and significant?" - -I reflected a few moments, trying to make out the deep significance to -which Thorndyke was directing my attention--and not succeeding very -triumphantly. - -"You mean," I said, "that the occasional reversions to the earlier form -convey some material suggestion?" - -"Yes; but more than that. What we learn from an inspection of this -series is this: that there was a change in the character of the -signature; a very slight change, but quite recognizable. Now that change -was not gradual or insidious nor was it progressive. It occurred at a -certain definite time. At first there were one or two reversions to the -earlier form, but after number six the new style continued to the end; -and you notice that it continued without any increase in the change and -without any variation. There are no intermediate forms. Some of the -signatures are in the 'old style' and some in the 'new,' but there are -none that are half and half. So that, to repeat: We have here two types -of signature, very much alike, but distinguishable. They alternate, but -do not merge into one another to produce intermediate forms. The change -occurs abruptly, but shows no tendency to increase as time goes on; it -is not a progressive change. What do you make of that, Jervis?" - -"It is very remarkable," I said, poring over the cards to verify -Thorndyke's statements. "I don't quite know what to make of it. If the -circumstances admitted of the idea of forgery, one would suspect the -genuineness of some of the signatures. But they don't--at any rate, in -the case of the later will, to say nothing of Mr. Britton's opinion on -the signatures." - -"Still," said Thorndyke, "there must be some explanation of the change -in the character of the signatures, and that explanation cannot be the -failing eyesight of the writer; for that is a gradually progressive and -continuous condition, whereas the change in the writing is abrupt and -intermittent." - -I considered Thorndyke's remark for a few moments; and then a -light--though not a very brilliant one--seemed to break on me. - -"I think I see what you are driving at," said I. "You mean that the -change in the writing must be associated with some new condition -affecting the writer, and that that condition existed intermittently?" - -Thorndyke nodded approvingly, and I continued: - -"The only intermittent condition that we know of is the effect of opium. -So that we might consider the clearer signatures to have been made when -Jeffrey was in his normal state, and the less distinct ones after a bout -of opium-smoking." - -"That is perfectly sound reasoning," said Thorndyke. "What further -conclusion does it lead to?" - -"It suggests that the opium habit had been only recently acquired, since -the change was noticed only about the time he went to live at New Inn; -and, since the change in the writing is at first intermittent and then -continuous, we may infer that the opium-smoking was at first occasional -and later became a a confirmed habit." - -"Quite a reasonable conclusion and very clearly stated," said Thorndyke. -"I don't say that I entirely agree with you, or that you have exhausted -the information that these signatures offer. But you have started in the -right direction." - -"I may be on the right road," I said gloomily; "but I am stuck fast in -one place and I see no chance of getting any farther." - -"But you have a quantity of data," said Thorndyke. "You have all the -facts that I had to start with, from which I constructed the hypothesis -that I am now busily engaged in verifying. I have a few more data now, -for 'as money makes money' so knowledge begets knowledge, and I put my -original capital out to interest. Shall we tabulate the facts that are -in our joint possession and see what they suggest?" - -I grasped eagerly at the offer, though I had conned over my notes again -and again. - -Thorndyke produced a slip of paper from a drawer, and, uncapping his -fountain-pen, proceeded to write down the leading facts, reading each -aloud as soon as it was written. - -"1. The second will was unnecessary since it contained no new matter, -expressed no new intentions and met no new conditions, and the first -will was quite clear and efficient. - -"2. The evident intention of the testator was to leave the bulk of his -property to Stephen Blackmore. - -"3. The second will did not, under existing circumstances, give effect -to this intention, whereas the first will did. - -"4. The signature of the second will differs slightly from that of the -first, and also from what had hitherto been the testator's ordinary -signature. - -"And now we come to a very curious group of dates, which I will advise -you to consider with great attention. - -"5. Mrs. Wilson made her will at the beginning of September last year, -without acquainting Jeffrey Blackmore, who seems to have been unaware of -the existence of this will. - -"6. His own second will was dated the twelfth of November of last year. - -"7. Mrs. Wilson died of cancer on the twelfth of March this present -year. - -"8. Jeffrey Blackmore was last seen alive on the fourteenth of March. - -"9. His body was discovered on the fifteenth of March. - -"10. The change in the character of his signature began about September -last year and became permanent after the middle of October. - -"You will find that collection of facts repay careful study, Jervis, -especially when considered in relation to the further data: - -"11. That we found in Blackmore's chambers a framed inscription of large -size, hung upside down, together with what appeared to be the remains of -a watch-glass and a box of stearine candles and some other objects." - -He passed the paper to me and I pored over it intently, focusing my -attention on the various items with all the power of my will. But, -struggle as I would, no general conclusion could be made to emerge from -the mass of apparently disconnected facts. - -"Well?" Thorndyke said presently, after watching with grave interest my -unavailing efforts; "what do you make of it?" - -"Nothing!" I exclaimed desperately, slapping the paper down on the -table. "Of course, I can see that there are some queer coincidences. But -how do they bear on the case? I understand that you want to upset this -will; which we know to have been signed without compulsion or even -suggestion in the presence of two respectable men, who have sworn to the -identity of the document. That is your object, I believe?" - -"Certainly it is." - -"Then I am hanged if I see how you are going to do it. Not, I should -say, by offering a group of vague coincidences that would muddle any -brain but your own." - -Thorndyke chuckled softly but pursued the subject no farther. - -"Put that paper in your file with your other notes," he said, "and think -it over at your leisure. And now I want a little help from you. Have you -a good memory for faces?" - -"Fairly good, I think. Why?" - -"Because I have a photograph of a man whom I think you may have met. -Just look at it and tell me if you remember the face." - -He drew a cabinet size photograph from an envelope that had come by the -morning's post and handed it to me. - -"I have certainly seen this face somewhere," said I, taking the portrait -over to the window to examine it more thoroughly, "but I can't, at the -moment, remember where." - -"Try," said Thorndyke. "If you have seen the face before, you should be -able to recall the person." - -I looked intently at the photograph, and the more I looked, the more -familiar did the face appear. Suddenly the identity of the man flashed -into my mind and I exclaimed in astonishment: - -"It can't be that poor creature at Kennington, Mr. Graves?" - -"I think it can," replied Thorndyke, "and I think it is. But could you -swear to the identity in a court of law?" - -"It is my firm conviction that the photograph is that of Mr. Graves. I -would swear to that." - -"No man ought to swear to more," said Thorndyke. "Identification is -always a matter of opinion or belief. The man who will swear -unconditionally to identity from memory only is a man whose evidence -should be discredited. I think your sworn testimony would be -sufficient." - -It is needless to say that the production of this photograph filled me -with amazement and curiosity as to how Thorndyke had obtained it. But, -as he replaced it impassively in its envelope without volunteering any -explanation, I felt that I could not question him directly. -Nevertheless, I ventured to approach the subject in an indirect manner. - -"Did you get any information from those Darmstadt people?" I asked. - -"Schnitzler? Yes. I learned, through the medium of an official -acquaintance, that Dr. H. Weiss was a stranger to them; that they knew -nothing about him excepting that he had ordered from them, and been -supplied with, a hundred grammes of pure hydrochlorate of morphine." - -"All at once?" - -"No. In separate parcels of twenty-five grammes each." - -"Is that all you know about Weiss?" - -"It is all that I actually know; but it is not all that I suspect--on -very substantial grounds. By the way, what did you think of the -coachman?" - -"I don't know that I thought very much about him. Why?" - -"You never suspected that he and Weiss were one and the same person?" - -"No. How could they be? They weren't in the least alike. And one was a -Scotchman and the other a German. But perhaps you know that they were -the same?" - -"I only know what you have told me. But considering that you never saw -them together, that the coachman was never available for messages or -assistance when Weiss was with you; that Weiss always made his -appearance some time after you arrived, and disappeared some time before -you left; it has seemed to me that they might have been the same -person." - -"I should say it was impossible. They were so very different in -appearance. But supposing that they were the same; would the fact be of -any importance?" - -"It would mean that we could save ourselves the trouble of looking for -the coachman. And it would suggest some inferences, which will occur to -you if you think the matter over. But being only a speculative opinion, -at present, it would not be safe to infer very much from it." - -"You have rather taken me by surprise," I remarked. "It seems that you -have been working at this Kennington case, and working pretty actively I -imagine, whereas I supposed that your entire attention was taken up by -the Blackmore affair." - -"It doesn't do," he replied, "to allow one's entire attention to be -taken up by any one case. I have half a dozen others--minor cases, -mostly--to which I am attending at this moment. Did you think I was -proposing to keep you under lock and key indefinitely?" - -"Well, no. But I thought the Kennington case would have to wait its -turn. And I had no idea that you were in possession of enough facts to -enable you to get any farther with it." - -"But you knew all the very striking facts of the case, and you saw the -further evidence that we extracted from the empty house." - -"Do you mean those things that we picked out from the rubbish under the -grate?" - -"Yes. You saw those curious little pieces of reed and the pair of -spectacles. They are lying in the top drawer of that cabinet at this -moment, and I should recommend you to have another look at them. To me -they are most instructive. The pieces of reed offered an extremely -valuable suggestion, and the spectacles enabled me to test that -suggestion and turn it into actual information." - -"Unfortunately," said I, "the pieces of reed convey nothing to me. I -don't know what they are or of what they have formed a part." - -"I think," he replied, "that if you examine them with due consideration, -you will find their use pretty obvious. Have a good look at them and the -spectacles too. Think over all that you know of that mysterious group of -people who lived in that house, and see if you cannot form some coherent -theory of their actions. Think, also, if we have not some information in -our possession by which we might be able to identify some of them, and -infer the identity of the others. You will have a quiet day, as I shall -not be home until the evening; set yourself this task. I assure you that -you have the material for identifying--or rather for testing the -identity of--at least one of those persons. Go over your material -systematically, and let me know in the evening what further -investigations you would propose." - -"Very well," said I. "It shall be done according to your word. I will -addle my brain afresh with the affair of Mr. Weiss and his patient, and -let the Blackmore case rip." - -"There is no need to do that. You have a whole day before you. An hour's -really close consideration of the Kennington case ought to show you what -your next move should be, and then you could devote yourself to the -consideration of Jeffrey Blackmore's will." - -With this final piece of advice, Thorndyke collected the papers for his -day's work, and, having deposited them in his brief bag, took his -departure, leaving me to my meditations. - - - - -Chapter XIII - -The Statement of Samuel Wilkins - - -As soon as I was alone, I commenced my investigations with a rather -desperate hope of eliciting some startling and unsuspected facts. I -opened the drawer and taking from it the two pieces of reed and the -shattered remains of the spectacles, laid them on the table. The repairs -that Thorndyke had contemplated in the case of the spectacles, had not -been made. Apparently they had not been necessary. The battered wreck -that lay before me, just as we had found it, had evidently furnished the -necessary information; for, since Thorndyke was in possession of a -portrait of Mr. Graves, it was clear that he had succeeded in -identifying him so far as to get into communication with some one who -had known him intimately. - -The circumstance should have been encouraging. But somehow it was not. -What was possible to Thorndyke was, theoretically, possible to me--or to -anyone else. But the possibility did not realize itself in practice. -There was the personal equation. Thorndyke's brain was not an ordinary -brain. Facts of which his mind instantly perceived the relation remained -to other people unconnected and without meaning. His powers of -observation and rapid inference were almost incredible, as I had noticed -again and again, and always with undiminished wonder. He seemed to take -in everything at a single glance and in an instant to appreciate the -meaning of everything that he had seen. - -Here was a case in point. I had myself seen all that he had seen, and, -indeed, much more; for I had looked on the very people and witnessed -their actions, whereas he had never set eyes on any of them. I had -examined the little handful of rubbish that he had gathered up so -carefully, and would have flung it back under the grate without a qualm. -Not a glimmer of light had I perceived in the cloud of mystery, nor even -a hint of the direction in which to seek enlightenment. And yet -Thorndyke had, in some incomprehensible manner, contrived to piece -together facts that I had probably not even observed, and that so -completely that he had already, in these few days, narrowed down the -field of inquiry to quite a small area. - -From these reflections I returned to the objects on the table. The -spectacles, as things of which I had some expert knowledge, were not so -profound a mystery to me. A pair of spectacles might easily afford good -evidence for identification; that I perceived clearly enough. Not a -ready-made pair, picked up casually at a shop, but a pair constructed by -a skilled optician to remedy a particular defect of vision and to fit a -particular face. And such were the spectacles before me. The build of -the frames was peculiar; the existence of a cylindrical lens--which I -could easily make out from the remaining fragments--showed that one -glass had been cut to a prescribed shape and almost certainly ground to -a particular formula, and also that the distance between centres must -have been carefully secured. Hence these spectacles had an individual -character. But it was manifestly impossible to inquire of all the -spectacle-makers in Europe--for the glasses were not necessarily made in -England. As confirmation the spectacles might be valuable; as a -starting-point they were of no use at all. - -From the spectacles I turned to the pieces of reed. These were what had -given Thorndyke his start. Would they give me a leading hint too? I -looked at them and wondered what it was that they had told Thorndyke. -The little fragment of the red paper label had a dark-brown or thin -black border ornamented with a fret-pattern, and on it I detected a -couple of tiny points of gold like the dust from leaf-gilding. But I -learned nothing from that. Then the shorter piece of reed was -artificially hollowed to fit on the longer piece. Apparently it formed a -protective sheath or cap. But what did it protect? Presumably a point or -edge of some kind. Could this be a pocket-knife of any sort, such as a -small stencil-knife? No; the material was too fragile for a -knife-handle. It could not be an etching-needle for the same reason; and -it was not a surgical appliance--at least it was not like any surgical -instrument that was known to me. - -I turned it over and over and cudgelled my brains; and then I had a -brilliant idea. Was it a reed pen of which the point had been broken -off? I knew that reed pens were still in use by draughtsmen of -decorative leanings with an affection for the "fat line." Could any of -our friends be draughtsmen? This seemed the most probable solution of -the difficulty, and the more I thought about it the more likely it -seemed. Draughtsmen usually sign their work intelligibly, and even when -they use a device instead of a signature their identity is easily -traceable. Could it be that Mr. Graves, for instance, was an -illustrator, and that Thorndyke had established his identity by looking -through the works of all the well-known thick-line draughtsmen? - -This problem occupied me for the rest of the day. My explanation did not -seem quite to fit Thorndyke's description of his methods; but I could -think of no other. I turned it over during my solitary lunch; I -meditated on it with the aid of several pipes in the afternoon; and -having refreshed my brain with a cup of tea, I went forth to walk in the -Temple gardens--which I was permitted to do without breaking my -parole--to think it out afresh. - -The result was disappointing. I was basing my reasoning on the -assumption that the pieces of reed were parts of a particular appliance, -appertaining to a particular craft; whereas they might be the remains of -something quite different, appertaining to a totally different craft or -to no craft at all. And in no case did they point to any known -individual or indicate any but the vaguest kind of search. After pacing -the pleasant walks for upwards of two hours, I at length turned back -towards our chambers, where I arrived as the lamp-lighter was just -finishing his round. - -My fruitless speculations had left me somewhat irritable. The lighted -windows that I had noticed as I approached had given me the impression -that Thorndyke had returned. I had intended to press him for a little -further information. When, therefore, I let myself into our chambers and -found, instead of my colleague, a total stranger--and only a back view -at that--I was disappointed and annoyed. - -The stranger was seated by the table, reading a large document that -looked like a lease. He made no movement when I entered, but when I -crossed the room and wished him "Good evening," he half rose and bowed -silently. It was then that I first saw his face, and a mighty start he -gave me. For one moment I actually thought he was Mr. Weiss, so close -was the resemblance, but immediately I perceived that he was a much -smaller man. - -I sat down nearly opposite and stole an occasional furtive glance at -him. The resemblance to Weiss was really remarkable. The same flaxen -hair, the same ragged beard and a similar red nose, with the patches of -<i>acne rosacea</i> spreading to the adjacent cheeks. He wore spectacles, -too, through which he took a quick glance at me now and again, returning -immediately to his document. - -After some moments of rather embarrassing silence, I ventured to remark -that it was a mild evening; to which he assented with a sort of Scotch -"Hm--hm" and nodded slowly. Then came another interval of silence, -during which I speculated on the possibility of his being a relative of -Mr. Weiss and wondered what the deuce he was doing in our chambers. - -"Have you an appointment with Dr. Thorndyke?" I asked, at length. - -He bowed solemnly, and by way of reply--in the affirmative, as I -assumed--emitted another "hm--hm." - -I looked at him sharply, a little nettled by his lack of manners; -whereupon he opened out the lease so that it screened his face, and as I -glanced at the back of the document, I was astonished to observe that it -was shaking rapidly. - -The fellow was actually laughing! What he found in my simple question to -cause him so much amusement I was totally unable to imagine. But there -it was. The tremulous movements of the document left me in no possible -doubt that he was for some reason convulsed with laughter. - -It was extremely mysterious. Also, it was rather embarrassing. I took -out my pocket file and began to look over my notes. Then the document -was lowered and I was able to get another look at the stranger's face. -He was really extraordinarily like Weiss. The shaggy eyebrows, throwing -the eye-sockets into shadow, gave him, in conjunction with the -spectacles, the same owlish, solemn expression that I had noticed in my -Kennington acquaintance; and which, by the way, was singularly out of -character with the frivolous behaviour that I had just witnessed. - -From time to time as I looked at him, he caught my eye and instantly -averted his own, turning rather red. Apparently he was a shy, nervous -man, which might account for his giggling; for I have noticed that shy -or nervous people have a habit of smiling inopportunely and even -giggling when embarrassed by meeting an over-steady eye. And it seemed -my own eye had this disconcerting quality, for even as I looked at him, -the document suddenly went up again and began to shake violently. - -I stood it for a minute or two, but, finding the situation intolerably -embarrassing, I rose, and brusquely excusing myself, went up to the -laboratory to look for Polton and inquire at what time Thorndyke was -expected home. To my surprise, however, on entering, I discovered -Thorndyke himself just finishing the mounting of a microscopical -specimen. - -"Did you know that there is some one below waiting to see you?" I asked. - -"Is it anyone you know?" he inquired. - -"No," I answered. "It is a red-nosed, sniggering fool in spectacles. He -has got a lease or a deed or some other sort of document which he has -been using to play a sort of idiotic game of Peep-Bo! I couldn't stand -him, so I came up here." - -Thorndyke laughed heartily at my description of his client. - -"What are you laughing at?" I asked sourly; at which he laughed yet more -heartily and added to the aggravation by wiping his eyes. - -"Our friend seems to have put you out," he remarked. - -"He put me out literally. If I had stayed much longer I should have -punched his head." - -"In that case," said Thorndyke, "I am glad you didn't stay. But come -down and let me introduce you." - -"No, thank you. I've had enough of him for the present." - -"But I have a very special reason for wishing to introduce you. I think -you will get some information from him that will interest you very much; -and you needn't quarrel with a man for being of a cheerful disposition." - -"Cheerful be hanged!" I exclaimed. "I don't call a man cheerful because -he behaves like a gibbering idiot." - -To this Thorndyke made no reply but a broad and appreciative smile, and -we descended to the lower floor. As we entered the room, the stranger -rose, and, glancing in an embarrassed way from one of us to the other, -suddenly broke out into an undeniable snigger. I looked at him sternly, -and Thorndyke, quite unmoved by his indecorous behaviour, said in a -grave voice: - -"Let me introduce you, Jervis; though I think you have met this -gentleman before." - -"I think not," I said stiffly. - -"Oh yes, you have, sir," interposed the stranger; and, as he spoke, I -started; for the voice was uncommonly like the familiar voice of Polton. - -I looked at the speaker with sudden suspicion. And now I could see that -the flaxen hair was a wig; that the beard had a decidedly artificial -look, and that the eyes that beamed through the spectacles were -remarkably like the eyes of our factotum. But the blotchy face, the -bulbous nose and the shaggy, overhanging eyebrows were alien features -that I could not reconcile with the personality of our refined and -aristocratic-looking little assistant. - -"Is this a practical joke?" I asked. - -"No," replied Thorndyke; "it is a demonstration. When we were talking -this morning it appeared to me that you did not realize the extent to -which it is possible to conceal identity under suitable conditions of -light. So I arranged, with Polton's rather reluctant assistance, to give -you ocular evidence. The conditions are not favourable--which makes the -demonstration more convincing. This is a very well-lighted room and -Polton is a very poor actor; in spite of which it has been possible for -you to sit opposite him for several minutes and look at him, I have no -doubt, very attentively, without discovering his identity. If the room -had been lighted only with a candle, and Polton had been equal to the -task of supporting his make-up with an appropriate voice and manner, the -deception would have been perfect." - -"I can see that he has a wig on, quite plainly," said I. - -"Yes; but you would not in a dimly lighted room. On the other hand, if -Polton were to walk down Fleet Street at mid-day in this condition, the -make-up would be conspicuously evident to any moderately observant -passer-by. The secret of making up consists in a careful adjustment to -the conditions of light and distance in which the make-up is to be seen. -That in use on the stage would look ridiculous in an ordinary room; that -which would serve in an artificially lighted room would look ridiculous -out of doors by daylight." - -"Is any effective make-up possible out of doors in ordinary daylight?" I -asked. - -"Oh, yes," replied Thorndyke. "But it must be on a totally different -scale from that of the stage. A wig, and especially a beard or -moustache, must be joined up at the edges with hair actually stuck on -the skin with transparent cement and carefully trimmed with scissors. -The same applies to eyebrows; and alterations in the colour of the skin -must be carried out much more subtly. Polton's nose has been built up -with a small covering of toupée-paste, the pimples on the cheeks -produced with little particles of the same material; and the general -tinting has been done with grease-paint with a very light scumble of -powder colour to take off some of the shine. This would be possible in -outdoor make-up, but it would have to be done with the greatest care and -delicacy; in fact, with what the art-critics call 'reticence.' A very -little make-up is sufficient and too much is fatal. You would be -surprised to see how little paste is required to alter the shape of the -nose and the entire character of the face." - -At this moment there came a loud knock at the door; a single, solid dab -of the knocker which Polton seemed to recognize, for he ejaculated: - -"Good lord, sir! That'll be Wilkins, the cabman! I'd forgotten all -about him. Whatever's to be done?" - -He stared at us in ludicrous horror for a moment or two, and then, -snatching off his wig, beard and spectacles, poked them into a cupboard. -But his appearance was now too much even for Thorndyke--who hastily got -behind him--for he had now resumed his ordinary personality--but with a -very material difference. - -"Oh, it's nothing to laugh at, sir," he exclaimed indignantly as I -crammed my handkerchief into my mouth. "Somebody's got to let him in, or -he'll go away." - -"Yes; and that won't do," said Thorndyke. "But don't worry, Polton. You -can step into the office. I'll open the door." - -Polton's presence of mind, however, seemed to have entirely forsaken -him, for he only hovered irresolutely in the wake of his principal. As -the door opened, a thick and husky voice inquired: - -"Gent of the name of Polton live here?" - -"Yes, quite right," said Thorndyke. "Come in. Your name is Wilkins, I -think?" - -"That's me, sir," said the voice; and in response to Thorndyke's -invitation, a typical "growler" cabman of the old school, complete even -to imbricated cape and dangling badge, stalked into the room, and -glancing round with a mixture of embarrassment and defiance, suddenly -fixed on Polton's nose a look of devouring curiosity. - -"Here you are, then," Polton remarked nervously. - -"Yus," replied the cabman in a slightly hostile tone. "Here I am. What -am I wanted to do? And where's this here Mr. Polton?" - -"I am Mr. Polton," replied our abashed assistant. - -"Well, it's the other Mr. Polton what I want," said the cabman, with his -eyes still riveted on the olfactory prominence. - -"There isn't any other Mr. Polton," our subordinate replied irritably. -"I am the--er--person who spoke to you in the shelter." - -"Are you though?" said the manifestly incredulous cabby. "I shouldn't -have thought it; but you ought to know. What do you want me to do?" - -"We want you," said Thorndyke, "to answer one or two questions. And the -first one is, Are you a teetotaller?" - -The question being illustrated by the production of a decanter, the -cabman's dignity relaxed somewhat. - -"I ain't bigoted," said he. - -"Then sit down and mix yourself a glass of grog. Soda or plain water?" - -"May as well have all the extries," replied the cabman, sitting down and -grasping the decanter with the air of a man who means business. "Per'aps -you wouldn't mind squirtin' out the soda, sir, bein' more used to it." - -While these preliminaries were being arranged, Polton silently slipped -out of the room, and when our visitor had fortified himself with a gulp -of the uncommonly stiff mixture, the examination began. - -"Your name, I think, is Wilkins?" said Thorndyke. - -"That's me, sir. Samuel Wilkins is my name." - -"And your occupation?" - -"Is a very tryin' one and not paid for as it deserves. I drives a cab, -sir; a four-wheeled cab is what I drives; and a very poor job it is." - -"Do you happen to remember a very foggy day about a month ago?" - -"Do I not, sir! A regler sneezer that was! Wednesday, the fourteenth of -March. I remember the date because my benefit society came down on me -for arrears that morning." - -"Will you tell us what happened to you between six and seven in the -evening of that day?" - -"I will, sir," replied the cabman, emptying his tumbler by way of -bracing himself up for the effort. "A little before six I was waiting on -the arrival side of the Great Northern Station, King's Cross, when I see -a gentleman and a lady coming out. The gentleman he looks up and down -and then he sees me and walks up to the cab and opens the door and helps -the lady in. Then he says to me: 'Do you know New Inn?' he says. That's -what he says to me what was born and brought up in White Horse Alley, -Drury Lane. - -"'Get inside,' says I. - -"'Well,' says he, 'you drive in through the gate in Wych Street,' he -says, as if he expected me to go in by Houghton Street and down the -steps, 'and then,' he says, 'you drive nearly to the end and you'll see -a house with a large brass plate at the corner of the doorway. That's -where we want to be set down,' he says, and with that he nips in and -pulls up the windows and off we goes. - -"It took us a full half-hour to get to New Inn through the fog, for I -had to get down and lead the horse part of the way. As I drove in under -the archway, I saw it was half-past six by the clock in the porter's -lodge. I drove down nearly to the end of the inn and drew up opposite a -house where there was a big brass plate by the doorway. It was number -thirty-one. Then the gent crawls out and hands me five bob--two -'arf-crowns--and then he helps the lady out, and away they waddles to -the doorway and I see them start up the stairs very slow--regler -Pilgrim's Progress. And that was the last I see of 'em." - -Thorndyke wrote down the cabman's statement verbatim together with his -own questions, and then asked: - -"Can you give us any description of the gentleman?" - -"The gent," said Wilkins, was a very respectable-looking gent, though he -did look as if he'd had a drop of something short, and small blame to -him on a day like that. But he was all there, and he knew what was the -proper fare for a foggy evening, which is more than some of 'em do. He -was a elderly gent, about sixty, and he wore spectacles, but he didn't -seem to be able to see much through 'em. He was a funny 'un to look at; -as round in the back as a turtle and he walked with his head stuck -forward like a goose." - -"What made you think he had been drinking?" - -"Well, he wasn't as steady as he might have been on his pins. But he -wasn't drunk, you know. Only a bit wobbly on the plates." - -"And the lady; what was she like?" - -"I couldn't see much of her because her head was wrapped up in a sort of -woollen veil. But I should say she wasn't a chicken. Might have been -about the same age as the gent, but I couldn't swear to that. She seemed -a trifle rickety on the pins too; in fact they were a rum-looking -couple. I watched 'em tottering across the pavement and up the stairs, -hanging on to each other, him peering through his blinkers and she -trying to see through her veil, and I thought it was a jolly good job -they'd got a nice sound cab and a steady driver to bring 'em safe home." - -"How was the lady dressed?" - -"Can't rightly say, not being a hexpert. Her head was done up in this -here veil like a pudden in a cloth and she had a small hat on. She had a -dark brown mantle with a fringe of beads round it and a black dress; and -I noticed when she got into the cab at the station that one of her -stockings looked like the bellows of a concertina. That's all I can tell -you." - -Thorndyke wrote down the last answer, and, having read the entire -statement aloud, handed the pen to our visitor. - -"If that is all correct," he said, "I will ask you to sign your name at -the bottom." - -"Do you want me to swear a affidavy that it's all true?" asked Wilkins. - -"No, thank you," replied Thorndyke. "We may have to call you to give -evidence in court, and then you'll be sworn; and you'll also be paid for -your attendance. For the present I want you to keep your own counsel and -say nothing to anybody about having been here. We have to make some -other inquiries and we don't want the affair talked about." - -"I see, sir," said Wilkins, as he laboriously traced his signature at -the foot of the statement; "you don't want the other parties for to ogle -your lay. All right, sir; you can depend on me. I'm fly, I am." - -"Thank you, Wilkins," said Thorndyke. "And now what are we to give you -for your trouble in coming here?" - -"I'll leave the fare to you, sir. You know what the information's worth; -but I should think 'arf a thick-un wouldn't hurt you." - -Thorndyke laid on the table a couple of sovereigns, at the sight of -which the cabman's eyes glistened. - -"We have your address, Wilkins," said he. "If we want you as a witness -we shall let you know, and if not, there will be another two pounds for -you at the end of a fortnight, provided you have not let this little -interview leak out." - -Wilkins gathered up the spoils gleefully. "You can trust me, sir," said -he, "for to keep my mouth shut. I knows which side my bread's buttered. -Good night, gentlemen all." - -With this comprehensive salute he moved towards the door and let -himself out. - -"Well, Jervis; what do you think of it?" Thorndyke asked, as the -cabman's footsteps faded away in a creaky diminuendo. - -"I don't know what to think. This woman is a new factor in the case and -I don't know how to place her." - -"Not entirely new," said Thorndyke. "You have not forgotten those beads -that we found in Jeffrey's bedroom, have you?" - -"No, I had not forgotten them, but I did not see that they told us much -excepting that some woman had apparently been in his bedroom at some -time." - -"That, I think, is all that they did tell us. But now they tell us that -a particular woman was in his bedroom at a particular time, which is a -good deal more significant." - -"Yes. It almost looks as if she must have been there when he made away -with himself." - -"It does, very much." - -"By the way, you were right about the colours of those beads, and also -about the way they were used." - -"As to their use, that was a mere guess; but it has turned out to be -correct. It was well that we found the beads, for, small as is the -amount of information they give, it is still enough to carry us a stage -further." - -"How so?" - -"I mean that the cabman's evidence tells us only that this woman entered -the house. The beads tell us that she was in the bedroom; which, as you -say, seems to connect her to some extent with Jeffrey's death. Not -necessarily, of course. It is only a suggestion; but a rather strong -suggestion under the peculiar circumstances." - -"Even so," said I, "this new fact seems to me so far from clearing up -the mystery, only to add to it a fresh element of still deeper mystery. -The porter's evidence at the inquest could leave no doubt that Jeffrey -contemplated suicide, and his preparations pointedly suggest this -particular night as the time selected by him for doing away with -himself. Is not that so?" - -"Certainly. The porter's evidence was very clear on that point." - -"Then I don't see where this woman comes in. It is obvious that her -presence at the inn, and especially in the bedroom, on this occasion and -in these strange, secret circumstances, has a rather sinister look; but -yet I do not see in what way she could have been connected with the -tragedy. Perhaps, after all, she has nothing to do with it. You remember -that Jeffrey went to the lodge about eight o'clock, to pay his rent, and -chatted for some time with the porter. That looks as if the lady had -already left." - -"Yes," said Thorndyke. "But, on the other hand, Jeffrey's remarks to the -porter with reference to the cab do not quite agree with the account -that we have just heard from Wilkins. Which suggests--as does Wilkins's -account generally--some secrecy as to the lady's visit to his chambers." - -"Do you know who the woman was?" I asked. - -"No, I don't know," he replied. "I have a rather strong suspicion that I -can identify her, but I am waiting for some further facts." - -"Is your suspicion founded on some new matter that you have discovered, -or is it deducible from facts that are known to me?" - -"I think," he replied, "that you know practically all that I know, -although I have, in one instance, turned a very strong suspicion into a -certainty by further inquiries. But I think you ought to be able to form -some idea as to who this lady probably was." - -"But no woman has been mentioned in the case at all." - -"No; but I think you should be able to give this lady a name, -notwithstanding." - -"Should I? Then I begin to suspect that I am not cut out for -medico-legal practice, for I don't see the faintest glimmer of a -suggestion." - -Thorndyke smiled benevolently. "Don't be discouraged, Jervis," said he. -"I expect that when you first began to go round the wards, you doubted -whether you were cut out for medical practice. I did. For special work -one needs special knowledge and an acquired faculty for making use of -it. What does a second year's student make of a small thoracic aneurysm? -He knows the anatomy of the chest; he begins to know the normal heart -sounds and areas of dullness; but he cannot yet fit his various items of -knowledge together. Then comes the experienced physician and perhaps -makes a complete diagnosis without any examination at all, merely from -hearing the patient speak or cough. He has the same facts as the -student, but he has acquired the faculty of instantly connecting an -abnormality of function with its correleated anatomical change. It is a -matter of experience. And, with your previous training, you will soon -acquire the faculty. Try to observe everything. Let nothing escape you. -And try constantly to find some connection between facts and events that -seem to be unconnected. That is my advice to you; and with that we will -put away the Blackmore case for the present and consider our day's work -at an end." - - - - -Chapter XIV - -Thorndyke Lays the Mine - - -The information supplied by Mr. Samuel Wilkins, so far from dispelling -the cloud of mystery that hung over the Blackmore case, only enveloped -it in deeper obscurity, so far as I was concerned. The new problem that -Thorndyke offered for solution was a tougher one than any of the others. -He proposed that I should identify and give a name to this mysterious -woman. But how could I? No woman, excepting Mrs. Wilson, had been -mentioned in connection with the case. This new <i>dramatis persona</i> had -appeared suddenly from nowhere and straightway vanished without leaving -a trace, excepting the two or three beads that we had picked up in -Jeffrey's room. - -Nor was it in the least clear what part, if any, she had played in the -tragedy. The facts still pointed as plainly to suicide as before her -appearance. Jeffrey's repeated hints as to his intentions, and the very -significant preparations that he had made, were enough to negative any -idea of foul play. And yet the woman's presence in the chambers at that -time, the secret manner of her arrival and her precautions against -recognition, strongly suggested some kind of complicity in the dreadful -event that followed. - -But what complicity is possible in the case of suicide? The woman might -have furnished him with the syringe and the poison, but it would not -have been necessary for her to go to his chambers for that purpose. -Vague ideas of persuasion and hypnotic suggestion floated through my -brain; but the explanations did not fit the case and the hypnotic -suggestion of crime is not very convincing to the medical mind. Then I -thought of blackmail in connection with some disgraceful secret; but -though this was a more hopeful suggestion, it was not very probable, -considering Jeffrey's age and character. - -And all these speculations failed to throw the faintest light on the -main question: "Who was this woman?" - -A couple of days passed, during which Thorndyke made no further -reference to the case. He was, most of the time, away from home, though -how he was engaged I had no idea. What was rather more unusual was that -Polton seemed to have deserted the laboratory and taken to outdoor -pursuits. I assumed that he had seized the opportunity of leaving me in -charge, and I dimly surmised that he was acting as Thorndyke's private -inquiry agent, as he seemed to have done in the case of Samuel Wilkins. - -On the evening of the second day Thorndyke came home in obviously good -spirits, and his first proceedings aroused my expectant curiosity. He -went to a cupboard and brought forth a box of Trichinopoly cheroots. Now -the Trichinopoly cheroot was Thorndyke's one dissipation, to be enjoyed -only on rare and specially festive occasions; which, in practice, meant -those occasions on which he had scored some important point or solved -some unusually tough problem. Wherefore I watched him with lively -interest. - -"It's a pity that the 'Trichy' is such a poisonous beast," he remarked, -taking up one of the cheroots and sniffing at it delicately. "There is -no other cigar like it, to a really abandoned smoker." He laid the cigar -back in the box and continued: "I think I shall treat myself to one -after dinner to celebrate the occasion." - -"What occasion?" I asked. - -"The completion of the Blackmore case. I am just going to write to -Marchmont advising him to enter a caveat." - -"Do you mean to say that you have discovered a flaw in the will, after -all?" - -"A flaw!" he exclaimed. "My dear Jervis, that second will is a forgery." - -I stared at him in amazement; for his assertion sounded like nothing -more or less than arrant nonsense. - -"But the thing is impossible, Thorndyke," I said. "Not only did the -witnesses recognize their own signatures and the painter's greasy -finger-marks, but they had both read the will and remembered its -contents." - -"Yes; that is the interesting feature in the case. It is a very pretty -problem. I shall give you a last chance to solve it. To-morrow evening -we shall have to give a full explanation, so you have another -twenty-four hours in which to think it over. And, meanwhile, I am going -to take you to my club to dine. I think we shall be pretty safe there -from Mrs. Schallibaum." - -He sat down and wrote a letter, which was apparently quite a short one, -and having addressed and stamped it, prepared to go out. - -"Come," said he, "let us away to 'the gay and festive scenes and halls -of dazzling light.' We will lay the mine in the Fleet Street pillar box. -I should like to be in Marchmont's office when it explodes." - -"I expect, for that matter," said I, "that the explosion will be felt -pretty distinctly in these chambers." - -"I expect so, too," replied Thorndyke; "and that reminds me that I shall -be out all day to-morrow, so, if Marchmont calls, you must do all that -you can to persuade him to come round after dinner and bring Stephen -Blackmore, if possible. I am anxious to have Stephen here, as he will be -able to give us some further information and confirm certain matters of -fact." - -I promised to exercise my utmost powers of persuasion on Mr. Marchmont -which I should certainly have done on my own account, being now on the -very tiptoe of curiosity to hear Thorndyke's explanation of the -unthinkable conclusion at which he had arrived--and the subject dropped -completely; nor could I, during the rest of the evening, induce my -colleague to reopen it even in the most indirect or allusive manner. - -Our explanations in respect of Mr. Marchmont were fully realized; for, -on the following morning, within an hour of Thorndyke's departure from -our chambers, the knocker was plied with more than usual emphasis, and, -on my opening the door, I discovered the solicitor in company with a -somewhat older gentleman. Mr. Marchmont appeared somewhat out of humour, -while his companion was obviously in a state of extreme irritation. - -"How d'you do, Dr. Jervis?" said Marchmont as he entered at my -invitation. "Your friend, I suppose, is not in just now?" - -"No; and he will not be returning until the evening." - -"Hm; I'm sorry. We wished to see him rather particularly. This is my -partner, Mr. Winwood." - -The latter gentleman bowed stiffly and Marchmont continued: - -"We have had a letter from Dr. Thorndyke, and it is, I may say, a rather -curious letter; in fact, a very singular letter indeed." - -"It is the letter of a madman!" growled Mr. Winwood. - -"No, no, Winwood; nothing of the kind. Control yourself, I beg you. But -really, the letter is rather incomprehensible. It relates to the will of -the late Jeffrey Blackmore--you know the main facts of the case; and we -cannot reconcile it with those facts." - -"This is the letter," exclaimed Mr. Winwood, dragging the document from -his wallet and slapping it down on the table. "If you are acquainted -with the case, sir, just read that, and let us hear what <i>you</i> think." - -I took up the letter and read aloud: - -"JEFFREY BLACKMORE, DECD. - -"DEAR MR. MARCHMONT,-- - -"I have gone into this case with great care and have now no doubt that -the second will is a forgery. Criminal proceedings will, I think, be -inevitable, but meanwhile it would be wise to enter a caveat. - -"If you could look in at my chambers to-morrow evening we could talk the -case over; and I should be glad if you could bring Mr. Stephen -Blackmore; whose personal knowledge of the events and the parties -concerned would be of great assistance in clearing up obscure details. - -"I am, - -"Yours sincerely, - -"JOHN EVELYN THORNDYKE - -"C.F. MARCHMONT, ESQ." - -"Well!" exclaimed Mr. Winwood, glaring ferociously at me, "what do you -think of the learned counsel's opinion?" - -"I knew that Thorndyke was writing to you to this effect," I replied, -"but I must frankly confess that I can make nothing of it. Have you -acted on his advice?" - -"Certainly not!" shouted the irascible lawyer. "Do you suppose that we -wish to make ourselves the laughing-stock of the courts? The thing is -impossible--ridiculously impossible!" - -"It can't be that, you know," I said, a little stiffly, for I was -somewhat nettled by Mr. Winwood's manner, "or Thorndyke would not have -written this letter. The conclusion looks as impossible to me as it does -to you; but I have complete confidence in Thorndyke. If he says that the -will is a forgery, I have no doubt that it is a forgery." - -"But how the deuce can it be?" roared Winwood. "You know the -circumstances under which the will was executed." - -"Yes; but so does Thorndyke. And he is not a man who overlooks important -facts. It is useless to argue with me. I am in a complete fog about the -case myself. You had better come in this evening and talk it over with -him as he suggests." - -"It is very inconvenient," grumbled Mr. Winwood. "We shall have to dine -in town." - -"Yes," said Marchmont, "but it is the only thing to be done. As Dr. -Jervis says, we must take it that Thorndyke has something solid to base -his opinion on. He doesn't make elementary mistakes. And, of course, if -what he says is correct, Mr. Stephen's position is totally changed." - -"Bah!" exclaimed Winwood, "he has found a mare's nest, I tell you. -Still, I agree that the explanation should be worth hearing." - -"You mustn't mind Winwood," said Marchmont, in an apologetic undertone; -"he's a peppery old fellow with a rough tongue, but he doesn't mean any -harm." Which statement Winwood assented to--or dissented from; for it -was impossible to say which--by a prolonged growl. - -"We shall expect you then," I said, "about eight to-night, and you will -try to bring Mr. Stephen with you?" - -"Yes," replied Marchmont; "I think we can promise that he shall come -with us. I have sent him a telegram asking him to attend." - -With this the two lawyers took their departure, leaving me to meditate -upon my colleague's astonishing statement; which I did, considerably to -the prejudice of other employment. That Thorndyke would be able to -justify the opinion that he had given, I had no doubt whatever; but yet -there was no denying that his proposition was what Mr. Dick Swiveller -would call "a staggerer." - -When Thorndyke returned, I informed him of the visit of our two friends, -and acquainted him with the sentiments that they had expressed; whereat -he smiled with quiet amusement. - -"I thought," he remarked, "that letter would bring Marchmont to our door -before long. As to Winwood, I have never met him, but I gather that he -is one of those people whom you 'mustn't mind.' In a general way, I -object to people who tacitly claim exemption from the ordinary rules of -conduct that are held to be binding on their fellows. But, as he -promises to give us what the variety artists call 'an extra turn,' we -will make the best of him and give him a run for his money." - -Here Thorndyke smiled mischievously--I understood the meaning of that -smile later in the evening--and asked: "What do you think of the affair -yourself?" - -"I have given it up," I answered. "To my paralysed brain, the Blackmore -case is like an endless algebraical problem propounded by an insane -mathematician." - -Thorndyke laughed at my comparison, which I flatter myself was a rather -apt one. - -"Come and dine," said he, "and let us crack a bottle, that our hearts -may not turn to water under the frown of the disdainful Winwood. I think -the old 'Bell' in Holborn will meet our present requirements better than -the club. There is something jovial and roystering about an ancient -tavern; but we must keep a sharp lookout for Mrs. Schallibaum." - -Thereupon we set forth; and, after a week's close imprisonment, I once -more looked upon the friendly London streets, the cheerfully lighted -shop windows and the multitudes of companionable strangers who moved -unceasingly along the pavements. - - - -Chapter XV - -Thorndyke Explodes the Mine - - -We had not been back in our chambers more than a few minutes when the -little brass knocker on the inner door rattled out its summons. -Thorndyke himself opened the door, and, finding our three expected -visitors on the threshold, he admitted them and closed the "oak." - -"We have accepted your invitation, you see," said Marchmont, whose -manner was now a little flurried and uneasy. "This is my partner, Mr. -Winwood; you haven't met before, I think. Well, we thought we should -like to hear some further particulars from you, as we could not quite -understand your letter." - -"My conclusion, I suppose," said Thorndyke, "was a little unexpected?" - -"It was more than that, sir," exclaimed Winwood. "It was absolutely -irreconcilable either with the facts of the case or with common physical -possibilities." - -"At the first glance," Thorndyke agreed, "it would probably have that -appearance." - -"It has that appearance still to me." said Winwood, growing suddenly red -and wrathful, "and I may say that I speak as a solicitor who was -practising in the law when you were an infant in arms. You tell us, sir, -that this will is a forgery; this will, which was executed in broad -daylight in the presence of two unimpeachable witnesses who have sworn, -not only to their signatures and the contents of the document, but to -their very finger-marks on the paper. Are those finger-marks forgeries, -too? Have you examined and tested them?" - -"I have not," replied Thorndyke. "The fact is they are of no interest to -me, as I am not disputing the witnesses' signatures." - -At this, Mr. Winwood fairly danced with irritation. - -"Marchmont!" he exclaimed fiercely, "you know this good gentleman, I -believe. Tell me, is he addicted to practical jokes?" - -"Now, my dear Winwood," groaned Marchmont, "I pray you--I beg you to -control yourself. No doubt--" - -"But confound it!" roared Winwood, "you have, yourself, heard him say -that the will is a forgery, but that he doesn't dispute the signatures; -which," concluded Winwood, banging his fist down on the table, "is -damned nonsense." - -"May I suggest," interposed Stephen Blackmore, "that we came here to -receive Dr. Thorndyke's explanation of his letter. Perhaps it would be -better to postpone any comments until we have heard it." - -"Undoubtedly, undoubtedly," said Marchmont. "Let me entreat you, -Winwood, to listen patiently and refrain from interruption until we have -heard our learned friend's exposition of the case." - -"Oh, very well," Winwood replied sulkily; "I'll say no more." - -He sank into a chair with the manner of a man who shuts himself up and -turns the key; and so remained--excepting when the internal pressure -approached bursting-point--throughout the subsequent proceedings, -silent, stony and impassive, like a seated statue of Obstinacy. - -"I take it," said Marchmont, "that you have some new facts that are not -in our possession?" - -"Yes," replied Thorndyke; "we have some new facts, and we have made some -new use of the old ones. But how shall I lay the case before you? Shall -I state my theory of the sequence of events and furnish the verification -afterwards? Or shall I retrace the actual course of my investigations -and give you the facts in the order in which I obtained them myself, -with the inferences from them?" - -"I almost think," said Mr. Marchmont, "that it would be better if you -would put us in possession of the new facts. Then, if the conclusions -that follow from them are not sufficiently obvious, we could hear the -argument. What do you say, Winwood?" - -Mr. Winwood roused himself for an instant, barked out the one word -"Facts," and shut himself up again with a snap. - -"You would like to have the new facts by themselves?" said Thorndyke. - -"If you please. The facts only, in the first place, at any rate." - -"Very well," said Thorndyke; and here I caught his eye with a -mischievous twinkle in it that I understood perfectly; for I had most of -the facts myself and realized how much these two lawyers were likely to -extract from them. Winwood was going to "have a run for his money," as -Thorndyke had promised. - -My colleague, having placed on the table by his side a small cardboard -box and the sheets of notes from his file, glanced quickly at Mr. -Winwood and began: - -"The first important new facts came into my possession on the day on -which you introduced the case to me. In the evening, after you left, I -availed myself of Mr. Stephen's kind invitation to look over his uncle's -chambers in New Inn. I wished to do so in order to ascertain, if -possible, what had been the habits of the deceased during his residence -there. When I arrived with Dr. Jervis, Mr. Stephen was in the chambers, -and I learned from him that his uncle was an Oriental scholar of some -position and that he had a very thorough acquaintance with the cuneiform -writing. Now, while I was talking with Mr. Stephen I made a very curious -discovery. On the wall over the fire-place hung a large framed -photograph of an ancient Persian inscription in the cuneiform character; -and that photograph was upside down." - -"Upside down!" exclaimed Stephen. "But that is really very odd." - -"Very odd indeed," agreed Thorndyke, "and very suggestive. The way in -which it came to be inverted is pretty obvious and also rather -suggestive. The photograph had evidently been in the frame some years -but had apparently never been hung up before." - -"It had not," said Stephen, "though I don't know how you arrived at the -fact. It used to stand on the mantelpiece in his old rooms in Jermyn -Street." - -"Well," continued Thorndyke, "the frame-maker had pasted his label on -the back of the frame, and as this label hung the right way up, it -appeared as if the person who fixed the photograph on the wall had -adopted it as a guide." - -"It is very extraordinary," said Stephen. "I should have thought the -person who hung it would have asked Uncle Jeffrey which was the right -way up; and I can't imagine how on earth it could have hung all those -months without his noticing it. He must have been practically blind." - -Here Marchmont, who had been thinking hard, with knitted brows, suddenly -brightened up. - -"I see your point," said he. "You mean that if Jeffrey was as blind as -that, it would have been possible for some person to substitute a false -will, which he might sign without noticing the substitution." - -"That wouldn't make the will a forgery," growled Winwood. "If Jeffrey -signed it, it was Jeffrey's will. You could contest it if you could -prove the fraud. But he said: 'This is my will,' and the two witnesses -read it and have identified it." - -"Did they read it aloud?" asked Stephen. - -"No, they did not," replied Thorndyke. - -"Can you prove substitution?" asked Marchmont. - -"I haven't asserted it," answered Thorndyke, "My position is that the -will is a forgery." - -"But it is not," said Winwood. - -"We won't argue it now," said Thorndyke. "I ask you to note the fact -that the inscription was upside down. I also observed on the walls of -the chambers some valuable Japanese colour-prints on which were recent -damp-spots. I noted that the sitting-room had a gas-stove and that the -kitchen contained practically no stores or remains of food and hardly -any traces of even the simplest cooking. In the bedroom I found a large -box that had contained a considerable stock of hard stearine candles, -six to the pound, and that was now nearly empty. I examined the clothing -of the deceased. On the soles of the boots I observed dried mud, which -was unlike that on my own and Jervis's boots, from the gravelly square -of the inn. I noted a crease on each leg of the deceased man's trousers -as if they had been turned up half-way to the knee; and in the waistcoat -pocket I found the stump of a 'Contango' pencil. On the floor of the -bedroom, I found a portion of an oval glass somewhat like that of a -watch or locket, but ground at the edge to a double bevel. Dr. Jervis -and I also found one or two beads and a bugle, all of dark brown glass." - -Here Thorndyke paused, and Marchmont, who had been gazing at him with -growing amazement, said nervously: - -"Er--yes. Very interesting. These observations of yours--er--are--" - -"Are all the observations that I made at New Inn." - -The two lawyers looked at one another and Stephen Blackmore stared -fixedly at a spot on the hearth-rug. Then Mr. Winwood's face contorted -itself into a sour, lopsided smile. - -"You might have observed a good many other things, sir," said he, "if -you had looked. If you had examined the doors, you would have noted that -they had hinges and were covered with paint; and, if you had looked up -the chimney you might have noted that it was black inside." - -"Now, now, Winwood," protested Marchmont in an agony of uneasiness as to -what his partner might say next, "I must really beg you--er--to refrain -from--what Mr. Winwood means, Dr. Thorndyke, is that--er--we do not -quite perceive the relevancy of these--ah--observations of yours." - -"Probably not," said Thorndyke, "but you will perceive their relevancy -later. For the present, I will ask you to note the facts and bear them -in mind, so that you may be able to follow the argument when we come to -that. - -"The next set of data I acquired on the same evening, when Dr. Jervis -gave me a detailed account of a very strange adventure that befell him. -I need not burden you with all the details, but I will give you the -substance of his story." - -He then proceeded to recount the incidents connected with my visits to -Mr. Graves, dwelling on the personal peculiarities of the parties -concerned and especially of the patient, and not even forgetting the -very singular spectacles worn by Mr. Weiss. He also explained briefly -the construction of the chart, presenting the latter for the inspection -of his hearers. To this recital our three visitors listened in utter -bewilderment, as, indeed did I also; for I could not conceive in what -way my adventures could possibly be related to the affairs of the late -Mr. Blackmore. This was manifestly the view taken by Mr. Marchmont, for, -during a pause in which the chart was handed to him, he remarked -somewhat stiffly: - -"I am assuming, Dr. Thorndyke, that the curious story you are telling us -has some relevance to the matter in which we are interested." - -"You are quite correct in your assumption," replied Thorndyke. "The -story is very relevant indeed, as you will presently be convinced." - -"Thank you," said Marchmont, sinking back once more into his chair with -a sigh of resignation. - -"A few days ago," pursued Thorndyke, "Dr. Jervis and I located, with the -aid of this chart, the house to which he had been called. We found that -the late tenant had left somewhat hurriedly and that the house was to -let; and, as no other kind of investigation was possible, we obtained -the keys and made an exploration of the premises." - -Here he gave a brief account of our visit and the conditions that we -observed, and was proceeding to furnish a list of the articles that we -had found under the grate, when Mr. Winwood started from his chair. - -"Really, sir!" he exclaimed, "this is too much! Have I come here, at -great personal inconvenience, to hear you read the inventory of a -dust-heap?" - -Thorndyke smiled benevolently and caught my eye, once more, with a gleam -of amusement. - -"Sit down, Mr. Winwood," he said quietly. "You came here to learn the -facts of the case, and I am giving them to you. Please don't interrupt -needlessly and waste time." - -Winwood stared at him ferociously for several seconds; then, somewhat -disconcerted by the unruffled calm of his manner, he uttered a snort of -defiance, sat down heavily and shut himself up again. - -"We will now," Thorndyke continued, with unmoved serenity, "consider -these relics in more detail, and we will begin with this pair of -spectacles. They belonged to a person who was near-sighted and -astigmatic in the left eye and almost certainly blind in the right. Such -a description agrees entirely with Dr. Jervis's account of the sick -man." - -He paused for the moment, and then, as no one made any comment, -proceeded: - -"We next come to these little pieces of reed, which you, Mr. Stephen, -will probably recognize as the remains of a Japanese brush, such as is -used for writing in Chinese ink or for making small drawings." - -Again he paused, as though expecting some remark from his listeners; but -no one spoke, and he continued: - -"Then there is this bottle with the theatrical wig-maker's label on it, -which once contained cement such as is used for fixing on false beards, -moustaches or eyebrows." - -He paused once more and looked round expectantly at his audience, none -of whom, however, volunteered any remark. - -"Do none of these objects that I have described and shown you, seem to -have any significance for us?" he asked, in a tone of some surprise. - -"They convey nothing to me," said Mr. Marchmont, glancing at his -partner, who shook his head like a restive horse. - -"Nor to you, Mr. Stephen?" - -"No," replied Stephen. "Under the existing circumstances they convey no -reasonable suggestion to me." - -Thorndyke hesitated as if he were half inclined to say something more; -then, with a slight shrug, he turned over his notes and resumed: - -"The next group of new facts is concerned with the signatures of the -recent cheques. We have photographed them and placed them together for -the purpose of comparison and analysis." - -"I am not prepared to question the signatures." said Winwood. "We have -had a highly expert opinion, which would override ours in a court of law -even if we differed from it; which I think we do not." - -"Yes," said Marchmont; "that is so. I think we must accept the -signatures, especially as that of the will has been proved, beyond any -question" to be authentic." - -"Very well," agreed Thorndyke; "we will pass over the signatures. Then -we have some further evidence in regard to the spectacles, which serves -to verify our conclusions respecting them." - -"Perhaps," said Marchmont, "we might pass over that, too, as we do not -seem to have reached any conclusions." - -"As you please," said Thorndyke. "It is important, but we can reserve it -for verification. The next item will interest you more, I think. It is -the signed and witnessed statement of Samuel Wilkins, the driver of the -cab in which the deceased came home to the inn on the evening of his -death." - -My colleague was right. An actual document, signed by a tangible -witness, who could be put in the box and sworn, brought both lawyers to -a state of attention; and when Thorndyke read out the cabman's evidence, -their attention soon quickened into undisguised astonishment. - -"But this is a most mysterious affair," exclaimed Marchmont. "Who could -this woman have been, and what could she have been doing in Jeffrey's -chambers at this time? Can you throw any light on it, Mr. Stephen?" - -"No, indeed I can't," replied Stephen. "It is a complete mystery to me. -My uncle Jeffrey was a confirmed old bachelor, and, although he did not -dislike women, he was far from partial to their society, wrapped up as -he was in his favourite studies. To the best of my belief, he had not a -single female friend. He was not on intimate terms even with his sister, -Mrs. Wilson." - -"Very remarkable," mused Marchmont; "most remarkable. But, perhaps, you -can tell us, Dr. Thorndyke, who this woman was?" - -"I think," replied Thorndyke, "that the next item of evidence will -enable you to form an opinion for yourselves. I only obtained it -yesterday, and, as it made my case quite complete, I wrote off to you -immediately. It is the statement of Joseph Ridley, another cabman, and -unfortunately, a rather dull, unobservant fellow, unlike Wilkins. He has -not much to tell us, but what little he has is highly instructive. Here -is the statement, signed by the deponent and witnessed by me: - -"'My name is Joseph Ridley. I am the driver of a four-wheeled cab. On -the fourteenth of March, the day of the great fog, I was waiting at -Vauxhall Station, where I had just set down a fare. About five o'clock a -lady came and told me to drive over to Upper Kennington Lane to take up -a passenger. She was a middle-sized woman. I could not tell what her age -was, or what she was like, because her head was wrapped up in a sort of -knitted, woollen veil to keep out the fog. I did not notice how she was -dressed. She got into the cab and I led the horse over to Upper -Kennington Lane and a little way up the lane, until the lady tapped at -the front window for me to stop. - -"'She got out of the cab and told me to wait. Then she went away and -disappeared in the fog. Presently a lady and gentleman came from the -direction in which she had gone. The lady looked like the same lady, but -I won't answer to that. Her head was wrapped up in the same kind of veil -or shawl, and I noticed that she had on a dark coloured mantle with -bead fringe on it. - -"'The gentleman was clean shaved and wore spectacles, and he stooped a -good deal. I can't say whether his sight was good or bad. He helped the -lady into the cab and told me to drive to the Great Northern Station, -King's Cross. Then he got in himself and I drove off. I got to the -station about a quarter to six and the lady and gentleman got out. The -gentleman paid my fare and they both went into the station. I did not -notice anything unusual about either of them. Directly after they had -gone, I got a fresh fare and drove away.' - -"That," Thorndyke concluded, "is Joseph Ridley's statement; and I think -it will enable you to give a meaning to the other facts that I have -offered for your consideration." - -"I am not so sure about that," said Marchmont. "It is all exceedingly -mysterious. Your suggestion is, of course, that the woman who came to -New Inn in the cab was Mrs. Schallibaum!" - -"Not at all," replied Thorndyke. "My suggestion is that the woman was -Jeffrey Blackmore." - -There was deathly silence for a few moments. We were all absolutely -thunderstruck, and sat gaping at Thorndyke in speechless-astonishment. -Then--Mr. Winwood fairly bounced out of his chair. - -"But--my--good--sir!" he screeched. "Jeffrey Blackmore was with her at -the time!" - -"Naturally," replied Thorndyke, "my suggestion implies that the person -who was with her was not Jeffrey Blackmore." - -"But he was!" bawled Winwood. "The porter saw him!" - -"The porter saw a person whom he believed to be Jeffrey Blackmore. I -suggest that the porter's belief was erroneous." - -"Well," snapped Winwood, "perhaps you can prove that it was. I don't see -how you are going to; but perhaps you can." - -He subsided once more into his chair and glared defiantly at Thorndyke. - -"You seemed," said Stephen, "to suggest some connection between the sick -man, Graves, and my uncle. I noted it at the time, but put it aside as -impossible. Was I right. Did you mean to suggest any connection?" - -"I suggest something more than a connection. I suggest identity. My -position is that the sick man, Graves, was your uncle." - -"From Dr. Jervis's description," said Stephen, "this man must have been -very like my uncle. Both were blind in the right eye and had very poor -vision with the left; and my uncle certainly used brushes of the kind -that you have shown us, when writing in the Japanese character, for I -have watched him and admired his skill; but--" - -"But," said Marchmont, "there is the insuperable objection that, at the -very time when this man was lying sick in Kennington Lane, Mr. Jeffrey -was living at New Inn." - -"What evidence is there of that?" asked Thorndyke. - -"Evidence!" Marchmont exclaimed impatiently. "Why, my dear sir--" - -He paused suddenly, and, leaning forward, regarded Thorndyke with a new -and rather startled expression. - -"You mean to suggest--" he began. - -"I suggest that Jeffrey Blackmore never lived at New Inn at all." - -For the moment, Marchmont seemed absolutely paralysed by astonishment. - -"This is an amazing proposition!" he exclaimed, at length. "Yet the -thing is certainly not impossible, for, now that you recall the fact, I -realize that no one who had known him previously--excepting his brother, -John--ever saw him at the inn. The question of identity was never -raised." - -"Excepting," said Mr. Winwood, "in regard to the body; which was -certainly that of Jeffrey Blackmore." - -"Yes, yes. Of course," said Marchmont. "I had forgotten that for the -moment. The body was identified beyond doubt. You don't dispute the -identity of the body, do you?" - -"Certainly not," replied Thorndyke. - -Here Mr. Winwood grasped his hair with both hands and stuck his elbows -on his knees, while Marchmont drew forth a large handkerchief and mopped -his forehead. Stephen Blackmore looked from one to the other -expectantly, and finally said: - -"If I might make a suggestion, it would be that, as Dr. Thorndyke has -shown us the pieces now of the puzzle, he should be so kind as to put -them together for our information." - -"Yes," agreed Marchmont, "that will be the best plan. Let us have the -argument, Doctor, and any additional evidence that you possess." - -"The argument," said Thorndyke, "will be a rather long one, as the data -are so numerous, and there are some points in verification on which I -shall have to dwell in some detail. We will have some coffee to clear -our brains, and then I will bespeak your patience for what may seem like -a rather prolix demonstration." - - - - -Chapter XVI - -An Exposition and a Tragedy - - -"You may have wondered," Thorndyke commenced, when he had poured out the -coffee and handed round the cups, "what induced me to undertake the -minute investigation of so apparently simple and straightforward a case. -Perhaps I had better explain that first and let you see what was the -real starting-point of the inquiry. - -"When you, Mr. Marchmont and Mr. Stephen, introduced the case to me, I -made a very brief précis of the facts as you presented them, and of -these there were one or two which immediately attracted my attention. In -the first place, there was the will. It was a very strange will. It was -perfectly unnecessary. It contained no new matter; it expressed no -changed intentions; it met no new circumstances, as known to the -testator. In short it was not really a new will at all, but merely a -repetition of the first one, drafted in different and less suitable -language. It differed only in introducing a certain ambiguity from which -the original was free. It created the possibility that, in certain -circumstances, not known to or anticipated by the testator, John -Blackmore might become the principal beneficiary, contrary to the -obvious wishes of the testator. - -"The next point that impressed me was the manner of Mrs. Wilson's death. -She died of cancer. Now people do not die suddenly and unexpectedly of -cancer. This terrible disease stands almost alone in that it marks out -its victim months in advance. A person who has an incurable cancer is a -person whose death may be predicted with certainty and its date fixed -within comparatively narrow limits. - -"And now observe the remarkable series of coincidences that are brought -into light when we consider this peculiarity of the disease. Mrs. Wilson -died on the twelfth of March of this present year. Mr. Jeffrey's second -will was signed on the twelfth of November of last year; at a time, that -is to say, when the existence of cancer must have been known to Mrs. -Wilson's doctor, and might have been known to any of her relatives who -chose to inquire after her. - -"Then you will observe that the remarkable change in Mr. Jeffrey's -habits coincides in the most singular way with the same events. The -cancer must have been detectable as early as September of last year; -about the time, in fact, at which Mrs. Wilson made her will. Mr. Jeffrey -went to the inn at the beginning of October. From that time his habits -were totally changed, and I can demonstrate to you that a change--not a -gradual, but an abrupt change--took place in the character of his -signature. - -"In short, the whole of this peculiar set of circumstances--the change -in Jeffrey's habits, the change in his signature, and the execution of -his strange will--came into existence about the time when Mrs. Wilson -was first known to be suffering from cancer. - -"This struck me as a very suggestive fact. - -"Then there is the extraordinarily opportune date of Mr. Jeffrey's -death. Mrs. Wilson died on the twelfth of March. Mr. Jeffrey was found -dead on the fifteenth of March, having apparently died on the -fourteenth, on which day he was seen alive. If he had died only three -days sooner, he would have predeceased Mrs. Wilson, and her property -would never have devolved on him at all; while, if he had lived only a -day or two longer, he would have learned of her death and would -certainly have made a new will or codicil in his nephew's favour. - -"Circumstances, therefore, conspired in the most singular manner in -favour of John Blackmore. - -"But there is yet another coincidence. Jeffrey's body was found, by the -merest chance, the day after his death. But it might have remained -undiscovered for weeks, or even months; and if it had, it would have -been impossible to fix the date of his death. Then Mrs. Wilson's next -of kin would certainly have contested John Blackmore's claim--and -probably with success--on the ground that Jeffrey died before Mrs. -Wilson. But all this uncertainty is provided for by the circumstance -that Mr. Jeffrey paid his rent personally--and prematurely--to the -porter on the fourteenth of March, thus establishing beyond question the -fact that he was alive on that date; and yet further, in case the -porter's memory should be untrustworthy or his statement doubted, -Jeffrey furnished a signed and dated document--the cheque--which could -be produced in a court to furnish incontestable proof of survival. - -"To sum up this part of the evidence. Here was a will which enabled John -Blackmore to inherit the fortune of a man who, almost certainly, had no -intention of bequeathing it to him. The wording of that will seemed to -be adjusted to the peculiarities of Mrs. Wilson's disease; and the death -of the testator occurred under a peculiar set of circumstances which -seemed to be exactly adjusted to the wording of the will. Or, to put it -in another way: the wording of the will and the time, the manner and the -circumstances of the testator's death, all seemed to be precisely -adjusted to the fact that the approximate date of Mrs. Wilson's death -was known some months before it occurred. - -"Now you must admit that this compound group of coincidences, all -conspiring to a single end--the enrichment of John Blackmore--has a very -singular appearance. Coincidences are common enough in real life; but -we cannot accept too many at a time. My feeling was that there were too -many in this case and that I could not accept them without searching -inquiry." - -Thorndyke paused, and Mr. Marchmont, who had listened with close -attention, nodded, as he glanced at his silent partner. - -"You have stated the case with remarkable clearness," he said; "and I am -free to confess that some of the points that you have raised had escaped -my notice." - -"My first idea," Thorndyke resumed, "was that John Blackmore, taking -advantage of the mental enfeeblement produced by the opium habit, had -dictated this will to Jeffrey, It was then that I sought permission to -inspect Jeffrey's chambers; to learn what I could about him and to see -for myself whether they presented the dirty and disorderly appearance -characteristic of the regular opium-smoker's den. But when, during a -walk into the City, I thought over the case, it seemed to me that this -explanation hardly met the facts. Then I endeavoured to think of some -other explanation; and looking over my notes I observed two points that -seemed worth considering. One was that neither of the witnesses to the -will was really acquainted with Jeffrey Blackmore; both being strangers -who had accepted his identity on his own statement. The other was that -no one who had previously known him, with the single exception of his -brother John, had ever seen Jeffrey at the inn. - -"What was the import of these two facts? Probably they had none. But -still they suggested the desirability of considering the question: Was -the person who signed the will really Jeffrey Blackmore? The contrary -supposition--that some one had personated Jeffrey and forged his -signature to a false will--seemed wildly improbable, especially in view -of the identification of the body; but it involved no actual -impossibility; and it offered a complete explanation of the, otherwise -inexplicable, coincidences that I have mentioned. - -"I did not, however, for a moment, think that this was the true -explanation, but I resolved to bear it in mind, to test it when the -opportunity arose, and consider it by the light of any fresh facts that -I might acquire. - -"The new facts came sooner than I had expected. That same evening I went -with Dr. Jervis to New Inn and found Mr. Stephen in the chambers. By him -I was informed that Jeffrey was a learned Orientalist, with a quite -expert knowledge of the cuneiform writing; and even as he was telling me -this, I looked over his shoulder and saw a cuneiform inscription hanging -on the wall upside down. - -"Now, of this there could be only one reasonable explanation. -Disregarding the fact that no one would screw the suspension plates on a -frame without ascertaining which was the right way up, and assuming it -to be hung up inverted, it was impossible that the misplacement could -have been overlooked by Jeffrey. He was not blind, though his sight was -defective. The frame was thirty inches long and the individual -characters nearly an inch in length--about the size of the D 18 letters -of Snellen's test-types, which can be read by a person of ordinary sight -at a distance of fifty-five feet. There was, I repeat, only one -reasonable explanation; which was that the person who had inhabited -those chambers was not Jeffrey Blackmore. - -"This conclusion received considerable support from a fact which I -observed later, but mention in this place. On examining the soles of the -shoes taken from the dead man's feet, I found only the ordinary mud of -the streets. There was no trace of the peculiar gravelly mud that -adhered to my own boots and Jervis's, and which came from the square of -the inn. Yet the porter distinctly stated that the deceased, after -paying the rent, walked back towards his chambers across the square; the -mud of which should, therefore, have been conspicuous on his shoes. - -"Thus, in a moment, a wildly speculative hypothesis had assumed a high -degree of probability. - -"When Mr. Stephen was gone, Jervis and I looked over the chambers -thoroughly; and then another curious fact came to light. On the wall -were a number of fine Japanese colour-prints, all of which showed recent -damp-spots. Now, apart from the consideration that Jeffrey, who had been -at the trouble and expense of collecting these valuable prints, would -hardly have allowed them to rot on his walls, there arose the question: -How came they to be damp? There was a gas stove in the room, and a gas -stove has at least the virtue of preserving a dry atmosphere. It was -winter weather, when the stove would naturally be pretty constantly -alight. How came the walls to be so damp? The answer seemed to be that -the stove had not been constantly alight, but had been lighted only -occasionally. This suggestion was borne out by a further examination of -the rooms. In the kitchen there were practically no stores and hardly -any arrangements even for simple bachelor cooking; the bedroom offered -the same suggestion; the soap in the wash-stand was shrivelled and -cracked; there was no cast-off linen, and the shirts in the drawers, -though clean, had the peculiar yellowish, faded appearance that linen -acquires when long out of use. In short, the rooms had the appearance of -not having been lived in at all, but only visited at intervals. - -"Against this view, however, was the statement of the night porter that -he had often seen a light in Jeffrey's sitting-room at one o'clock in -the morning, with the apparent implication that it was then turned out. -Now a light may be left in an empty room, but its extinction implies the -presence of some person to extinguish it; unless some automatic device -be adopted for putting it out at a given time. Such a device--the alarm -movement of a clock, for instance, with a suitable attachment--is a -simple enough matter, but my search of the rooms failed to discover -anything of the kind. However, when looking over the drawers in the -bedroom, I came upon a large box that had held a considerable quantity -of hard stearine candles. There were only a few left, but a flat -candlestick with numerous wick-ends in its socket accounted for the -remainder. - -"These candles seemed to dispose of the difficulty. They were not -necessary for ordinary lighting, since gas was laid on in all three -rooms. For what purpose, then, were they used, and in such considerable -quantities? I subsequently obtained some of the same brand--Price's -stearine candles, six to the pound--and experimented with them. Each -candle was seven and a quarter inches in length, not counting the cone -at the top, and I found that they burned in still air at the rate of a -fraction over one inch in an hour. We may say that one of these candles -would burn in still air a little over six hours. It would thus be -possible for the person who inhabited these rooms to go away at seven -o'clock in the evening and leave a light which would burn until past one -in the morning and then extinguish itself. This, of course, was only -surmise, but it destroyed the significance of the night porter's -statement. - -"But, if the person who inhabited these chambers was not Jeffrey, who -was he? - -"The answer to that question seemed plain enough. There was only one -person who had a strong motive for perpetrating a fraud of this kind, -and there was only one person to whom it was possible. If this person -was not Jeffrey, he must have been very like Jeffrey; sufficiently like -for the body of the one to be mistaken for the body of the other. For -the production of Jeffrey's body was an essential part of the plan and -must have been contemplated from the first. But the only person who -fulfills the conditions is John Blackmore. - -"We have learned from Mr. Stephen that John and Jeffrey, though very -different in appearance in later years, were much alike as young men. -But when two brothers who are much alike as young men, become unlike in -later life, we shall find that the unlikeness is produced by superficial -differences and that the essential likeness remains. Thus, in the -present case, Jeffrey was clean shaved, had bad eyesight, wore -spectacles and stooped as he walked; John wore a beard and moustache, -had good eyesight, did not wear spectacles and had a brisk gait and -upright carriage. But supposing John to shave off his beard and -moustache, to put on spectacles and to stoop in his walk, these -conspicuous but superficial differences would vanish and the original -likeness reappear. - -"There is another consideration. John had been an actor and was an actor -of some experience. Now, any person can, with some care and practice, -make up a disguise; the great difficulty is to support that disguise by -a suitable manner and voice. But to an experienced actor this difficulty -does not exist. To him, personation is easy; and, moreover, an actor is -precisely the person to whom the idea of disguise and impersonation -would occur. - -"There is a small item bearing on this point, so small as to be hardly -worth calling evidence, but just worth noting. In the pocket of the -waistcoat taken from the body of Jeffrey I found the stump of a -'Contango' pencil; a pencil that is sold for the use of stock dealers -and brokers. Now John was an outside broker and might very probably have -used such a pencil, whereas Jeffrey had no connection with the stock -markets and there is no reason why he should have possessed a pencil of -this kind. But the fact is merely suggestive; it has no evidential -value. - -"A more important inference is to be drawn from the collected -signatures. I have remarked that the change in the signature occurred -abruptly, with one or two alterations of manner, last September, and -that there are two distinct forms with no intermediate varieties. This -is, in itself, remarkable and suspicious. But a remark made by Mr. -Britton furnishes a really valuable piece of evidence on the point we -are now considering. He admitted that the character of the signature had -undergone a change, but observed that the change did not affect the -individual or personal character of the writing. This is very important; -for handwriting is, as it were, an extension of the personality of the -writer. And just as a man to some extent snares his personality with his -near blood-relations in the form of family resemblances, so his -handwriting often shows a subtle likeness to that of his near relatives. -You must have noticed, as I have, how commonly the handwriting of one -brother resembles that of another, and in just this peculiar and subtle -way. The inference, then, from Mr. Britton's statement is, that if the -signature of the will was forged, it was probably forged by a relative -of the deceased. But the only relative in question is his brother John. - -"All the facts, therefore, pointed to John Blackmore as the person who -occupied these chambers, and I accordingly adopted that view as a -working hypothesis." - -"But this was all pure speculation," objected Mr. Winwood. - -"Not speculation," said Thorndyke. "Hypothesis. It was ordinary -inductive reasoning such as we employ in scientific research. I started -with the purely tentative hypothesis that the person who signed the will -was not Jeffrey Blackmore. I assumed this; and I may say that I did not -believe it at the time, but merely adopted it as a proposition that was -worth testing. I accordingly tested it, 'Yes?' or 'No?' with each new -fact; but as each new fact said 'Yes,' and no fact said definitely 'No,' -its probability increased rapidly by a sort of geometrical progression. -The probabilities multiplied into one another. It is a perfectly sound -method, for one knows that if a hypothesis be true, it will lead one, -sooner or later, to a crucial fact by which its truth can be -demonstrated. - -"To resume our argument. We have now set up the proposition that John -Blackmore was the tenant of New Inn and that he was personating Jeffrey. -Let us reason from this and see what it leads to. - -"If the tenant of New Inn was John, then Jeffrey must be elsewhere, -since his concealment at the inn was clearly impossible. But he could -not have been far away, for he had to be producible at short notice -whenever the death of Mrs. Wilson should make the production of his -body necessary. But if he was producible, his person must have been in -the possession or control of John. He could not have been at large, for -that would have involved the danger of his being seen and recognized. He -could not have been in any institution or place where he would be in -contact with strangers. Then he must be in some sort of confinement. But -it is difficult to keep an adult in confinement in an ordinary house. -Such a proceeding would involve great risk of discovery and the use of -violence which would leave traces on the body, to be observed and -commented on at the inquest. What alternative method could be suggested? - -"The most obvious method is that of keeping the prisoner in such a state -of debility as would confine him to his bed. But such debility could be -produced by only starvation, unsuitable food, or chronic poisoning. Of -these alternatives, poisoning is much more exact, more calculable in its -effect and more under control. The probabilities, then, were in favour -of chronic poisoning. - -"Having reached this stage, I recalled a singular case which Jervis had -mentioned to me and which seemed to illustrate this method. On our -return home I asked him for further particulars, and he then gave me a -very detailed description of the patient and the circumstances. The -upshot was rather startling. I had looked on his case as merely -illustrative, and wished to study it for the sake of the suggestions -that it might offer. But when I had heard his account, I began to -suspect that there was something more than mere parallelism of method. -It began to look as if his patient, Mr. Graves, might actually be -Jeffrey Blackmore. - -"The coincidences were remarkable. The general appearance of the patient -tallied completely with Mr. Stephen's description of his uncle Jeffrey. -The patient had a tremulous iris in his right eye and had clearly -suffered from dislocation of the crystalline lens. But from Mr. -Stephen's account of his uncle's sudden loss of sight in the right eye -after a fall, I judged that Jeffrey had also suffered from dislocation -of the lens and therefore had a tremulous iris in the right eye. The -patient, Graves, evidently had defective vision in his left eye, as -proved by the marks made behind his ears by the hooked side-bars of his -spectacles; for it is only on spectacles that are intended for constant -use that we find hooked side-bars. But Jeffrey had defective vision in -his left eye and wore spectacles constantly. Lastly, the patient Graves -was suffering from chronic morphine poisoning, and morphine was found in -the body of Jeffrey. - -"Once more, it appeared to me that there were too many coincidences. - -"The question as to whether Graves and Jeffrey were identical admitted -of fairly easy disproof; for if Graves was still alive, he could not be -Jeffrey. It was an important question and I resolved to test it without -delay. That night, Jervis and I plotted out the chart, and on the -following morning we located the house. But it was empty and to let. -The birds had flown, and we failed to discover whither they had gone. - -"However, we entered the house and explored. I have told you about the -massive bolts and fastenings that we found on the bedroom doors and -window, showing that the room had been used as a prison. I have told you -of the objects that we picked out of the dust-heap under the grate. Of -the obvious suggestion offered by the Japanese brush and the bottle of -'spirit gum' or cement, I need not speak now; but I must trouble you -with some details concerning the broken spectacles. For here we had come -upon the crucial fact to which, as I have said, all sound inductive -reasoning brings one sooner or later. - -"The spectacles were of a rather peculiar pattern. The frames were of -the type invented by Mr. Stopford of Moorfields and known by his name. -The right eye-piece was fitted with plain glass, as is usual in the case -of a blind, or useless, eye. It was very much shattered, but its -character was obvious. The glass of the left eye was much thicker and -fortunately less damaged, so that I was able accurately to test its -refraction. - -"When I reached home, I laid the pieces of the spectacles together, -measured the frames very carefully, tested the left eye-glass, and wrote -down a full description such as would have been given by the surgeon to -the spectacle-maker. Here it is, and I will ask you to note it -carefully. - -"'Spectacles for constant use. Steel frame, Stopford's pattern, curl -sides, broad bridge with gold lining. Distance between centres, 6.2 -centimetres; extreme length of side-bars, 13.3 centimetres. - -"'Right eye plain glass. - -"'Left eye -5.75 D. spherical - ------------------- - -3.25 D. cylindrical axis 35°.' - -"The spectacles, you see, were of a very distinctive character and -seemed to offer a good chance of identification. Stopford's frames are, -I believe, made by only one firm of opticians in London, Parry & Cuxton -of Regent Street. I therefore wrote to Mr. Cuxton, who knows me, asking -him if he had supplied spectacles to the late Jeffrey Blackmore, -Esq.--here is a copy of my letter--and if so, whether he would mind -letting me have a full description of them, together with the name of -the oculist who prescribed them. - -"He replied in this letter, which is pinned to the copy of mine, that, -about four years ago, he supplied a pair of glasses to Mr. Jeffrey -Blackmore, and described them thus: 'The spectacles were for constant -use and had steel frames of Stopford's pattern with curl sides, the -length of the side-bars including the curled ends being 13.3 cm. The -bridge was broad with a gold lining-plate, shaped as shown by the -enclosed tracing from the diagram on the prescription. Distance between -centres 6.2 cm. - -"'Right eye plain glass. - -"'Left eye -5.75 D. spherical - ------------------- - -3.25 D. cylindrical, axis 35°.' - -"'The spectacles were prescribed by Mr. Hindley of Wimpole Street.' - -"You see that Mr. Cuxton's description is identical with mine. However, -for further confirmation, I wrote to Mr. Hindley, asking certain -questions, to which he replied thus: - -"'You are quite right. Mr. Jeffrey Blackmore had a tremulous iris in his -right eye (which was practically blind), due to dislocation of the lens. -The pupils were rather large; certainly not contracted.' - -"Here, then, we have three important facts. One is that the spectacles -found by us at Kennington Lane were undoubtedly Jeffrey's; for it is as -unlikely that there exists another pair of spectacles exactly identical -with those as that there exists another face exactly like Jeffrey's -face. The second fact is that the description of Jeffrey tallies -completely with that of the sick man, Graves, as given by Dr. Jervis; -and the third is that when Jeffrey was seen by Mr. Hindley, there was no -sign of his being addicted to the taking of morphine. The first and -second facts, you will agree, constitute complete identification." - -"Yes," said Marchmont; "I think we must admit the identification as -being quite conclusive, though the evidence is of a kind that is more -striking to the medical than to the legal mind." - -"You will not have that complaint to make against the next item of -evidence," said Thorndyke. "It is after the lawyer's own heart, as you -shall hear. A few days ago I wrote to Mr. Stephen asking him if he -possessed a recent photograph of his uncle Jeffrey. He had one, and he -sent it to me by return. This portrait I showed to Dr. Jervis and asked -him if he had ever seen the person it represented. After examining it -attentively, without any hint whatever from me, he identified it as the -portrait of the sick man, Graves." - -"Indeed!" exclaimed Marchmont. "This is most important. Are you prepared -to swear to the identity, Dr. Jervis?" - -"I have not the slightest doubt," I replied, "that the portrait is that -of Mr. Graves." - -"Excellent!" said Marchmont, rubbing his hands gleefully; "this will be -much more convincing to a jury. Pray go on, Dr. Thorndyke." - -"That," said Thorndyke, "completes the first part of my investigation. -We had now reached a definite, demonstrable fact; and that fact, as you -see, disposed at once of the main question--the genuineness of the will. -For if the man at Kennington Lane was Jeffrey Blackmore, then the man at -New Inn was not. But it was the latter who had signed the will. -Therefore the will was not signed by Jeffrey Blackmore; that is to say, -it was a forgery. The case was complete for the purposes of the civil -proceedings; the rest of my investigations had reference to the criminal -prosecution that was inevitable. Shall I proceed, or is your interest -confined to the will?" - -"Hang the will!" exclaimed Stephen. "I want to hear how you propose to -lay hands on the villain who murdered poor old uncle Jeffrey--for I -suppose he did murder him?" - -"I think there is no doubt of it," replied Thorndyke. - -"Then," said Marchmont, "we will hear the rest of the argument, if you -please." - -"Very well," said Thorndyke. "As the evidence stands, we have proved -that Jeffrey Blackmore was a prisoner in the house in Kennington Lane -and that some one was personating him at New Inn. That some one, we have -seen, was, in all probability, John Blackmore. We now have to consider -the man Weiss. Who was he? and can we connect him in any way with New -Inn? - -"We may note in passing that Weiss and the coachman were apparently one -and the same person. They were never seen together. When Weiss was -present, the coachman was not available even for so urgent a service as -the obtaining of an antidote to the poison. Weiss always appeared some -time after Jervis's arrival and disappeared some time before his -departure, in each case sufficiently long to allow of a change of -disguise. But we need not labour the point, as it is not of primary -importance. - -"To return to Weiss. He was clearly heavily disguised, as we see by his -unwillingness to show himself even by the light of a candle. But there -is an item of positive evidence on this point which is important from -having other bearings. It is furnished by the spectacles worn by Weiss, -of which you have heard Jervis's description. These spectacles had very -peculiar optical properties. When you looked <i>through</i> them they had the -properties of plain glass; when you looked <i>at</i> them they had the -appearance of lenses. But only one kind of glass possesses these -properties; namely, that which, like an ordinary watch-glass, has -curved, parallel surfaces. But for what purpose could a person wear -'watch-glass' spectacles? Clearly, not to assist his vision. The only -alternative is disguise. - -"The properties of these spectacles introduce a very curious and -interesting feature into the case. To the majority of persons, the -wearing of spectacles for the purpose of disguise or personation, seems -a perfectly simple and easy proceeding. But, to a person of normal -eyesight, it is nothing of the kind. For, if he wears spectacles suited -for long sight he cannot see distinctly through them at all; while, if -he wears concave, or near sight, glasses, the effort to see through them -produces such strain and fatigue that his eyes become disabled -altogether. On the stage the difficulty is met by using spectacles of -plain window-glass, but in real life this would hardly do; the -'property' spectacles would be detected at once and give rise to -suspicion. - -"The personator is therefore in this dilemma: if he wears actual -spectacles, he cannot see through them; if he wears sham spectacles of -plain glass, his disguise will probably be detected. There is only one -way out of the difficulty, and that not a very satisfactory one; but Mr. -Weiss seems to have adopted it in lieu of a better. It is that of using -watch-glass spectacles such as I have described. - -"Now, what do we learn from these very peculiar glasses? In the first -place they confirm our opinion that Weiss was wearing a disguise. But, -for use in a room so very dimly lighted, the ordinary stage spectacles -would have answered quite well. The second inference is, then, that -these spectacles were prepared to be worn under more trying conditions -of light--out of doors, for instance. The third inference is that Weiss -was a man with normal eyesight; for otherwise he could have worn real -spectacles suited to the state of his vision. - -"These are inferences by the way, to which we may return. But these -glasses furnish a much more important suggestion. On the floor of the -bedroom at New Inn I found some fragments of glass which had been -trodden on. By joining one or two of them together, we have been able to -make out the general character of the object of which they formed parts. -My assistant--who was formerly a watch-maker--judged that object to be -the thin crystal glass of a lady's watch, and this, I think, was -Jervis's opinion. But the small part which remains of the original edge -furnishes proof in two respects that this was not a watch-glass. In the -first place, on taking a careful tracing of this piece of the edge, I -found that its curve was part of an ellipse; but watch-glasses, -nowadays, are invariably circular. In the second place, watch-glasses -are ground on the edge to a single bevel to snap into the bezel or -frame; but the edge of this object was ground to a double bevel, like -the edge of a spectacle-glass, which fits into a groove in the frame and -is held by the side-bar screw. The inevitable inference was that this -was a spectacle-glass. But, if so, it was part of a pair of spectacles -identical in properties with those worn by Mr. Weiss. - -"The importance of this conclusion emerges when we consider the -exceptional character of Mr. Weiss's spectacles. They were not merely -peculiar or remarkable; they were probably unique. It is exceedingly -likely that there is not in the entire world another similar pair of -spectacles. Whence the finding of these fragments of glass in the -bedroom establishes a considerable probability that Mr. Weiss was, at -some time, in the chambers at New Inn. - -"And now let us gather up the threads of this part of the argument. We -are inquiring into the identity of the man Weiss. Who was he? - -"In the first place, we find him committing a secret crime from which -John Blackmore alone will benefit. This suggests the <i>prima-facie</i> -probability that he was John Blackmore. - -"Then we find that he was a man of normal eyesight who was wearing -spectacles for the purpose of disguise. But the tenant of New Inn, whom -we have seen to be, almost certainly, John Blackmore--and whom we will, -for the present, assume to have been John Blackmore--was a man with -normal eyesight who wore spectacles for disguise. - -"John Blackmore did not reside at New Inn, but at some place within -easy reach of it. But Weiss resided at a place within easy reach of New -Inn. - -"John Blackmore must have had possession and control of the person of -Jeffrey. But Weiss had possession and control of the person of Jeffrey. - -"Weiss wore spectacles of a certain peculiar and probably unique -character. But portions of such spectacles were found in the chambers at -New Inn. - -"The overwhelming probability, therefore, is that Weiss and the tenant -of New Inn were one and the same person; and that that person was John -Blackmore." - -"That," said Mr. Winwood, "is a very plausible argument. But, you -observe, sir, that it contains an undistributed middle term." - -Thorndyke smiled genially. I think he forgave Winwood everything for -that remark. - -"You are quite right, sir," he said. "It does. And, for that reason, the -demonstration is not absolute. But we must not forget, what logicians -seem occasionally to overlook: that the 'undistributed middle,' while it -interferes with absolute proof, may be quite consistent with a degree of -probability that approaches very near to certainty. Both the Bertillon -system and the English fingerprint system involve a process of reasoning -in which the middle term is undistributed. But the great probabilities -are accepted in practice as equivalent to certainties." - -Mr. Winwood grunted a grudging assent, and Thorndyke resumed: - -"We have now furnished fairly conclusive evidence on three heads: we -have proved that the sick man, Graves, was Jeffrey Blackmore; that the -tenant of New Inn was John Blackmore; and that the man Weiss was also -John Blackmore. We now have to prove that John and Jeffrey were together -in the chambers at New Inn on the night of Jeffrey's death. - -"We know that two persons, and two persons only, came from Kennington -Lane to New Inn. But one of those persons was the tenant of New -Inn--that is, John Blackmore. Who was the other? Jeffrey is known by us -to have been at Kennington Lane. His body was found on the following -morning in the room at New Inn. No third person is known to have come -from Kennington Lane; no third person is known to have arrived at New -Inn. The inference, by exclusion, is that the second person--the -woman--was Jeffrey. - -"Again; Jeffrey had to be brought from Kennington to the inn by John. -But John was personating Jeffrey and was made up to resemble him very -closely. If Jeffrey were undisguised the two men would be almost exactly -alike; which would be very noticeable in any case and suspicious after -the death of one of them. Therefore Jeffrey would have to be disguised -in some way; and what disguise could be simpler and more effective than -the one that I suggest was used? - -"Again; it was unavoidable that some one--the cabman--should know that -Jeffrey was not alone when he came to the inn that night. If the fact -had leaked out and it had become known that a man had accompanied him to -his chambers, some suspicion might have arisen, and that suspicion would -have pointed to John, who was directly interested in his brother's -death. But if it had transpired that Jeffrey was accompanied by a woman, -there would have been less suspicion, and that suspicion would not have -pointed to John Blackmore. - -"Thus all the general probabilities are in favour of the hypothesis that -this woman was Jeffrey Blackmore. There is, however, an item of positive -evidence that strongly supports this view. When I examined the clothing -of the deceased, I found on the trousers a horizontal crease on each leg -as if the trousers had been turned up half-way to the knees. This -appearance is quite understandable if we suppose that the trousers were -worn under a skirt and were turned up so that they should not be -accidentally seen. Otherwise it is quite incomprehensible." - -"Is it not rather strange," said Marchmont, "that Jeffrey should have -allowed himself to be dressed up in this remarkable manner?" - -"I think not," replied Thorndyke. "There is no reason to suppose that he -knew how he was dressed. You have heard Jervis's description of his -condition; that of a mere automaton. You know that without his -spectacles he was practically blind, and that he could not have worn -them since we found them at the house in Kennington Lane. Probably his -head was wrapped up in the veil, and the skirt and mantle put on -afterwards; but, in any case, his condition rendered him practically -devoid of will power. That is all the evidence I have to prove that the -unknown woman was Jeffrey. It is not conclusive but it is convincing -enough for our purpose, seeing that the case against John Blackmore does -not depend upon it." - -"Your case against him is on the charge of murder, I presume?" said -Stephen. - -"Undoubtedly. And you will notice that the statements made by the -supposed Jeffrey to the porter, hinting at suicide, are now important -evidence. By the light of what we know, the announcement of intended -suicide becomes the announcement of intended murder. It conclusively -disproves what it was intended to prove; that Jeffrey died by his own -hand." - -"Yes, I see that," said Stephen, and then after a pause he asked: "Did -you identify Mrs. Schallibaum? You have told us nothing about her." - -"I have considered her as being outside the case as far as I am -concerned," replied Thorndyke. "She was an accessory; my business was -with the principal. But, of course, she will be swept up in the net. The -evidence that convicts John Blackmore will convict her. I have not -troubled about her identity. If John Blackmore is married, she is -probably his wife. Do you happen to know if he is married?" - -"Yes; but Mrs. John Blackmore is not much like Mrs. Schallibaum, -excepting that she has a cast in the left eye. She is a dark woman with -very heavy eyebrows." - -"That is to say that she differs from Mrs. Schallibaum in those -peculiarities that can be artificially changed and resembles her in the -one feature that is unchangeable. Do you know if her Christian name -happens to be Pauline?" - -"Yes, it is. She was a Miss Pauline Hagenbeck, a member of an American -theatrical company. What made you ask?" - -"The name which Jervis heard poor Jeffrey struggling to pronounce seemed -to me to resemble Pauline more than any other name." - -"There is one little point that strikes me," said Marchmont. "Is it not -rather remarkable that the porter should have noticed no difference -between the body of Jeffrey and the living man whom he knew by sight, -and who must, after all, have been distinctly different in appearance?" - -"I am glad you raised that question," Thorndyke replied, "for that very -difficulty presented itself to me at the beginning of the case. But on -thinking it over, I decided that it was an imaginary difficulty, -assuming, as we do, that there was a good deal of resemblance between -the two men. Put yourself in the porter's place and follow his mental -processes. He is informed that a dead man is lying on the bed in Mr. -Blackmore's rooms. Naturally, he assumes that the dead man is Mr. -Blackmore--who, by the way, had hinted at suicide only the night before. -With this idea he enters the chambers and sees a man a good deal like -Mr. Blackmore and wearing Mr. Blackmore's clothes, lying on Mr. -Blackmore's bed. The idea that the body could be that of some other -person has never entered his mind. If he notes any difference of -appearance he will put that down to the effects of death; for every one -knows that a man dead looks somewhat different from the same man alive. -I take it as evidence of great acuteness on the part of John Blackmore -that he should have calculated so cleverly, not only the mental process -of the porter, but the erroneous reasoning which every one would base on -the porter's conclusions. For, since the body was actually Jeffrey's, -and was identified by the porter as that of his tenant, it has been -assumed by every one that no question was possible as to the identity of -Jeffrey Blackmore and the tenant of New Inn." - -There was a brief silence, and then Marchmont asked: - -"May we take it that we have now heard all the evidence?" - -"Yes," replied Thorndyke. "That is my case." - -"Have you given information to the police?" Stephen asked eagerly. - -"Yes. As soon as I had obtained the statement of the cabman, Ridley, and -felt that I had enough evidence to secure a conviction, I called at -Scotland Yard and had an interview with the Assistant Commissioner. The -case is in the hands of Superintendent Miller of the Criminal -Investigation Department, a most acute and energetic officer. I have -been expecting to hear that the warrant has been executed, for Mr. -Miller is usually very punctilious in keeping me informed of the -progress of the cases to which I introduce him. We shall hear to-morrow, -no doubt." - -"And, for the present," said Marchmont, "the case seems to have passed -out of our hands." - -"I shall enter a caveat, all the same," said Mr. Winwood. - -"That doesn't seem very necessary," Marchmont objected. "The evidence -that we have heard is amply sufficient to ensure a conviction and there -will be plenty more when the police go into the case. And a conviction -on the charges of forgery and murder would, of course, invalidate the -second will." - -"I shall enter a caveat, all the same," repeated Mr. Winwood. - -As the two partners showed a disposition to become heated over this -question, Thorndyke suggested that they might discuss it at leisure by -the light of subsequent events. Acting on this hint--for it was now -close upon midnight--our visitors prepared to depart; and were, in fact, -just making their way towards the door when the bell rang. Thorndyke -flung open the door, and, as he recognized his visitor, greeted him with -evident satisfaction. - -"Ha! Mr. Miller; we were just speaking of you. These gentlemen are Mr. -Stephen Blackmore and his solicitors, Mr. Marchmont and Mr. Winwood. You -know Dr. Jervis, I think." - -The officer bowed to our friends and remarked: - -"I am just in time, it seems. A few minutes more and I should have -missed these gentlemen. I don't know what you'll think of my news." - -"You haven't let that villain escape, I hope," Stephen exclaimed. - -"Well," said the Superintendent, "he is out of my hands and yours too; -and so is the woman. Perhaps I had better tell you what has happened." - -"If you would be so kind," said Thorndyke, motioning the officer to a -chair. - -The superintendent seated himself with the manner of a man who has had a -long and strenuous day, and forthwith began his story. - -"As soon as we had your information, we procured a warrant for the -arrest of both parties, and then I went straight to their flat with -Inspector Badger and a sergeant. There we learned from the attendant -that they were away from home and were not expected back until to-day -about noon. We kept a watch on the premises, and this morning, about the -time appointed, a man and a woman, answering to the description, arrived -at the flat. We followed them in and saw them enter the lift, and we -were going to get into the lift too, when the man pulled the rope, and -away they went. There was nothing for us to do but run up the stairs, -which we did as fast as we could race; but they got to their landing -first, and we were only just in time to see them nip in and shut the -door. However, it seemed that we had them safe enough, for there was no -dropping out of the windows at that height; so we sent the sergeant to -get a locksmith to pick the lock or force the door, while we kept on -ringing the bell. - -"About three minutes after the sergeant left, I happened to look out of -the landing window and saw a hansom pull up opposite the flats. I put my -head out of the window, and, hang me if I didn't see our two friends -getting into the cab. It seems that there was a small lift inside the -flat communicating with the kitchen, and they had slipped down it one at -a time. - -"Well, of course, we raced down the stairs like acrobats, but by the -time we got to the bottom the cab was off with a fine start. We ran out -into Victoria Street, and there we could see it half-way down the street -and going like a chariot race. We managed to pick up another hansom and -told the cabby to keep the other one in sight, and away we went like the -very deuce; along Victoria Street and Broad Sanctuary, across Parliament -Square, over Westminster Bridge and along York Road; we kept the other -beggar in sight, but we couldn't gain an inch on him. Then we turned -into Waterloo Station, and, as we were driving up the slope we met -another hansom coming down; and when the cabby kissed his hand and -smiled at us, we guessed that he was the sportsman we had been -following. - -"But there was no time to ask questions. It is an awkward station with a -lot of different exits, and it looked a good deal as if our quarry had -got away. However, I took a chance. I remembered that the Southampton -express was due to start about this time, and I took a short cut across -the lines and made for the platform that it starts from. Just as Badger -and I got to the end, about thirty yards from the rear of the train, we -saw a man and a woman running in front of us. Then the guard blew his -whistle and the train began to move. The man and the woman managed to -scramble into one of the rear compartments and Badger and I raced up the -platform like mad. A porter tried to head us off, but Badger capsized -him and we both sprinted harder than ever, and just hopped on the -foot-board of the guard's van as the train began to get up speed. The -guard couldn't risk putting us off, so he had to let us into his van, -which suited us exactly, as we could watch the train on both sides from -the look-out. And we did watch, I can tell you; for our friend in front -had seen us. His head was out of the window as we climbed on to the -foot-board. - -"However, nothing happened until we stopped at Southampton West. There, -I need not say, we lost no time in hopping out, for we naturally -expected our friends to make a rush for the exit. But they didn't. -Badger watched the platform, and I kept a look-out to see that they -didn't slip away across the line from the off-side. But still there was -no sign of them. Then I walked up the train to the compartment which I -had seen them enter. And there they were, apparently fast asleep in the -corner by the off-side window, the man leaning back with his mouth open -and the woman resting against him with her head on his shoulder. She -gave me quite a turn when I went in to look at them, for she had her -eyes half-closed and seemed to be looking round at me with a most -horrible expression; but I found afterwards that the peculiar appearance -of looking round was due to the cast in her eye." - -"They were dead, I suppose?" said Thorndyke. - -"Yes, sir. Stone dead; and I found these on the floor of the carriage." - -He held up two tiny yellow glass tubes, each labelled "Hypodermic -tabloids. Aconitine Nitrate gr. 1/640." - -"Ha!" exclaimed Thorndyke, "this fellow was well up in alkaloidal -poisons, it seems; and they appear to have gone about prepared for -emergencies. These tubes each contained twenty tabloids, a thirty-second -of a grain altogether, so we may assume that about twelve times the -medicinal dose was swallowed. Death must have occurred in a few minutes, -and a merciful death too." - -"A more merciful death than they deserved," exclaimed Stephen, "when one -thinks of the misery and suffering that they inflicted on poor old uncle -Jeffrey. I would sooner have had them hanged." - -"It's better as it is, sir," said Miller. "There is no need, now, to -raise any questions in detail at the inquest. The publicity of a trial -for murder would have been very unpleasant for you. I wish Dr. Jervis -had given the tip to me instead of to that confounded, -over-cautious--but there, I mustn't run down my brother officers: and -it's easy to be wise after the event. - -"Good night, gentlemen. I suppose this accident disposes of your -business as far as the will is concerned?" - -"I suppose it does," agreed Mr. Winwood. "But I shall enter a caveat, -all the same." - - -THE END - - - - - - - - -End of Project Gutenberg's The Mystery of 31 New Inn, by R. 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Austin Freeman. -</title> -<style type="text/css"> +<meta charset="utf-8"> + +<title>The Mystery of 31 New inn | Project Gutenberg</title> +<style> <!-- P { margin-left: 4%; margin-right: 4%; @@ -19,67 +16,57 @@ PRE { font-family: Courier, monospaced; } TABLE {margin-left: 4%; margin-right: 4%; } BLOCKQUOTE {margin-left: 7%; margin-right: 7%; } - // --> +.h2, .h3, .h4, .h5 { + text-align: center; + display: block; + margin-left: 0; + margin-right: 0; + font-weight: bold; +} +.h2 { + font-size: 1.5em; + margin-top: 0.83em; + margin-bottom: 0.83em; +} +.h3 { + font-size: 1.17em; + margin-top: 1em; + margin-bottom: 1em; +} +.h4 { + font-size: 1em; + margin-top: 1.33em; + margin-bottom: 1.33em; +} +.h5 { + font-size: .83em; + margin-top: 1.67em; + margin-bottom: 1.67em; +} </style> </head> <body> - - -<pre> - -Project Gutenberg's The Mystery of 31 New Inn, by R. Austin Freeman - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org - - -Title: The Mystery of 31 New Inn - -Author: R. Austin Freeman - -Release Date: April 28, 2004 [EBook #12187] -Last updated: February 3, 2011 -Last updated: November 25, 1012 - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MYSTERY OF 31 NEW INN *** - - - - -Produced by Steven desJardins and Distributed Proofreaders - - - - - -</pre> - +<div style='text-align:center'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 12187 ***</div> <p> </p> <h1>THE MYSTERY OF 31 NEW INN</h1> -<h2>BY R. AUSTIN FREEMAN </h2> -<h4> +<div class="h2">BY R. AUSTIN FREEMAN </div> +<div class="h4"> Author of "The Red Thumb Mark," "The Eye of Osiris," etc. -</h4> +</div> <p> </p> -<a name="RULE4_1"><!-- RULE4 1 --></a> -<h3> +<a id="RULE4_1"><!-- RULE4 1 --></a> +<div class="h3"> TO MY FRIEND -</h3> -<h3> +</div> +<div class="h3"> BERNARD E. BISHOP -</h3> +</div> <p> </p> <p> </p> -<a name="PRF"><!-- PRF --></a> +<a id="PRF"><!-- PRF --></a> <h2> Preface </h2> @@ -129,23 +116,22 @@ appears on next page, and which shows all that is left of this pleasant old London backwater. </p> <p> </p> -<center> +<div style="text-align: center"> R. A. F. -</center> -<center> +</div> +<div style="text-align: center"> GRAVESEND -</center> +</div> <p> </p> -<a name="image-1"><!-- Image 1 --></a> -<center> -<img src="newinn.png" width="25%" -alt="New inn"> -</center> +<a id="image-1"><!-- Image 1 --></a> +<div style="text-align: center"> +<img src="images/newinn.png" alt="New inn" style="width: 25%"> +</div> <p> </p> <hr> -<a name="TOC"><!-- TOC --></a> +<a id="TOC"><!-- TOC --></a> <h2> Contents </h2> @@ -173,7 +159,7 @@ alt="New inn"> <h3>3. <a href="#image-3">The Track Chart, Showing the Route Followed by Weiss's Carriage</a></h3> <hr> <p> </p> -<a name="CH1"><!-- CH1 --></a> +<a id="CH1"><!-- CH1 --></a> <h2> Chapter I </h2> @@ -213,7 +199,7 @@ minute and I could turn down the surgery gas and shut the outer door. The fussy little clock gave a sort of preliminary cough or hiccup, as if it should say: "Ahem! ladies and gentlemen, I am about to strike." And at that moment, the bottle-boy opened the door and, thrusting in his -<a name="note-word"><!-- Note Anchor word --></a>head, uttered the one word: "Gentleman." +<a id="note-word"><!-- Note Anchor word --></a>head, uttered the one word: "Gentleman." </p> <p> Extreme economy of words is apt to result in ambiguity. But I @@ -1074,7 +1060,7 @@ hour of midnight. <p> </p> <p> </p> -<a name="CH2"><!-- CH2 --></a> +<a id="CH2"><!-- CH2 --></a> <h2> Chapter II </h2> @@ -1549,9 +1535,9 @@ He took a loose sheet of paper and made one or two sample entries on it in pencil, thus— </p> <blockquote> - "9.40. S.E. Start from home.<br /> - 9.41 S.W. Granite setts.<br /> - 9.43. S.W. Wood pavement. Hoofs 104.<br /> + "9.40. S.E. Start from home.<br > + 9.41 S.W. Granite setts.<br > + 9.43. S.W. Wood pavement. Hoofs 104.<br > 9.47. W. by S Granite crossing. Macadam— </blockquote> <p> @@ -1599,7 +1585,7 @@ left my charge so long. <p> </p> <p> </p> -<a name="CH3"><!-- CH3 --></a> +<a id="CH3"><!-- CH3 --></a> <h2> Chapter III </h2> @@ -2443,7 +2429,7 @@ a microscopic blue spark and betook myself to bed. <p> </p> <p> </p> -<a name="CH4"><!-- CH4 --></a> +<a id="CH4"><!-- CH4 --></a> <h2> Chapter IV </h2> @@ -2472,7 +2458,7 @@ should be stopped before it was too late. This was my view, but I meant to have Thorndyke's opinion, and act under his direction, but </p> <blockquote> - "The best laid plans of mice and men<br /> + "The best laid plans of mice and men<br > Gang aft agley." </blockquote> <p> @@ -2810,7 +2796,7 @@ Embankment and Middle Temple Lane. <p> </p> <p> </p> -<a name="CH5"><!-- CH5 --></a> +<a id="CH5"><!-- CH5 --></a> <h2> Chapter V </h2> @@ -3439,7 +3425,7 @@ at New Inn that formed the starting-point of all this trouble." <p> </p> <p> </p> -<a name="CH6"><!-- CH6 --></a> +<a id="CH6"><!-- CH6 --></a> <h2> Chapter VI </h2> @@ -4025,7 +4011,7 @@ consideration of the facts relating to Jeffrey Blackmore's will. <p> </p> <p> </p> -<a name="CH7"><!-- CH7 --></a> +<a id="CH7"><!-- CH7 --></a> <h2> Chapter VII </h2> @@ -4472,12 +4458,11 @@ opposite the fire-place. "There," said he, "look at that. It is a most remarkable object." </p> <p> </p> -<a name="image-2"><!-- Image 2 --></a> -<center> -<img src="inscription.png" width="80%" -alt="cuneiform inscription"> -</center> -<center><b>The Inverted Inscription.</b></center> +<a id="image-2"><!-- Image 2 --></a> +<div style="text-align: center"> +<img src="images/inscription.png" alt="cuneiform inscription" style="width: 80%"> +</div> +<div style="text-align: center"><b>The Inverted Inscription.</b></div> <p> </p> <p> I followed the direction of his gaze and saw an oblong frame enclosing a @@ -5007,7 +4992,7 @@ heard him address to the equally mystified porter. <p> </p> <p> </p> -<a name="CH8"><!-- CH8 --></a> +<a id="CH8"><!-- CH8 --></a> <h2> Chapter VIII </h2> @@ -5377,15 +5362,14 @@ distances will show a similar proportion. Let us try some of them. Take the distance from Vauxhall bridge to the Glasshouse Street bridge." </p> <p> </p> -<a name="image-3"><!-- Image 3 --></a> -<center> -<img src="track.png" width="50%" -alt="The Track Chart, Showing the Route Followed by Weiss's Carriage."> -</center> -<center>The Track Chart, Showing the Route Followed by Weiss's Carriage.</center> -<center>A.—Starting-point in Lower Kennington Lane.</center> -<center>B.—Position of Mr. Weiss's house. The dotted lines connecting the -bridges indicate probable railway lines.</center> +<a id="image-3"><!-- Image 3 --></a> +<div style="text-align: center"> +<img src="images/track.png" alt="The Track Chart, Showing the Route Followed by Weiss's Carriage." style="width: 50%"> +</div> +<div style="text-align: center">The Track Chart, Showing the Route Followed by Weiss's Carriage.</div> +<div style="text-align: center">A.—Starting-point in Lower Kennington Lane.</div> +<div style="text-align: center">B.—Position of Mr. Weiss's house. The dotted lines connecting the +bridges indicate probable railway lines.</div> <p> </p> <p> He made the two measurements carefully, and, as the point of the @@ -5410,7 +5394,7 @@ nearly correct as could be expected. "Yes," said Thorndyke, laying down the dividers, "I think we have narrowed down the locality of Mr. Weiss's house to a few yards in a known street. We shall get further help from your note of nine -twenty-three thirty, when which records a patch of newly laid macadam +twenty-three thirty, which records a patch of newly laid macadam extending up to the house." </p> <p> @@ -5468,7 +5452,7 @@ separated for the night. <p> </p> <p> </p> -<a name="CH9"><!-- CH9 --></a> +<a id="CH9"><!-- CH9 --></a> <h2> Chapter IX </h2> @@ -6231,7 +6215,7 @@ unnecessary and settled myself in a rather more comfortable position. <p> </p> <p> </p> -<a name="CH10"><!-- CH10 --></a> +<a id="CH10"><!-- CH10 --></a> <h2> Chapter X </h2> @@ -6938,7 +6922,7 @@ finishing touches. <p> </p> <p> </p> -<a name="CH11"><!-- CH11 --></a> +<a id="CH11"><!-- CH11 --></a> <h2> Chapter XI </h2> @@ -7566,7 +7550,7 @@ drop. <p> </p> <p> </p> -<a name="CH12"><!-- CH12 --></a> +<a id="CH12"><!-- CH12 --></a> <h2> Chapter XII </h2> @@ -8032,7 +8016,7 @@ departure, leaving me to my meditations. <p> </p> <p> </p> -<a name="CH13"><!-- CH13 --></a> +<a id="CH13"><!-- CH13 --></a> <h2> Chapter XIII </h2> @@ -8717,7 +8701,7 @@ at an end." <p> </p> <p> </p> -<a name="CH14"><!-- CH14 --></a> +<a id="CH14"><!-- CH14 --></a> <h2> Chapter XIV </h2> @@ -9035,7 +9019,7 @@ unceasingly along the pavements. <p> </p> <p> </p> -<a name="CH15"><!-- CH15 --></a> +<a id="CH15"><!-- CH15 --></a> <h2> Chapter XV </h2> @@ -9610,7 +9594,7 @@ a rather prolix demonstration." <p> </p> <p> </p> -<a name="CH16"><!-- CH16 --></a> +<a id="CH16"><!-- CH16 --></a> <h2> Chapter XVI </h2> @@ -10046,7 +10030,7 @@ centimetres; extreme length of side-bars, 13.3 centimetres. <p> "'Right eye plain glass. </p> -<table summary="eyeglass prescription"> +<table> <tr> <td>"'Left eye </td> <td>-<u>5.75 D. spherical </u></td> @@ -10079,7 +10063,7 @@ centres 6.2 cm. <p> "'Right eye plain glass. </p> -<table summary="eyeglass prescription"> +<table> <tr> <td>"'Left eye </td> <td>-<u>5.75 D. spherical </u></td> @@ -10637,425 +10621,11 @@ business as far as the will is concerned?" all the same." </p> <p> </p> -<center> +<div style="text-align: center"> THE END -</center> +</div> <p> </p> - - - - - - -<pre> - - - - - -End of Project Gutenberg's The Mystery of 31 New Inn, by R. 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For -example an eBook of filename 10234 would be found at: - - https://www.gutenberg.org/1/0/2/3/10234 - -or filename 24689 would be found at: - https://www.gutenberg.org/2/4/6/8/24689 - -An alternative method of locating eBooks: - https://www.gutenberg.org/GUTINDEX.ALL - - - - -</pre> - +<div style='text-align:center'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 12187 ***</div> </body> </html> - - - - diff --git a/12187-h/inscription.png b/12187-h/images/inscription.png Binary files differindex 3a31523..3a31523 100644 --- a/12187-h/inscription.png +++ b/12187-h/images/inscription.png diff --git a/12187-h/newinn.png b/12187-h/images/newinn.png Binary files differindex 035699e..035699e 100644 --- a/12187-h/newinn.png +++ b/12187-h/images/newinn.png diff --git a/12187-h/track.png b/12187-h/images/track.png Binary files differindex 741e458..741e458 100644 --- a/12187-h/track.png +++ b/12187-h/images/track.png diff --git a/12187.txt b/12187.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 325325a..0000000 --- a/12187.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,9256 +0,0 @@ -Project Gutenberg's The Mystery of 31 New Inn, by R. Austin Freeman - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org - - -Title: The Mystery of 31 New Inn - -Author: R. Austin Freeman - -Release Date: April 28, 2004 [EBook #12187] -Last updated: February 3, 2011 -Last updated: November 25, 1012 - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ASCII - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MYSTERY OF 31 NEW INN *** - - - - -Produced by Steven desJardins and Distributed Proofreaders - - - - - -THE MYSTERY OF 31 NEW INN - -BY R. AUSTIN FREEMAN - -Author of "The Red Thumb Mark," -"The Eye of Osiris," etc. - - - - -TO MY FRIEND - -BERNARD E. BISHOP - - - - -Preface - - -Commenting upon one of my earlier novels, in respect of which I had -claimed to have been careful to adhere to common probabilities and to -have made use only of really practicable methods of investigation, a -critic remarked that this was of no consequence whatever, so long as the -story was amusing. - -Few people, I imagine, will agree with him. To most readers, and -certainly to the kind of reader for whom an author is willing to take -trouble, complete realism in respect of incidents and methods is an -essential factor in maintaining the interest of a detective story. Hence -it may be worth while to mention that Thorndyke's method of producing -the track chart, described in Chapters II and III, has been actually -used in practice. It is a modification of one devised by me many years -ago when I was crossing Ashanti to the city of Bontuku, the whereabouts -of which in the far interior was then only vaguely known. My -instructions were to fix the positions of all towns, villages, rivers -and mountains as accurately as possible; but finding ordinary methods of -surveying impracticable in the dense forest which covers the whole -region, I adopted this simple and apparently rude method, checking the -distances whenever possible by astronomical observation. - -The resulting route-map was surprisingly accurate, as shown by the -agreement of the outward and homeward tracks, It was published by the -Royal Geographical Society, and incorporated in the map of this region -compiled by the Intelligence Branch of the War Office, and it formed the -basis of the map which accompanied my volume of <i>Travels in Ashanti and -Jaman</i>. So that Thorndyke's plan must be taken as quite a practicable -one. - -New Inn, the background of this story, and one of the last surviving -inns of Chancery, has recently passed away after upwards of four -centuries of newness. Even now, however, a few of the old, dismantled -houses (including perhaps, the mysterious 31) may be seen from the -Strand peeping over the iron roof of the skating rink which has -displaced the picturesque hall, the pension-room and the garden. The -postern gate, too, in Houghton Street still remains, though the arch is -bricked up inside. Passing it lately, I made the rough sketch which -appears on next page, and which shows all that is left of this pleasant -old London backwater. - -R. A. F. - -GRAVESEND - - - - -[Illustration: New Inn] - - - - -Contents - - -CHAPTER. - - I THE MYSTERIOUS PATIENT - II THORNDYKE DEVISES A SCHEME - III "A CHIEL'S AMANG YE TAKIN' NOTES" - IV THE OFFICIAL VIEW - V JEFFREY BLACKMORE'S WILL - VI JEFFREY BLACKMORE, DECEASED - VII THE CUNEIFORM INSCRIPTION -VIII THE TRACK CHART - IX THE HOUSE OF MYSTERY - X THE HUNTER HUNTED - XI THE BLACKMORE CASE REVIEWED - XII THE PORTRAIT -XIII THE STATEMENT OF SAMUEL WILKINS - XIV THORNDYKE LAYS THE MINE - XV THORNDYKE EXPLODES THE MINE - XVI AN EXPOSITION AND A TRAGEDY - - - - -Chapter I - -The Mysterious Patient - - -As I look back through the years of my association with John Thorndyke, -I am able to recall a wealth of adventures and strange experiences such -as falls to the lot of very few men who pass their lives within hearing -of Big Ben. Many of these experiences I have already placed on record; -but it now occurs to me that I have hitherto left unrecorded one that -is, perhaps, the most astonishing and incredible of the whole series; an -adventure, too, that has for me the added interest that it inaugurated -my permanent association with my learned and talented friend, and marked -the close of a rather unhappy and unprosperous period of my life. - -Memory, retracing the journey through the passing years to the -starting-point of those strange events, lands me in a shabby little -ground-floor room in a house near the Walworth end of Lower Kennington -Lane. A couple of framed diplomas on the wall, a card of Snellen's -test-types and a stethoscope lying on the writing-table, proclaim it a -doctor's consulting-room; and my own position in the round-backed chair -at the said table, proclaims me the practitioner in charge. - -It was nearly nine o'clock. The noisy little clock on the mantelpiece -announced the fact, and, by its frantic ticking, seemed as anxious as I -to get the consultation hours over. I glanced wistfully at my -mud-splashed boots and wondered if I might yet venture to assume the -slippers that peeped coyly from under the shabby sofa. I even allowed my -thoughts to wander to the pipe that reposed in my coat pocket. Another -minute and I could turn down the surgery gas and shut the outer door. -The fussy little clock gave a sort of preliminary cough or hiccup, as if -it should say: "Ahem! ladies and gentlemen, I am about to strike." And -at that moment, the bottle-boy opened the door and, thrusting in his -head, uttered the one word: "Gentleman." - -Extreme economy of words is apt to result in ambiguity. But I -understood. In Kennington Lane, the race of mere men and women appeared -to be extinct. They were all gentlemen--unless they were ladies or -children--even as the Liberian army was said to consist entirely of -generals. Sweeps, labourers, milkmen, costermongers--all were -impartially invested by the democratic bottle-boy with the rank and -title of <i>armigeri</i>. The present nobleman appeared to favour the -aristocratic recreation of driving a cab or job-master's carriage, and, -as he entered the room, he touched his hat, closed the door somewhat -carefully, and then, without remark, handed me a note which bore the -superscription "Dr. Stillbury." - -"You understand," I said, as I prepared to open the envelope, "that I -am not Dr. Stillbury. He is away at present and I am looking after his -patients." - -"It doesn't signify," the man replied. "You'll do as well." - -On this, I opened the envelope and read the note, which was quite brief, -and, at first sight, in no way remarkable. - -"DEAR SIR," it ran, "Would you kindly come and see a friend of mine who -is staying with me? The bearer of this will give you further particulars -and convey you to the house. Yours truly, H. WEISS." - -There was no address on the paper and no date, and the writer was -unknown to me. - -"This note," I said, "refers to some further particulars. What are -they?" - -The messenger passed his hand over his hair with a gesture of -embarrassment. "It's a ridicklus affair," he said, with a contemptuous -laugh. "If I had been Mr. Weiss, I wouldn't have had nothing to do with -it. The sick gentleman, Mr. Graves, is one of them people what can't -abear doctors. He's been ailing now for a week or two, but nothing would -induce him to see a doctor. Mr. Weiss did everything he could to -persuade him, but it was no go. He wouldn't. However, it seems Mr. Weiss -threatened to send for a medical man on his own account, because, you -see, he was getting a bit nervous; and then Mr. Graves gave way. But -only on one condition. He said the doctor was to come from a distance -and was not to be told who he was or where he lived or anything about -him; and he made Mr. Weiss promise to keep to that condition before he'd -let him send. So Mr. Weiss promised, and, of course, he's got to keep -his word." - -"But," I said, with a smile, "you've just told me his name--if his name -really is Graves." - -"You can form your own opinion on that," said the coachman. - -"And," I added, "as to not being told where he lives, I can see that for -myself. I'm not blind, you know." - -"We'll take the risk of what you see," the man replied. "The question -is, will you take the job on?" - -Yes; that was the question, and I considered it for some time before -replying. We medical men are pretty familiar with the kind of person who -"can't abear doctors," and we like to have as little to do with him as -possible. He is a thankless and unsatisfactory patient. Intercourse with -him is unpleasant, he gives a great deal of trouble and responds badly -to treatment. If this had been my own practice, I should have declined -the case off-hand. But it was not my practice. I was only a deputy. I -could not lightly refuse work which would yield a profit to my -principal, unpleasant though it might be. - -As I turned the matter over in my mind, I half unconsciously scrutinized -my visitor--somewhat to his embarrassment--and I liked his appearance -as little as I liked his mission. He kept his station near the door, -where the light was dim--for the illumination was concentrated on the -table and the patient's chair--but I could see that he had a somewhat -sly, unprepossessing face and a greasy, red moustache that seemed out of -character with his rather perfunctory livery; though this was mere -prejudice. He wore a wig, too--not that there was anything discreditable -in that--and the thumb-nail of the hand that held his hat bore -disfiguring traces of some injury--which, again, though unsightly, in no -wise reflected on his moral character. Lastly, he watched me keenly with -a mixture of anxiety and sly complacency that I found distinctly -unpleasant. In a general way, he impressed me disagreeably. I did not -like the look of him at all; but nevertheless I decided to undertake the -case. - -"I suppose," I answered, at length, "it is no affair of mine who the -patient is or where he lives. But how do you propose to manage the -business? Am I to be led to the house blindfolded, like the visitor to -the bandit's cave?" - -The man grinned slightly and looked very decidedly relieved. - -"No, sir," he answered; "we ain't going to blindfold you. I've got a -carriage outside. I don't think you'll see much out of that." - -"Very well," I rejoined, opening the door to let him out, "I'll be with -you in a minute. I suppose you can't give me any idea as to what is the -matter with the patient?" - -"No, sir, I can't," he replied; and he went out to see to the carriage. - -I slipped into a bag an assortment of emergency drugs and a few -diagnostic instruments, turned down the gas and passed out through the -surgery. The carriage was standing at the kerb, guarded by the coachman -and watched with deep interest by the bottle-boy. I viewed it with -mingled curiosity and disfavour. It was a kind of large brougham, such -as is used by some commercial travellers, the usual glass windows being -replaced by wooden shutters intended to conceal the piles of -sample-boxes, and the doors capable of being locked from outside with a -railway key. - -As I emerged from the house, the coachman unlocked the door and held it -open. - -"How long will the journey take?" I asked, pausing with my foot on the -step. - -The coachman considered a moment or two and replied: - -"It took me, I should say, nigh upon half an hour to get here." - -This was pleasant hearing. A half an hour each way and a half an hour at -the patient's house. At that rate it would be half-past ten before I was -home again, and then it was quite probable that I should find some other -untimely messenger waiting on the doorstep. With a muttered anathema on -the unknown Mr. Graves and the unrestful life of a locum tenens, I -stepped into the uninviting vehicle. Instantly the coachman slammed the -door and turned the key, leaving me in total darkness. - -One comfort was left to me; my pipe was in my pocket. I made shift to -load it in the dark, and, having lit it with a wax match, took the -opportunity to inspect the interior of my prison. It was a shabby -affair. The moth-eaten state of the blue cloth cushions seemed to -suggest that it had been long out of regular use; the oil-cloth -floor-covering was worn into holes; ordinary internal fittings there -were none. But the appearances suggested that the crazy vehicle had been -prepared with considerable forethought for its present use. The inside -handles of the doors had apparently been removed; the wooden shutters -were permanently fixed in their places; and a paper label, stuck on the -transom below each window, had a suspicious appearance of having been -put there to cover the painted name and address of the job-master or -livery-stable keeper who had originally owned the carriage. - -These observations gave me abundant food for reflection. This Mr. Weiss -must be an excessively conscientious man if he had considered that his -promise to Mr. Graves committed him to such extraordinary precautions. -Evidently no mere following of the letter of the law was enough to -satisfy his sensitive conscience. Unless he had reasons for sharing Mr. -Graves's unreasonable desire for secrecy--for one could not suppose that -these measures of concealment had been taken by the patient himself. - -The further suggestions that evolved themselves from this consideration -were a little disquieting. Whither was I being carried and for what -purpose? The idea that I was bound for some den of thieves where I -might be robbed and possibly murdered, I dismissed with a smile. Thieves -do not make elaborately concerted plans to rob poor devils like me. -Poverty has its compensations in that respect. But there were other -possibilities. Imagination backed by experience had no difficulty in -conjuring up a number of situations in which a medical man might be -called upon, with or without coercion, either to witness or actively to -participate in the commission of some unlawful act. - -Reflections of this kind occupied me pretty actively if not very -agreeably during this strange journey. And the monotony was relieved, -too, by other distractions. I was, for example, greatly interested to -notice how, when one sense is in abeyance, the other senses rouse into a -compensating intensity of perception. I sat smoking my pipe in darkness -which was absolute save for the dim glow from the smouldering tobacco in -the bowl, and seemed to be cut off from all knowledge of the world -without. But yet I was not. The vibrations of the carriage, with its -hard springs and iron-tired wheels, registered accurately and plainly -the character of the roadway. The harsh rattle of granite setts, the -soft bumpiness of macadam, the smooth rumble of wood-pavement, the -jarring and swerving of crossed tram-lines; all were easily recognizable -and together sketched the general features of the neighbourhood through -which I was passing. And the sense of hearing filled in the details. Now -the hoot of a tug's whistle told of proximity to the river. A sudden -and brief hollow reverberation announced the passage under a railway -arch (which, by the way, happened several times during the journey); -and, when I heard the familiar whistle of a railway-guard followed by -the quick snorts of a skidding locomotive, I had as clear a picture of a -heavy passenger-train moving out of a station as if I had seen it in -broad daylight. - -I had just finished my pipe and knocked out the ashes on the heel of my -boot, when the carriage slowed down and entered a covered way--as I -could tell by the hollow echoes. Then I distinguished the clang of heavy -wooden gates closed behind me, and a moment or two later the carriage -door was unlocked and opened. I stepped out blinking into a covered -passage paved with cobbles and apparently leading down to a mews; but it -was all in darkness, and I had no time to make any detailed -observations, as the carriage had drawn up opposite a side door which -was open and in which stood a woman holding a lighted candle. - -"Is that the doctor?" she asked, speaking with a rather pronounced -German accent and shading the candle with her hand as she peered at me. - -I answered in the affirmative, and she then exclaimed: - -"I am glad you have come. Mr. Weiss will be so relieved. Come in, -please." - -I followed her across a dark passage into a dark room, where she set the -candle down on a chest of drawers and turned to depart. At the door, -however, she paused and looked back. - -"It is not a very nice room to ask you into," she said. "We are very -untidy just now, but you must excuse us. We have had so much anxiety -about poor Mr. Graves." - -"He has been ill some time, then?" - -"Yes. Some little time. At intervals, you know. Sometimes better, -sometimes not so well." - -As she spoke, she gradually backed out into the passage but did not go -away at once. I accordingly pursued my inquiries. - -"He has not been seen by any doctor, has he?" - -"No," she answered, "he has always refused to see a doctor. That has -been a great trouble to us. Mr. Weiss has been very anxious about him. -He will be so glad to hear that you have come. I had better go and tell -him. Perhaps you will kindly sit down until he is able to come to you," -and with this she departed on her mission. - -It struck me as a little odd that, considering his anxiety and the -apparent urgency of the case, Mr. Weiss should not have been waiting to -receive me. And when several minutes elapsed without his appearing, the -oddness of the circumstance impressed me still more. Having no desire, -after the journey in the carriage, to sit down, I whiled away the time -by an inspection of the room. And a very curious room it was; bare, -dirty, neglected and, apparently, unused. A faded carpet had been flung -untidily on the floor. A small, shabby table stood in the middle of the -room; and beyond this, three horsehair-covered chairs and a chest of -drawers formed the entire set of furniture. No pictures hung on the -mouldy walls, no curtains covered the shuttered windows, and the dark -drapery of cobwebs that hung from the ceiling to commemorate a long and -illustrious dynasty of spiders hinted at months of neglect and disuse. - -The chest of drawers--an incongruous article of furniture for what -seemed to be a dining-room--as being the nearest and best lighted object -received most of my attention. It was a fine old chest of nearly black -mahogany, very battered and in the last stage of decay, but originally a -piece of some pretensions. Regretful of its fallen estate, I looked it -over with some interest and had just observed on its lower corner a -little label bearing the printed inscription "Lot 201" when I heard -footsteps descending the stairs. A moment later the door opened and a -shadowy figure appeared standing close by the threshold. - -"Good evening, doctor," said the stranger, in a deep, quiet voice and -with a distinct, though not strong, German accent. "I must apologize for -keeping you waiting." - -I acknowledged the apology somewhat stiffly and asked: "You are Mr. -Weiss, I presume?" - -"Yes, I am Mr. Weiss. It is very good of you to come so far and so late -at night and to make no objection to the absurd conditions that my poor -friend has imposed." - -"Not at all," I replied. "It is my business to go when and where I am -wanted, and it is not my business to inquire into the private affairs of -my patients." - -"That is very true, sir," he agreed cordially, "and I am much obliged -to you for taking that very proper view of the case. I pointed that out -to my friend, but he is not a very reasonable man. He is very secretive -and rather suspicious by nature." - -"So I inferred. And as to his condition; is he seriously ill?" - -"Ah," said Mr. Weiss, "that is what I want you to tell me. I am very -much puzzled about him." - -"But what is the nature of his illness? What does he complain of?" - -"He makes very few complaints of any kind although he is obviously ill. -But the fact is that he is hardly ever more than half awake. He lies in -a kind of dreamy stupor from morning to night." - -This struck me as excessively strange and by no means in agreement with -the patient's energetic refusal to see a doctor. - -"But," I asked, "does he never rouse completely?" - -"Oh, yes," Mr. Weiss answered quickly; "he rouses from time to time and -is then quite rational, and, as you may have gathered, rather obstinate. -That is the peculiar and puzzling feature in the case; this alternation -between a state of stupor and an almost normal and healthy condition. -But perhaps you had better see him and judge for yourself. He had a -rather severe attack just now. Follow me, please. The stairs are rather -dark." - -The stairs were very dark, and I noticed that they were without any -covering of carpet, or even oil-cloth, so that our footsteps resounded -dismally as if we were in an empty house. I stumbled up after my guide, -feeling my way by the hand-rail, and on the first floor followed him -into a room similar in size to the one below and very barely furnished, -though less squalid than the other. A single candle at the farther end -threw its feeble light on a figure in the bed, leaving the rest of the -room in a dim twilight. - -As Mr. Weiss tiptoed into the chamber, a woman--the one who had spoken -to me below--rose from a chair by the bedside and quietly left the room -by a second door. My conductor halted, and looking fixedly at the figure -in the bed, called out: - -"Philip! Philip! Here is the doctor come to see you." - -He paused for a moment or two, and, receiving no answer, said: "He seems -to be dozing as usual. Will you go and see what you can make of him?" - -I stepped forward to the bedside, leaving Mr. Weiss at the end of the -room near the door by which we had entered, where he remained, slowly -and noiselessly pacing backwards and forwards in the semi-obscurity. By -the light of the candle I saw an elderly man with good features and a -refined, intelligent and even attractive face, but dreadfully emaciated, -bloodless and sallow. He lay quite motionless except for the scarcely -perceptible rise and fall of his chest; his eyes were nearly closed, his -features relaxed, and, though he was not actually asleep, he seemed to -be in a dreamy, somnolent, lethargic state, as if under the influence of -some narcotic. - -I watched him for a minute or so, timing his slow breathing by my -watch, and then suddenly and sharply addressed him by name; but the only -response was a slight lifting of the eyelids, which, after a brief, -drowsy glance at me, slowly subsided to their former position. - -I now proceeded to make a physical examination. First, I felt his pulse, -grasping his wrist with intentional brusqueness in the hope of rousing -him from his stupor. The beats were slow, feeble and slightly irregular, -giving clear evidence, if any were needed, of his generally lowered -vitality. I listened carefully to his heart, the sounds of which were -very distinct through the thin walls of his emaciated chest, but found -nothing abnormal beyond the feebleness and uncertainty of its action. -Then I turned my attention to his eyes, which I examined closely with -the aid of the candle and my ophthalmoscope lens, raising the lids -somewhat roughly so as to expose the whole of the irises. He submitted -without resistance to my rather ungentle handling of these sensitive -structures, and showed no signs of discomfort even when I brought the -candle-flame to within a couple of inches of his eyes. - -But this extraordinary tolerance of light was easily explained by closer -examination; for the pupils were contracted to such an extreme degree -that only the very minutest point of black was visible at the centre of -the grey iris. Nor was this the only abnormal peculiarity of the sick -man's eyes. As he lay on his back, the right iris sagged down slightly -towards its centre, showing a distinctly concave surface; and, when I -contrived to produce a slight but quick movement of the eyeball, a -perceptible undulatory movement could be detected. The patient had, in -fact, what is known as a tremulous iris, a condition that is seen in -cases where the crystalline lens has been extracted for the cure of -cataract, or where it has become accidentally displaced, leaving the -iris unsupported. In the present case, the complete condition of the -iris made it clear that the ordinary extraction operation had not been -performed, nor was I able, on the closest inspection with the aid of my -lens, to find any trace of the less common "needle operation." The -inference was that the patient had suffered from the accident known as -"dislocation of the lens"; and this led to the further inference that he -was almost or completely blind in the right eye. - -This conclusion was, indeed, to some extent negatived by a deep -indentation on the bridge of the nose, evidently produced by spectacles, -and by marks which I looked for and found behind the ears, corresponding -to the hooks or "curl sides" of the glasses. For those spectacles which -are fitted with curl sides to hook over the ears are usually intended to -be worn habitually, and this agreed with the indentation on the nose; -which was deeper than would have been accounted for by the merely -occasional use of spectacles for reading. But if only one eye was -useful, a single eye-glass would have answered the purpose; not that -there was any weight in this objection, for a single eye-glass worn -constantly would be much less convenient than a pair of hook-sided -spectacles. - -As to the nature of the patient's illness, only one opinion seemed -possible. It was a clear and typical case of opium or morphine -poisoning. To this conclusion all his symptoms seemed to point with -absolute certainty. The coated tongue, which he protruded slowly and -tremulously in response to a command bawled in his ear; his yellow skin -and ghastly expression; his contracted pupils and the stupor from which -he could hardly be roused by the roughest handling and which yet did not -amount to actual insensibility; all these formed a distinct and coherent -group of symptoms, not only pointing plainly to the nature of the drug, -but also suggesting a very formidable dose. - -But this conclusion in its turn raised a very awkward and difficult -question. If a large--a poisonous--dose of the drug had been taken, how, -and by whom had that dose been administered? The closest scrutiny of -the patient's arms and legs failed to reveal a single mark such as would -be made by a hypodermic needle. This man was clearly no common -morphinomaniac; and in the absence of the usual sprinkling of -needlemarks, there was nothing to show or suggest whether the drug had -been taken voluntarily by the patient himself or administered by someone -else. - -And then there remained the possibility that I might, after all, be -mistaken in my diagnosis. I felt pretty confident. But the wise man -always holds a doubt in reserve. And, in the present case, having regard -to the obviously serious condition of the patient, such a doubt was -eminently disturbing. Indeed, as I pocketed my stethoscope and took a -last look at the motionless, silent figure, I realized that my position -was one of extraordinary difficulty and perplexity. On the one hand my -suspicions--aroused, naturally enough, by the very unusual circumstances -that surrounded my visit--inclined me to extreme reticence; while, on -the other, it was evidently my duty to give any information that might -prove serviceable to the patient. - -As I turned away from the bed Mr. Weiss stopped his slow pacing to and -fro and faced me. The feeble light of the candle now fell on him, and I -saw him distinctly for the first time. He did not impress me favourably. -He was a thick-set, round-shouldered man, a typical fair German with -tow-coloured hair, greased and brushed down smoothly, a large, ragged, -sandy beard and coarse, sketchy features. His nose was large and thick -with a bulbous end, and inclined to a reddish purple, a tint which -extended to the adjacent parts of his face as if the colour had run. His -eyebrows were large and beetling, overhanging deep-set eyes, and he wore -a pair of spectacles which gave him a somewhat owlish expression. His -exterior was unprepossessing, and I was in a state of mind that rendered -me easily receptive of an unfavourable impression. - -"Well," he said, "what do you make of him?" I hesitated, still perplexed -by the conflicting necessities of caution and frankness, but at length -replied: - -"I think rather badly of him, Mr. Weiss. He is in a very low state." - -"Yes, I can see that. But have you come to any decision as to the nature -of his illness?" - -There was a tone of anxiety and suppressed eagerness in the question -which, while it was natural enough in the circumstances, by no means -allayed my suspicions, but rather influenced me on the side of caution. - -"I cannot give a very definite opinion at present," I replied guardedly. -"The symptoms are rather obscure and might very well indicate several -different conditions. They might be due to congestion of the brain, and, -if no other explanation were possible, I should incline to that view. -The alternative is some narcotic poison, such as opium or morphia." - -"But that is quite impossible. There is no such drug in the house, and -as he never leaves his room now, he could not get any from outside." - -"What about the servants?" I asked. - -"There are no servants excepting my housekeeper, and she is absolutely -trustworthy." - -"He might have some store of the drug that you are not aware of. Is he -left alone much?" - -"Very seldom indeed. I spend as much time with him as I can, and when I -am not able to be in the room, Mrs Schallibaum, my housekeeper, sits -with him." - -"Is he often as drowsy as he is now?" - -"Oh, very often; in fact, I should say that is his usual condition. He -rouses up now and again, and then he is quite lucid and natural for, -perhaps, an hour or so; but presently he becomes drowsy again and doses -off, and remains asleep, or half asleep, for hours on end. Do you know -of any disease that takes people in that way?" - -"No," I answered. "The symptoms are not exactly like those of any -disease that is known to me. But they are much very like those of opium -poisoning." - -"But, my dear sir," Mr. Weiss retorted impatiently, "since it is clearly -impossible that it can be opium poisoning, it must be something else. -Now, what else can it be? You were speaking of congestion of the brain." - -"Yes. But the objection to that is the very complete recovery that seems -to take place in the intervals." - -"I would not say very complete," said Mr. Weiss. "The recovery is rather -comparative. He is lucid and fairly natural in his manner, but he is -still dull and lethargic. He does not, for instance, show any desire to -go out, or even to leave his room." - -I pondered uncomfortably on these rather contradictory statements. -Clearly Mr. Weiss did not mean to entertain the theory of opium -poisoning; which was natural enough if he had no knowledge of the drug -having been used. But still-- - -"I suppose," said Mr. Weiss, "you have experience of sleeping sickness?" - -The suggestion startled me. I had not. Very few people had. At that time -practically nothing was known about the disease. It was a mere -pathological curiosity, almost unheard of excepting by a few -practitioners in remote parts of Africa, and hardly referred to in the -text-books. Its connection with the trypanosome-bearing insects was as -yet unsuspected, and, to me, its symptoms were absolutely unknown. - -"No, I have not," I replied. "The disease is nothing more than a name to -me. But why do you ask? Has Mr. Graves been abroad?" - -"Yes. He has been travelling for the last three or four years, and I -know that he spent some time recently in West Africa, where this disease -occurs. In fact, it was from him that I first heard about it." - -This was a new fact. It shook my confidence in my diagnosis very -considerably, and inclined me to reconsider my suspicions. If Mr. Weiss -was lying to me, he now had me at a decided disadvantage. - -"What do you think?" he asked. "Is it possible that this can be sleeping -sickness?" - -"I should not like to say that it is impossible," I replied. "The -disease is practically unknown to me. I have never practised out of -England and have had no occasion to study it. Until I have looked the -subject up, I should not be in a position to give an opinion. Of course, -if I could see Mr. Graves in one of what we may call his 'lucid -intervals' I should be able to form a better idea. Do you think that -could be managed?" - -"It might. I see the importance of it and will certainly do my best; but -he is a difficult man; a very difficult man. I sincerely hope it is not -sleeping sickness." - -"Why?" - -"Because--as I understood from him--that disease is invariably fatal, -sooner or later. There seem to be no cure. Do you think you will be able -to decide when you see him again?" - -"I hope so," I replied. "I shall look up the authorities and see exactly -what the symptoms are--that is, so far as they are known; but my -impression is that there is very little information available." - -"And in the meantime?" - -"We will give him some medicine and attend to his general condition, and -you had better let me see him again as soon as possible." I was about to -say that the effect of the medicine itself might throw some light on the -patient's condition, but, as I proposed to treat him for morphine -poisoning, I thought it wiser to keep this item of information to -myself. Accordingly, I confined myself to a few general directions as to -the care of the patient, to which Mr. Weiss listened attentively. "And," -I concluded, "we must not lose sight of the opium question. You had -better search the room carefully and keep a close watch on the patient, -especially during his intervals of wakefulness." - -"Very well, doctor," Mr. Weiss replied, "I will do all that you tell me -and I will send for you again as soon as possible, if you do not object -to poor Graves's ridiculous conditions. And now, if you will allow me to -pay your fee, I will go and order the carriage while you are writing the -prescription." - -"There is no need for a prescription," I said. "I will make up some -medicine and give it to the coachman." - -Mr. Weiss seemed inclined to demur to this arrangement, but I had my own -reasons for insisting on it. Modern prescriptions are not difficult to -read, and I did not wish Mr. Weiss to know what treatment the patient -was having. - -As soon as I was left alone, I returned to the bedside and once more -looked down at the impassive figure. And as I looked, my suspicions -revived. It was very like morphine poisoning; and, if it was morphine, -it was no common, medicinal dose that had been given. I opened my bag -and took out my hypodermic case from which I extracted a little tube of -atropine tabloids. Shaking out into my hand a couple of the tiny discs, -I drew down the patient's under-lip and slipped the little tablets under -his tongue. Then I quickly replaced the tube and dropped the case into -my bag; and I had hardly done so when the door opened softly and the -housekeeper entered the room. - -"How do you find Mr. Graves?" she asked in what I thought a very -unnecessarily low tone, considering the patient's lethargic state. - -"He seems to be very ill," I answered. - -"So!" she rejoined, and added: "I am sorry to hear that. We have been -anxious about him." - -She seated herself on the chair by the bedside, and, shading the candle -from the patient's face--and her own, too--produced from a bag that hung -from her waist a half-finished stocking and began to knit silently and -with the skill characteristic of the German housewife. I looked at her -attentively (though she was so much in the shadow that I could see her -but indistinctly) and somehow her appearance prepossessed me as little -as did that of the other members of the household. Yet she was not an -ill-looking woman. She had an excellent figure, and the air of a person -of good social position; her features were good enough and her -colouring, although a little unusual, was not unpleasant. Like Mr. -Weiss, she had very fair hair, greased, parted in the middle and brushed -down as smoothly as the painted hair of a Dutch doll. She appeared to -have no eyebrows at all--owing, no doubt, to the light colour of the -hair--and the doll-like character was emphasized by her eyes, which were -either brown or dark grey, I could not see which. A further peculiarity -consisted in a "habit spasm," such as one often sees in nervous -children; a periodical quick jerk of the head, as if a cap-string or -dangling lock were being shaken off the cheek. Her age I judged to be -about thirty-five. - -The carriage, which one might have expected to be waiting, seemed to -take some time in getting ready. I sat, with growing impatience, -listening to the sick man's soft breathing and the click of the -housekeeper's knitting-needles. I wanted to get home, not only for my -own sake; the patient's condition made it highly desirable that the -remedies should be given as quickly as possible. But the minutes dragged -on, and I was on the point of expostulating when a bell rang on the -landing. - -"The carriage is ready," said Mrs. Schallibaum. "Let me light you down -the stairs." - -She rose, and, taking the candle, preceded me to the head of the stairs, -where she stood holding the light over the baluster-rail as I descended -and crossed the passage to the open side door. The carriage was drawn up -in the covered way as I could see by the faint glimmer of the distant -candle; which also enabled me dimly to discern the coachman standing -close by in the shadow. I looked round, rather expecting to see Mr. -Weiss, but, as he made no appearance, I entered the carriage. The door -was immediately banged to and locked, and I then heard the heavy bolts -of the gates withdrawn and the loud creaking of hinges. The carriage -moved out slowly and stopped; the gates slammed to behind me; I felt the -lurch as the coachman climbed to his seat and we started forward. - -My reflections during the return journey were the reverse of agreeable. -I could not rid myself of the conviction that I was being involved in -some very suspicious proceedings. It was possible, of course, that this -feeling was due to the strange secrecy that surrounded my connection -with this case; that, had I made my visit under ordinary conditions, I -might have found in the patient's symptoms nothing to excite suspicion -or alarm. It might be so, but that consideration did not comfort me. - -Then, my diagnosis might be wrong. It might be that this was, in -reality, a case of some brain affection accompanied by compression, such -as slow haemorrhage, abscess, tumour or simple congestion. These cases -were very difficult at times. But the appearances in this one did not -consistently agree with the symptoms accompanying any of these -conditions. As to sleeping sickness, it was, perhaps a more hopeful -suggestion, but I could not decide for or against it until I had more -knowledge; and against this view was the weighty fact that the symptoms -did exactly agree with the theory of morphine poisoning. - -But even so, there was no conclusive evidence of any criminal act. The -patient might be a confirmed opium-eater, and the symptoms heightened by -deliberate deception. The cunning of these unfortunates is proverbial -and is only equalled by their secretiveness and mendacity. It would be -quite possible for this man to feign profound stupor so long as he was -watched, and then, when left alone for a few minutes, to nip out of bed -and help himself from some secret store of the drug. This would be quite -in character with his objection to seeing a doctor and his desire for -secrecy. But still, I did not believe it to be the true explanation. In -spite of all the various alternative possibilities, my suspicions came -back to Mr. Weiss and the strange, taciturn woman, and refused to budge. - -For all the circumstances of the case were suspicious. The elaborate -preparations implied by the state of the carriage in which I was -travelling; the make-shift appearance of the house; the absence of -ordinary domestic servants, although a coachman was kept; the evident -desire of Mr. Weiss and the woman to avoid thorough inspection of their -persons; and, above all, the fact that the former had told me a -deliberate lie. For he had lied, beyond all doubt. His statement as to -the almost continuous stupor was absolutely irreconcilable with his -other statement as to the patient's wilfulness and obstinacy and even -more irreconcilable with the deep and comparatively fresh marks of the -spectacles on the patient's nose. That man had certainly worn spectacles -within twenty-four hours, which he would hardly have done if he had been -in a state bordering on coma. - -My reflections were interrupted by the stopping of the carriage. The -door was unlocked and thrown open, and I emerged from my dark and stuffy -prison opposite my own house. - -"I will let you have the medicine in a minute or two," I said to the -coachman; and, as I let myself in with my latch-key, my mind came back -swiftly from the general circumstances of the case to the very critical -condition of the patient. Already I was regretting that I had not taken -more energetic measures to rouse him and restore his flagging vitality; -for it would be a terrible thing if he should take a turn for the worse -and die before the coachman returned with the remedies. Spurred on by -this alarming thought, I made up the medicines quickly and carried the -hastily wrapped bottles out to the man, whom I found standing by the -horse's head. - -"Get back as quickly as you can," I said, "and tell Mr. Weiss to lose no -time in giving the patient the draught in the small bottle. The -directions are on the labels." - -The coachman took the packages from me without reply, climbed to his -seat, touched the horse with his whip and drove off at a rapid pace -towards Newington Butts. - -The little clock in the consulting-room showed that it was close on -eleven; time for a tired G.P. to be thinking of bed. But I was not -sleepy. Over my frugal supper I found myself taking up anew the thread -of my meditations, and afterwards, as I smoked my last pipe by the -expiring surgery fire, the strange and sinister features of the case -continued to obtrude themselves on my notice. I looked up Stillbury's -little reference library for information on the subject of sleeping -sickness, but learned no more than that it was "a rare and obscure -disease of which very little was known at present." I read up morphine -poisoning and was only further confirmed in the belief that my diagnosis -was correct; which would have been more satisfactory if the -circumstances had been different. - -For the interest of the case was not merely academic. I was in a -position of great difficulty and responsibility and had to decide on a -course of action. What ought I to do? Should I maintain the professional -secrecy to which I was tacitly committed, or ought I to convey a hint to -the police? - -Suddenly, and with a singular feeling of relief, I bethought myself of -my old friend and fellow-student, John Thorndyke, now an eminent -authority on Medical Jurisprudence. I had been associated with him -temporarily in one case as his assistant, and had then been deeply -impressed by his versatile learning, his acuteness and his marvellous -resourcefulness. Thorndyke was a barrister in extensive practice, and so -would be able to tell me at once what was my duty from a legal point of -view; and, as he was also a doctor of medicine, he would understand the -exigencies of medical practice. If I could find time to call at the -Temple and lay the case before him, all my doubts and difficulties would -be resolved. - -Anxiously, I opened my visiting-list to see what kind of day's work was -in store for me on the morrow. It was not a heavy day, even allowing for -one or two extra calls in the morning, but yet I was doubtful whether it -would allow of my going so far from my district, until my eye caught, -near the foot of the page, the name of Burton. Now Mr. Burton lived in -one of the old houses on the east side of Bouverie Street, less than -five minutes' walk from Thorndyke's chambers in King's Bench Walk; and -he was, moreover, a "chronic" who could safely be left for the last. -When I had done with Mr. Burton I could look in on my friend with a very -good chance of catching him on his return from the hospital. I could -allow myself time for quite a long chat with him, and, by taking a -hansom, still get back in good time for the evening's work. - -This was a great comfort. At the prospect of sharing my responsibilities -with a friend on whose judgment I could so entirely rely, my -embarrassments seemed to drop from me in a moment. Having entered the -engagement in my visiting-list, I rose, in greatly improved spirits, and -knocked out my pipe just as the little clock banged out impatiently the -hour of midnight. - - - - -Chapter II - -Thorndyke Devises a Scheme - - -As I entered the Temple by the Tudor Street gate the aspect of the place -smote my senses with an air of agreeable familiarity. Here had I spent -many a delightful hour when working with Thorndyke at the remarkable -Hornby case, which the newspapers had called "The Case of the Red Thumb -Mark"; and here had I met the romance of my life, the story whereof is -told elsewhere. The place was thus endeared to me by pleasant -recollections of a happy past, and its associations suggested hopes of -happiness yet to come and in the not too far distant future. - -My brisk tattoo on the little brass knocker brought to the door no less -a person than Thorndyke himself; and the warmth of his greeting made me -at once proud and ashamed. For I had not only been an absentee; I had -been a very poor correspondent. - -"The prodigal has returned, Polton," he exclaimed, looking into the -room. "Here is Dr. Jervis." - -I followed him into the room and found Polton--his confidential servant, -laboratory assistant, artificer and general "familiar"--setting out the -tea-tray on a small table. The little man shook hands cordially with me, -and his face crinkled up into the sort of smile that one might expect to -see on a benevolent walnut. - -"We've often talked about you, sir," said he. "The doctor was wondering -only yesterday when you were coming back to us." - -As I was not "coming back to them" quite in the sense intended I felt a -little guilty, but reserved my confidences for Thorndyke's ear and -replied in polite generalities. Then Polton fetched the tea-pot from the -laboratory, made up the fire and departed, and Thorndyke and I subsided, -as of old, into our respective arm-chairs. - -"And whence do you spring from in this unexpected fashion?" my colleague -asked. "You look as if you had been making professional visits." - -"I have. The base of operations is in Lower Kennington Lane." - -"Ah! Then you are 'back once more on the old trail'?" - -"Yes," I answered, with a laugh, "'the old trail, the long trail, the -trail that is always new.'" - -"And leads nowhere," Thorndyke added grimly. - -I laughed again; not very heartily, for there was an uncomfortable -element of truth in my friend's remark, to which my own experience bore -only too complete testimony. The medical practitioner whose lack of -means forces him to subsist by taking temporary charge of other men's -practices is apt to find that the passing years bring him little but -grey hairs and a wealth of disagreeable experience. - -"You will have to drop it, Jervis; you will, indeed," Thorndyke resumed -after a pause. "This casual employment is preposterous for a man of your -class and professional attainments. Besides, are you not engaged to be -married and to a most charming girl?" - -"Yes, I know. I have been a fool. But I will really amend my ways. If -necessary, I will pocket my pride and let Juliet advance the money to -buy a practice." - -"That," said Thorndyke, "is a very proper resolution. Pride and reserve -between people who are going to be husband and wife, is an absurdity. -But why buy a practice? Have you forgotten my proposal?" - -"I should be an ungrateful brute if I had." - -"Very well. I repeat it now. Come to me as my junior, read for the Bar -and work with me, and, with your abilities, you will have a chance of -something like a career. I want you, Jervis," he added, earnestly. "I -must have a junior, with my increasing practice, and you are the junior -I want. We are old and tried friends; we have worked together; we like -and trust one another, and you are the best man for the job that I know. -Come; I am not going to take a refusal. This is an ultimatum." - -"And what is the alternative?" I asked with a smile at his eagerness. - -"There isn't any. You are going to say yes." - -"I believe I am," I answered, not without emotion; "and I am more -rejoiced at your offer and more grateful than I can tell you. But we -must leave the final arrangements for our next meeting--in a week or so, -I hope--for I have to be back in an hour, and I want to consult you on -a matter of some importance." - -"Very well," said Thorndyke; "we will leave the formal agreement for -consideration at our next meeting. What is it that you want my opinion -on?" - -"The fact is," I said, "I am in a rather awkward dilemma, and I want you -to tell me what you think I ought to do." - -Thorndyke paused in the act of refilling my cup and glanced at me with -unmistakable anxiety. - -"Nothing of an unpleasant nature, I hope," said he. - -"No, no; nothing of that kind," I answered with a smile as I interpreted -the euphemism; for "something unpleasant," in the case of a young and -reasonably presentable medical man is ordinarily the equivalent of -trouble with the female of his species. "It is nothing that concerns me -personally at all," I continued; "it is a question of professional -responsibility. But I had better give you an account of the affair in a -complete narrative, as I know that you like to have your data in a -regular and consecutive order." - -Thereupon I proceeded to relate the history of my visit to the -mysterious Mr. Graves, not omitting any single circumstance or detail -that I could recollect. - -Thorndyke listened from the very beginning of my story with the closest -attention. His face was the most impassive that I have ever seen; -ordinarily as inscrutable as a bronze mask; but to me, who knew him -intimately, there was a certain something--a change of colour, perhaps, -or an additional sparkle of the eye--that told me when his curious -passion for investigation was fully aroused. And now, as I told him of -that weird journey and the strange, secret house to which it had brought -me, I could see that it offered a problem after his very heart. During -the whole of my narration he sat as motionless as a statue, evidently -committing the whole story to memory, detail by detail; and even when I -had finished he remained for an appreciable time without moving or -speaking. - -At length he looked up at me. "This is a very extraordinary affair, -Jervis," he said. - -"Very," I agreed; "and the question that is agitating me is, what is to -be done?" - -"Yes," he said, meditatively, "that is the question; and an uncommonly -difficult question it is. It really involves the settlement of the -antecedent question: What is it that is happening at that house?" - -"What do you think is happening at that house?" I asked. - -"We must go slow, Jervis," he replied. "We must carefully separate the -legal tissues from the medical, and avoid confusing what we know with -what we suspect. Now, with reference to the medical aspects of the case. -The first question that confronts us is that of sleeping sickness, or -negro-lethargy as it is sometimes called; and here we are in a -difficulty. We have not enough knowledge. Neither of us, I take it, has -ever seen a case, and the extant descriptions are inadequate. From what -I know of the disease, its symptoms agree with those in your case in -respect of the alleged moroseness and in the gradually increasing -periods of lethargy alternating with periods of apparent recovery. On -the other hand, the disease is said to be confined to negroes; but that -probably means only that negroes alone have hitherto been exposed to the -conditions that produce it. A more important fact is that, as far as I -know, extreme contraction of the pupils is not a symptom of sleeping -sickness. To sum up, the probabilities are against sleeping sickness, -but with our insufficient knowledge, we cannot definitely exclude it." - -"You think that it may really be sleeping sickness?" - -"No; personally I do not entertain that theory for a moment. But I am -considering the evidence apart from our opinions on the subject. We have -to accept it as a conceivable hypothesis that it may be sleeping -sickness because we cannot positively prove that it is not. That is all. -But when we come to the hypothesis of morphine poisoning, the case is -different. The symptoms agree with those of morphine poisoning in every -respect. There is no exception or disagreement whatever. The common -sense of the matter is therefore that we adopt morphine poisoning as our -working diagnosis; which is what you seem to have done." - -"Yes. For purposes of treatment." - -"Exactly. For medical purposes you adopted the more probable view and -dismissed the less probable. That was the reasonable thing to do. But -for legal purposes you must entertain both possibilities; for the -hypothesis of poisoning involves serious legal issues, whereas the -hypothesis of disease involves no legal issues at all." - -"That doesn't sound very helpful," I remarked. - -"It indicates the necessity for caution," he retorted. - -"Yes, I see that. But what is your own opinion of the case?" - -"Well," he said, "let us consider the facts in order. Here is a man who, -we assume, is under the influence of a poisonous dose of morphine. The -question is, did he take that dose himself or was it administered to him -by some other person? If he took it himself, with what object did he -take it? The history that was given to you seems completely to exclude -the idea of suicide. But the patient's condition seems equally to -exclude the idea of morphinomania. Your opium-eater does not reduce -himself to a state of coma. He usually keeps well within the limits of -the tolerance that has been established. The conclusion that emerges is, -I think, that the drug was administered by some other person; and the -most likely person seems to be Mr. Weiss." - -"Isn't morphine a very unusual poison?" - -"Very; and most inconvenient except in a single, fatal dose, by reason -of the rapidity with which tolerance of the drug is established. But we -must not forget that slow morphine poisoning might be eminently -suitable in certain cases. The manner in which it enfeebles the will, -confuses the judgment and debilitates the body might make it very useful -to a poisoner whose aim was to get some instrument or document executed, -such as a will, deed or assignment. And death could be produced -afterwards by other means. You see the important bearing of this?" - -"You mean in respect of a death certificate?" - -"Yes. Suppose Mr. Weiss to have given a large dose of morphine. He then -sends for you and throws out a suggestion of sleeping sickness. If you -accept the suggestion he is pretty safe. He can repeat the process until -he kills his victim and then get a certificate from you which will cover -the murder. It was quite an ingenious scheme--which, by the way, is -characteristic of intricate crimes; your subtle criminal often plans his -crime like a genius, but he generally executes it like a fool--as this -man seems to have done, if we are not doing him an injustice." - -"How has he acted like a fool?" - -"In several respects. In the first place, he should have chosen his -doctor. A good, brisk, confident man who 'knows his own mind' is the -sort of person who would have suited him; a man who would have jumped at -a diagnosis and stuck to it; or else an ignorant weakling of alcoholic -tendencies. It was shockingly bad luck to run against a cautious -scientific practitioner like my learned friend. Then, of course, all -this secrecy was sheer tomfoolery, exactly calculated to put a careful -man on his guard; as it has actually done. If Mr. Weiss is really a -criminal, he has mismanaged his affairs badly." - -"And you apparently think that he is a criminal?" - -"I suspect him deeply. But I should like to ask you one or two questions -about him. You say he spoke with a German accent. What command of -English had he? Was his vocabulary good? Did he use any German idioms?" - -"No. I should say that his English was perfect, and I noticed that his -phrases were quite well chosen even for an Englishman." - -"Did he seem to you 'made up' in any way; disguised, I mean?" - -"I couldn't say. The light was so very feeble." - -"You couldn't see the colour of his eyes, for instance?" - -"No. I think they were grey, but I couldn't be sure." - -"And as to the coachman. He wore a wig, you said. Could you see the -colour of his eyes? Or any peculiarity by which you could recognize -him?" - -"He had a malformed thumb-nail on his right hand. That is all I can say -about him." - -"He didn't strike you as resembling Weiss in any way; in voice or -features?" - -"Not at all; and he spoke, as I told you, with a distinct Scotch -accent." - -"The reason I ask is that if Weiss is attempting to poison this man, the -coachman is almost certain to be a confederate and might be a relative. -You had better examine him closely if you get another chance." - -"I will. And that brings me back to the question, What am I to do? Ought -I to report the case to the police?" - -"I am inclined to think not. You have hardly enough facts. Of course, if -Mr. Weiss has administered poison 'unlawfully and maliciously' he has -committed a felony, and is liable under the Consolidation Acts of 1861 -to ten years' penal servitude. But I do not see how you could swear an -information. You don't know that he administered the poison--if poison -has really been administered--and you cannot give any reliable name or -any address whatever. Then there is the question of sleeping sickness. -You reject it for medical purposes, but you could not swear, in a court -of law, that this is not a case of sleeping sickness." - -"No," I admitted, "I could not." - -"Then I think the police would decline to move in the matter, and you -might find that you had raised a scandal in Dr. Stillbury's practice to -no purpose." - -"So you think I had better do nothing in the matter?" - -"For the present. It is, of course, a medical man's duty to assist -justice in any way that is possible. But a doctor is not a detective; he -should not go out of his way to assume police functions. He should keep -his eyes and ears open, and, though, in general, he should keep his own -counsel, it is his duty to note very carefully anything that seems to -him likely to bear on any important legal issues. It is not his -business officiously to initiate criminal inquiries, but it is -emphatically his business to be ready, if called upon, to assist justice -with information that his special knowledge and opportunities have -rendered accessible to him. You see the bearing of this?" - -"You mean that I should note down what I have seen and heard and say -nothing about it until I am asked." - -"Yes; if nothing further happens. But if you should be sent for again, I -think it is your duty to make further observations with a view, if -necessary, to informing the police. It may be, for instance, of vital -importance to identify the house, and it is your duty to secure the -means of doing so." - -"But, my dear Thorndyke," I expostulated, "I have told you how I was -conveyed to the house. Now, will you kindly explain to me how a man, -boxed up in a pitch-dark carriage, is going to identify any place to -which he may be carried?" - -"The problem doesn't appear to me to present any serious difficulties," -he replied. - -"Doesn't it?" said I. "To me it looks like a pretty solid impossibility. -But what do you suggest? Should I break out of the house and run away up -the street? Or should I bore a hole through the shutter of the carriage -and peep out?" - -Thorndyke smiled indulgently. "The methods proposed by my learned friend -display a certain crudity inappropriate to the character of a man of -science; to say nothing of the disadvantage of letting the enemy into -our counsels. No, no, Jervis; we can do something better than that. -Just excuse me for a minute while I run up to the laboratory." - -He hurried away to Polton's sanctum on the upper floor, leaving me to -speculate on the method by which he proposed that a man should be -enabled, as Sam Weller would express it, "to see through a flight of -stairs and a deal door"; or, what was equally opaque, the wooden -shutters of a closed carriage. - -"Now," he said, when he returned a couple of minutes later with a small, -paper-covered notebook in his hand, "I have set Polton to work on a -little appliance that will, I think, solve our difficulty, and I will -show you how I propose that you should make your observations. First of -all, we have to rule the pages of this book into columns." - -He sat down at the table and began methodically to rule the pages each -into three columns, two quite narrow and one broad. The process occupied -some time, during which I sat and watched with impatient curiosity the -unhurried, precise movements of Thorndyke's pencil, all agog to hear the -promised explanation. He was just finishing the last page when there -came a gentle tap at the door, and Polton entered with a satisfied smile -on his dry, shrewd-looking face and a small board in his hand. - -"Will this do, sir?" he asked. - -As he spoke he handed the little board to Thorndyke, who looked at it -and passed it to me. - -"The very thing, Polton," my friend replied. "Where did you find it? -It's of no use for you to pretend that you've made it in about two -minutes and a half." - -Polton smiled one of his queer crinkly smiles, and remarking that "it -didn't take much making," departed much gratified by the compliment. - -"What a wonderful old fellow that is, Jervis," Thorndyke observed as his -factotum retired. "He took in the idea instantly and seems to have -produced the finished article by magic, as the conjurers bring forth -rabbits and bowls of goldfish at a moment's notice. I suppose you see -what your <i>modus operandi</i> is to be?" - -I had gathered a clue from the little appliance--a plate of white -fret-wood about seven inches by five, to one corner of which a -pocket-compass had been fixed with shellac--but was not quite clear as -to the details of the method. - -"You can read a compass pretty quickly, I think?" Thorndyke said. - -"Of course I can. Used we not to sail a yacht together when we were -students?" - -"To be sure we did; and we will again before we die. And now as to your -method of locating this house. Here is a pocket reading-lamp which you -can hook on the carriage lining. This notebook can be fixed to the board -with an india-rubber band--thus. You observe that the thoughtful Polton -has stuck a piece of thread on the glass of the compass to serve as a -lubber's line. This is how you will proceed. As soon as you are locked -in the carriage, light your lamp--better have a book with you in case -the light is noticed--take out your watch and put the board on your -knee, keeping its long side exactly in a line with the axis of the -carriage. Then enter in one narrow column of your notebook the time, in -the other the direction shown by the compass, and in the broad column -any particulars, including the number of steps the horse makes in a -minute. Like this." - -He took a loose sheet of paper and made one or two sample entries on it -in pencil, thus-- - - "9.40. S.E. Start from home. - 9.41 S.W. Granite setts. - 9.43. S.W. Wood pavement. Hoofs 104. - 9.47. W. by S Granite crossing. Macadam-- - -and so on. Note every change of direction, with the time; and whenever -you hear or feel anything from outside, note it, with the time and -direction; and don't forget to note any variations in the horse's pace. -You follow the process?" - -"Perfectly. But do you think the method is accurate enough to fix the -position of a house? Remember, this is only a pocket-compass with no -dial, and it will jump frightfully. And the mode of estimating distance -is very rough." - -"That is all perfectly true," Thorndyke answered. "But you are -overlooking certain important facts. The track-chart that you will -produce can be checked by other data. The house, for instance, has a -covered way by which you could identify it if you knew approximately -where to look for it. Then you must remember that your carriage is not -travelling over a featureless plain. It is passing through streets which -have a determined position and direction and which are accurately -represented on the ordnance map. I think, Jervis, that, in spite of the -apparent roughness of the method, if you make your observations -carefully, we shall have no trouble in narrowing down the inquiry to a -quite small area. If we get the chance, that is to say." - -"Yes, if we do. I am doubtful whether Mr. Weiss will require my services -again, but I sincerely hope he will. It would be rare sport to locate -his secret burrow, all unsuspected. But now I must really be off." - -"Good-bye, then," said Thorndyke, slipping a well-sharpened pencil -through the rubber band that fixed the notebook to the board. "Let me -know how the adventure progresses--if it progresses at all--and -remember, I hold your promise to come and see me again quite soon in any -case." - -He handed me the board and the lamp, and, when I had slipped them into -my pocket, we shook hands and I hurried away, a little uneasy at having -left my charge so long. - - - - -Chapter III - -"A Chiel's Amang Ye Takin' Notes" - - -The attitude of the suspicious man tends to generate in others the kind -of conduct that seems to justify his suspicions. In most of us there -lurks a certain strain of mischief which trustfulness disarms but -distrust encourages. The inexperienced kitten which approaches us -confidingly with arched back and upright tail, soliciting caresses, -generally receives the gentle treatment that it expects; whereas the -worldly-wise tom-cat, who, in response to friendly advances, scampers -away and grins at us suspiciously from the fancied security of an -adjacent wall, impels us to accelerate his retreat with a well-directed -clod. - -Now the proceedings of Mr. H. Weiss resembled those of the tom-cat -aforesaid and invited an analogous reply. To a responsible professional -man his extraordinary precautions were at once an affront and a -challenge. Apart from graver considerations, I found myself dwelling -with unholy pleasure on the prospect of locating the secret hiding-place -from which he seemed to grin at me with such complacent defiance; and I -lost no time and spared no trouble in preparing myself for the -adventure. The very hansom which bore me from the Temple to Kennington -Lane was utilized for a preliminary test of Thorndyke's little -apparatus. During the whole of that brief journey I watched the compass -closely, noted the feel and sound of the road-material and timed the -trotting of the horse. And the result was quite encouraging. It is true -that the compass-needle oscillated wildly to the vibration of the cab, -but still its oscillations took place around a definite point which was -the average direction, and it was evident to me that the data it -furnished were very fairly reliable. I felt very little doubt, after the -preliminary trial, as to my being able to produce a moderately -intelligible track-chart if only I should get an opportunity to exercise -my skill. - -But it looked as if I should not. Mr. Weiss's promise to send for me -again soon was not fulfilled. Three days passed and still he made no -sign. I began to fear that I had been too outspoken; that the shuttered -carriage had gone forth to seek some more confiding and easy-going -practitioner, and that our elaborate preparations had been made in vain. -When the fourth day drew towards a close and still no summons had come, -I was disposed reluctantly to write the case off as a lost opportunity. - -And at that moment, in the midst of my regrets, the bottle-boy thrust an -uncomely head in at the door. His voice was coarse, his accent was -hideous, and his grammatical construction beneath contempt; but I -forgave him all when I gathered the import of his message. - -"Mr. Weiss's carriage is waiting, and he says will you come as quickly -as you can because he's took very bad to-night." - -I sprang from my chair and hastily collected the necessaries for the -journey. The little board and the lamp I put in my overcoat pocket; I -overhauled the emergency bag and added to its usual contents a bottle of -permanganate of potassium which I thought I might require. Then I tucked -the evening paper under my arm and went out. - -The coachman, who was standing at the horse's head as I emerged, touched -his hat and came forward to open the door. - -"I have fortified myself for the long drive, you see," I remarked, -exhibiting the newspaper as I stepped into the carriage. - -"But you can't read in the dark," said he. - -"No, but I have provided myself with a lamp," I replied, producing it -and striking a match. - -He watched me as I lit the lamp and hooked it on the back cushion, and -observed: - -"I suppose you found it rather a dull ride last time. It's a longish -way. They might have fitted the carriage with an inside lamp. But we -shall have to make it a quicker passage to-night. Governor says Mr. -Graves is uncommon bad." - -With this he slammed the door and locked it. I drew the board from my -pocket, laid it on my knee, glanced at my watch, and, as the coachman -climbed to his seat, I made the first entry in the little book. - -"8.58. W. by S. Start from home. Horse 13 hands." - -The first move of the carriage on starting was to turn round as if -heading for Newington Butts, and the second entry accordingly read: - -"8.58.30. E. by N." - -But this direction was not maintained long. Very soon we turned south -and then west and then south again. I sat with my eyes riveted on the -compass, following with some difficulty its rapid changes. The needle -swung to and fro incessantly but always within a definite arc, the -centre of which was the true direction. But this direction varied from -minute to minute in the most astonishing manner. West, south, east, -north, the carriage turned, "boxing" the compass until I lost all count -of direction. It was an amazing performance. Considering that the man -was driving against time on a mission of life and death urgency, his -carelessness as to direction was astounding. The tortuousness of the -route must have made the journey twice as long as it need have been -with a little more careful selection. At least so it appeared to me, -though, naturally, I was not in a position to offer an authoritative -criticism. - -As far as I could judge, we followed the same route as before. Once I -heard a tug's whistle and knew that we were near the river, and we -passed the railway station, apparently at the same time as on the -previous occasion, for I heard a passenger train start and assumed that -it was the same train. We crossed quite a number of thoroughfares with -tram-lines--I had no idea there were so many--and it was a revelation to -me to find how numerous the railway arches were in this part of London -and how continually the nature of the road-metal varied. - -It was by no means a dull journey this time. The incessant changes of -direction and variations in the character of the road kept me most -uncommonly busy; for I had hardly time to scribble down one entry before -the compass-needle would swing round sharply, showing that we had once -more turned a corner; and I was quite taken by surprise when the -carriage slowed down and turned into the covered way. Very hastily I -scribbled down the final entry ("9.24. S.E. In covered way"), and having -closed the book and slipped it and the board into my pocket, had just -opened out the newspaper when the carriage door was unlocked and opened, -whereupon I unhooked and blew out the lamp and pocketed that too, -reflecting that it might be useful later. - -As on the last occasion, Mrs. Schallibaum stood in the open doorway with -a lighted candle. But she was a good deal less self-possessed this time. -In fact she looked rather wild and terrified. Even by the candle-light -I could see that she was very pale and she seemed unable to keep still. -As she gave me the few necessary words of explanation, she fidgeted -incessantly and her hands and feet were in constant movement. - -"You had better come up with me at once," she said. "Mr. Graves is much -worse to-night. We will wait not for Mr. Weiss." - -Without waiting for a reply she quickly ascended the stairs and I -followed. The room was in much the same condition as before. But the -patient was not. As soon as I entered the room, a soft, rhythmical -gurgle from the bed gave me a very clear warning of danger. I stepped -forward quickly and looked down at the prostrate figure, and the warning -gathered emphasis. The sick man's ghastly face was yet more ghastly; his -eyes were more sunken, his skin more livid; "his nose was as sharp as a -pen," and if he did not "babble of green fields" it was because he -seemed to be beyond even that. If it had been a case of disease, I -should have said at once that he was dying. He had all the appearance of -a man <i>in articulo mortis</i>. Even as it was, feeling convinced that the -case was one of morphine poisoning, I was far from confident that I -should be able to draw him back from the extreme edge of vitality on -which he trembled so insecurely. - -"He is very ill? He is dying?" - -It was Mrs. Schallibaum's voice; very low, but eager and intense. I -turned, with my finger on the patient's wrist, and looked into the face -of the most thoroughly scared woman I have ever seen. She made no -attempt now to avoid the light, but looked me squarely in the face, and -I noticed, half-unconsciously, that her eyes were brown and had a -curious strained expression. - -"Yes," I answered, "he is very ill. He is in great danger." - -She still stared at me fixedly for some seconds. And then a very odd -thing occurred. Suddenly she squinted--squinted horribly; not with the -familiar convergent squint which burlesque artists imitate, but with -external or divergent squint of extreme near sight or unequal vision. -The effect was quite startling. One moment both her eyes were looking -straight into mine; the next, one of them rolled round until it looked -out of the uttermost corner, leaving the other gazing steadily forward. - -She was evidently conscious of the change, for she turned her head away -quickly and reddened somewhat. But it was no time for thoughts of -personal appearance. - -"You can save him, doctor! You will not let him die! He must not be -allowed to die!" - -She spoke with as much passion as if he had been the dearest friend that -she had in the world, which I suspected was far from being the case. But -her manifest terror had its uses. - -"If anything is to be done to save him," I said, "it must be done -quickly. I will give him some medicine at once, and meanwhile you must -make some strong coffee." - -"Coffee!" she exclaimed. "But we have none in the house. Will not tea -do, if I make it very strong?" - -"No, it will not. I must have coffee; and I must have it quickly." - -"Then I suppose I must go and get some. But it is late. The shops will -be shut. And I don't like leaving Mr. Graves." - -"Can't you send the coachman?" I asked. - -She shook her head impatiently. "No, that is no use. I must wait until -Mr. Weiss comes." - -"That won't do," I said, sharply. "He will slip through our fingers -while you are waiting. You must go and get that coffee at once and bring -it to me as soon as it is ready. And I want a tumbler and some water." - -She brought me a water-bottle and glass from the wash-stand and then, -with a groan of despair, hurried from the room. - -I lost no time in applying the remedies that I had to hand. Shaking out -into the tumbler a few crystals of potassium permanganate, I filled it -up with water and approached the patient. His stupor was profound. I -shook him as roughly as was safe in his depressed condition, but -elicited no resistance or responsive movement. As it seemed very -doubtful whether he was capable of swallowing, I dared not take the risk -of pouring the liquid into his mouth for fear of suffocating him. A -stomach-tube would have solved the difficulty, but, of course, I had not -one with me. I had, however, a mouth-speculum which also acted as a gag, -and, having propped the patient's mouth open with this, I hastily -slipped off one of the rubber tubes from my stethoscope and inserted -into one end of it a vulcanite ear-speculum to serve as a funnel. Then, -introducing the other end of the tube into the gullet as far as its -length would permit, I cautiously poured a small quantity of the -permanganate solution into the extemporized funnel. To my great relief a -movement of the throat showed that the swallowing reflex still existed, -and, thus encouraged, I poured down the tube as much of the fluid as I -thought it wise to administer at one time. - -The dose of permanganate that I had given was enough to neutralize any -reasonable quantity of the poison that might yet remain in the stomach. -I had next to deal with that portion of the drug which had already been -absorbed and was exercising its poisonous effects. Taking my hypodermic -case from my bag, I prepared in the syringe a full dose of atropine -sulphate, which I injected forthwith into the unconscious man's arm. And -that was all that I could do, so far as remedies were concerned, until -the coffee arrived. - -I cleaned and put away the syringe, washed the tube, and then, returning -to the bedside, endeavoured to rouse the patient from his profound -lethargy. But great care was necessary. A little injudicious roughness -of handling, and that thready, flickering pulse might stop for ever; and -yet it was almost certain that if he were not speedily aroused, his -stupor would gradually deepen until it shaded off imperceptibly into -death. I went to work very cautiously, moving his limbs about, flicking -his face and chest with the corner of a wet towel, tickling the soles -of his feet, and otherwise applying stimuli that were strong without -being violent. - -So occupied was I with my efforts to resuscitate my mysterious patient -that I did not notice the opening of the door, and it was with something -of a start that, happening to glance round, I perceived at the farther -end of the room the shadowy figure of a man relieved by two spots of -light reflected from his spectacles. How long he had been watching me I -cannot say, but, when he saw that I had observed him, he came -forward--though not very far--and I saw that he was Mr. Weiss. - -"I am afraid," he said, "that you do not find my friend so well -to-night?" - -"So well!" I exclaimed. "I don't find him well at all. I am exceedingly -anxious about him." - -"You don't--er--anticipate anything of a--er--anything serious, I hope?" - -"There is no need to anticipate," said I. "It is already about as -serious as it can be. I think he might die at any moment." - -"Good God!" he gasped. "You horrify me!" - -He was not exaggerating. In his agitation, he stepped forward into the -lighter part of the room, and I could see that his face was pale to -ghastliness--except his nose and the adjacent red patches on his cheeks, -which stood out in grotesquely hideous contrast. Presently, however, he -recovered a little and said: - -"I really think--at least I hope--that you take an unnecessarily serious -view of his condition. He has been like this before, you know." - -I felt pretty certain that he had not, but there was no use in -discussing the question. I therefore replied, as I continued my efforts -to rouse the patient: - -"That may or may not be. But in any case there comes a last time; and it -may have come now." - -"I hope not," he said; "although I understand that these cases always -end fatally sooner or later." - -"What cases?" I asked. - -"I was referring to sleeping sickness; but perhaps you have formed some -other opinion as to the nature of this dreadful complaint." - -I hesitated for a moment, and he continued: "As to your suggestion that -his symptoms might be due to drugs, I think we may consider that as -disposed of. He has been watched, practically without cessation since -you came last, and, moreover, I have myself turned out the room and -examined the bed and have not found a trace of any drug. Have you gone -into the question of sleeping sickness?" - -I looked at the man narrowly before answering, and distrusted him more -than ever. But this was no time for reticence. My concern was with the -patient and his present needs. After all, I was, as Thorndyke had said, -a doctor, not a detective, and the circumstances called for -straightforward speech and action on my part. - -"I have considered that question," I said, "and have come to a perfectly -definite conclusion. His symptoms are not those of sleeping sickness. -They are in my opinion undoubtedly due to morphine poisoning." - -"But my dear sir!" he exclaimed, "the thing is impossible! Haven't I -just told you that he has been watched continuously?" - -"I can only judge by the appearances that I find," I answered; and, -seeing that he was about to offer fresh objections, I continued: "Don't -let us waste precious time in discussion, or Mr. Graves may be dead -before we have reached a conclusion. If you will hurry them up about the -coffee that I asked for some time ago, I will take the other necessary -measures, and perhaps we may manage to pull him round." - -The rather brutal decision of my manner evidently daunted him. It must -have been plain to him that I was not prepared to accept any explanation -of the unconscious man's condition other than that of morphine -poisoning; whence the inference was pretty plain that the alternatives -were recovery or an inquest. Replying stiffly that I "must do as I -thought best," he hurried from the room, leaving me to continue my -efforts without further interruption. - -For some time these efforts seemed to make no impression. The man lay as -still and impassive as a corpse excepting for the slow, shallow and -rather irregular breathing with its ominous accompanying rattle. But -presently, by imperceptible degrees, signs of returning life began to -make their appearance. A sharp slap on the cheek with the wet towel -produced a sensible flicker of the eyelids; a similar slap on the chest -was followed by a slight gasp. A pencil, drawn over the sole of the -foot, occasioned a visible shrinking movement, and, on looking once -more at the eyes, I detected a slight change that told me that the -atropine was beginning to take effect. - -This was very encouraging, and, so far, quite satisfactory, though it -would have been premature to rejoice. I kept the patient carefully -covered and maintained the process of gentle irritation, moving his -limbs and shoulders, brushing his hair and generally bombarding his -deadened senses with small but repeated stimuli. And under this -treatment, the improvement continued so far that on my bawling a -question into his ear he actually opened his eyes for an instant, though -in another moment, the lids had sunk back into their former position. - -Soon after this, Mr. Weiss re-entered the room, followed by Mrs. -Schallibaum, who carried a small tray, on which were a jug of coffee, a -jug of milk, a cup and saucer and a sugar basin. - -"How do you find him now?" Mr. Weiss asked anxiously. - -"I am glad to say that there is a distinct improvement," I replied. "But -we must persevere. He is by no means out of the wood yet." - -I examined the coffee, which looked black and strong and had a very -reassuring smell, and, pouring out half a cupful, approached the bed. - -"Now, Mr. Graves," I shouted, "we want you to drink some of this." - -The flaccid eyelids lifted for an instant but there was no other -response. I gently opened the unresisting mouth and ladled in a couple -of spoonfuls of coffee, which were immediately swallowed; whereupon I -repeated the proceeding and continued at short intervals until the cup -was empty. The effect of the new remedy soon became apparent. He began -to mumble and mutter obscurely in response to the questions that I -bellowed at him, and once or twice he opened his eyes and looked -dreamily into my face. Then I sat him up and made him drink some coffee -from the cup, and, all the time, kept up a running fire of questions, -which made up in volume of sound for what they lacked of relevancy. - -Of these proceedings Mr. Weiss and his housekeeper were highly -interested spectators, and the former, contrary to his usual practice, -came quite close up to the bed, to get a better view. - -"It is really a most remarkable thing," he said, "but it almost looks as -if you were right, after all. He is certainly much better. But tell me, -would this treatment produce a similar improvement if the symptoms were -due to disease?" - -"No," I answered, "it certainly would not." - -"Then that seems to settle it. But it is a most mysterious affair. Can -you suggest any way in which he can have concealed a store of the drug?" - -I stood up and looked him straight in the face; it was the first chance -I had had of inspecting him by any but the feeblest light, and I looked -at him very attentively. Now, it is a curious fact--though one that most -persons must have observed--that there sometimes occurs a considerable -interval between the reception of a visual impression and its complete -transfer to the consciousness. A thing may be seen, as it were, -unconsciously, and the impression consigned, apparently, to instant -oblivion; and yet the picture may be subsequently revived by memory with -such completeness that its details can be studied as though the object -were still actually visible. - -Something of this kind must have happened to me now. Preoccupied as I -was, by the condition of the patient, the professional habit of rapid -and close observation caused me to direct a searching glance at the man -before me. It was only a brief glance--for Mr. Weiss, perhaps -embarrassed by my keen regard of him, almost immediately withdrew into -the shadow--and my attention seemed principally to be occupied by the -odd contrast between the pallor of his face and the redness of his nose -and by the peculiar stiff, bristly character of his eyebrows. But there -was another fact, and a very curious one, that was observed by me -subconsciously and instantly forgotten, to be revived later when I -reflected on the events of the night. It was this: - -As Mr. Weiss stood, with his head slightly turned, I was able to look -through one glass of his spectacles at the wall beyond. On the wall was -a framed print; and the edge of the frame, seen through the -spectacle-glass, appeared quite unaltered and free from distortion, -magnification or reduction, as if seen through plain window-glass; and -yet the reflections of the candle-flame in the spectacles showed the -flame upside down, proving conclusively that the glasses were concave on -one surface at least. The strange phenomenon was visible only for a -moment or two, and as it passed out of my sight it passed also out of my -mind. - -"No," I said, replying to the last question; "I can think of no way in -which he could have effectually hidden a store of morphine. Judging by -the symptoms, he has taken a large dose, and, if he has been in the -habit of consuming large quantities, his stock would be pretty bulky. I -can offer no suggestion whatever." - -"I suppose you consider him quite out of danger now?" - -"Oh, not at all. I think we can pull him round if we persevere, but he -must not be allowed to sink back into a state of coma. We must keep him -on the move until the effects of the drug have really passed off. If you -will put him into his dressing-gown we will walk him up and down the -room for a while." - -"But is that safe?" Mr. Weiss asked anxiously. - -"Quite safe," I answered. "I will watch his pulse carefully. The danger -is in the possibility, or rather certainty, of a relapse if he is not -kept moving." - -With obvious unwillingness and disapproval, Mr. Weiss produced a -dressing-gown and together we invested the patient in it. Then we -dragged him, very limp, but not entirely unresisting, out of bed and -stood him on his feet. He opened his eyes and blinked owlishly first at -one and then at the other of us, and mumbled a few unintelligible words -of protest; regardless of which, we thrust his feet into slippers and -endeavoured to make him walk. At first he seemed unable to stand, and we -had to support him by his arms as we urged him forward; but presently -his trailing legs began to make definite walking movements, and, after -one or two turns up and down the room, he was not only able partly to -support his weight, but showed evidence of reviving consciousness in -more energetic protests. - -At this point Mr. Weiss astonished me by transferring the arm that he -held to the housekeeper. - -"If you will excuse me, doctor," said he, "I will go now and attend to -some rather important business that I have had to leave unfinished. Mrs. -Schallibaum will be able to give you all the assistance that you -require, and will order the carriage when you think it safe to leave the -patient. In case I should not see you again I will say 'good night.' I -hope you won't think me very unceremonious." - -He shook hands with me and went out of the room, leaving me, as I have -said, profoundly astonished that he should consider any business of more -moment than the condition of his friend, whose life, even now, was but -hanging by a thread. However, it was really no concern of mine. I could -do without him, and the resuscitation of this unfortunate half-dead man -gave me occupation enough to engross my whole attention. - -The melancholy progress up and down the room re-commenced, and with it -the mumbled protests from the patient. As we walked, and especially as -we turned, I caught frequent glimpses of the housekeeper's face. But it -was nearly always in profile. She appeared to avoid looking me in the -face, though she did so once or twice; and on each of these occasions -her eyes were directed at me in a normal manner without any sign of a -squint. Nevertheless, I had the impression that when her face was turned -away from me she squinted. The "swivel eye"--the left--was towards me as -she held the patient's right arm, and it was almost continuously turned -in my direction, whereas I felt convinced that she was really looking -straight before her, though, of course, her right eye was invisible to -me. It struck me, even at the time, as an odd affair, but I was too much -concerned about my charge to give it much consideration. - -Meanwhile the patient continued to revive apace. And the more he -revived, the more energetically did he protest against this wearisome -perambulation. But he was evidently a polite gentleman, for, muddled as -his faculties were, he managed to clothe his objections in courteous and -even gracious forms of speech singularly out of agreement with the -character that Mr. Weiss had given him. - -"I thangyou," he mumbled thickly. "Ver' good take s'much trouble. Think -I will lie down now." He looked wistfully at the bed, but I wheeled him -about and marched him once more down the room. He submitted -unresistingly, but as we again approached the bed he reopened the -matter. - -"S'quite s'fficient, thang you. Gebback to bed now. Much 'bliged frall -your kindness"--here I turned him round--"no, really; m'feeling rather -tired. Sh'like to lie down now, f'you'd be s'good." - -"You must walk about a little longer, Mr. Graves," I said. "It would be -very bad for you to go to sleep again." - -He looked at me with a curious, dull surprise, and reflected awhile as -if in some perplexity. Then he looked at me again and said: - -"Thing, sir, you are mistake--mistaken me--mist--" - -Here Mrs. Schallibaum interrupted sharply: - -"The doctor thinks it's good for you to walk about. You've been sleeping -too much. He doesn't want you to sleep any more just now." - -"Don't wanter sleep; wanter lie down," said the patient. - -"But you mustn't lie down for a little while. You must walk about for a -few minutes more. And you'd better not talk. Just walk up and down." - -"There's no harm in his talking," said I; "in fact it's good for him. It -will help to keep him awake." - -"I should think it would tire him," said Mrs. Schallibaum; "and it -worries me to hear him asking to lie down when we can't let him." - -She spoke sharply and in an unnecessarily high tone so that the patient -could not fail to hear. Apparently he took in the very broad hint -contained in the concluding sentence, for he trudged wearily and -unsteadily up and down the room for some time without speaking, though -he continued to look at me from time to time as if something in my -appearance puzzled him exceedingly. At length his intolerable longing -for repose overcame his politeness and he returned to the attack. - -"Surely v' walked enough now. Feeling very tired. Am really. Would you -be s'kind 's t'let me lie down few minutes?" - -"Don't you think he might lie down for a little while?" Mrs. Schallibaum -asked. - -I felt his pulse, and decided that he was really becoming fatigued, and -that it would be wiser not to overdo the exercise while he was so weak. -Accordingly, I consented to his returning to bed, and turned him round -in that direction; whereupon he tottered gleefully towards his -resting-place like a tired horse heading for its stable. - -As soon as he was tucked in, I gave him a full cup of coffee, which he -drank with some avidity as if thirsty. Then I sat down by the bedside, -and, with a view to keeping him awake, began once more to ply him with -questions. - -"Does your head ache, Mr. Graves?" I asked. - -"The doctor says 'does your head ache?'" Mrs. Schallibaum squalled, so -loudly that the patient started perceptibly. - -"I heard him, m'dear girl," he answered with a faint smile. "Not deaf -you know. Yes. Head aches a good deal. But I thing this gennleman -mistakes--" - -"He says you are to keep awake. You mustn't go to sleep again, and you -are not to close your eyes." - -"All ri' Pol'n. Keep'm open," and he proceeded forthwith to shut them -with an air of infinite peacefulness. I grasped his hand and shook it -gently, on which he opened his eyes and looked at me sleepily. The -housekeeper stroked his head, keeping her face half-turned from me--as -she had done almost constantly, to conceal the squinting eye, as I -assumed--and said: - -"Need we keep you any longer, doctor? It is getting very late and you -have a long way to go." - -I looked doubtfully at the patient. I was loath to leave him, -distrusting these people as I did. But I had my work to do on the -morrow, with, perhaps, a night call or two in the interval, and the -endurance even of a general practitioner has its limits. - -"I think I heard the carriage some time ago," Mrs. Schallibaum added. - -I rose hesitatingly and looked at my watch. It had turned half-past -eleven. - -"You understand," I said in a low voice, "that the danger is not over? -If he is left now he will fall asleep, and in all human probability will -never wake. You clearly understand that?" - -"Yes, quite clearly. I promise you he shall not be allowed to fall -asleep again." - -As she spoke, she looked me full in the face for a few moments, and I -noted that her eyes had a perfectly normal appearance, without any trace -whatever of a squint. - -"Very well," I said. "On that understanding I will go now; and I shall -hope to find our friend quite recovered at my next visit." - -I turned to the patient, who was already dozing, and shook his hand -heartily. - -"Good-bye, Mr. Graves!" I said. "I am sorry to have to disturb your -repose so much; but you must keep awake, you know. Won't do to go to -sleep." - -"Ver' well," he replied drowsily. "Sorry t' give you all this trouble. -L' keep awake. But I think you're mistak'n--" - -"He says it's very important that you shouldn't go to sleep, and that I -am to see that you don't. Do you understand?" - -"Yes, I un'stan'. But why does this gennlem'n--?" - -"Now it's of no use for you to ask a lot of questions," Mrs. Schallibaum -said playfully; "we'll talk to you to-morrow. Good night, doctor. I'll -light you down the stairs, but I won't come down with you, or the -patient will be falling asleep again." - -Taking this definite dismissal, I retired, followed by a dreamily -surprised glance from the sick man. The housekeeper held the candle over -the balusters until I reached the bottom of the stairs, when I perceived -through the open door along the passage a glimmer of light from the -carriage lamps. The coachman was standing just outside, faintly -illuminated by the very dim lamplight, and as I stepped into the -carriage he remarked in his Scotch dialect that I "seemed to have been -makin' a nicht of it." He did not wait for any reply--none being in fact -needed--but shut the door and locked it. - -I lit my little pocket-lamp and hung it on the back cushion. I even drew -the board and notebook from my pocket. But it seemed rather unnecessary -to take a fresh set of notes, and, to tell the truth, I rather shirked -the labour, tired as I was after my late exertions; besides, I wanted -to think over the events of the evening, while they were fresh in my -memory. Accordingly I put away the notebook, filled and lighted my pipe, -and settled myself to review the incidents attending my second visit to -this rather uncanny house. - -Considered in leisurely retrospect, that visit offered quite a number of -problems that called for elucidation. There was the patient's condition, -for instance. Any doubt as to the cause of his symptoms was set at rest -by the effect of the antidotes. Mr. Graves was certainly under the -influence of morphine, and the only doubtful question was how he had -become so. That he had taken the poison himself was incredible. No -morphinomaniac would take such a knock-down dose. It was practically -certain that the poison had been administered by someone else, and, on -Mr. Weiss's own showing, there was no one but himself and the -housekeeper who could have administered it. And to this conclusion all -the other very queer circumstances pointed. - -What were these circumstances? They were, as I have said, numerous, -though many of them seemed trivial. To begin with, Mr. Weiss's habit of -appearing some time after my arrival and disappearing some time before -my departure was decidedly odd. But still more odd was his sudden -departure this evening on what looked like a mere pretext. That -departure coincided in time with the sick man's recovery of the power of -speech. Could it be that Mr. Weiss was afraid that the half-conscious -man might say something compromising to him in my presence? It looked -rather like it. And yet he had gone away and left me with the patient -and the housekeeper. - -But when I came to think about it I remembered that Mrs. Schallibaum had -shown some anxiety to prevent the patient from talking. She had -interrupted him more than once, and had on two occasions broken in when -he seemed to be about to ask me some question. I was "mistaken" about -something. What was that something that he wanted to tell me? - -It had struck me as singular that there should be no coffee in the -house, but a sufficiency of tea. Germans are not usually tea-drinkers -and they do take coffee. But perhaps there was nothing in this. Rather -more remarkable was the invisibility of the coachman. Why could he not -be sent to fetch the coffee, and why did not he, rather than the -housekeeper, come to take the place of Mr. Weiss when the latter had to -go away. - -There were other points, too. I recalled the word that sounded like -"Pol'n," which Mr. Graves had used in speaking to the housekeeper. -Apparently it was a Christian name of some kind; but why did Mr. Graves -call the woman by her Christian name when Mr. Weiss addressed her -formally as Mrs. Schallibaum? And, as to the woman herself: what was the -meaning of that curious disappearing squint? Physically it presented no -mystery. The woman had an ordinary divergent squint, and, like many -people, who suffer from this displacement, could, by a strong muscular -effort, bring the eyes temporarily into their normal parallel position. -I had detected the displacement when she had tried to maintain the -effort too long, and the muscular control had given way. But why had she -done it? Was it only feminine vanity--mere sensitiveness respecting a -slight personal disfigurement? It might be so; or there might be some -further motive. It was impossible to say. - -Turning this question over, I suddenly remembered the peculiarity of Mr. -Weiss's spectacles. And here I met with a real poser. I had certainly -seen through those spectacles as clearly as if they had been plain -window-glass; and they had certainly given an inverted reflection of the -candle-flame like that thrown from the surface of a concave lens. Now -they obviously could not be both flat and concave; but yet they had the -properties peculiar to both flatness and concavity. And there was a -further difficulty. If I could see objects unaltered through them, so -could Mr. Weiss. But the function of spectacles is to alter the -appearances of objects, by magnification, reduction or compensating -distortion. If they leave the appearances unchanged they are useless. I -could make nothing of it. After puzzling over it for quite a long time, -I had to give it up; which I did the less unwillingly inasmuch as the -construction of Mr. Weiss's spectacles had no apparent bearing on the -case. - -On arriving home, I looked anxiously at the message-book, and was -relieved to find that there were no further visits to be made. Having -made up a mixture for Mr. Graves and handed it to the coachman, I raked -the ashes of the surgery fire together and sat down to smoke a final -pipe while I reflected once more on the singular and suspicious case in -which I had become involved. But fatigue soon put an end to my -meditations; and having come to the conclusion that the circumstances -demanded a further consultation with Thorndyke, I turned down the gas to -a microscopic blue spark and betook myself to bed. - - - - -Chapter IV - -The Official View - - -I rose on the following morning still possessed by the determination to -make some oportunity during the day to call on Thorndyke and take his -advice on the now urgent question as to what I was to do. I use the word -"urgent" advisedly; for the incidents of the preceding evening had left -me with the firm conviction that poison was being administered for some -purpose to my mysterious patient, and that no time must be lost if his -life was to be saved. Last night he had escaped only by the narrowest -margin--assuming him to be still alive--and it was only my unexpectedly -firm attitude that had compelled Mr. Weiss to agree to restorative -measures. - -That I should be sent for again I had not the slightest expectation. If -what I so strongly suspected was true, Weiss would call in some other -doctor, in the hope of better luck, and it was imperative that he -should be stopped before it was too late. This was my view, but I meant -to have Thorndyke's opinion, and act under his direction, but - - - "The best laid plans of mice and men - Gang aft agley." - -When I came downstairs and took a preliminary glance at the rough -memorandum-book, kept by the bottle-boy, or, in his absence, by the -housemaid, I stood aghast. The morning's entries looked already like a -sample page of the Post Office directory. The new calls alone were more -than equal to an ordinary day's work, and the routine visits remained to -be added. Gloomily wondering whether the Black Death had made a sudden -reappearance in England, I hurried to the dining-room and made a hasty -breakfast, interrupted at intervals by the apparition of the bottle-boy -to announce new messages. - -The first two or three visits solved the mystery. An epidemic of -influenza had descended on the neighbourhood, and I was getting not only -our own normal work but a certain amount of overflow from other -practices. Further, it appeared that a strike in the building trade had -been followed immediately by a widespread failure of health among the -bricklayers who were members of a certain benefit club; which accounted -for the remarkable suddenness of the outbreak. - -Of course, my contemplated visit to Thorndyke was out of the question. I -should have to act on my own responsibility. But in the hurry and rush -and anxiety of the work--for some of the cases were severe and even -critical--I had no opportunity to consider any course of action, nor -time to carry it out. Even with the aid of a hansom which I chartered, -as Stillbury kept no carriage, I had not finished my last visit until -near on midnight, and was then so spent with fatigue that I fell asleep -over my postponed supper. - -As the next day opened with a further increase of work, I sent a -telegram to Dr. Stillbury at Hastings, whither he had gone, like a wise -man, to recruit after a slight illness. I asked for authority to engage -an assistant, but the reply informed me that Stillbury himself was on -his way to town; and to my relief, when I dropped in at the surgery for -a cup of tea, I found him rubbing his hands over the open day-book. - -"It's an ill wind that blows nobody good," he remarked cheerfully as we -shook hands. "This will pay the expenses of my holiday, including you. -By the way, you are not anxious to be off, I suppose?" - -As a matter of fact, I was; for I had decided to accept Thorndyke's -offer, and was now eager to take up my duties with him. But it would -have been shabby to leave Stillbury to battle alone with this rush of -work or to seek the services of a strange assistant. - -"I should like to get off as soon as you can spare me," I replied, "but -I'm not going to leave you in the lurch." - -"That's a good fellow," said Stillbury. "I knew you wouldn't. Let us -have some tea and divide up the work. Anything of interest going?" - -There were one or two unusual cases on the list, and, as we marked off -our respective patients, I gave him the histories in brief synopsis. And -then I opened the subject of my mysterious experiences at the house of -Mr. Weiss. - -"There's another affair that I want to tell you about; rather an -unpleasant business." - -"Oh, dear!" exclaimed Stillbury. He put down his cup and regarded me -with quite painful anxiety. - -"It looks to me like an undoubted case of criminal poisoning," I -continued. - -Stillbury's face cleared instantly. "Oh, I'm glad it's nothing more than -that," he said with an air of relief. "I was afraid, it was some -confounded woman. There's always that danger, you know, when a locum is -young and happens--if I may say so, Jervis--to be a good-looking fellow. -Let us hear about this case." - -I gave him a condensed narrative of my connection with the mysterious -patient, omitting any reference to Thorndyke, and passing lightly over -my efforts to fix the position of the house, and wound up with the -remark that the facts ought certainly to be communicated to the police. - -"Yes," he admitted reluctantly, "I suppose you're right. Deuced -unpleasant though. Police cases don't do a practice any good. They waste -a lot of time, too; keep you hanging about to give evidence. Still, you -are quite right. We can't stand by and see the poor devil poisoned -without making some effort. But I don't believe the police will do -anything in the matter." - -"Don't you really?" - -"No, I don't. They like to have things pretty well cut and dried before -they act. A prosecution is an expensive affair, so they don't care to -prosecute unless they are fairly sure of a conviction. If they fail they -get hauled over the coals." - -"But don't you think they would get a conviction in this case?" - -"Not on your evidence, Jervis. They might pick up something fresh, but, -if they didn't they would fail. You haven't got enough hard-baked facts -to upset a capable defence. Still, that isn't our affair. You want to -put the responsibility on the police and I entirely agree with you." - -"There ought not to be any delay," said I. - -"There needn't be. I shall look in on Mrs. Wackford and you have to see -the Rummel children; we shall pass the station on our way. Why shouldn't -we drop in and see the inspector or superintendent?" - -The suggestion met my views exactly. As soon as we had finished tea, we -set forth, and in about ten minutes found ourselves in the bare and -forbidding office attached to the station. - -The presiding officer descended from a high stool, and, carefully laying -down his pen, shook hands cordially. - -"And what can I do for you gentlemen?" he asked, with an affable smile. - -Stillbury proceeded to open our business. - -"My friend here, Dr. Jervis, who has very kindly been looking after my -work for a week or two, has had a most remarkable experience, and he -wants to tell you about it." - -"Something in my line of business?" the officer inquired. - -"That," said I, "is for you to judge. I think it is, but you may think -otherwise"; and hereupon, without further preamble, I plunged into the -history of the case, giving him a condensed statement similar to that -which I had already made to Stillbury. - -He listened with close attention, jotting down from time to time a brief -note on a sheet of paper; and, when I had finished, he wrote out in a -black-covered notebook a short precis of my statement. - -"I have written down here," he said, "the substance of what you have -told me. I will read the deposition over to you, and, if it is correct, -I will ask you to sign it." - -He did so, and, when I had signed the document, I asked him what was -likely to be done in the matter. - -"I am afraid," he replied, "that we can't take any active measures. You -have put us on our guard and we shall keep our eyes open. But I think -that is all we can do, unless we hear something further." - -"But," I exclaimed, "don't you think that it is a very suspicious -affair?" - -"I do," he replied. "A very fishy business indeed, and you were quite -right to come and tell us about it." - -"It seems a pity not to take some measures," I said. "While you are -waiting to hear something further, they may give the poor wretch a fresh -dose and kill him." - -"In which case we should hear something further, unless some fool of a -doctor were to give a death certificate." - -"But that is very unsatisfactory. The man ought not to be allowed to -die." - -"I quite agree with you, sir. But we've no evidence that he is going to -die. His friends sent for you, and you treated him skilfully and left -him in a fair way to recovery. That's all that we really know about it. -Yes, I know," the officer continued as I made signs of disagreement, -"you think that a crime is possibly going to be committed and that we -ought to prevent it. But you overrate our powers. We can only act on -evidence that a crime has actually been committed or is actually being -attempted. Now we have no such evidence. Look at your statement, and -tell me what you can swear to." - -"I think I could swear that Mr. Graves had taken a poisonous dose of -morphine." - -"And who gave him that poisonous dose?" - -"I very strongly suspect--" - -"That's no good, sir," interrupted the officer. "Suspicion isn't -evidence. We should want you to swear an information and give us enough -facts to make out a <i>prima facie</i> case against some definite person. And -you couldn't do it. Your information amounts to this: that a certain -person has taken a poisonous dose of morphine and apparently recovered. -That's all. You can't swear that the names given to you are real names, -and you can't give us any address or even any locality." - -"I took some compass bearings in the carriage," I said. "You could -locate the house, I think, without much difficulty." - -The officer smiled faintly and fixed an abstracted gaze on the clock. - -"<i>You</i> could, sir," he replied. "I have no doubt whatever that <i>you</i> -could. <i>I</i> couldn't. But, in any case, we haven't enough to go upon. If -you learn anything fresh, I hope you will let me know; and I am very -much obliged to you for taking so much trouble in the matter. Good -evening sir. Good evening, Dr. Stillbury." - -He shook hands with us both genially, and, accepting perforce this very -polite but unmistakable dismissal, we took our departure. - -Outside the station, Stillbury heaved a comfortable sigh. He was -evidently relieved to find that no upheavals were to take place in his -domain. - -"I thought that would be their attitude," he said, "and they are quite -right, you know. The function of law is to prevent crime, it is true; -but prophylaxis in the sense in which we understand it is not possible -in legal practice." - -I assented without enthusiasm. It was disappointing to find that no -precautionary measures were to be taken. However, I had done all that I -could in the matter. No further responsibility lay upon me, and, as it -was practically certain that I had seen and heard the last of Mr. Graves -and his mysterious household, I dismissed the case from my mind. At the -next corner Stillbury and I parted to go our respective ways; and my -attention was soon transferred from the romance of crime to the -realities of epidemic influenza. - -The plethora of work in Dr. Stillbury's practice continued longer than I -had bargained for. Day after day went by and still found me tramping the -dingy streets of Kennington or scrambling up and down narrow stairways; -turning in at night dead tired, or turning out half awake to the hideous -jangle of the night bell. - -It was very provoking. For months I had resisted Thorndyke's persuasion -to give up general practice and join him. Not from lack of inclination, -but from a deep suspicion that he was thinking of my wants rather than -his own; that his was a charitable rather than a business proposal. Now -that I knew this not to be the case, I was impatient to join him; and, -as I trudged through the dreary thoroughfares of this superannuated -suburb, with its once rustic villas and its faded gardens, my thoughts -would turn enviously to the quiet dignity of the Temple and my friend's -chambers in King's Bench Walk. - -The closed carriage appeared no more; nor did any whisper either of good -or evil reach me in connection with the mysterious house from which it -had come. Mr. Graves had apparently gone out of my life for ever. - -But if he had gone out of my life, he had not gone out of my memory. -Often, as I walked my rounds, would the picture of that dimly-lit room -rise unbidden. Often would I find myself looking once more into that -ghastly face, so worn, so wasted and haggard, and yet so far from -repellent. All the incidents of that last night would reconstitute -themselves with a vividness that showed the intensity of the impression -that they had made at the time. I would have gladly forgotten the whole -affair, for every incident of it was fraught with discomfort. But it -clung to my memory; it haunted me; and ever as it returned it bore with -it the disquieting questions: Was Mr. Graves still alive? And, if he was -not, was there really nothing which could have been done to save him? - -Nearly a month passed before the practice began to show signs of -returning to its normal condition. Then the daily lists became more and -more contracted and the day's work proportionately shorter. And thus the -term of my servitude came to an end. One evening, as we were writing up -the day-book, Stillbury remarked: - -"I almost think, Jervis, I could manage by myself now. I know you are -only staying on for my sake." - -"I am staying on to finish my engagement, but I shan't be sorry to clear -out if you can do without me." - -"I think I can. When would you like to be off?" - -"As soon as possible. Say to-morrow morning, after I have made a few -visits and transferred the patients to you." - -"Very well," said Stillbury. "Then I will give you your cheque and -settle up everything to-night, so that you shall be free to go off when -you like to-morrow morning." - -Thus ended my connection with Kennington Lane. On the following day at -about noon, I found myself strolling across Waterloo Bridge with the -sensations of a newly liberated convict and a cheque for twenty-five -guineas in my pocket. My luggage was to follow when I sent for it. Now, -unhampered even by a hand-bag, I joyfully descended the steps at the -north end of the bridge and headed for King's Bench Walk by way of the -Embankment and Middle Temple Lane. - - - - -Chapter V - -Jeffrey Blackmore's Will - - -My arrival at Thorndyke's chambers was not unexpected, having been -heralded by a premonitory post-card. The "oak" was open and an -application of the little brass knocker of the inner door immediately -produced my colleague himself and a very hearty welcome. - -"At last," said Thorndyke, "you have come forth from the house of -bondage. I began to think that you had taken up your abode in Kennington -for good." - -"I was beginning, myself, to wonder when I should escape. But here I am; -and I may say at once that I am ready to shake the dust of general -practice off my feet for ever--that is, if you are still willing to have -me as your assistant." - -"Willing!" exclaimed Thorndyke, "Barkis himself was not more willing -than I. You will be invaluable to me. Let us settle the terms of our -comradeship forthwith, and to-morrow we will take measures to enter you -as a student of the Inner Temple. Shall we have our talk in the open air -and the spring sunshine?" - -I agreed readily to this proposal, for it was a bright, sunny day and -warm for the time of year--the beginning of April. We descended to the -Walk and thence slowly made our way to the quiet court behind the -church, where poor old Oliver Goldsmith lies, as he would surely have -wished to lie, in the midst of all that had been dear to him in his -chequered life. I need not record the matter of our conversation. To -Thorndyke's proposals I had no objections to offer but my own -unworthiness and his excessive liberality. A few minutes saw our -covenants fully agreed upon, and when Thorndyke had noted the points on -a slip of paper, signed and dated it and handed it to me, the business -was at an end. - -"There," my colleague said with a smile as he put away his pocket-book, -"if people would only settle their affairs in that way, a good part of -the occupation of lawyers would be gone. Brevity is the soul of wit; and -the fear of simplicity is the beginning of litigation." - -"And now," I said, "I propose that we go and feed. I will invite you to -lunch to celebrate our contract." - -"My learned junior is premature," he replied. "I had already arranged a -little festivity--or rather had modified one that was already arranged. -You remember Mr. Marchmont, the solicitor?" - -"Yes." - -"He called this morning to ask me to lunch with him and a new client at -the 'Cheshire Cheese.' I accepted and notified him that I should bring -you." - -"Why the 'Cheshire Cheese'?" I asked. - -"Why not? Marchmont's reasons for the selection were, first, that his -client has never seen an old-fashioned London tavern, and second, that -this is Wednesday and he, Marchmont, has a gluttonous affection for a -really fine beef-steak pudding. You don't object, I hope?" - -"Oh, not at all. In fact, now that you mention it, my own sensations -incline me to sympathize with Marchmont. I breakfasted rather early." - -"Then come," said Thorndyke. "The assignation is for one o'clock, and, -if we walk slowly, we shall just hit it off." - -We sauntered up Inner Temple Lane, and, crossing Fleet Street, headed -sedately for the tavern. As we entered the quaint old-world dining-room, -Thorndyke looked round and a gentleman, who was seated with a companion -at a table in one of the little boxes or compartments, rose and saluted -us. - -"Let me introduce you to my friend Mr. Stephen Blackmore," he said as we -approached. Then, turning to his companion, he introduced us by our -respective names. - -"I engaged this box," he continued, "so that we might be private if we -wished to have a little preliminary chat; not that beef-steak pudding is -a great help to conversation. But when people have a certain business -in view, their talk is sure to drift towards it, sooner or later." - -Thorndyke and I sat down opposite the lawyer and his client, and we -mutually inspected one another. Marchmont I already knew; an elderly, -professional-looking man, a typical solicitor of the old school; -fresh-faced, precise, rather irascible, and conveying a not unpleasant -impression of taking a reasonable interest in his diet. The other man -was quite young, not more than five-and-twenty, and was a fine -athletic-looking fellow with a healthy, out-of-door complexion and an -intelligent and highly prepossessing face. I took a liking to him at the -first glance, and so, I saw, did Thorndyke. - -"You two gentlemen," said Blackmore, addressing us, "seem to be quite -old acquaintances. I have heard so much about you from my friend, Reuben -Hornby." - -"Ah!" exclaimed Marchmont, "that was a queer case--'The Case of the Red -Thumb Mark,' as the papers called it. It was an eye-opener to -old-fashioned lawyers like myself. We've had scientific witnesses -before--and bullied 'em properly, by Jove! when they wouldn't give the -evidence that we wanted. But the scientific lawyer is something new. His -appearance in court made us all sit up, I can assure you." - -"I hope we shall make you sit up again," said Thorndyke. - -"You won't this time," said Marchmont. "The issues in this case of my -friend Blackmore's are purely legal; or rather, there are no issues at -all. There is nothing in dispute. I tried to prevent Blackmore from -consulting you, but he wouldn't listen to reason. Here! Waiter! How much -longer are we to be waiters? We shall die of old age before we get our -victuals!" - -The waiter smiled apologetically. "Yessir!" said he. "Coming now, sir." -And at this very moment there was borne into the room a Gargantuan -pudding in a great bucket of a basin, which being placed on a -three-legged stool was forthwith attacked ferociously by the -white-clothed, white-capped carver. We watched the process--as did every -one present--with an interest not entirely gluttonous, for it added a -pleasant touch to the picturesque old room, with its sanded floor, its -homely, pew-like boxes, its high-backed settles and the friendly -portrait of the "great lexicographer" that beamed down on us from the -wall. - -"This is a very different affair from your great, glittering modern -restaurant," Mr. Marchmont remarked. - -"It is indeed," said Blackmore, "and if this is the way in which our -ancestors lived, it would seem that they had a better idea of comfort -than we have." - -There was a short pause, during which Mr. Marchmont glared hungrily at -the pudding; then Thorndyke said: - -"So you refused to listen to reason, Mr. Blackmore?" - -"Yes. You see, Mr. Marchmont and his partner had gone into the matter -and decided that there was nothing to be done. Then I happened to -mention the affair to Reuben Hornby, and he urged me to ask your advice -on the case." - -"Like his impudence," growled Marchmont, "to meddle with my client." - -"On which," continued Blackmore, "I spoke to Mr. Marchmont and he agreed -that it was worth while to take your opinion on the case, though he -warned me to cherish no hopes, as the affair was not really within your -specialty." - -"So you understand," said Marchmont, "that we expect nothing. This is -quite a forlorn hope. We are taking your opinion as a mere formality, to -be able to say that we have left nothing untried." - -"That is an encouraging start," Thorndyke remarked. "It leaves me -unembarrassed by the possibility of failure. But meanwhile you are -arousing in me a devouring curiosity as to the nature of the case. Is it -highly confidential? Because if not, I would mention that Jervis has now -joined me as my permanent colleague." - -"It isn't confidential at all," said Marchmont. "The public are in full -possession of the facts, and we should be only too happy to put them in -still fuller possession, through the medium of the Probate Court, if we -could find a reasonable pretext. But we can't." - -Here the waiter charged our table with the fussy rapidity of the -overdue. - -"Sorry to keep you waiting, sir. Rather early, sir. Wouldn't like it -underdone, sir." - -Marchmont inspected his plate critically and remarked: - -"I sometimes suspect these oysters of being mussels; and I'll swear the -larks are sparrows." - -"Let us hope so," said Thorndyke. "The lark is better employed 'at -Heaven's gate singing' than garnishing a beef-steak pudding. But you -were telling us about your case." - -"So I was. Well it's just a matter of--ale or claret? Oh, claret, I -know. You despise the good old British John Barleycorn." - -"He that drinks beer thinks beer," retorted Thorndyke. "But you were -saying that it is just a matter of--?" - -"A matter of a perverse testator and an ill-drawn will. A peculiarly -irritating case, too, because the defective will replaces a perfectly -sound one, and the intentions of the testator were--er--were--excellent -ale, this. A little heady, perhaps, but sound. Better than your sour -French wine, Thorndyke--were--er--were quite obvious. What he evidently -desired was--mustard? Better have some mustard. No? Well, well! Even a -Frenchman would take mustard. You can have no appreciation of flavour, -Thorndyke, if you take your victuals in that crude, unseasoned state. -And, talking of flavour, do you suppose that there is really any -difference between that of a lark and that of a sparrow?" - -Thorndyke smiled grimly. "I should suppose," said he, "that they were -indistinguishable; but the question could easily be put to the test of -experiment." - -"That is true," agreed Marchmont, "and it would really be worth trying, -for, as you say, sparrows are more easily obtainable than larks. But, -about this will. I was saying--er--now, what was I saying?" - -"I understood you to say," replied Thorndyke, "that the intentions of -the testator were in some way connected with mustard. Isn't that so, -Jervis?" - -"That was what I gathered," said I. - -Marchmont gazed at us for a moment with a surprised expression and then, -laughing good-humouredly, fortified himself with a draught of ale. - -"The moral of which is," Thorndyke added, "that testamentary -dispositions should not be mixed up with beef-steak pudding." - -"I believe you're right, Thorndyke," said the unabashed solicitor. -"Business is business and eating is eating. We had better talk over our -case in my office or your chambers after lunch." - -"Yes," said Thorndyke, "come over to the Temple with me and I will give -you a cup of coffee to clear your brain. Are there any documents?" - -"I have all the papers here in my bag," replied Marchmont; and the -conversation--such conversation as is possible "when beards wag all" -over the festive board--drifted into other channels. - -As soon as the meal was finished and the reckoning paid, we trooped out -of Wine Office Court, and, insinuating ourselves through the line of -empty hansoms that, in those days, crawled in a continuous procession -on either side of Fleet Street, betook ourselves by way of Mitre Court -to King's Bench Walk. There, when the coffee had been requisitioned and -our chairs drawn up around the fire, Mr. Marchmont unloaded from his bag -a portentous bundle of papers, and we addressed ourselves to the -business in hand. - -"Now," said Marchmont, "let me repeat what I said before. Legally -speaking, we have no case--not the ghost of one. But my client wished to -take your opinion, and I agreed on the bare chance that you might detect -some point that we had overlooked. I don't think you will, for we have -gone into the case very thoroughly, but still, there is the -infinitesimal chance and we may as well take it. Would you like to read -the two wills, or shall I first explain the circumstances?" - -"I think," replied Thorndyke, "a narrative of the events in the order of -their occurrence would be most helpful. I should like to know as much as -possible about the testator before I examine the documents." - -"Very well," said Marchmont. "Then I will begin with a recital of the -circumstances, which, briefly stated, are these: My client, Stephen -Blackmore, is the son of Mr. Edward Blackmore, deceased. Edward -Blackmore had two brothers who survived him, John, the elder, and -Jeffrey, the younger. Jeffrey is the testator in this case. - -"Some two years ago, Jeffrey Blackmore executed a will by which he made -his nephew Stephen his executor and sole legatee; and a few months later -he added a codicil giving two hundred and fifty pounds to his brother -John." - -"What was the value of the estate?" Thorndyke asked. - -"About three thousand five hundred pounds, all invested in Consols. The -testator had a pension from the Foreign Office, on which he lived, -leaving his capital untouched. Soon after having made his will, he left -the rooms in Jermyn Street, where he had lived for some years, stored -his furniture and went to Florence. From thence he moved on to Rome and -then to Venice and other places in Italy, and so continued to travel -about until the end of last September, when it appears that he returned -to England, for at the beginning of October he took a set of chambers in -New Inn, which he furnished with some of the things from his old rooms. -As far as we can make out, he never communicated with any of his -friends, excepting his brother, and the fact of his being in residence -at New Inn or of his being in England at all became known to them only -when he died." - -"Was this quite in accordance with his ordinary habits?" Thorndyke -asked. - -"I should say not quite," Blackmore answered. "My uncle was a studious, -solitary man, but he was not formerly a recluse. He was not much of a -correspondent but he kept up some sort of communication with his -friends. He used, for instance, to write to me sometimes, and, when I -came down from Cambridge for the vacations, he had me to stay with him -at his rooms." - -"Is there anything known that accounts for the change in his habits?" - -"Yes, there is," replied Marchmont. "We shall come to that presently. To -proceed with the narrative: On the fifteenth of last March he was found -dead in his chambers, and a more recent will was then discovered, dated -the twelfth of November of last year. Now no change had taken place in -the circumstances of the testator to account for the new will, nor was -there any appreciable alteration in the disposition of the property. As -far as we can make out, the new will was drawn with the idea of stating -the intentions of the testator with greater exactness and for the sake -of doing away with the codicil. The entire property, with the exception -of two hundred and fifty pounds, was, as before, bequeathed to Stephen, -but the separate items were specified, and the testator's brother, John -Blackmore, was named as the executor and residuary legatee." - -"I see," said Thorndyke. "So that your client's interest in the will -would appear to be practically unaffected by the change." - -"Yes. There it is," exclaimed the lawyer, slapping the table to add -emphasis to his words. "That is the pity of it! If people who have no -knowledge of law would only refrain from tinkering at their wills, what -a world of trouble would be saved!" - -"Oh, come!" said Thorndyke. "It is not for a lawyer to say that." - -"No, I suppose not," Marchmont agreed. "Only, you see, we like the -muddle to be made by the other side. But, in this case, the muddle is on -our side. The change, as you say, seems to leave our friend Stephen's -interests unaffected. That is, of course, what poor Jeffrey Blackmore -thought. But he was mistaken. The effect of the change is absolutely -disastrous." - -"Indeed!" - -"Yes. As I have said, no alteration in the testator's circumstances had -taken place at the time the new will was executed. <i>But</i> only two days -before his death, his sister, Mrs. Edmund Wilson, died; and on her will -being proved it appeared that she had bequeathed to him her entire -personalty, estimated at about thirty thousand pounds." - -"Heigho!" exclaimed Thorndyke. "What an unfortunate affair!" - -"You are right," said Mr. Marchmont; "it was a disaster. By the original -will this great sum would have accrued to our friend Mr. Stephen, -whereas now, of course, it goes to the residuary legatee, Mr. John -Blackmore. And what makes it even more exasperating is the fact that -this is obviously not in accordance with the wishes and intentions of -Mr. Jeffrey, who clearly desired his nephew to inherit his property." - -"Yes," said Thorndyke; "I think you are justified in assuming that. But -do you know whether Mr. Jeffrey was aware of his sister's intentions?" - -"We think not. Her will was executed as recently as the third of -September last, and it seems that there had been no communication -between her and Mr. Jeffrey since that date. Besides, if you consider -Mr. Jeffrey's actions, you will see that they suggest no knowledge or -expectation of this very important bequest. A man does not make -elaborate dispositions in regard to three thousand pounds and then leave -a sum of thirty thousand to be disposed of casually as the residue of -the estate." - -"No," Thorndyke agreed. "And, as you have said, the manifest intention -of the testator was to leave the bulk of his property to Mr. Stephen. So -we may take it as virtually certain that Mr. Jeffrey had no knowledge of -the fact that he was a beneficiary under his sister's will." - -"Yes," said Mr. Marchmont, "I think we may take that as nearly certain." - -"With reference to the second will," said Thorndyke, "I suppose there is -no need to ask whether the document itself has been examined; I mean as -to its being a genuine document and perfectly regular?" - -Mr. Marchmont shook his head sadly. - -"No," he said, "I am sorry to say that there can be no possible doubt as -to the authenticity and regularity of the document. The circumstances -under which it was executed establish its genuineness beyond any -question." - -"What were those circumstances?" Thorndyke asked. - -"They were these: On the morning of the twelfth of November last, Mr. -Jeffrey came to the porter's lodge with a document in his hand. 'This,' -he said, 'is my will. I want you to witness my signature. Would you mind -doing so, and can you find another respectable person to act as the -second witness?' Now it happened that a nephew of the porter's, a -painter by trade, was at work in the Inn. The porter went out and -fetched him into the lodge and the two men agreed to witness the -signature. 'You had better read the will,' said Mr. Jeffrey. 'It is not -actually necessary, but it is an additional safeguard and there is -nothing of a private nature in the document.' The two men accordingly -read the document, and, when Mr. Jeffrey had signed it in their -presence, they affixed their signatures; and I may add that the painter -left the recognizable impressions of three greasy fingers." - -"And these witnesses have been examined?" - -"Yes. They have both sworn to the document and to their own signatures, -and the painter recognized his finger-marks." - -"That," said Thorndyke, "seems to dispose pretty effectually of any -question as to the genuineness of the will; and if, as I gather, Mr. -Jeffrey came to the lodge alone, the question of undue influence is -disposed of too." - -"Yes," said Mr. Marchmont. "I think we must pass the will as absolutely -flawless." - -"It strikes me as rather odd," said Thorndyke, "that Jeffrey should have -known so little about his sister's intentions. Can you explain it, Mr. -Blackmore?" - -"I don't think that it is very remarkable," Stephen replied. "I knew -very little of my aunt's affairs and I don't think my uncle Jeffrey knew -much more, for he was under the impression that she had only a life -interest in her husband's property. And he may have been right. It is -not clear what money this was that she left to my uncle. She was a very -taciturn woman and made few confidences to anyone." - -"So that it is possible," said Thorndyke, "that she, herself, may have -acquired this money recently by some bequest?" - -"It is quite possible," Stephen answered. - -"She died, I understand," said Thorndyke, glancing at the notes that he -had jotted down, "two days before Mr. Jeffrey. What date would that be?" - -"Jeffrey died on the fourteenth of March," said Marchmont. - -"So that Mrs. Wilson died on the twelfth of March?" - -"That is so," Marchmont replied; and Thorndyke then asked: - -"Did she die suddenly?" - -"No," replied Stephen; "she died of cancer. I understand that it was -cancer of the stomach." - -"Do you happen to know," Thorndyke asked, "what sort of relations -existed between Jeffrey and his brother John?" - -"At one time," said Stephen, "I know they were not very cordial; but the -breach may have been made up later, though I don't know that it actually -was." - -"I ask the question," said Thorndyke, "because, as I dare say you have -noticed, there is, in the first will, some hint of improved relations. -As it was originally drawn that will makes Mr. Stephen the sole legatee. -Then, a little later, a codicil is added in favour of John, showing that -Jeffrey had felt the necessity of making some recognition of his -brother. This seems to point to some change in the relations, and the -question arises: if such a change did actually occur, was it the -beginning of a new and further improving state of feeling between the -two brothers? Have you any facts bearing on that question?" - -Marchmont pursed up his lips with the air of a man considering an -unwelcome suggestion, and, after a few moments of reflection, answered: - -"I think we must say 'yes' to that. There is the undeniable fact that, -of all Jeffrey's friends, John Blackmore was the only one who knew that -he was living in New Inn." - -"Oh, John knew that, did he?" - -"Yes, he certainly did; for it came out in the evidence that he had -called on Jeffrey at his chambers more than once. There is no denying -that. But, mark you!" Mr. Marchmont added emphatically, "that does not -cover the inconsistency of the will. There is nothing in the second will -to suggest that Jeffrey intended materially to increase the bequest to -his brother." - -"I quite agree with you, Marchmont. I think that is a perfectly sound -position. You have, I suppose, fully considered the question as to -whether it would be possible to set aside the second will on the ground -that it fails to carry out the evident wishes and intentions of the -testator?" - -"Yes. My partner, Winwood, and I went into that question very carefully, -and we also took counsel's opinion--Sir Horace Barnaby--and he was of -the same opinion as ourselves; that the court would certainly uphold the -will." - -"I think that would be my own view," said Thorndyke, "especially after -what you have told me. Do I understand that John Blackmore was the only -person who knew that Jeffrey was in residence at New Inn?" - -"The only one of his private friends. His bankers knew and so did the -officials from whom he drew his pension." - -"Of course he would have to notify his bankers of his change of -address." - -"Yes, of course. And a propos of the bank, I may mention that the -manager tells me that, of late, they had noticed a slight change in the -character of Jeffrey's signature--I think you will see the reason of the -change when you hear the rest of his story. It was very trifling; not -more than commonly occurs when a man begins to grow old, especially if -there is some failure of eyesight." - -"Was Mr. Jeffrey's eyesight failing?" asked Thorndyke. - -"Yes, it was, undoubtedly," said Stephen. "He was practically blind in -one eye and, in the very last letter that I ever had from him, he -mentioned that there were signs of commencing cataract in the other." - -"You spoke of his pension. He continued to draw that regularly?" - -"Yes; he drew his allowance every month, or rather, his bankers drew it -for him. They had been accustomed to do so when he was abroad, and the -authorities seem to have allowed the practice to continue." - -Thorndyke reflected a while, running his eye over the notes on the slips -of paper in his hand, and Marchmont surveyed him with a malicious smile. -Presently the latter remarked: - -"Methinks the learned counsel is floored." - -Thorndyke laughed. "It seems to me," he retorted, "that your proceedings -are rather like those of the amiable individual who offered the bear a -flint pebble, that he might crack it and extract the kernel. Your -confounded will seems to offer no soft spot on which one could commence -an attack. But we won't give up. We seem to have sucked the will dry. -Let us now have a few facts respecting the parties concerned in it; and, -as Jeffrey is the central figure, let us begin with him and the tragedy -at New Inn that formed the starting-point of all this trouble." - - - - -Chapter VI - -Jeffrey Blackmore, Deceased - - -Having made the above proposition, Thorndyke placed a fresh slip of -paper on the blotting pad on his knee and looked inquiringly at Mr. -Marchmont; who, in his turn, sighed and looked at the bundle of -documents on the table. - -"What do you want to know?" he asked a little wearily. - -"Everything," replied Thorndyke. "You have hinted at circumstances that -would account for a change in Jeffrey's habits and that would explain an -alteration in the character of his signature. Let us have those -circumstances. And, if I might venture on a suggestion, it would be that -we take the events in the order in which they occurred or in which they -became known." - -"That's the worst of you, Thorndyke," Marchmont grumbled. "When a case -has been squeezed out to the last drop, in a legal sense, you want to -begin all over again with the family history of every one concerned and -a list of his effects and household furniture. But I suppose you will -have to be humoured; and I imagine that the best way in which to give -you the information you want will be to recite the circumstances -surrounding the death of Jeffrey Blackmore. Will that suit you?" - -"Perfectly," replied Thorndyke; and thereupon Marchmont began: - -"The death of Jeffrey Blackmore was discovered at about eleven o'clock -in the morning of the fifteenth of March. It seems that a builder's man -was ascending a ladder to examine a gutter on number 31, New Inn, when, -on passing a second-floor window that was open at the top, he looked in -and perceived a gentleman lying on a bed. The gentleman was fully -clothed and had apparently lain down on the bed to rest; at least so the -builder thought at the time, for he was merely passing the window on -his way up, and, very properly, did not make a minute examination. But -when, some ten minutes later, he came down and saw that the gentleman -was still in the same position, he looked at him more attentively; and -this is what he noticed--but perhaps we had better have it in his own -words as he told the story at the inquest. - -"'When I came to look at the gentleman a bit more closely, it struck me -that he looked rather queer. His face looked very white, or rather pale -yellow, like parchment, and his mouth was open. He did not seem to be -breathing. On the bed by his side was a brass object of some kind--I -could not make out what it was--and he seemed to be holding some small -metal object in his hand. I thought it rather a queer affair, so, when I -came down I went across to the lodge and told the porter about it. The -porter came out across the square with me and I showed him the window. -Then he told me to go up the stairs to Mr. Blackmore's chambers on the -second pair and knock and keep on knocking until I got an answer. I went -up and knocked and kept on knocking as loud as I could, but, though I -fetched everybody out of all the other chambers in the house, I couldn't -get any answer from Mr. Blackmore. So I went downstairs again and then -Mr. Walker, the porter, sent me for a policeman. - -"'I went out and met a policeman just by Dane's Inn and told him about -the affair, and he came back with me. He and the porter consulted -together, and then they told me to go up the ladder and get in at the -window and open the door of the chambers from the inside. So I went up; -and as soon as I got in at the window I saw that the gentleman was dead. -I went through the other room and opened the outer door and let in the -porter and the policeman.' - -"That," said Mr. Marchmont, laying down the paper containing the -depositions, "is the way in which poor Jeffrey Blackmore's death came to -be discovered. - -"The constable reported to his inspector and the inspector sent for the -divisional surgeon, whom he accompanied to New Inn. I need not go into -the evidence given by the police officers, as the surgeon saw all that -they saw and his statement covers everything that is known about -Jeffrey's death. This is what he says, after describing how he was sent -for and arrived at the Inn: - -"'In the bedroom I found the body of a man between fifty and sixty years -of age, which has since been identified in my presence as that of Mr. -Jeffrey Blackmore. It was fully dressed and wore boots on which was a -moderate amount of dry mud. It was lying on its back on the bed, which -did not appear to have been slept in, and showed no sign of any struggle -or disturbance. The right hand loosely grasped a hypodermic syringe -containing a few drops of clear liquid which I have since analysed and -found to be a concentrated solution of strophanthin. - -"'On the bed, close to the left side of the body, was a brass opium-pipe -of a pattern which I believe is made in China. The bowl of the pipe -contained a small quantity of charcoal, and a fragment of opium -together with some ash, and there was on the bed a little ash which -appeared to have dropped from the bowl when the pipe fell or was laid -down. On the mantelshelf in the bedroom I found a small glass-stoppered -jar containing about an ounce of solid opium, and another, larger jar -containing wood charcoal broken up into small fragments. Also a bowl -containing a quantity of ash with fragments of half-burned charcoal and -a few minute particles of charred opium. By the side of the bowl were a -knife, a kind of awl or pricker and a very small pair of tongs, which I -believe to have been used for carrying a piece of lighted charcoal to -the pipe. - -"'On the dressing-table were two glass tubes labelled "Hypodermic -Tabloids: Strophanthin 1/500 grain," and a minute glass mortar and -pestle, of which the former contained a few crystals which have since -been analysed by me and found to be strophanthin. - -"'On examining the body, I found that it had been dead about twelve -hours. There were no marks of violence or any abnormal condition -excepting a single puncture in the right thigh, apparently made by the -needle of the hypodermic syringe. The puncture was deep and vertical in -direction as if the needle had been driven in through the clothing. - -"'I made a post-mortem examination of the body and found that death was -due to poisoning by strophanthin, which appeared to have been injected -into the thigh. The two tubes which I found on the dressing-table would -each have contained, if full, twenty tabloids, each tabloid -representing one five-hundredth of a grain of strophanthin. Assuming -that the whole of this quantity was injected the amount taken would be -forty five-hundredths, or about one twelfth of a grain. The ordinary -medicinal dose of strophanthin is one five-hundredth of a grain. - -"'I also found in the body appreciable traces of morphine--the principal -alkaloid of opium--from which I infer that the deceased was a confirmed -opium-smoker. This inference was supported by the general condition of -the body, which was ill-nourished and emaciated and presented all the -appearances usually met with in the bodies of persons addicted to the -habitual use of opium.' - -"That is the evidence of the surgeon. He was recalled later, as we shall -see, but, meanwhile, I think you will agree with me that the facts -testified to by him fully account, not only for the change in Jeffrey's -habits--his solitary and secretive mode of life--but also for the -alteration in his handwriting." - -"Yes," agreed Thorndyke, "that seems to be so. By the way, what did the -change in the handwriting amount to?" - -"Very little," replied Marchmont. "It was hardly perceptible. Just a -slight loss of firmness and distinctness; such a trifling change as you -would expect to find in the handwriting of a man who had taken to drink -or drugs, or anything that might impair the steadiness of his hand. I -should not have noticed it, myself, but, of course, the people at the -bank are experts, constantly scrutinizing signatures and scrutinizing -them with a very critical eye." - -"Is there any other evidence that bears on the case?" Thorndyke asked. - -Marchmont turned over the bundle of papers and smiled grimly. - -"My dear Thorndyke," he said, "none of this evidence has the slightest -bearing on the case. It is all perfectly irrelevant as far as the will -is concerned. But I know your little peculiarities and I am indulging -you, as you see, to the top of your bent. The next evidence is that of -the chief porter, a very worthy and intelligent man named Walker. This -is what he says, after the usual preliminaries. - -"'I have viewed the body which forms the subject of this inquiry. It is -that of Mr. Jeffrey Blackmore, the tenant of a set of chambers on the -second floor of number thirty-one, New Inn. I have known the deceased -nearly six months, and during that time have seen and conversed with him -frequently. He took the chambers on the second of last October and came -into residence at once. Tenants at New Inn have to furnish two -references. The references that the deceased gave were his bankers and -his brother, Mr. John Blackmore. I may say that the deceased was very -well known to me. He was a quiet, pleasant-mannered gentleman, and it -was his habit to drop in occasionally at the lodge and have a chat with -me. I went into his chambers with him once or twice on some small -matters of business and I noticed that there were always a number of -books and papers on the table. I understood from him that he spent most -of his time indoors engaged in study and writing. I know very little -about his way of living. He had no laundress to look after his rooms, so -I suppose he did his own house-work and cooking; but he told me that he -took most of his meals outside, at restaurants or his club. - -"'Deceased impressed me as a rather melancholy, low-spirited gentleman. -He was very much troubled about his eyesight and mentioned the matter to -me on several occasions. He told me that he was practically blind in one -eye and that the sight of the other was failing rapidly. He said that -this afflicted him greatly, because his only pleasure in life was in the -reading of books, and that if he could not read he should not wish to -live. On another occasion he said that "to a blind man life was not -worth living." - -"'On the twelfth of last November he came to the lodge with a paper in -his hand which he said was his will'--But I needn't read that," said -Marchmont, turning over the leaf, "I've told you how the will was signed -and witnessed. We will pass on to the day of poor Jeffrey's death. - -"'On the fourteenth of March,' the porter says, 'at about half-past six -in the evening, the deceased came to the Inn in a four-wheeled cab. That -was the day of the great fog. I do not know if there was anyone in the -cab with the deceased, but I think not, because he came to the lodge -just before eight o'clock and had a little talk with me. He said that -he had been overtaken by the fog and could not see at all. He was quite -blind and had been obliged to ask a stranger to call a cab for him as he -could not find his way through the streets. He then gave me a cheque for -the rent. I reminded him that the rent was not due until the -twenty-fifth, but he said he wished to pay it now. He also gave me some -money to pay one or two small bills that were owing to some of the -tradespeople--a milk-man, a baker and a stationer. - -"'This struck me as very strange, because he had always managed his -business and paid the tradespeople himself. He told me that the fog had -irritated his eye so that he could hardly read, and he was afraid he -should soon be quite blind. He was very depressed; so much so that I -felt quite uneasy about him. When he left the lodge, he went back across -the square as if returning to his chambers. There was then no gate open -excepting the main gate where the lodge is situated. That was the last -time that I saw the deceased alive.'" - -Mr. Marchmont laid the paper on the table. "That is the porter's -evidence. The remaining depositions are those of Noble, the night -porter, John Blackmore and our friend here, Mr. Stephen. The night -porter had not much to tell. This is the substance of his evidence: - -"'I have viewed the body of the deceased and identify it as that of Mr. -Jeffrey Blackmore. I knew the deceased well by sight and occasionally -had a few words with him. I know nothing of his habits excepting that he -used to sit up rather late. It is one of my duties to go round the Inn -at night and call out the hours until one o'clock in the morning. When -calling out "one o'clock" I often saw a light in the sitting-room of the -deceased's chambers. On the night of the fourteenth instant, the light -was burning until past one o'clock, but it was in the bedroom. The light -in the sitting-room was out by ten o'clock.' - -"We now come to John Blackmore's evidence. He says: - -"'I have viewed the body of the deceased and recognize it as that of my -brother Jeffrey. I last saw him alive on the twenty-third of February, -when I called at his chambers. He then seemed in a very despondent state -of mind and told me that his eyesight was fast failing. I was aware that -he occasionally smoked opium, but I did not know that it was a confirmed -habit. I urged him, on several occasions, to abandon the practice. I -have no reason to believe that his affairs were in any way embarrassed -or that he had any reason for making away with himself other than his -failing eyesight; but, having regard to his state of mind when I last -saw him, I am not surprised at what has happened.' - -"That is the substance of John Blackmore's evidence, and, as to Mr. -Stephen, his statement merely sets forth the fact that he had identified -the body as that of his uncle Jeffrey. And now I think you have all the -facts. Is there anything more that you want to ask me before I go, for I -must really run away now?" - -"I should like," said Thorndyke, "to know a little more about the -parties concerned in this affair. But perhaps Mr. Stephen can give me -the information." - -"I expect he can," said Marchmont; "at any rate, he knows more about -them than I do; so I will be off. If you should happen to think of any -way," he continued, with a sly smile, "of upsetting that will, just let -me know, and I will lose no time in entering a caveat. Good-bye! Don't -trouble to let me out." - -As soon as he was gone, Thorndyke turned to Stephen Blackmore. - -"I am going," he said, "to ask you a few questions which may appear -rather trifling, but you must remember that my methods of inquiry -concern themselves with persons and things rather than with documents. -For instance, I have not gathered very completely what sort of person -your uncle Jeffrey was. Could you tell me a little more about him?" - -"What shall I tell you?" Stephen asked with a slightly embarrassed air. - -"Well, begin with his personal appearance." - -"That is rather difficult to describe," said Stephen. "He was a -medium-sized man and about five feet seven--fair, slightly grey, -clean-shaved, rather spare and slight, had grey eyes, wore spectacles -and stooped a little as he walked. He was quiet and gentle in manner, -rather yielding and irresolute in character, and his health was not at -all robust though he had no infirmity or disease excepting his bad -eyesight. His age was about fifty-five." - -"How came he to be a civil-service pensioner at fifty-five?" asked -Thorndyke. - -"Oh, that was through an accident. He had a nasty fall from a horse, -and, being a rather nervous man, the shock was very severe. For some -time after he was a complete wreck. But the failure of his eyesight was -the actual cause of his retirement. It seems that the fall damaged his -eyes in some way; in fact he practically lost the sight of one--the -right--from that moment; and, as that had been his good eye, the -accident left his vision very much impaired. So that he was at first -given sick leave and then allowed to retire on a pension." - -Thorndyke noted these particulars and then said: - -"Your uncle has been more than once referred to as a man of studious -habits. Does that mean that he pursued any particular branch of -learning?" - -"Yes. He was an enthusiastic Oriental scholar. His official duties had -taken him at one time to Yokohama and Tokio and at another to Bagdad, -and while at those places he gave a good deal of attention to the -languages, literature and arts of the countries. He was also greatly -interested in Babylonian and Assyrian archaeology, and I believe he -assisted for some time in the excavations at Birs Nimroud." - -"Indeed!" said Thorndyke. "This is very interesting. I had no idea that -he was a man of such considerable attainments. The facts mentioned by -Mr. Marchmont would hardly have led one to think of him as what he seems -to have been: a scholar of some distinction." - -"I don't know that Mr. Marchmont realized the fact himself," said -Stephen; "or that he would have considered it of any moment if he had. -Nor, as far as that goes, do I. But, of course, I have no experience of -legal matters." - -"You can never tell beforehand," said Thorndyke, "what facts may turn -out to be of moment, so that it is best to collect all you can get. By -the way, were you aware that your uncle was an opium-smoker?" - -"No, I was not. I knew that he had an opium-pipe which he brought with -him when he came home from Japan; but I thought it was only a curio. I -remember him telling me that he once tried a few puffs at an opium-pipe -and found it rather pleasant, though it gave him a headache. But I had -no idea he had contracted the habit; in fact, I may say that I was -utterly astonished when the fact came out at the inquest." - -Thorndyke made a note of this answer, too, and said: - -"I think that is all I have to ask you about your uncle Jeffrey. And now -as to Mr. John Blackmore. What sort of man is he?" - -"I am afraid I can't tell you very much about him. Until I saw him at -the inquest, I had not met him since I was a boy. But he is a very -different kind of man from Uncle Jeffrey; different in appearance and -different in character." - -"You would say that the two brothers were physically quite unlike, -then?" - -"Well," said Stephen, "I don't know that I ought to say that. Perhaps I -am exaggerating the difference. I am thinking of Uncle Jeffrey as he was -when I saw him last and of uncle John as he appeared at the inquest. -They were very different then. Jeffrey was thin, pale, clean shaven, -wore spectacles and walked with a stoop. John is a shade taller, a shade -greyer, has good eyesight, a healthy, florid complexion, a brisk, -upright carriage, is distinctly stout and wears a beard and moustache -which are black and only very slightly streaked with grey. To me they -looked as unlike as two men could, though their features were really of -the same type; indeed, I have heard it said that, as young men, they -were rather alike, and they both resembled their mother. But there is no -doubt as to their difference in character. Jeffrey was quiet, serious -and studious, whereas John rather inclined to what is called a fast -life; he used to frequent race meetings, and, I think, gambled a good -deal at times." - -"What is his profession?" - -"That would be difficult to tell; he has so many; he is so very -versatile. I believe he began life as an articled pupil in the -laboratory of a large brewery, but he soon left that and went on the -stage. He seems to have remained in 'the profession' for some years, -touring about this country and making occasional visits to America. The -life seemed to suit him and I believe he was decidedly successful as an -actor. But suddenly he left the stage and blossomed out in connection -with a bucket-shop in London." - -"And what is he doing now?" - -"At the inquest he described himself as a stockbroker, so I presume he -is still connected with the bucket-shop." - -Thorndyke rose, and taking down from the reference shelves a list of -members of the Stock Exchange, turned over the leaves. - -"Yes," he said, replacing the volume, "he must be an outside broker. His -name is not in the list of members of 'the House.' From what you tell -me, it is easy to understand that there should have been no great -intimacy between the two brothers, without assuming any kind of -ill-feeling. They simply had very little in common. Do you know of -anything more?" - -"No. I have never heard of any actual quarrel or disagreement. My -impression that they did not get on very well may have been, I think, -due to the terms of the will, especially the first will. And they -certainly did not seek one another's society." - -"That is not very conclusive," said Thorndyke. "As to the will, a -thrifty man is not usually much inclined to bequeath his savings to a -gentleman who may probably employ them in a merry little flutter on the -turf or the Stock Exchange. And then there was yourself; clearly a more -suitable subject for a legacy, as your life is all before you. But this -is mere speculation and the matter is not of much importance, as far as -we can see. And now, tell me what John Blackmore's relations were with -Mrs. Wilson. I gather that she left the bulk of her property to Jeffrey, -her younger brother. Is that so?" - -"Yes. She left nothing to John. The fact is that they were hardly on -speaking terms. I believe John had treated her rather badly, or, at any -rate, she thought he had. Mr. Wilson, her late husband, dropped some -money over an investment in connection with the bucket-shop that I spoke -of, and I think she suspected John of having let him in. She may have -been mistaken, but you know what ladies are when they get an idea into -their heads." - -"Did you know your aunt well?" - -"No; very slightly. She lived down in Devonshire and saw very little of -any of us. She was a taciturn, strong-minded woman; quite unlike her -brothers. She seems to have resembled her father's family." - -"You might give me her full name." - -"Julia Elizabeth Wilson. Her husband's name was Edmund Wilson." - -"Thank you. There is just one more point. What has happened to your -uncle's chambers in New Inn since his death?" - -"They have remained shut up. As all his effects were left to me, I have -taken over the tenancy for the present to avoid having them disturbed. I -thought of keeping them for my own use, but I don't think I could live -in them after what I have seen." - -"You have inspected them, then?" - -"Yes; I have just looked through them. I went there on the day of the -inquest." - -"Now tell me: as you looked through those rooms, what kind of impression -did they convey to you as to your uncle's habits and mode of life?" - -Stephen smiled apologetically. "I am afraid," said he, "that they did -not convey any particular impression in that respect. I looked into the -sitting-room and saw all his old familiar household gods, and then I -went into the bedroom and saw the impression on the bed where his corpse -had lain; and that gave me such a sensation of horror that I came away -at once." - -"But the appearance of the rooms must have conveyed something to your -mind," Thorndyke urged. - -"I am afraid it did not. You see, I have not your analytical eye. But -perhaps you would like to look through them yourself? If you would, pray -do so. They are my chambers now." - -"I think I should like to glance round them," Thorndyke replied. - -"Very well," said Stephen. "I will give you my card now, and I will look -in at the lodge presently and tell the porter to hand you the key -whenever you like to look over the rooms." - -He took a card from his case, and, having written a few lines on it, -handed it to Thorndyke. - -"It is very good of you," he said, "to take so much trouble. Like Mr. -Marchmont, I have no expectation of any result from your efforts, but I -am very grateful to you, all the same, for going into the case so -thoroughly. I suppose you don't see any possibility of upsetting that -will--if I may ask the question?" - -"At present," replied Thorndyke, "I do not. But until I have carefully -weighed every fact connected with the case--whether it seems to have any -bearing or not--I shall refrain from expressing, or even entertaining, -an opinion either way." - -Stephen Blackmore now took his leave; and Thorndyke, having collected -the papers containing his notes, neatly punched a couple of holes in -their margins and inserted them into a small file, which he slipped into -his pocket. - -"That," said he, "is the nucleus of the body of data on which our -investigations must be based; and I very much fear that it will not -receive any great additions. What do you think, Jervis?" - -"The case looks about as hopeless as a case could look," I replied. - -"That is what I think," said he; "and for that reason I am more than -ordinarily keen on making something of it. I have not much more hope -than Marchmont has; but I shall squeeze the case as dry as a bone before -I let go. What are you going to do? I have to attend a meeting of the -board of directors of the Griffin Life Office." - -"Shall I walk down with you?" - -"It is very good of you to offer, Jervis, but I think I will go alone. I -want to run over these notes and get the facts of the case arranged in -my mind. When I have done that, I shall be ready to pick up new matter. -Knowledge is of no use unless it is actually in your mind, so that it -can be produced at a moment's notice. So you had better get a book and -your pipe and spend a quiet hour by the fire while I assimilate the -miscellaneous mental feast that we have just enjoyed. And you might do a -little rumination yourself." - -With this, Thorndyke took his departure; and I, adopting his advice, -drew my chair closer to the fire and filled my pipe. But I did not -discover any inclination to read. The curious history that I had just -heard, and Thorndyke's evident determination to elucidate it further, -disposed me to meditation. Moreover, as his subordinate, it was my -business to occupy myself with his affairs. Wherefore, having stirred -the fire and got my pipe well alight, I abandoned myself to the renewed -consideration of the facts relating to Jeffrey Blackmore's will. - - - - -Chapter VII - -The Cuneiform Inscription - - -The surprise which Thorndyke's proceedings usually occasioned, -especially to lawyers, was principally due, I think, to my friend's -habit of viewing occurrences from an unusual standpoint. He did not look -at things quite as other men looked at them. He had no prejudices and he -knew no conventions. When other men were cocksure, Thorndyke was -doubtful. When other men despaired, he entertained hopes; and thus it -happened that he would often undertake cases that had been rejected -contemptuously by experienced lawyers, and, what is more, would bring -them to a successful issue. - -Thus it had been in the only other case in which I had been personally -associated with him--the so-called "Red Thumb Mark" case. There he was -presented with an apparent impossibility; but he had given it careful -consideration. Then, from the category of the impossible he had brought -it to that of the possible; from the merely possible to the actually -probable; from the probable to the certain; and in the end had won the -case triumphantly. - -Was it conceivable that he could make anything of the present case? He -had not declined it. He had certainly entertained it and was probably -thinking it over at this moment. Yet could anything be more impossible? -Here was the case of a man making his own will, probably writing it out -himself, bringing it voluntarily to a certain place and executing it in -the presence of competent witnesses. There was no suggestion of any -compulsion or even influence or persuasion. The testator was admittedly -sane and responsible; and if the will did not give effect to his -wishes--which, however, could not be proved--that was due to his own -carelessness in drafting the will and not to any unusual circumstances. -And the problem--which Thorndyke seemed to be considering--was how to -set aside that will. - -I reviewed the statements that I had heard, but turn them about as I -would, I could get nothing out of them but confirmation of Mr. -Marchmont's estimate of the case. One fact that I had noted with some -curiosity I again considered; that was Thorndyke's evident desire to -inspect Jeffrey Blackmore's chambers. He had, it is true, shown no -eagerness, but I had seen at the time that the questions which he put to -Stephen were put, not with any expectation of eliciting information but -for the purpose of getting an opportunity to look over the rooms -himself. - -I was still cogitating on the subject when my colleague returned, -followed by the watchful Polton with the tea-tray, and I attacked him -forthwith. - -"Well, Thorndyke," I said, "I have been thinking about this Blackmore -case while you have been gadding about." - -"And may I take it that the problem is solved?" - -"No, I'm hanged if you may. I can make nothing of it." - -"Then you are in much the same position as I am." - -"But, if you can make nothing of it, why did you undertake it?" - -"I only undertook to think about it," said Thorndyke. "I never reject a -case off-hand unless it is obviously fishy. It is surprising how -difficulties, and even impossibilities, dwindle if you look at them -attentively. My experience has taught me that the most unlikely case is, -at least, worth thinking over." - -"By the way, why do you want to look over Jeffrey's chambers? What do -you expect to find there?" - -"I have no expectations at all. I am simply looking for stray facts." - -"And all those questions that you asked Stephen Blackmore; had you -nothing in your mind--no definite purpose?" - -"No purpose beyond getting to know as much about the case as I can." - -"But," I exclaimed, "do you mean that you are going to examine those -rooms without any definite object at all?" - -"I wouldn't say that," replied Thorndyke. "This is a legal case. Let me -put an analogous medical case as being more within your present sphere. -Supposing that a man should consult you, say, about a progressive loss -of weight. He can give no explanation. He has no pain, no discomfort, no -symptoms of any kind; in short, he feels perfectly well in every -respect; <i>but</i> he is losing weight continuously. What would you do?" - -"I should overhaul him thoroughly," I answered. - -"Why? What would you expect to find?" - -"I don't know that I should start by expecting to find anything in -particular. But I should overhaul him organ by organ and function by -function, and if I could find nothing abnormal I should have to give it -up." - -"Exactly," said Thorndyke. "And that is just my position and my line of -action. Here is a case which is perfectly regular and straightforward -excepting in one respect. It has a single abnormal feature. And for that -abnormality there is nothing to account. - -"Jeffrey Blackmore made a will. It was a well-drawn will and it -apparently gave full effect to his intentions. Then he revoked that will -and made another. No change had occurred in his circumstances or in his -intentions. The provisions of the new will were believed by him to be -identical with those of the old one. The new will differed from the old -one only in having a defect in the drafting from which the first will -was free, and of which he must have been unaware. Now why did he revoke -the first will and replace it with another which he believed to be -identical in its provisions? There is no answer to that question. It is -an abnormal feature in the case. There must be some explanation of that -abnormality and it is my business to discover it. But the facts in my -possession yield no such explanation. Therefore it is my purpose to -search for new facts which may give me a starting-point for an -investigation." - -This exposition of Thorndyke's proposed conduct of the case, reasonable -as it was, did not impress me as very convincing. I found myself coming -back to Marchmont's position, that there was really nothing in dispute. -But other matters claimed our attention at the moment, and it was not -until after dinner that my colleague reverted to the subject. - -"How should you like to take a turn round to New Inn this evening?" he -asked. - -"I should have thought," said I, "that it would be better to go by -daylight. Those old chambers are not usually very well illuminated." - -"That is well thought of," said Thorndyke. "We had better take a lamp -with us. Let us go up to the laboratory and get one from Polton." - -"There is no need to do that," said I. "The pocket-lamp that you lent me -is in my overcoat pocket. I put it there to return it to you." - -"Did you have occasion to use it?" he asked. - -"Yes. I paid another visit to the mysterious house and carried out your -plan. I must tell you about it later." - -"Do. I shall be keenly interested to hear all about your adventures. Is -there plenty of candle left in the lamp?" - -"Oh yes. I only used it for about an hour." - -"Then let us be off," said Thorndyke; and we accordingly set forth on -our quest; and, as we went, I reflected once more on the apparent -vagueness of our proceedings. Presently I reopened the subject with -Thorndyke. - -"I can't imagine," said I, "that you have absolutely nothing in view. -That you are going to this place with no defined purpose whatever." - -"I did not say exactly that," replied Thorndyke. "I said that I was not -going to look for any particular thing or fact. I am going in the hope -that I may observe something that may start a new train of speculation. -But that is not all. You know that an investigation follows a certain -logical course. It begins with the observation of the conspicuous facts. -We have done that. The facts were supplied by Marchmont. The next stage -is to propose to oneself one or more provisional explanations or -hypotheses. We have done that, too--or, at least I have, and I suppose -you have." - -"I haven't," said I. "There is Jeffrey's will, but why he should have -made the change I cannot form the foggiest idea. But I should like to -hear your provisional theories on the subject." - -"You won't hear them at present. They are mere wild conjectures. But to -resume: what do we do next?" - -"Go to New Inn and rake over the deceased gentleman's apartments." - -Thorndyke smilingly ignored my answer and continued-- - -"We examine each explanation in turn and see what follows from it; -whether it agrees with all the facts and leads to the discovery of new -ones, or, on the other hand, disagrees with some facts or leads us to an -absurdity. Let us take a simple example. - -"Suppose we find scattered over a field a number of largish masses of -stone, which are entirely different in character from the rocks found in -the neighbourhood. The question arises, how did those stones get into -that field? Three explanations are proposed. One: that they are the -products of former volcanic action; two: that they were brought from a -distance by human agency; three: that they were carried thither from -some distant country by icebergs. Now each of those explanations -involves certain consequences. If the stones are volcanic, then they -were once in a state of fusion. But we find that they are unaltered -limestone and contain fossils. Then they are not volcanic. If they were -borne by icebergs, then they were once part of a glacier and some of -them will probably show the flat surfaces with parallel scratches which -are found on glacier-borne stones. We examine them and find the -characteristic scratched surfaces. Then they have probably been brought -to this place by icebergs. But this does not exclude human agency, for -they might have been brought by men to this place from some other where -the icebergs had deposited them. A further comparison with other facts -would be needed. - -"So we proceed in cases like this present one. Of the facts that are -known to us we invent certain explanations. From each of those -explanations we deduce consequences; and if those consequences agree -with new facts, they confirm the explanation, whereas if they disagree -they tend to disprove it. But here we are at our destination." - -We turned out of Wych Street into the arched passage leading into New -Inn, and, halting at the half-door of the lodge, perceived a stout, -purple-faced man crouching over the fire, coughing violently. He held up -his hand to intimate that he was fully occupied for the moment, and we -accordingly waited for his paroxysm to subside. At length he turned -towards us, wiping his eyes, and inquired our business. - -"Mr. Stephen Blackmore," said Thorndyke, "has given me permission to -look over his chambers. He said that he would mention the matter to -you." - -"So he has, sir," said the porter; "but he has just taken the key -himself to go to the chambers. If you walk across the Inn you'll find -him there; it's on the farther side; number thirty-one, second floor." - -We made our way across to the house indicated, the ground floor of which -was occupied by a solicitor's offices and was distinguished by a -good-sized brass plate. Although it had now been dark some time there -was no light on the lower stairs, but we encountered on the first-floor -landing a man who had just lit the lamp there. Thorndyke halted to -address him. - -"Can you tell me who occupies the chambers on the third floor?" - -"The third floor has been empty about three months," was the reply. - -"We are going up to look at the chambers on the second floor," said -Thorndyke. "Are they pretty quiet?" - -"Quiet!" exclaimed the man. "Lord bless you the place is like a cemetery -for the deaf and dumb. There's the solicitors on the ground floor and -the architects on the first floor. They both clear out about six, and -when they're gone the house is as empty as a blown hegg. I don't wonder -poor Mr. Blackmore made away with his-self. Livin' up there all alone, -it must have been like Robinson Crusoe without no man Friday and not -even a blooming goat to talk to. Quiet! It's quiet enough, if that's -what you want. Wouldn't be no good to <i>me</i>." - -With a contemptuous shake of the head, he turned and retired down the -next flight, and, as the echoes of his footsteps died away we resumed -our ascent. - -"So it would appear," Thorndyke commented, "that when Jeffrey Blackmore -came home that last evening, the house was empty." - -Arrived on the second-floor landing, we were confronted by a -solid-looking door on the lintel of which the deceased man's name was -painted in white lettering which still looked new and fresh. Thorndyke -knocked at the door, which was at once opened by Stephen Blackmore. - -"I haven't wasted any time before taking advantage of your permission, -you see," my colleague said as we entered. - -"No, indeed," said Stephen; "you are very prompt. I have been rather -wondering what kind of information you expect to gather from an -inspection of these rooms." - -Thorndyke smiled genially, amused, no doubt, by the similarity of -Stephen's remarks to those of mine which he had so recently criticized. - -"A man of science, Mr. Blackmore," he said, "expects nothing. He -collects facts and keeps an open mind. As to me, I am a mere legal -Autolycus, a snapper-up of unconsidered trifles of evidence. When I have -accumulated a few facts, I arrange them, compare them and think about -them. Sometimes the comparison yields new matter and sometimes it -doesn't; but in any case, believe me, it is a capital error to decide -beforehand what data are to be sought for." - -"Yes, I suppose that is so," said Stephen; "though, to me, it almost -looks as if Mr. Marchmont was right; that there is nothing to -investigate." - -"You should have thought of that before you consulted me," laughed -Thorndyke. "As it is, I am engaged to look into the case and I shall do -so; and, as I have said, I shall keep an open mind until I have all the -facts in my possession." - -He glanced round the sitting-room, which we had now entered, and -continued: - -"These are fine, dignified old rooms. It seems a sin to have covered up -all this oak panelling and that carved cornice and mantel with paint. -Think what it must have been like when the beautiful figured wood was -exposed." - -"It would be very dark," Stephen observed. - -"Yes," Thorndyke agreed, "and I suppose we care more for light and less -for beauty than our ancestors did. But now, tell me; looking round these -rooms, do they convey to you a similar impression to that which the old -rooms did? Have they the same general character?" - -"Not quite, I think. Of course the rooms in Jermyn Street were in a -different kind of house, but beyond that, I seem to feel a certain -difference; which is rather odd, seeing that the furniture is the same. -But the old rooms were more cosy, more homelike. I find something rather -bare and cheerless, I was almost going to say squalid, in the look of -these chambers." - -"That is rather what I should have expected," said Thorndyke. "The opium -habit alters a man's character profoundly; and, somehow, apart from the -mere furnishing, a room reflects in some subtle way, but very -distinctly, the personality of its occupant, especially when that -occupant lives a solitary life. Do you see any evidences of the -activities that used to occupy your uncle?" - -"Not very much," replied Stephen. "But the place may not be quite as he -left it. I found one or two of his books on the table and put them back -in the shelves, but I found no manuscript or notes such as he used to -make. I noticed, too, that his ink-slab which he used to keep so -scrupulously clean is covered with dry smears and that the stick of ink -is all cracked at the end, as if he had not used it for months. It seems -to point to a great change in his habits." - -"What used he to do with Chinese ink?" Thorndyke asked. - -"He corresponded with some of his native friends in Japan, and he used -to write in the Japanese character even if they understood English. That -was what he chiefly used the Chinese ink for. But he also used to copy -the inscriptions from these things." Here Stephen lifted from the -mantelpiece what looked like a fossil Bath bun, but was actually a clay -tablet covered with minute indented writing. - -"Your uncle could read the cuneiform character, then?" - -"Yes; he was something of an expert. These tablets are, I believe, -leases and other legal documents from Eridu and other Babylonian cities. -He used to copy the inscriptions in the cuneiform writing and then -translate them into English. But I mustn't stay here any longer as I -have an engagement for this evening. I just dropped in to get these two -volumes--<i>Thornton's History of Babylonia</i>, which he once advised me to -read. Shall I give you the key? You'd better have it and leave it with -the porter as you go out." - -He shook hands with us and we walked out with him to the landing and -stood watching him as he ran down the stairs. Glancing at Thorndyke by -the light of the gas lamp on the landing, I thought I detected in his -impassive face that almost imperceptible change of expression to which I -have already alluded as indicating pleasure or satisfaction. - -"You are looking quite pleased with yourself," I remarked. - -"I am not displeased," he replied calmly. "Autolycus has picked up a few -crumbs; very small ones, but still crumbs. No doubt his learned junior -has picked up a few likewise?" - -I shook my head--and inwardly suspected it of being rather a thick head. - -"I did not perceive anything in the least degree significant in what -Stephen was telling you," said I. "It was all very interesting, but it -did not seem to have any bearing on his uncle's will." - -"I was not referring only to what Stephen has told us, although that -was, as you say, very interesting. While he was talking I was looking -about the room, and I have seen a very strange thing. Let me show it to -you." - -He linked his arm in mine and, walking me back into the room, halted -opposite the fire-place. - -"There," said he, "look at that. It is a most remarkable object." - -[Illustration: THE INVERTED INSCRIPTION.] - -I followed the direction of his gaze and saw an oblong frame enclosing a -large photograph of an inscription in the weird and cabalistic -arrow-head character. I looked at it in silence for some seconds and -then, somewhat disappointed, remarked: - -"I don't see anything very remarkable in it, under the circumstances. In -any ordinary room it would be, I admit; but Stephen has just told us -that his uncle was something of an expert in cuneiform writing." - -"Exactly," said Thorndyke. "That is my point. That is what makes it so -remarkable." - -"I don't follow you at all," said I. "That a man should hang upon his -wall an inscription that is legible to him does not seem to me at all -out of the way. It would be much more singular if he should hang up an -inscription that he could <i>not</i> read." - -"No doubt," replied Thorndyke. "But you will agree with me that it would -be still more singular if a man should hang upon his wall an inscription -that he <i>could</i> read--and hang it upside down." - -I stared at Thorndyke in amazement. - -"Do you mean to tell me," I exclaimed, "that that photograph is really -upside down?" - -"I do indeed," he replied. - -"But how do you know? Have we here yet another Oriental scholar?" - -Thorndyke chuckled. "Some fool," he replied, "has said that 'a little -knowledge is a dangerous thing.' Compared with much knowledge, it may -be; but it is a vast deal better than no knowledge. Here is a case in -point. I have read with very keen interest the wonderful history of the -decipherment of the cuneiform writing, and I happen to recollect one or -two of the main facts that seemed to me to be worth remembering. This -particular inscription is in the Persian cuneiform, a much more simple -and open form of the script than the Babylonian or Assyrian; in fact, I -suspect that this is the famous inscription from the gateway at -Persepolis--the first to be deciphered; which would account for its -presence here in a frame. Now this script consists, as you see, of two -kinds of characters; the small, solid, acutely pointed characters which -are known as wedges, and the larger, more obtuse characters, somewhat -like our government broad arrows, and called arrow-heads. The names are -rather unfortunate, as both forms are wedge-like and both resemble -arrow-heads. The script reads from left to right, like our own writing, -and unlike that of the Semitic peoples and the primitive Greeks; and the -rule for the placing of the characters is that all the 'wedges' point to -the right or downwards and the arrow-head forms are open towards the -right. But if you look at this photograph you will see that all the -wedges point upwards to the left and that the arrow-head characters are -open towards the left. Obviously the photograph is upside down." - -"But," I exclaimed, "this is really most mysterious. What do you suppose -can be the explanation?" - -"I think," replied Thorndyke, "that we may perhaps get a suggestion from -the back of the frame. Let us see." - -He disengaged the frame from the two nails on which it hung, and, -turning it round, glanced at the back; which he then presented for my -inspection. A label on the backing paper bore the words, "J. Budge, -Frame-maker and Gilder, 16, Gt. Anne Street, W.C." - -"Well?" I said, when I had read the label without gathering from it -anything fresh. - -"The label, you observe, is the right way up as it hangs on the wall." - -"So it is," I rejoined hastily, a little annoyed that I had not been -quicker to observe so obvious a fact. "I see your point. You mean that -the frame-maker hung the thing upside down and Jeffrey never noticed the -mistake?" - -"That is a perfectly sound explanation," said Thorndyke. "But I think -there is something more. You will notice that the label is an old one; -it must have been on some years, to judge by its dingy appearance, -whereas the two mirror-plates look to me comparatively new. But we can -soon put that matter to the test, for the label was evidently stuck on -when the frame was new, and if the plates were screwed on at the same -time, the wood that they cover will be clean and new-looking." - -He drew from his pocket a "combination" knife containing, among other -implements, a screw-driver, with which he carefully extracted the screws -from one of the little brass plates by which the frame had been -suspended from the nails. - -"You see," he said, when he had removed the plate and carried the -photograph over to the gasjet, "the wood covered by the plate is as -dirty and time-stained as the rest of the frame. The plates have been -put on recently." - -"And what are we to infer from that?" - -"Well, since there are no other marks of plates or rings upon the -frame, we may safely infer that the photograph was never hung up until -it came to these rooms." - -"Yes, I suppose we may. But what then? What inference does that lead -to?" - -Thorndyke reflected for a few moments and I continued: - -"It is evident that this photograph suggests more to you than it does to -me. I should like to hear your exposition of its bearing on the case, if -it has any." - -"Whether or no it has any real bearing on the case," Thorndyke answered, -"it is impossible for me to say at this stage. I told you that I had -proposed to myself one or two hypotheses to account for and explain -Jeffrey Blackmore's will, and I may say that the curious misplacement of -this photograph fits more than one of them. I won't say more than that, -because I think it would be profitable to you to work at this case -independently. You have all the facts that I have and you shall have a -copy of my notes of Marchmont's statement of the case. With this -material you ought to be able to reach some conclusion. Of course -neither of us may be able to make anything of the case--it doesn't look -very hopeful at present--but whatever happens, we can compare notes -after the event and you will be the richer by so much experience of -actual investigation. But I will start you off with one hint, which is -this: that neither you nor Marchmont seem to appreciate in the least the -very extraordinary nature of the facts that he communicated to us." - -"I thought Marchmont seemed pretty much alive to the fact that it was a -very queer will." - -"So he did," agreed Thorndyke. "But that is not quite what I mean. The -whole set of circumstances, taken together and in relation to one -another, impressed me as most remarkable; and that is why I am giving so -much attention to what looks at first sight like such a very unpromising -case. Copy out my notes, Jervis, and examine the facts critically. I -think you will see what I mean. And now let us proceed." - -He replaced the brass plate and having reinserted the screws, hung up -the frame, and proceeded to browse slowly round the room, stopping now -and again to inspect the Japanese colour-prints and framed photographs -of buildings and other objects of archaeological interest that formed -the only attempts at wall-decoration. To one of the former he drew my -attention. - -"These things are of some value," he remarked. "Here is one by -Utamaro--that little circle with the mark over it is his signature--and -you notice that the paper is becoming spotted in places with mildew. The -fact is worth noting in more than one connection." - -I accordingly made a mental note and the perambulation continued. - -"You observe that Jeffrey used a gas-stove, instead of a coal fire, no -doubt to economize work, but perhaps for other reasons. Presumably he -cooked by gas, too; let us see." - -We wandered into the little cupboard-like kitchen and glanced round. A -ring-burner on a shelf, a kettle, a frying-pan and a few pieces of -crockery were its sole appointments. Apparently the porter was correct -in his statement as to Jeffrey's habits. - -Returning to the sitting-room, Thorndyke resumed his inspection, pulling -out the table drawers, peering inquisitively into cupboards and -bestowing a passing glance on each of the comparatively few objects that -the comfortless room contained. - -"I have never seen a more characterless apartment," was his final -comment. "There is nothing that seems to suggest any kind of habitual -activity on the part of the occupant. Let us look at the bedroom." - -We passed through into the chamber of tragic memories, and, when -Thorndyke had lit the gas, we stood awhile looking about us in silence. -It was a bare, comfortless room, dirty, neglected and squalid. The bed -appeared not to have been remade since the catastrophe, for an -indentation still marked the place where the corpse had lain, and even a -slight powdering of ash could still be seen on the shabby counterpane. -It looked to me a typical opium-smoker's bedroom. - -"Well," Thorndyke remarked at length, "there is character enough -here--of a kind. Jeffrey Blackmore would seem to have been a man of few -needs. One could hardly imagine a bedroom in which less attention seemed -to have been given to the comfort of the occupant." - -He looked about him keenly and continued: "The syringe and the rest of -the lethal appliances and material have been taken away, I see. -Probably the analyst did not return them. But there are the opium-pipe -and the jar and the ash-bowl, and I presume those are the clothes that -the undertakers removed from the body. Shall we look them over?" - -He took up the clothes which lay, roughly folded, on a chair and held -them up, garment by garment. - -"These are evidently the trousers," he remarked, spreading them out on -the bed. "Here is a little white spot on the middle of the thigh which -looks like a patch of small crystals from a drop of the solution. Just -light the lamp, Jervis, and let us examine it with a lens." - -I lit the lamp, and when we had examined the spot minutely and -identified it as a mass of minute crystals, Thorndyke asked: - -"What do you make of those creases? You see there is one on each leg." - -"It looks as if the trousers had been turned up. But if they have been -they must have been turned up about seven inches. Poor Jeffrey couldn't -have had much regard for appearances, for they would have been right -above his socks. But perhaps the creases were made in undressing the -body." - -"That is possible," said Thorndyke: "though I don't quite see how it -would have happened. I notice that his pockets seem to have been -emptied--no, wait; here is something in the waistcoat pocket." - -He drew out a shabby, pigskin card-case and a stump of lead pencil, at -which latter he looked with what seemed to me much more interest than -was deserved by so commonplace an object. - -"The cards, you observe," said he, "are printed from type, not from a -plate. I would note that fact. And tell me what you make of that." - -He handed me the pencil, which I examined with concentrated attention, -helping myself even with the lamp and my pocket lens. But even with -these aids I failed to discover anything unusual in its appearance. -Thorndyke watched me with a mischievous smile, and, when I had finished, -inquired: - -"Well; what is it?" - -"Confound you!" I exclaimed. "It's a pencil. Any fool can see that, and -this particular fool can't see any more. It's a wretched stump of a -pencil, villainously cut to an abominably bad point. It is coloured dark -red on the outside and was stamped with some name that began with -C--O--Co-operative Stores, perhaps." - -"Now, my dear Jervis," Thorndyke protested, "don't begin by confusing -speculation with fact. The letters which remain are C--O. Note that fact -and find out what pencils there are which have inscriptions beginning -with those letters. I am not going to help you, because you can easily -do this for yourself. And it will be good discipline even if the fact -turns out to mean nothing." - -At this moment he stepped back suddenly, and, looking down at the floor, -said: - -"Give me the lamp, Jervis, I've trodden on something that felt like -glass." - -I brought the lamp to the place where he had been standing, close by -the bed, and we both knelt on the floor, throwing the light of the lamp -on the bare and dusty boards. Under the bed, just within reach of the -foot of a person standing close by, was a little patch of fragments of -glass. Thorndyke produced a piece of paper from his pocket and -delicately swept the little fragments on to it, remarking: - -"By the look of things, I am not the first person who has trodden on -that object, whatever it is. Do you mind holding the lamp while I -inspect the remains?" - -I took the lamp and held it over the paper while he examined the little -heap of glass through his lens. - -"Well," I asked. "What have you found?" - -"That is what I am asking myself," he replied. "As far as I can judge by -the appearance of these fragments, they appear to be portions of a small -watch-glass. I wish there were some larger pieces." - -"Perhaps there are," said I. "Let us look about the floor under the -bed." - -We resumed our groping about the dirty floor, throwing the light of the -lamp on one spot after another. Presently, as we moved the lamp about, -its light fell on a small glass bead, which I instantly picked up and -exhibited to Thorndyke. - -"Is this of any interest to you?" I asked. - -Thorndyke took the bead and examined it curiously. - -"It is certainly," he said, "a very odd thing to find in the bedroom of -an old bachelor like Jeffrey, especially as we know that he employed no -woman to look after his rooms. Of course, it may be a relic of the last -tenant. Let us see if there are any more." - -We renewed our search, crawling under the bed and throwing the light of -the lamp in all directions over the floor. The result was the discovery -of three more beads, one entire bugle and the crushed remains of -another, which had apparently been trodden on. All of these, including -the fragments of the bugle that had been crushed, Thorndyke placed -carefully on the paper, which he laid on the dressing-table the more -conveniently to examine our find. - -"I am sorry," said he, "that there are no more fragments of the -watch-glass, or whatever it was. The broken pieces were evidently picked -up, with the exception of the one that I trod on, which was an isolated -fragment that had been overlooked. As to the beads, judging by their -number and the position in which we found some of them--that crushed -bugle, for instance--they must have been dropped during Jeffrey's -tenancy and probably quite recently." - -"What sort of garment do you suppose they came from?" I asked. - -"They may have been part of a beaded veil or the trimming of a dress, -but the grouping rather suggests to me a tag of bead fringe. The colour -is rather unusual." - -"I thought they looked like black beads." - -"So they do by this light, but I think that by daylight we shall find -them to be a dark, reddish-brown. You can see the colour now if you look -at the smaller fragments of the one that is crushed." - -He handed me his lens, and, when I had verified his statement, he -produced from his pocket a small tin box with a closely-fitting lid in -which he deposited the paper, having first folded it up into a small -parcel. - -"We will put the pencil in too," said he; and, as he returned the box to -his pocket he added: "you had better get one of these little boxes from -Polton. It is often useful to have a safe receptacle for small and -fragile articles." - -He folded up and replaced the dead man's clothes as we had found them. -Then, observing a pair of shoes standing by the wall, he picked them up -and looked them over thoughtfully, paying special attention to the backs -of the soles and the fronts of the heels. - -"I suppose we may take it," said he, "that these are the shoes that poor -Jeffrey wore on the night of his death. At any rate there seem to be no -others. He seems to have been a fairly clean walker. The streets were -shockingly dirty that day, as I remember most distinctly. Do you see any -slippers? I haven't noticed any." - -He opened and peeped into a cupboard in which an overcoat surmounted by -a felt hat hung from a peg like an attenuated suicide; he looked in all -the corners and into the sitting-room, but no slippers were to be seen. - -"Our friend seems to have had surprisingly little regard for comfort," -Thorndyke remarked. "Think of spending the winter evenings in damp boots -by a gas fire!" - -"Perhaps the opium-pipe compensated," said I; "or he may have gone to -bed early." - -"But he did not. The night porter used to see the light in his rooms at -one o'clock in the morning. In the sitting-room, too, you remember. But -he seems to have been in the habit of reading in bed--or perhaps -smoking--for here is a candlestick with the remains of a whole dynasty -of candles in it. As there is gas in the room, he couldn't have wanted -the candle to undress by. He used stearine candles, too; not the common -paraffin variety. I wonder why he went to that expense." - -"Perhaps the smell of the paraffin candle spoiled the aroma of the -opium," I suggested; to which Thorndyke made no reply but continued his -inspection of the room, pulling out the drawer of the washstand--which -contained a single, worn-out nail-brush--and even picking up and -examining the dry and cracked cake of soap in the dish. - -"He seems to have had a fair amount of clothing," said Thorndyke, who -was now going through the chest of drawers, "though, by the look of it, -he didn't change very often, and the shirts have a rather yellow and -faded appearance. I wonder how he managed about his washing. Why, here -are a couple of pairs of boots in the drawer with his clothes! And here -is his stock of candles. Quite a large box--though nearly empty now--of -stearine candles, six to the pound." - -He closed the drawer and cast another inquiring look round the room. - -"I think we have seen all now, Jervis," he said, "unless there is -anything more that you would like to look into?" - -"No," I replied. "I have seen all that I wanted to see and more than I -am able to attach any meaning to. So we may as well go." - -I blew out the lamp and put it in my overcoat pocket, and, when we had -turned out the gas in both rooms, we took our departure. - -As we approached the lodge, we found our stout friend in the act of -retiring in favour of the night porter. Thorndyke handed him the key of -the chambers, and, after a few sympathetic inquiries, about his -health--which was obviously very indifferent--said: - -"Let me see; you were one of the witnesses to Mr. Blackmore's will, I -think?" - -"I was, sir," replied the porter. - -"And I believe you read the document through before you witnessed the -signature?" - -"I did, sir." - -"Did you read it aloud?" - -"Aloud, sir! Lor' bless you, no, sir! Why should I? The other witness -read it, and, of course, Mr. Blackmore knew what was in it, seeing that -it was in his own handwriting. What should I want to read it aloud for?" - -"No, of course you wouldn't want to. By the way, I have been wondering -how Mr. Blackmore managed about his washing." - -The porter evidently regarded this question with some disfavour, for he -replied only with an interrogative grunt. It was, in fact, rather an odd -question. - -"Did you get it done for him," Thorndyke pursued. - -"No, certainly not, sir. He got it done for himself. The laundry people -used to deliver the basket here at the lodge, and Mr. Blackmore used to -take it in with him when he happened to be passing." - -"It was not delivered at his chambers, then?" - -"No, sir. Mr. Blackmore was a very studious gentleman and he didn't like -to be disturbed. A studious gentleman would naturally not like to be -disturbed." - -Thorndyke cordially agreed with these very proper sentiments and finally -wished the porter "good night." We passed out through the gateway into -Wych Street, and, turning our faces eastward towards the Temple, set -forth in silence, each thinking his own thoughts. What Thorndyke's were -I cannot tell, though I have no doubt that he was busily engaged in -piecing together all that he had seen and heard and considering its -possible application to the case in hand. - -As to me, my mind was in a whirl of confusion. All this searching and -examining seemed to be the mere flogging of a dead horse. The will was -obviously a perfectly valid and regular will and there was an end of the -matter. At least, so it seemed to me. But clearly that was not -Thorndyke's view. His investigations were certainly not purposeless; -and, as I walked by his side trying to conceive some purpose in his -actions, I only became more and more mystified as I recalled them one -by one, and perhaps most of all by the cryptic questions that I had just -heard him address to the equally mystified porter. - - - - -Chapter VIII - -The Track Chart - - -As Thorndyke and I arrived at the main gateway of the Temple and he -swung round into the narrow lane, it was suddenly borne in on me that I -had made no arrangements for the night. Events had followed one another -so continuously and each had been so engrossing that I had lost sight of -what I may call my domestic affairs. - -"We seem to be heading for your chambers, Thorndyke," I ventured to -remark. "It is a little late to think of it, but I have not yet settled -where I am to put up to-night." - -"My dear fellow," he replied, "you are going to put up in your own -bedroom which has been waiting in readiness for you ever since you left -it. Polton went up and inspected it as soon as you arrived. I take it -that you will consider my chambers yours until such time as you may join -the benedictine majority and set up a home for yourself." - -"That is very handsome of you," said I. "You didn't mention that the -billet you offered was a resident appointment." - -"Rooms and commons included," said Thorndyke; and when I protested that -I should at least contribute to the costs of living he impatiently -waved the suggestion away. We were still arguing the question when we -reached our chambers--as I will now call them--and a diversion was -occasioned by my taking the lamp from my pocket and placing it on the -table. - -"Ah," my colleague remarked, "that is a little reminder. We will put it -on the mantelpiece for Polton to collect and you shall give me a full -account of your further adventures in the wilds of Kennington. That was -a very odd affair. I have often wondered how it ended." - -He drew our two arm-chairs up to the fire, put on some more coal, placed -the tobacco jar on the table exactly equidistant from the two chairs, -and settled himself with the air of a man who is anticipating an -agreeable entertainment. - -I filled my pipe, and, taking up the thread of the story where I had -broken off on the last occasion, began to outline my later experiences. -But he brought me up short. - -"Don't be sketchy, Jervis. To be sketchy is to be vague. Detail, my -child, detail is the soul of induction. Let us have all the facts. We -can sort them out afterwards." - -I began afresh in a vein of the extremest circumstantiality. With -deliberate malice I loaded a prolix narrative with every triviality that -a fairly retentive memory could rake out of the half-forgotten past. I -cudgelled my brains for irrelevant incidents. I described with the -minutest accuracy things that had not the faintest significance. I drew -a vivid picture of the carriage inside and out; I painted a lifelike -portrait of the horse, even going into particulars of the harness--which -I was surprised to find that I had noticed. I described the furniture of -the dining-room and the cobwebs that had hung from the ceiling; the -auction-ticket on the chest of drawers, the rickety table and the -melancholy chairs. I gave the number per minute of the patient's -respirations and the exact quantity of coffee consumed on each occasion, -with an exhaustive description of the cup from which it was taken; and I -left no personal details unconsidered, from the patient's finger-nails -to the roseate pimples on Mr. Weiss's nose. - -But my tactics of studied prolixity were a complete failure. The attempt -to fatigue Thorndyke's brain with superabundant detail was like trying -to surfeit a pelican with whitebait. He consumed it all with calm -enjoyment and asked for more; and when, at last, I did really begin to -think that I had bored him a little, he staggered me by reading over his -notes and starting a brisk cross-examination to elicit fresh facts! And -the most surprising thing of all was that when I had finished I seemed -to know a great deal more about the case than I had ever known before. - -"It was a very remarkable affair," he observed, when the -cross-examination was over--leaving me somewhat in the condition of a -cider-apple that has just been removed from a hydraulic press--"a very -suspicious affair with a highly unsatisfactory end. I am not sure that I -entirely agree with your police officer. Nor do I fancy that some of my -acquaintances at Scotland Yard would have agreed with him." - -"Do you think I ought to have taken any further measures?" I asked -uneasily. - -"No; I don't see how you could. You did all that was possible under the -circumstances. You gave information, which is all that a private -individual can do, especially if he is an overworked general -practitioner. But still, an actual crime is the affair of every good -citizen. I think we ought to take some action." - -"You think there really was a crime, then?" - -"What else can one think? What do you think about it yourself?" - -"I don't like to think about it at all. The recollection of that -corpse-like figure in that gloomy bedroom has haunted me ever since I -left the house. What do you suppose has happened?" - -Thorndyke did not answer for a few seconds. At length he said gravely: - -"I am afraid, Jervis, that the answer to that question can be given in -one word." - -"Murder?" I asked with a slight shudder. - -He nodded, and we were both silent for a while. - -"The probability," he resumed after a pause, "that Mr. Graves is alive -at this moment seems to me infinitesimal. There was evidently a -conspiracy to murder him, and the deliberate, persistent manner in which -that object was being pursued points to a very strong and definite -motive. Then the tactics adopted point to considerable forethought and -judgment. They are not the tactics of a fool or an ignoramus. We may -criticize the closed carriage as a tactical mistake, calculated to -arouse suspicion, but we have to weigh it against its alternative." - -"What is that?" - -"Well, consider the circumstances. Suppose Weiss had called you in in -the ordinary way. You would still have detected the use of poison. But -now you could have located your man and made inquiries about him in the -neighbourhood. You would probably have given the police a hint and they -would almost certainly have taken action, as they would have had the -means of identifying the parties. The result would have been fatal to -Weiss. The closed carriage invited suspicion, but it was a great -safeguard. Weiss's method's were not so unsound after all. He is a -cautious man, but cunning and very persistent. And he could be bold on -occasion. The use of the blinded carriage was a decidedly audacious -proceeding. I should put him down as a gambler of a very discreet, -courageous and resourceful type." - -"Which all leads to the probability that he has pursued his scheme and -brought it to a successful issue." - -"I am afraid it does. But--have you got your notes of the -compass-bearings?" - -"The book is in my overcoat pocket with the board. I will fetch them." - -I went into the office, where our coats hung, and brought back the -notebook with the little board to which it was still attached by the -rubber band. Thorndyke took them from me, and, opening the book, ran -his eye quickly down one page after another. Suddenly he glanced at the -clock. - -"It is a little late to begin," said he, "but these notes look rather -alluring. I am inclined to plot them out at once. I fancy, from their -appearance, that they will enable us to locate the house without much -difficulty. But don't let me keep you up if you are tired. I can work -them out by myself." - -"You won't do anything of the kind," I exclaimed. "I am as keen on -plotting them as you are, and, besides, I want to see how it is done. It -seems to be a rather useful accomplishment." - -"It is," said Thorndyke. "In our work, the ability to make a rough but -reliable sketch survey is often of great value. Have you ever looked -over these notes?" - -"No. I put the book away when I came in and have never looked at it -since." - -"It is a quaint document. You seem to be rich in railway bridges in -those parts, and the route was certainly none of the most direct, as you -noticed at the time. However, we will plot it out and then we shall see -exactly what it looks like and whither it leads us." - -He retired to the laboratory and presently returned with a T-square, a -military protractor, a pair of dividers and a large drawing-board on -which was pinned a sheet of cartridge paper. - -"Now," said he, seating himself at the table with the board before him, -"as to the method. You started from a known position and you arrived at -a place the position of which is at present unknown. We shall fix the -position of that spot by applying two factors, the distance that you -travelled and the direction in which you were moving. The direction is -given by the compass; and, as the horse seems to have kept up a -remarkably even pace, we can take time as representing distance. You -seem to have been travelling at about eight miles an hour, that is, -roughly, a seventh of a mile in one minute. So if, on our chart, we take -one inch as representing one minute, we shall be working with a scale of -about seven inches to the mile." - -"That doesn't sound very exact as to distance," I objected. - -"It isn't. But that doesn't matter much. We have certain landmarks, such -as these railway arches that you have noted, by which the actual -distance can be settled after the route is plotted. You had better read -out the entries, and, opposite each, write a number for reference, so -that we need not confuse the chart by writing details on it. I shall -start near the middle of the board, as neither you nor I seem to have -the slightest notion what your general direction was." - -I laid the open notebook before me and read out the first entry: - -"'Eight fifty-eight. West by South. Start from home. Horse thirteen -hands.'" - -"You turned round at once, I understand," said Thorndyke, "so we draw no -line in that direction. The next is--?" - -"'Eight fifty-eight minutes, thirty seconds, East by North'; and the -next is 'Eight fifty-nine, North-east.'" - -"Then you travelled east by north about a fifteenth of a mile and we -shall put down half an inch on the chart. Then you turned north-east. -How long did you go on?" - -"Exactly a minute. The next entry is 'Nine. West north-west.'" - -"Then you travelled about the seventh of a mile in a north-easterly -direction and we draw a line an inch long at an angle of forty-five -degrees to the right of the north and south line. From the end of that -we carry a line at an angle of fifty-six and a quarter degrees to the -left of the north and south line, and so on. The method is perfectly -simple, you see." - -"Perfectly; I quite understand it now." - -I went back to my chair and continued to read out the entries from the -notebook while Thorndyke laid off the lines of direction with the -protractor, taking out the distances with the dividers from a scale of -equal parts on the back of the instrument. As the work proceeded, I -noticed, from time to time, a smile of quiet amusement spread over my -colleague's keen, attentive face, and at each new reference to a railway -bridge he chuckled softly. - -"What, again!" he laughed, as I recorded the passage of the fifth or -sixth bridge. "It's like a game of croquet. Go on. What is the next?" - -I went on reading out the notes until I came to the final one: - -"'Nine twenty-four. South-east. In covered way. Stop. Wooden gates -closed.'" - -Thorndyke ruled off the last line, remarking: "Then your covered way is -on the south side of a street which bears north-east. So we complete our -chart. Just look at your route, Jervis." - -He held up the board with a quizzical smile and I stared in astonishment -at the chart. The single line, which represented the route of the -carriage, zigzagged in the most amazing manner, turning, re-turning and -crossing itself repeatedly, evidently passing more than once down the -same thoroughfares and terminating at a comparatively short distance -from its commencement. - -"Why!" I exclaimed, the "rascal must have lived quite near to -Stillbury's house!" - -Thorndyke measured with the dividers the distance between the starting -and arriving points of the route and took it off from the scale. - -"Five-eighths of a mile, roughly," he said. "You could have walked it in -less than ten minutes. And now let us get out the ordnance map and see -if we can give to each of those marvellously erratic lines 'a local -habitation and a name.'" - -He spread the map out on the table and placed our chart by its side. - -"I think," said he, "you started from Lower Kennington Lane?" - -"Yes, from this point," I replied, indicating the spot with a pencil. - -"Then," said Thorndyke, "if we swing the chart round twenty degrees to -correct the deviation of the compass, we can compare it with the -ordnance map." - -He set off with the protractor an angle of twenty degrees from the -north and south line and turned the chart round to that extent. After -closely scrutinizing the map and the chart and comparing the one with -the other, he said: - -"By mere inspection it seems fairly easy to identify the thoroughfares -that correspond to the lines of the chart. Take the part that is near -your destination. At nine twenty-one you passed under a bridge, going -westward. That would seem to be Glasshouse Street. Then you turned -south, apparently along the Albert Embankment, where you heard the tug's -whistle. Then you heard a passenger train start on your left; that would -be Vauxhall Station. Next you turned round due east and passed under a -large railway bridge, which suggests the bridge that carries the Station -over Upper Kennington Lane. If that is so, your house should be on the -south side of Upper Kennington Lane, some three hundred yards from the -bridge. But we may as well test our inferences by one or two -measurements." - -"How can you do that if you don't know the exact scale of the chart?" - -"I will show you," said Thorndyke. "We shall establish the true scale -and that will form part of the proof." - -He rapidly constructed on the upper blank part of the paper, a -proportional diagram consisting of two intersecting lines with a single -cross-line. - -"This long line," he explained, "is the distance from Stillbury's house -to the Vauxhall railway bridge as it appears on the chart; the shorter -cross-line is the same distance taken from the ordnance map. If our -inference is correct and the chart is reasonably accurate, all the other -distances will show a similar proportion. Let us try some of them. Take -the distance from Vauxhall bridge to the Glasshouse Street bridge." - -[Illustration: The Track Chart, showing the route followed by Weiss's -carriage. - -A.--Starting-point in Lower Kennington Lane. - -B.--Position of Mr. Weiss's house. The dotted lines connecting the -bridges indicate probable railway lines.] - -He made the two measurements carefully, and, as the point of the -dividers came down almost precisely in the correct place on the diagram, -he looked up at me. - -"Considering the roughness of the method by which the chart was made, I -think that is pretty conclusive, though, if you look at the various -arches that you passed under and see how nearly they appear to follow -the position of the South-Western Railway line, you hardly need further -proof. But I will take a few more proportional measurements for the -satisfaction of proving the case by scientific methods before we proceed -to verify our conclusions by a visit to the spot." - -He took off one or two more distances, and on comparing them with the -proportional distances on the ordnance map, found them in every case as -nearly correct as could be expected. - -"Yes," said Thorndyke, laying down the dividers, "I think we have -narrowed down the locality of Mr. Weiss's house to a few yards in a -known street. We shall get further help from your note of nine -twenty-three thirty, which records a patch of newly laid macadam -extending up to the house." - -"That new macadam will be pretty well smoothed down by now," I objected. - -"Not so very completely," answered Thorndyke. "It is only a little over -a month ago, and there has been very little wet weather since. It may be -smooth, but it will be easily distinguishable from the old." - -"And do I understand that you propose to go and explore the -neighbourhood?" - -"Undoubtedly I do. That is to say, I intend to convert the locality of -this house into a definite address; which, I think, will now be -perfectly easy, unless we should have the bad luck to find more than one -covered way. Even then, the difficulty would be trifling." - -"And when you have ascertained where Mr. Weiss lives? What then?" - -"That will depend on circumstances. I think we shall probably call at -Scotland Yard and have a little talk with our friend Mr. Superintendent -Miller; unless, for any reason, it seems better to look into the case -ourselves." - -"When is this voyage of exploration to take place?" - -Thorndyke considered this question, and, taking out his pocket-book, -glanced through his engagements. - -"It seems to me," he said, "that to-morrow is a fairly free day. We -could take the morning without neglecting other business. I suggest that -we start immediately after breakfast. How will that suit my learned -friend?" - -"My time is yours," I replied; "and if you choose to waste it on matters -that don't concern you, that's your affair." - -"Then we will consider the arrangement to stand for to-morrow morning, -or rather, for this morning, as I see that it is past twelve." - -With this Thorndyke gathered up the chart and instruments and we -separated for the night. - - - - -Chapter IX - -The House of Mystery - - -Half-past nine on the following morning found us spinning along the -Albert Embankment in a hansom to the pleasant tinkle of the horse's -bell. Thorndyke appeared to be in high spirits, though the full -enjoyment of the matutinal pipe precluded fluent conversation. As a -precaution, he had put my notebook in his pocket before starting, and -once or twice he took it out and looked over its pages; but he made no -reference to the object of our quest, and the few remarks that he -uttered would have indicated that his thoughts were occupied with other -matters. - -Arrived at Vauxhall Station, we alighted and forthwith made our way to -the bridge that spans Upper Kennington Lane near its junction with -Harleyford Road. - -"Here is our starting point," said Thorndyke. "From this place to the -house is about three hundred yards--say four hundred and twenty -paces--and at about two hundred paces we ought to reach our patch of new -road-metal. Now, are you ready? If we keep step we shall average our -stride." - -We started together at a good pace, stepping out with military -regularity and counting aloud as we went. As we told out the hundred and -ninety-fourth pace I observed Thorndyke nod towards the roadway a little -ahead, and, looking at it attentively as we approached, it was easy to -see by the regularity of surface and lighter colour, that it had -recently been re-metalled. - -Having counted out the four hundred and twenty paces, we halted, and -Thorndyke turned to me with a smile of triumph. - -"Not a bad estimate, Jervis," said he. "That will be your house if I am -not much mistaken. There is no other mews or private roadway in sight." - -He pointed to a narrow turning some dozen yards ahead, apparently the -entrance to a mews or yard and closed by a pair of massive wooden gates. - -"Yes," I answered, "there can be no doubt that this is the place; but, -by Jove!" I added, as we drew nearer, "the nest is empty! Do you see?" - -I pointed to a bill that was stuck on the gate, bearing, as I could see -at this distance, the inscription "To Let." - -"Here is a new and startling, if not altogether unexpected, -development," said Thorndyke, as we stood gazing at the bill; which set -forth that "these premises, including stabling and workshops," were "to -be let on lease or otherwise," and referred inquiries to Messrs. Ryebody -Brothers, house-agents and valuers, Upper Kennington Lane. "The question -is, should we make a few inquiries of the agent, or should we get the -keys and have a look at the inside of the house? I am inclined to do -both, and the latter first, if Messrs. Ryebody Brothers will trust us -with the keys." - -We proceeded up the lane to the address given, and, entering the -office, Thorndyke made his request--somewhat to the surprise of the -clerk; for Thorndyke was not quite the kind of person whom one naturally -associates with stabling and workshops. However, there was no -difficulty, but as the clerk sorted out the keys from a bunch hanging -from a hook, he remarked: - -"I expect you will find the place in a rather dirty and neglected -condition. The house has not been cleaned yet; it is just as it was left -when the brokers took away the furniture." - -"Was the last tenant sold up, then?" Thorndyke asked. - -"Oh, no. He had to leave rather unexpectedly to take up some business in -Germany." - -"I hope he paid his rent," said Thorndyke. - -"Oh, yes. Trust us for that. But I should say that Mr. Weiss--that was -his name--was a man of some means. He seemed to have plenty of money, -though he always paid in notes. I don't fancy he had a banking account -in this country. He hadn't been here more than about six or seven months -and I imagine he didn't know many people in England, as he paid us a -cash deposit in lieu of references when he first came." - -"I think you said his name was Weiss. It wouldn't be H. Weiss by any -chance?" - -"I believe it was. But I can soon tell you." He opened a drawer and -consulted what looked like a book of receipt forms. "Yes; H Weiss. Do -you know him, sir?" - -"I knew a Mr. H. Weiss some years ago. He came from Bremen, I -remember." - -"This Mr. Weiss has gone back to Hamburg," the clerk observed. - -"Ah," said Thorndyke, "then it would seem not to be the same. My -acquaintance was a fair man with a beard and a decidedly red nose and he -wore spectacles." - -"That's the man. You've described him exactly," said the clerk, who was -apparently rather easily satisfied in the matter of description. - -"Dear me," said Thorndyke; "what a small world it is. Do you happen to -have a note of his address in Hamburg?" - -"I haven't," the clerk replied. "You see we've done with him, having got -the rent, though the house is not actually surrendered yet. Mr Weiss's -housekeeper still has the front-door key. She doesn't start for Hamburg -for a week or so, and meanwhile she keeps the key so that she can call -every day and see if there are any letters." - -"Indeed," said Thorndyke. "I wonder if he still has the same -housekeeper." - -"This lady is a German," replied the clerk, "with a regular jaw-twisting -name. Sounded like Shallybang." - -"Schallibaum. That is the lady. A fair woman with hardly any eyebrows -and a pronounced cast in the left eye." - -"Now that's very curious, sir," said the clerk. "It's the same name, and -this is a fair woman with remarkably thin eyebrows, I remember, now that -you mention it. But it can't be the same person. I have only seen her a -few times and then only just for a minute or so; but I'm quite certain -she had no cast in her eye. So, you see, sir, she can't be the same -person. You can dye your hair or you can wear a wig or you can paint -your face; but a squint is a squint. There's no faking a swivel eye." - -Thorndyke laughed softly. "I suppose not; unless, perhaps, some one -might invent an adjustable glass eye. Are these the keys?" - -"Yes, sir. The large one belongs to the wicket in the front gate. The -other is the latch-key belonging to the side door. Mrs. Shallybang has -the key of the front door." - -"Thank you," said Thorndyke. He took the keys, to which a wooden label -was attached, and we made our way back towards the house of mystery, -discussing the clerk's statements as we went. - -"A very communicable young gentleman, that," Thorndyke remarked. "He -seemed quite pleased to relieve the monotony of office work with a -little conversation. And I am sure I was very delighted to indulge him." - -"He hadn't much to tell, all the same," said I. - -Thorndyke looked at me in surprise. "I don't know what you would have, -Jervis, unless you expect casual strangers to present you with a -ready-made body of evidence, fully classified, with all the inferences -and implications stated. It seemed to me that he was a highly -instructive young man." - -"What did you learn from him?" I asked. - -"Oh, come, Jervis," he protested; "is that a fair question, under our -present arrangement? However, I will mention a few points. We learn that -about six or seven months ago, Mr. H. Weiss dropped from the clouds into -Kennington Lane and that he has now ascended from Kennington Lane into -the clouds. That is a useful piece of information. Then we learn that -Mrs. Schallibaum has remained in England; which might be of little -importance if it were not for a very interesting corollary that it -suggests." - -"What is that?" - -"I must leave you to consider the facts at your leisure; but you will -have noticed the ostensible reason for her remaining behind. She is -engaged in puttying up the one gaping joint in their armour. One of them -has been indiscreet enough to give this address to some -correspondent--probably a foreign correspondent. Now, as they obviously -wish to leave no tracks, they cannot give their new address to the Post -Office to have their letters forwarded, and, on the other hand, a letter -left in the box might establish such a connection as would enable them -to be traced. Moreover, the letter might be of a kind that they would -not wish to fall into the wrong hands. They would not have given this -address excepting under some peculiar circumstances." - -"No, I should think not, if they took this house for the express purpose -of committing a crime in it." - -"Exactly. And then there is one other fact that you may have gathered -from our young friend's remarks." - -"What is that?" - -"That a controllable squint is a very valuable asset to a person who -wishes to avoid identification." - -"Yes, I did note that. The fellow seemed to think that it was absolutely -conclusive." - -"And so would most people; especially in the case of a squint of that -kind. We can all squint towards our noses, but no normal person can turn -his eyes away from one another. My impression is that the presence or -absence, as the case might be, of a divergent squint would be accepted -as absolute disproof of identity. But here we are." - -He inserted the key into the wicket of the large gate, and, when we had -stepped through into the covered way, he locked it from the inside. - -"Why have you locked us in?" I asked, seeing that the wicket had a -latch. - -"Because," he replied, "if we now hear any one on the premises we shall -know who it is. Only one person besides ourselves has a key." - -His reply startled me somewhat. I stopped and looked at him. - -"That is a quaint situation, Thorndyke. I hadn't thought of it. Why she -may actually come to the house while we are here; in fact, she may be in -the house at this moment." - -"I hope not," said he. "We don't particularly want Mr. Weiss to be put -on his guard, for I take it, he is a pretty wide-awake gentleman under -any circumstances. If she does come, we had better keep out of sight. I -think we will look over the house first. That is of the most interest to -us. If the lady does happen to come while we are here, she may stay to -show us over the place and keep an eye on us. So we will leave the -stables to the last." - -We walked down the entry to the side door at which I had been admitted -by Mrs. Schallibaum on the occasion of my previous visits. Thorndyke -inserted the latch-key, and, as soon as we were inside, shut the door -and walked quickly through into the hall, whither I followed him. He -made straight for the front door, where, having slipped up the catch of -the lock, he began very attentively to examine the letter-box. It was a -somewhat massive wooden box, fitted with a lock of good quality and -furnished with a wire grille through which one could inspect the -interior. - -"We are in luck, Jervis," Thorndyke remarked. "Our visit has been most -happily timed. There is a letter in the box." - -"Well," I said, "we can't get it out; and if we could, it would be -hardly justifiable." - -"I don't know," he replied, "that I am prepared to assent off-hand to -either of those propositions; but I would rather not tamper with another -person's letter, even if that person should happen to be a murderer. -Perhaps we can get the information we want from the outside of the -envelope." - -He produced from his pocket a little electric lamp fitted with a -bull's-eye, and, pressing the button, threw a beam of light in through -the grille. The letter was lying on the bottom of the box face upwards, -so that the address could easily be read. - -"Herrn Dr. H. Weiss," Thorndyke read aloud. "German stamp, postmark -apparently Darmstadt. You notice that the 'Herrn Dr.' is printed and the -rest written. What do you make of that?" - -"I don't quite know. Do you think he is really a medical man?" - -"Perhaps we had better finish our investigation, in case we are -disturbed, and discuss the bearings of the facts afterwards. The name of -the sender may be on the flap of the envelope. If it is not, I shall -pick the lock and take out the letter. Have you got a probe about you?" - -"Yes; by force of habit I am still carrying my pocket case." - -I took the little case from my pocket and extracting from it a jointed -probe of thickish silver wire, screwed the two halves together and -handed the completed instrument to Thorndyke; who passed the slender rod -through the grille and adroitly turned the letter over. - -"Ha!" he exclaimed with deep satisfaction, as the light fell on the -reverse of the envelope, "we are saved from the necessity of theft--or -rather, unauthorized borrowing--'Johann Schnitzler, Darmstadt.' That is -all that we actually want. The German police can do the rest if -necessary." - -He handed me back my probe, pocketed his lamp, released the catch of the -lock on the door, and turned away along the dark, musty-smelling hall. - -"Do you happen to know the name of Johann Schnitzler?" he asked. - -I replied that I had no recollection of ever having heard the name -before. - -"Neither have I," said he; "but I think we may form a pretty shrewd -guess as to his avocation. As you saw, the words 'Herrn Dr.' were -printed on the envelope, leaving the rest of the address to be written -by hand. The plain inference is that he is a person who habitually -addresses letters to medical men, and as the style of the envelope and -the lettering--which is printed, not embossed--is commercial, we may -assume that he is engaged in some sort of trade. Now, what is a likely -trade?" - -"He might be an instrument maker or a drug manufacturer; more probably -the latter, as there is an extensive drug and chemical industry in -Germany, and as Mr. Weiss seemed to have more use for drugs than -instruments." - -"Yes, I think you are right; but we will look him up when we get home. -And now we had better take a glance at the bedroom; that is, if you can -remember which room it was." - -"It was on the first floor," said I, "and the door by which I entered -was just at the head of the stairs." - -We ascended the two flights, and, as we reached the landing, I halted. - -"This was the door," I said, and was about to turn the handle when -Thorndyke caught me by the arm. - -"One moment, Jervis," said he. "What do you make of this?" - -He pointed to a spot near the bottom of the door where, on close -inspection, four good-sized screw-holes were distinguishable. They had -been neatly stopped with putty and covered with knotting, and were so -nearly the colour of the grained and varnished woodwork as to be hardly -visible. - -"Evidently," I answered, "there has been a bolt there, though it seems a -queer place to fix one." - -"Not at all," replied Thorndyke. "If you look up you will see that there -was another at the top of the door, and, as the lock is in the middle, -they must have been highly effective. But there are one or two other -points that strike one. First, you will notice that the bolts have been -fixed on quite recently, for the paint that they covered is of the same -grimy tint as that on the rest of the door. Next, they have been taken -off, which, seeing that they could hardly have been worth the trouble of -removal, seems to suggest that the person who fixed them considered that -their presence might appear remarkable, while the screw-holes, which -have been so skilfully and carefully stopped, would be less conspicuous. - -"Then, they are on the outside of the door--an unusual situation for -bedroom bolts--and were of considerable size. They were long and thick." - -"I can see, by the position of the screw-holes, that they were long; but -how do you arrive at their thickness?" - -"By the size of the counter-holes in the jamb of the door. These holes -have been very carefully filled with wooden plugs covered with knotting; -but you can make out their diameter, which is that of the bolts, and -which is decidedly out of proportion for an ordinary bedroom door. Let -me show you a light." - -He flashed his lamp into the dark corner, and I was able to see -distinctly the portentously large holes into which the bolts had fitted, -and also to note the remarkable neatness with which they had been -plugged. - -"There was a second door, I remember," said I. "Let us see if that was -guarded in a similar manner." - -We strode through the empty room, awakening dismal echoes as we trod the -bare boards, and flung open the other door. At top and bottom, similar -groups of screw-holes showed that this also had been made secure, and -that these bolts had been of the same very substantial character as the -others. - -Thorndyke turned away from the door with a slight frown. - -"If we had any doubts," said he, "as to what has been going on in this -house, these traces of massive fastenings would be almost enough to -settle them." - -"They might have been there before Weiss came," I suggested. "He only -came about seven months ago and there is no date on the screw-holes." - -"That is quite true. But when, with their recent fixture, you couple the -facts that they have been removed, that very careful measures have been -taken to obliterate the traces of their presence, and that they would -have been indispensable for the commission of the crime that we are -almost certain was being committed here, it looks like an excess of -caution to seek other explanations." - -"But," I objected, "if the man, Graves, was really imprisoned, could not -he have smashed the window and called for help?" - -"The window looks out on the yard, as you see; but I expect it was -secured too." - -He drew the massive, old-fashioned shutters out of their recess and -closed them. - -"Yes, here we are." He pointed to four groups of screw-holes at the -corners of the shutters, and, once more producing his lamp, narrowly -examined the insides of the recesses into which the shutters folded. - -"The nature of the fastening is quite evident," said he. "An iron bar -passed right across at the top and bottom and was secured by a staple -and padlock. You can see the mark the bar made in the recess when the -shutters were folded. When these bars were fixed and padlocked and the -bolts were shot, this room was as secure, for a prisoner unprovided with -tools, as a cell in Newgate." - -We looked at one another for awhile without speaking; and I fancy that -if Mr. H. Weiss could have seen our faces he might have thought it -desirable to seek some retreat even more remote than Hamburg. - -"It was a diabolical affair, Jervis," Thorndyke said at length, in an -ominously quiet and even gentle tone. "A sordid, callous, cold-blooded -crime of a type that is to me utterly unforgivable and incapable of -extenuation. Of course, it may have failed. Mr. Graves may even now be -alive. I shall make it my very especial business to ascertain whether he -is or not. And if he is not, I shall take it to myself as a sacred duty -to lay my hand on the man who has compassed his death." - -I looked at Thorndyke with something akin to awe. In the quiet -unemotional tone of his voice, in his unruffled manner and the stony -calm of his face, there was something much more impressive, more -fateful, than there could have been in the fiercest threats or the most -passionate denunciations. I felt that in those softly spoken words he -had pronounced the doom of the fugitive villain. - -He turned away from the window and glanced round the empty room. It -seemed that our discovery of the fastenings had exhausted the -information that it had to offer. - -"It is a thousand pities," I remarked, "that we were unable to look -round before they moved out the furniture. We might have found some clue -to the scoundrel's identity." - -"Yes," replied Thorndyke; "there isn't much information to be gathered -here, I am afraid. I see they have swept up the small litter from the -floor and poked it under the grate. We will turn that over, as there -seems to be nothing else, and then look at the other rooms." - -He raked out the little heap of rubbish with his stick and spread it out -on the hearth. It certainly looked unpromising enough, being just such a -rubbish heap as may be swept up in any untidy room during a move. But -Thorndyke went through it systematically, examining each item -attentively, even to the local tradesmen's bills and empty paper bags, -before laying them aside. Another rake of his stick scattered the bulky -masses of crumpled paper and brought into view an object which he picked -up with some eagerness. It was a portion of a pair of spectacles, which -had apparently been trodden on, for the side-bar was twisted and bent -and the glass was shattered into fragments. - -"This ought to give us a hint," said he. "It will probably have belonged -either to Weiss or Graves, as Mrs. Schallibaum apparently did not wear -glasses. Let us see if we can find the remainder." - -We both groped carefully with our sticks amongst the rubbish, spreading -it out on the hearth and removing the numerous pieces of crumpled paper. -Our search was rewarded by the discovery of the second eye-piece of the -spectacles, of which the glass was badly cracked but less shattered than -the other. I also picked up two tiny sticks at which Thorndyke looked -with deep interest before laying them on the mantelshelf. - -"We will consider them presently," said he. "Let us finish with the -spectacles first. You see that the left eye-glass is a concave -cylindrical lens of some sort. We can make out that much from the -fragments that remain, and we can measure the curvature when we get them -home, although that will be easier if we can collect some more fragments -and stick them together. The right eye is plain glass; that is quite -evident. Then these will have belonged to your patient, Jervis. You said -that the tremulous iris was in the right eye, I think?" - -"Yes," I replied. "These will be his spectacles, without doubt." - -"They are peculiar frames," he continued. "If they were made in this -country, we might be able to discover the maker. But we must collect as -many fragments of glass as we can." - -Once more we searched amongst the rubbish and succeeded, eventually, in -recovering some seven or eight small fragments of the broken -spectacle-glasses, which Thorndyke laid on the mantelshelf beside the -little sticks. - -"By the way, Thorndyke," I said, taking up the latter to examine them -afresh, "what are these things? Can you make anything of them?" - -He looked at them thoughtfully for a few moments and then replied: - -"I don't think I will tell you what they are. You should find that out -for yourself, and it will be well worth your while to do so. They are -rather suggestive objects under the circumstances. But notice their -peculiarities carefully. Both are portions of some smooth, stout reed. -There is a long, thin stick--about six inches long--and a thicker piece -only three inches in length. The longer piece has a little scrap of red -paper stuck on at the end; apparently a portion of a label of some kind -with an ornamental border. The other end of the stick has been broken -off. The shorter, stouter stick has had its central cavity artificially -enlarged so that it fits over the other to form a cap or sheath. Make a -careful note of those facts and try to think what they probably mean; -what would be the most likely use for an object of this kind. When you -have ascertained that, you will have learned something new about this -case. And now, to resume our investigations. Here is a very suggestive -thing." He picked up a small, wide-mouthed bottle and, holding it up for -my inspection, continued: "Observe the fly sticking to the inside, and -the name on the label, 'Fox, Russell Street, Covent Garden.'" - -"I don't know Mr. Fox." - -"Then I will inform you that he is a dealer in the materials for -'make-up,' theatrical or otherwise, and will leave you to consider the -bearing of this bottle on our present investigation. There doesn't seem -to be anything else of interest in this El Dorado excepting that screw, -which you notice is about the size of those with which the bolts were -fastened on the doors. I don't think it is worth while to unstop any of -the holes to try it; we should learn nothing fresh." - -He rose, and, having kicked the discarded rubbish back under the grate, -gathered up his gleanings from the mantelpiece, carefully bestowing the -spectacles and the fragments of glass in the tin box that he appeared -always to carry in his pocket, and wrapping the larger objects in his -handkerchief. - -"A poor collection," was his comment, as he returned the box and -handkerchief to his pocket, "and yet not so poor as I had feared. -Perhaps, if we question them closely enough, these unconsidered trifles -may be made to tell us something worth learning after all. Shall we go -into the other room?" - -We passed out on to the landing and into the front room, where, guided -by experience, we made straight for the fire-place. But the little heap -of rubbish there contained nothing that even Thorndyke's inquisitive eye -could view with interest. We wandered disconsolately round the room, -peering into the empty cupboards and scanning the floor and the corners -by the skirting, without discovering a single object or relic of the -late occupants. In the course of my perambulations I halted by the -window and was looking down into the street when Thorndyke called to me -sharply: - -"Come away from the window, Jervis! Have you forgotten that Mrs. -Schallibaum may be in the neighbourhood at this moment?" - -As a matter of fact I had entirely forgotten the matter, nor did it now -strike me as anything but the remotest of possibilities. I replied to -that effect. - -"I don't agree with you," Thorndyke rejoined. "We have heard that she -comes here to look for letters. Probably she comes every day, or even -oftener. There is a good deal at stake, remember, and they cannot feel -quite as secure as they would wish. Weiss must have seen what view you -took of the case and must have had some uneasy moments thinking of what -you might do. In fact, we may take it that the fear of you drove them -out of the neighbourhood, and that they are mighty anxious to get that -letter and cut the last link that binds them to this house." - -"I suppose that is so," I agreed; "and if the lady should happen to pass -this way and should see me at the window and recognize me, she would -certainly smell a rat." - -"A rat!" exclaimed Thorndyke. "She would smell a whole pack of foxes, -and Mr. H. Weiss would be more on his guard than ever. Let us have a -look at the other rooms; there is nothing here." - -We went up to the next floor and found traces of recent occupation in -one room only. The garrets had evidently been unused, and the kitchen -and ground-floor rooms offered nothing that appeared to Thorndyke worth -noting. Then we went out by the side door and down the covered way into -the yard at the back. The workshops were fastened with rusty padlocks -that looked as if they had not been disturbed for months. The stables -were empty and had been tentatively cleaned out, the coach-house was -vacant, and presented no traces of recent use excepting a half-bald -spoke-brush. We returned up the covered way and I was about to close the -side door, which Thorndyke had left ajar, when he stopped me. - -"We'll have another look at the hall before we go," said he; and, -walking softly before me, he made his way to the front door, where, -producing his lamp, he threw a beam of light into the letter-box. - -"Any more letters?" I asked. - -"Any more!" he repeated. "Look for yourself." - -I stooped and peered through the grille into the lighted interior; and -then I uttered an exclamation. - -The box was empty. - -Thorndyke regarded me with a grim smile. "We have been caught on the -hop, Jervis, I suspect," said he. - -"It is queer," I replied. "I didn't hear any sound of the opening or -closing of the door; did you?" - -"No; I didn't hear any sound; which makes me suspect that she did. She -would have heard our voices and she is probably keeping a sharp look-out -at this very moment. I wonder if she saw you at the window. But whether -she did or not, we must go very warily. Neither of us must return to the -Temple direct, and we had better separate when we have returned the keys -and I will watch you out of sight and see if anyone is following you. -What are you going to do?" - -"If you don't want me, I shall run over to Kensington and drop in to -lunch at the Hornbys'. I said I would call as soon as I had an hour or -so free." - -"Very well. Do so; and keep a look-out in case you are followed. I have -to go down to Guildford this afternoon. Under the circumstances, I shall -not go back home, but send Polton a telegram and take a train at -Vauxhall and change at some small station where I can watch the -platform. Be as careful as you can. Remember that what you have to -avoid is being followed to any place where you are known, and, above -all, revealing your connection with number Five A, King's Bench Walk." - -Having thus considered our immediate movements, we emerged together from -the wicket, and locking it behind us, walked quickly to the -house-agents', where an opportune office-boy received the keys without -remark. As we came out of the office, I halted irresolutely and we both -looked up and down the lane. - -"There is no suspicious looking person in sight at present," Thorndyke -said, and then asked: "Which way do you think of going?" - -"It seems to me," I replied, "that my best plan would be to take a cab -or an omnibus so as to get out of the neighbourhood as quickly as -possible. If I go through Ravensden Street into Kennington Park Road, I -can pick up an omnibus that will take me to the Mansion House, where I -can change for Kensington. I shall go on the top so that I can keep a -look-out for any other omnibus or cab that may be following." - -"Yes," said Thorndyke, "that seems a good plan. I will walk with you and -see that you get a fair start." - -We walked briskly along the lane and through Ravensden Street to the -Kennington Park Road. An omnibus was approaching from the south at a -steady jog-trot and we halted at the corner to wait for it. Several -people passed us in different directions, but none seemed to take any -particular notice of us, though we observed them rather narrowly, -especially the women. Then the omnibus crawled up. I sprang on the -foot-board and ascended to the roof, where I seated myself and surveyed -the prospect to the rear. No one else got on the omnibus--which had not -stopped--and no cab or other passenger vehicle was in sight. I continued -to watch Thorndyke as he stood sentinel at the corner, and noted that no -one appeared to be making any effort to overtake the omnibus. Presently -my colleague waved his hand to me and turned back towards Vauxhall, and -I, having satisfied myself once more that no pursuing cab or hurrying -foot-passenger was in sight, decided that our precautions had been -unnecessary and settled myself in a rather more comfortable position. - - - - -Chapter X - -The Hunter Hunted - - -The omnibus of those days was a leisurely vehicle. Its ordinary pace was -a rather sluggish trot, and in a thickly populated thoroughfare its -speed was further reduced by frequent stoppages. Bearing these facts in -mind, I gave an occasional backward glance as we jogged northward, -though my attention soon began to wander from the rather remote -possibility of pursuit to the incidents of our late exploration. - -It had not been difficult to see that Thorndyke was very well pleased -with the results of our search, but excepting the letter--which -undoubtedly opened up a channel for further inquiry and possible -identification--I could not perceive that any of the traces that we had -found justified his satisfaction. There were the spectacles, for -instance. They were almost certainly the pair worn by Mr. Graves. But -what then? It was exceedingly improbable that we should be able to -discover the maker of them, and if we were, it was still more improbable -that he would be able to give us any information that would help us. -Spectacle-makers are not usually on confidential terms with their -customers. - -As to the other objects, I could make nothing of them. The little sticks -of reed evidently had some use that was known to Thorndyke and -furnished, by inference, some kind of information about Weiss, Graves, -or Mrs. Schallibaum. But I had never seen anything like them before and -they conveyed nothing whatever to me. Then the bottle that had seemed so -significant to Thorndyke was to me quite uninforming. It did, indeed, -suggest that some member of the household might be connected with the -stage, but it gave no hint as to which one. Certainly that person was -not Mr. Weiss, whose appearance was as remote from that of an actor as -could well be imagined. At any rate, the bottle and its label gave me no -more useful hint than it might be worth while to call on Mr. Fox and -make inquiries; and something told me very emphatically that this was -not what it had conveyed to Thorndyke. - -These reflections occupied me until the omnibus, having rumbled over -London Bridge and up King William Street, joined the converging streams -of traffic at the Mansion House. Here I got down and changed to an -omnibus bound for Kensington; on which I travelled westward pleasantly -enough, looking down into the teeming streets and whiling away the time -by meditating upon the very agreeable afternoon that I promised myself, -and considering how far my new arrangement with Thorndyke would justify -me in entering into certain domestic engagements of a highly interesting -kind. - -What might have happened under other circumstances it is impossible to -tell and useless to speculate; the fact is that my journey ended in a -disappointment. I arrived, all agog, at the familiar house in Endsley -Gardens only to be told by a sympathetic housemaid that the family was -out; that Mrs. Hornby had gone into the country and would not be home -until night, and--which mattered a good deal more to me--that her niece, -Miss Juliet Gibson, had accompanied her. - -Now a man who drops into lunch without announcing his intention or -previously ascertaining those of his friends has no right to quarrel -with fate if he finds an empty house. Thus philosophically I reflected -as I turned away from the house in profound discontent, demanding of the -universe in general why Mrs. Hornby need have perversely chosen my first -free day to go gadding into the country, and above all, why she must -needs spirit away the fair Juliet. This was the crowning misfortune (for -I could have endured the absence of the elder lady with commendable -fortitude), and since I could not immediately return to the Temple it -left me a mere waif and stray for the time being. - -Instinct--of the kind that manifests itself especially about one -o'clock in the afternoon--impelled me in the direction of Brompton Road, -and finally landed me at a table in a large restaurant apparently -adjusted to the needs of ladies who had come from a distance to engage -in the feminine sport of shopping. Here, while waiting for my lunch, I -sat idly scanning the morning paper and wondering what I should do with -the rest of the day; and presently it chanced that my eye caught the -announcement of a matinee at the theatre in Sloane Square. It was quite -a long time since I had been at a theatre, and, as the play--light -comedy--seemed likely to satisfy my not very critical taste, I decided -to devote the afternoon to reviving my acquaintance with the drama. -Accordingly as soon as my lunch was finished, I walked down the Brompton -Road, stepped on to an omnibus, and was duly deposited at the door of -the theatre. A couple of minutes later I found myself occupying an -excellent seat in the second row of the pit, oblivious alike of my -recent disappointment and of Thorndyke's words of warning. - -I am not an enthusiastic play-goer. To dramatic performances I am -disposed to assign nothing further than the modest function of -furnishing entertainment. I do not go to a theatre to be instructed or -to have my moral outlook elevated. But, by way of compensation, I am not -difficult to please. To a simple play, adjusted to my primitive taste, I -can bring a certain bucolic appreciation that enables me to extract from -the performance the maximum of enjoyment; and when, on this occasion, -the final curtain fell and the audience rose, I rescued my hat from its -insecure resting-place and turned to go with the feeling that I had -spent a highly agreeable afternoon. - -Emerging from the theatre, borne on the outgoing stream, I presently -found myself opposite the door of a tea-shop. Instinct--the five o'clock -instinct this time--guided me in; for we are creatures of habit, -especially of the tea habit. The unoccupied table to which I drifted was -in a shady corner not very far from the pay-desk; and here I had been -seated less than a minute when a lady passed me on her way to the -farther table. The glimpse that I caught of her as she approached--it -was but a glimpse, since she passed behind me--showed that she was -dressed in black, that she wore a beaded veil and hat, and in addition -to the glass of milk and the bun that she carried, she was encumbered by -an umbrella and a small basket, apparently containing some kind of -needlework. I must confess that I gave her very little attention at the -time, being occupied in anxious speculation as to how long it would be -before the fact of my presence would impinge on the consciousness of the -waitress. - -The exact time by the clock on the wall was three minutes and a quarter, -at the expiration of which an anaemic young woman sauntered up to the -table and bestowed on me a glance of sullen interrogation, as if mutely -demanding what the devil I wanted. I humbly requested that I might be -provided with a pot of tea; whereupon she turned on her heel (which was -a good deal worn down on the offside) and reported my conduct to a lady -behind a marble-topped counter. - -It seemed that the counter lady took a lenient view of the case, for in -less than four minutes the waitress returned and gloomily deposited on -the table before me a tea-pot, a milk-jug, a cup and saucer, a jug of -hot water, and a small pool of milk. Then she once more departed in -dudgeon. - -I had just given the tea in the pot a preliminary stir and was about to -pour out the first cup when I felt some one bump lightly against my -chair and heard something rattle on the floor. I turned quickly and -perceived the lady, whom I had seen enter, stooping just behind my -chair. It seemed that having finished her frugal meal she was on her way -out when she had dropped the little basket that I had noticed hanging -from her wrist; which basket had promptly disgorged its entire contents -on the floor. - -Now every one must have noticed the demon of agility that seems to enter -into an inanimate object when it is dropped, and the apparently -intelligent malice with which it discovers, and rolls into, the most -inaccessible places. Here was a case in point. This particular basket -had contained materials for Oriental bead-work; and no sooner had it -reached the floor than each item of its contents appeared to become -possessed of a separate and particular devil impelling it to travel at -headlong speed to some remote and unapproachable corner as distant as -possible from its fellows. - -As the only man--and almost the only person--near, the duty of -salvage-agent manifestly devolved upon me; and down I went, accordingly, -on my hands and knees, regardless of a nearly new pair of trousers, to -grope under tables, chairs and settles in reach of the scattered -treasure. A ball of the thick thread or twine I recovered from a dark -and dirty corner after a brief interview with the sharp corner of a -settle, and a multitude of the large beads with which this infernal -industry is carried on I gathered from all parts of the compass, coming -forth at length (quadrupedally) with a double handful of the -treasure-trove and a very lively appreciation of the resistant qualities -of a cast-iron table-stand when applied to the human cranium. - -The owner of the lost and found property was greatly distressed by the -accident and the trouble it had caused me; in fact she was quite -needlessly agitated about it. The hand which held the basket into which -I poured the rescued trash trembled visibly, and the brief glance that I -bestowed on her as she murmured her thanks and apologies--with a very -slight foreign accent--showed me that she was excessively pale. That -much I could see plainly in spite of the rather dim light in this part -of the shop and the beaded veil that covered her face; and I could also -see that she was a rather remarkable looking woman, with a great mass of -harsh, black hair and very broad black eyebrows that nearly met above -her nose and contrasted strikingly with the dead white of her skin. But, -of course, I did not look at her intently. Having returned her property -and received her acknowledgments, I resumed my seat and left her to go -on her way. - -I had once more grasped the handle of the tea-pot when I made a rather -curious discovery. At the bottom of the tea-cup lay a single lump of -sugar. To the majority of persons it would have meant nothing. They -would have assumed that they had dropped it in and forgotten it and -would have proceeded to pour out the tea. But it happened that, at this -time, I did not take sugar in my tea; whence it followed that the lump -had not been put in by me. Assuming, therefore, that it had been -carelessly dropped in by the waitress, I turned it out on the table, -filled the cup, added the milk, and took a tentative draught to test the -temperature. - -The cup was yet at my lips when I chanced to look into the mirror that -faced my table. Of course it reflected the part of the shop that was -behind me, including the cashier's desk; at which the owner of the -basket now stood paying for her refreshment. Between her and me was a -gas chandelier which cast its light on my back but full on her face; and -her veil notwithstanding, I could see that she was looking at me -steadily; was, in fact, watching me intently and with a very curious -expression--an expression of expectancy mingled with alarm. But this was -not all. As I returned her intent look--which I could do unobserved, -since my face, reflected in the mirror, was in deep shadow--I suddenly -perceived that that steady gaze engaged her right eye only; the other -eye was looking sharply towards her left shoulder. In short, she had a -divergent squint of the left eye. - -I put down my cup with a thrill of amazement and a sudden surging up of -suspicion and alarm. An instant's reflection reminded me that when she -had spoken to me a few moments before, both her eyes had looked into -mine without the slightest trace of a squint. My thoughts flew back to -the lump of sugar, to the unguarded milk-jug and the draught of tea that -I had already swallowed; and, hardly knowing what I intended, I started -to my feet and turned to confront her. But as I rose, she snatched up -her change and darted from the shop. Through the glass door, I saw her -spring on to the foot-board of a passing hansom and give the driver some -direction. I saw the man whip up his horse, and, by the time I reached -the door, the cab was moving off swiftly towards Sloane Street. - -I stood irresolute. I had not paid and could not run out of the shop -without making a fuss, and my hat and stick were still on the rail -opposite my seat. The woman ought to be followed, but I had no fancy for -the task. If the tea that I had swallowed was innocuous, no harm was -done and I was rid of my pursuer. So far as I was concerned, the -incident was closed. I went back to my seat, and picking up the lump of -sugar which still lay on the table where I had dropped it, put it -carefully in my pocket. But my appetite for tea was satisfied for the -present. Moreover it was hardly advisable to stay in the shop lest some -fresh spy should come to see how I fared. Accordingly I obtained my -check, handed it in at the cashier's desk and took my departure. - -All this time, it will be observed, I had been taking it for granted -that the lady in black had followed me from Kensington to this shop; -that, in fact, she was none other than Mrs. Schallibaum. And, indeed, -the circumstances had rendered the conclusion inevitable. In the very -instant when I had perceived the displacement of the left eye, complete -recognition had come upon me. When I had stood facing the woman, the -brief glance at her face had conveyed to me something dimly reminiscent -of which I had been but half conscious and had instantly forgotten. But -the sight of that characteristic squint had at once revived and -explained it. That the woman was Mrs. Schallibaum I now felt no doubt -whatever. - -Nevertheless, the whole affair was profoundly mysterious. As to the -change in the woman's appearance, there was little in that. The coarse, -black hair might be her own, dyed, or it might be a wig. The eyebrows -were made-up; it was a simple enough proceeding and made still more -simple by the beaded veil. But how did she come to be there at all? How -did she happen to be made-up in this fashion at this particular time? -And, above all, how came she to be provided with a lump of what I had -little doubt was poisoned sugar? - -I turned over the events of the day, and the more I considered them the -less comprehensible they appeared. No one had followed the omnibus -either on foot or in a vehicle, as far as I could see; and I had kept a -careful look-out, not only at starting but for some considerable time -after. Yet, all the time, Mrs. Schallibaum must have been following. -But how? If she had known that I was intending to travel by the omnibus -she might have gone to meet it and entered before I did. But she could -not have known: and moreover she did not meet the omnibus, for we -watched its approach from some considerable distance. I considered -whether she might not have been concealed in the house and overheard me -mention my destination to Thorndyke. But this failed to explain the -mystery, since I had mentioned no address beyond "Kensington." I had, -indeed, mentioned the name of Mrs. Hornby, but the supposition that my -friends might be known by name to Mrs. Schallibaum, or even that she -might have looked the name up in the directory, presented a probability -too remote to be worth entertaining. - -But, if I reached no satisfactory conclusion, my cogitations had one -useful effect; they occupied my mind to the exclusion of that -unfortunate draught of tea. Not that I had been seriously uneasy after -the first shock. The quantity that I had swallowed was not large--the -tea being hotter than I cared for--and I remembered that, when I had -thrown out the lump of sugar, I had turned the cup upside down on the -table; so there could have been nothing solid left in it. And the lump -of sugar was in itself reassuring, for it certainly would not have been -used in conjunction with any less conspicuous but more incriminating -form of poison. That lump of sugar was now in my pocket, reserved for -careful examination at my leisure; and I reflected with a faint grin -that it would be a little disconcerting if it should turn out to -contain nothing but sugar after all. - -On leaving the tea-shop, I walked up Sloane Street with the intention of -doing what I ought to have done earlier in the day. I was going to make -perfectly sure that no spy was dogging my footsteps. But for my -ridiculous confidence I could have done so quite easily before going to -Endsley Gardens; and now, made wiser by a startling experience, I -proceeded with systematic care. It was still broad daylight--for the -lamps in the tea-shop had been rendered necessary only by the faulty -construction of the premises and the dullness of the afternoon--and in -an open space I could see far enough for complete safety. Arriving at -the top of Sloane Street, I crossed Knightsbridge, and, entering Hyde -Park, struck out towards the Serpentine. Passing along the eastern -shore, I entered one of the long paths that lead towards the Marble Arch -and strode along it at such a pace as would make it necessary for any -pursuer to hurry in order to keep me in sight. Half-way across the great -stretch of turf, I halted for a few moments and noted the few people who -were coming in my direction. Then I turned sharply to the left and -headed straight for the Victoria Gate, but again, half-way, I turned off -among a clump of trees, and, standing behind the trunk of one of them, -took a fresh survey of the people who were moving along the paths. All -were at a considerable distance and none appeared to be coming my way. - -I now moved cautiously from one tree to another and passed through the -wooded region to the south, crossed the Serpentine bridge at a rapid -walk and hurrying along the south shore left the Park by Apsley House. -From hence I walked at the same rapid pace along Piccadilly, insinuating -myself among the crowd with the skill born of long acquaintance with the -London streets, crossed amidst the seething traffic at the Circus, -darted up Windmill Street and began to zigzag amongst the narrow streets -and courts of Soho. Crossing the Seven Dials and Drury Lane I passed -through the multitudinous back-streets and alleys that then filled the -area south of Lincoln's Inn, came out by Newcastle Street, Holywell -Street and Half-Moon Alley into the Strand, which I crossed immediately, -ultimately entering the Temple by Devereux Court. - -Even then I did not relax my precautions. From one court to another I -passed quickly, loitering in those dark entries and unexpected passages -that are known to so few but the regular Templars, and coming out into -the open only at the last where the wide passage of King's Bench Walk -admits of no evasion. Half-way up the stairs, I stood for some time in -the shadow, watching the approaches from the staircase window; and when, -at length, I felt satisfied that I had taken every precaution that was -possible, I inserted my key and let myself into our chambers. - -Thorndyke had already arrived, and, as I entered, he rose to greet me -with an expression of evident relief. - -"I am glad to see you, Jervis," he said. "I have been rather anxious -about you." - -"Why?" I asked. - -"For several reasons. One is that you are the sole danger that threatens -these people--as far as they know. Another is that we made a most -ridiculous mistake. We overlooked a fact that ought to have struck us -instantly. But how have you fared?" - -"Better than I deserved. That good lady stuck to me like a burr--at -least I believe she did." - -"I have no doubt she did. We have been caught napping finely, Jervis." - -"How?" - -"We'll go into that presently. Let us hear about your adventures first." - -I gave him a full account of my movements from the time when we parted -to that of my arrival home, omitting no incident that I was able to -remember and, as far as I could, reconstituting my exceedingly devious -homeward route. - -"Your retreat was masterly," he remarked with a broad smile. "I should -think that it would have utterly defeated any pursuer; and the only pity -is that it was probably wasted on the desert air. Your pursuer had by -that time become a fugitive. But you were wise to take these -precautions, for, of course, Weiss might have followed you." - -"But I thought he was in Hamburg?" - -"Did you? You are a very confiding young gentleman, for a budding -medical jurist. Of course we don't know that he is not; but the fact -that he has given Hamburg as his present whereabouts establishes a -strong presumption that he is somewhere else. I only hope that he has -not located you, and, from what you tell me of your later methods, I -fancy that you would have shaken him off even if he had started to -follow you from the tea-shop." - -"I hope so too. But how did that woman manage to stick to me in that -way? What was the mistake we made?" - -Thorndyke laughed grimly. "It was a perfectly asinine mistake, Jervis. -You started up Kennington Park Road on a leisurely, jog-trotting -omnibus, and neither you nor I remembered what there is underneath -Kennington Park Road." - -"Underneath!" I exclaimed, completely puzzled for the moment. Then, -suddenly realizing what he meant, "Of course!" I exclaimed. "Idiot that -I am! You mean the electric railway?" - -"Yes. That explains everything. Mrs. Schallibaum must have watched us -from some shop and quietly followed us up the lane. There were a good -many women about and several were walking in our direction. There was -nothing to distinguish her from the others unless you had recognized -her, which you would hardly have been able to do if she had worn a veil -and kept at a fair distance. At least I think not." - -"No," I agreed, "I certainly should not. I had only seen her in a -half-dark room. In outdoor clothes and with a veil, I should never have -been able to identify her without very close inspection. Besides there -was the disguise or make-up." - -"Not at that time. She would hardly come disguised to her own house, -for it might have led to her being challenged and asked who she was. I -think we may take it that there was no actual disguise, although she -would probably wear a shady hat and a veil; which would have prevented -either of us from picking her out from the other women in the street." - -"And what do you think happened next?" - -"I think that she simply walked past us--probably on the other side of -the road--as we stood waiting for the omnibus, and turned up Kennington -Park Road. She probably guessed that we were waiting for the omnibus and -walked up the road in the direction in which it was going. Presently the -omnibus would pass her, and there were you in full view on top keeping a -vigilant look-out in the wrong direction. Then she would quicken her -pace a little and in a minute or two would arrive at the Kennington -Station of the South London Railway. In a minute or two more she would -be in one of the electric trains whirling along under the street on -which your omnibus was crawling. She would get out at the Borough -Station, or she might take a more risky chance and go on to the -Monument; but in any case she would wait for your omnibus, hail it and -get inside. I suppose you took up some passengers on the way?" - -"Oh dear, yes. We were stopping every two or three minutes to take up or -set down passengers; and most of them were women." - -"Very well; then we may take it that when you arrived at the Mansion -House, Mrs. Schallibaum was one of your inside passengers. It was a -rather quaint situation, I think." - -"Yes, confound her! What a couple of noodles she must have thought us!" - -"No doubt. And that is the one consoling feature in the case. She will -have taken us for a pair of absolute greenhorns. But to continue. Of -course she travelled in your omnibus to Kensington--you ought to have -gone inside on both occasions, so that you could see every one who -entered and examine the inside passengers; she will have followed you to -Endsley Gardens and probably noted the house you went to. Thence she -will have followed you to the restaurant and may even have lunched -there." - -"It is quite possible," said I. "There were two rooms and they were -filled principally with women." - -"Then she will have followed you to Sloane Street, and, as you persisted -in riding outside, she could easily take an inside place in your -omnibus. As to the theatre, she must have taken it as a veritable gift -of the gods; an arrangement made by you for her special convenience." - -"Why?" - -"My dear fellow! consider. She had only to follow you in and see you -safely into your seat and there you were, left till called for. She -could then go home, make up for her part; draw out a plan of action, -with the help, perhaps, of Mr. Weiss, provide herself with the necessary -means and appliances and, at the appointed time, call and collect you." - -"That is assuming a good deal," I objected. "It is assuming, for -instance, that she lives within a moderate distance of Sloane Square. -Otherwise it would have been impossible." - -"Exactly. That is why I assume it. You don't suppose that she goes about -habitually with lumps of prepared sugar in her pocket. And if not, then -she must have got that lump from somewhere. Then the beads suggest a -carefully prepared plan, and, as I said just now, she can hardly have -been made-up when she met us in Kennington Lane. From all of which it -seems likely that her present abode is not very far from Sloane Square." - -"At any rate," said I, "it was taking a considerable risk. I might have -left the theatre before she came back." - -"Yes," Thorndyke agreed. "But it is like a woman to take chances. A man -would probably have stuck to you when once he had got you off your -guard. But she was ready to take chances. She chanced the railway, and -it came off; she chanced your remaining in the theatre, and that came -off too. She calculated on the probability of your getting tea when you -came out, and she hit it off again. And then she took one chance too -many; she assumed that you probably took sugar in your tea, and she was -wrong." - -"We are taking it for granted that the sugar was prepared," I remarked. - -"Yes. Our explanation is entirely hypothetical and may be entirely -wrong. But it all hangs together, and if we find any poisonous matter in -the sugar, it will be reasonable to assume that we are right. The sugar -is the Experimentum Crucis. If you will hand it over to me, we will go -up to the laboratory and make a preliminary test or two." - -I took the lump of sugar from my pocket and gave it to him, and he -carried it to the gas-burner, by the light of which he examined it with -a lens. - -"I don't see any foreign crystals on the surface," said he; "but we had -better make a solution and go to work systematically. If it contains any -poison we may assume that it will be some alkaloid, though I will test -for arsenic too. But a man of Weiss's type would almost certainly use an -alkaloid, on account of its smaller bulk and more ready solubility. You -ought not to have carried this loose in your pocket. For legal purposes -that would seriously interfere with its value as evidence. Bodies that -are suspected of containing poison should be carefully isolated and -preserved from contact with anything that might lead to doubt in the -analysis. It doesn't matter much to us, as this analysis is only for our -own information and we can satisfy ourselves as to the state of your -pocket. But bear the rule in mind another time." - -We now ascended to the laboratory, where Thorndyke proceeded at once to -dissolve the lump of sugar in a measured quantity of distilled water by -the aid of gentle heat. - -"Before we add any acid," said he, "or introduce any fresh matter, we -will adopt the simple preliminary measure of tasting the solution. The -sugar is a disturbing factor, but some of the alkaloids and most -mineral poisons excepting arsenic have a very characteristic taste." - -He dipped a glass rod in the warm solution and applied it gingerly to -his tongue. - -"Ha!" he exclaimed, as he carefully wiped his mouth with his -handkerchief, "simple methods are often very valuable. There isn't much -doubt as to what is in that sugar. Let me recommend my learned brother -to try the flavour. But be careful. A little of this will go a long -way." - -He took a fresh rod from the rack, and, dipping it in the solution, -handed it to me. I cautiously applied it to the tip of my tongue and was -immediately aware of a peculiar tingling sensation accompanied by a -feeling of numbness. - -"Well," said Thorndyke; "what is it?" - -"Aconite," I replied without hesitation. - -"Yes," he agreed; "aconite it is, or more probably aconitine. And that, -I think, gives us all the information we want. We need not trouble now -to make a complete analysis, though I shall have a quantitative -examination made later. You note the intensity of the taste and you see -what the strength of the solution is. Evidently that lump of sugar -contained a very large dose of the poison. If the sugar had been -dissolved in your tea, the quantity that you drank would have contained -enough aconitine to lay you out within a few minutes; which would -account for Mrs. Schallibaum's anxiety to get clear of the premises. She -saw you drink from the cup, but I imagine she had not seen you turn the -sugar out." - -"No, I should say not, to judge by her expression. She looked -terrified. She is not as hardened as her rascally companion." - -"Which is fortunate for you, Jervis. If she had not been in such a -fluster, she would have waited until you had poured out your tea, which -was what she probably meant to do, or have dropped the sugar into the -milk-jug. In either case you would have got a poisonous dose before you -noticed anything amiss." - -"They are a pretty pair, Thorndyke," I exclaimed. "A human life seems to -be no more to them than the life of a fly or a beetle." - -"No; that is so. They are typical poisoners of the worst kind; of the -intelligent, cautious, resourceful kind. They are a standing menace to -society. As long as they are at large, human lives are in danger, and it -is our business to see that they do not remain at large a moment longer -than is unavoidable. And that brings us to another point. You had better -keep indoors for the next few days." - -"Oh, nonsense," I protested. "I can take care of myself." - -"I won't dispute that," said Thorndyke, "although I might. But the -matter is of vital importance and we can't be too careful. Yours is the -only evidence that could convict these people. They know that and will -stick at nothing to get rid of you--for by this time they will almost -certainly have ascertained that the tea-shop plan has failed. Now your -life is of some value to you and to another person whom I could mention; -but apart from that, you are the indispensable instrument for ridding -society of these dangerous vermin. Moreover, if you were seen abroad and -connected with these chambers, they would get the information that their -case was really being investigated in a businesslike manner. If Weiss -has not already left the country he would do so immediately, and if he -has, Mrs. Schallibaum would join him at once, and we might never be able -to lay hands on them. You must stay indoors, out of sight, and you had -better write to Miss Gibson and ask her to warn the servants to give no -information about you to anyone." - -"And how long," I asked, "am I to be held on parole?" - -"Not long, I think. We have a very promising start. If I have any luck, -I shall be able to collect all the evidence I want in about a week. But -there is an element of chance in some of it which prevents me from -giving a date. And it is just possible that I may have started on a -false track. But that I shall be able to tell you better in a day or -two." - -"And I suppose," I said gloomily, "I shall be out of the hunt -altogether?" - -"Not at all," he replied. "You have got the Blackmore case to attend to. -I shall hand you over all the documents and get you to make an orderly -digest of the evidence. You will then have all the facts and can work -out the case for yourself. Also I shall ask you to help Polton in some -little operations which are designed to throw light into dark places and -which you will find both entertaining and instructive." - -"Supposing Mrs. Hornby should propose to call and take tea with us in -the gardens?" I suggested. - -"And bring Miss Gibson with her?" Thorndyke added dryly. "No, Jervis, it -would never do. You must make that quite clear to her. It is more -probable than not that Mrs. Schallibaum made a careful note of the house -in Endsley Gardens, and as that would be the one place actually known to -her, she and Weiss--if he is in England--would almost certainly keep a -watch on it. If they should succeed in connecting that house with these -chambers, a few inquiries would show them the exact state of the case. -No; we must keep them in the dark if we possibly can. We have shown too -much of our hand already. It is hard on you, but it cannot be helped." - -"Oh, don't think I am complaining," I exclaimed. "If it is a matter of -business, I am as keen as you are. I thought at first that you were -merely considering the safety of my vile body. When shall I start on my -job?" - -"To-morrow morning. I shall give you my notes on the Blackmore case and -the copies of the will and the depositions, from which you had better -draw up a digest of the evidence with remarks as to the conclusions that -it suggests. Then there are our gleanings from New Inn to be looked over -and considered; and with regard to this case, we have the fragments of a -pair of spectacles which had better be put together into a rather more -intelligible form in case we have to produce them in evidence. That will -keep you occupied for a day or two, together with some work -appertaining to other cases. And now let us dismiss professional topics. -You have not dined and neither have I, but I dare say Polton has made -arrangements for some sort of meal. We will go down and see." - -We descended to the lower floor, where Thorndyke's anticipations were -justified by a neatly laid table to which Polton was giving the -finishing touches. - - - - -Chapter XI - -The Blackmore Case Reviewed - - -One of the conditions of medical practice is the capability of -transferring one's attention at a moment's notice from one set of -circumstances to another equally important but entirely unrelated. At -each visit on his round, the practitioner finds himself concerned with a -particular, self-contained group of phenomena which he must consider at -the moment with the utmost concentration, but which he must instantly -dismiss from his mind as he moves on to the next case. It is a difficult -habit to acquire; for an important, distressing or obscure case is apt -to take possession of the consciousness and hinder the exercise of -attention that succeeding cases demand; but experience shows the faculty -to be indispensable, and the practitioner learns in time to forget -everything but the patient with whose condition he is occupied at the -moment. - -My first morning's work on the Blackmore case showed me that the same -faculty is demanded in legal practice; and it also showed me that I had -yet to acquire it. For, as I looked over the depositions and the copy of -the will, memories of the mysterious house in Kennington Lane -continually intruded into my reflections, and the figure of Mrs. -Schallibaum, white-faced, terrified, expectant, haunted me continually. - -In truth, my interest in the Blackmore case was little more than -academic, whereas in the Kennington case I was one of the parties and -was personally concerned. To me, John Blackmore was but a name, Jeffrey -but a shadowy figure to which I could assign no definite personality, -and Stephen himself but a casual stranger. Mr. Graves, on the other -hand, was a real person. I had seen him amidst the tragic circumstances -that had probably heralded his death, and had brought away with me, not -only a lively recollection of him, but a feeling of profound pity and -concern as to his fate. The villain Weiss, too, and the terrible woman -who aided, abetted and, perhaps, even directed him, lived in my memory -as vivid and dreadful realities. Although I had uttered no hint to -Thorndyke, I lamented inwardly that I had not been given some work--if -there was any to do--connected with this case, in which I was so deeply -interested, rather than with the dry, purely legal and utterly -bewildering case of Jeffrey Blackmore's will. - -Nevertheless, I stuck loyally to my task. I read through the depositions -and the will--without getting a single glimmer of fresh light on the -case--and I made a careful digest of all the facts. I compared my -digest with Thorndyke's notes--of which I also made a copy--and found -that, brief as they were, they contained several matters that I had -overlooked. I also drew up a brief account of our visit to New Inn, with -a list of the objects that we had observed or collected. And then I -addressed myself to the second part of my task, the statement of my -conclusions from the facts set forth. - -It was only when I came to make the attempt that I realized how -completely I was at sea. In spite of Thorndyke's recommendation to study -Marchmont's statement as it was summarized in those notes which I had -copied, and of his hint that I should find in that statement something -highly significant, I was borne irresistibly to one conclusion, and one -only--and the wrong one at that, as I suspected: that Jeffrey -Blackmore's will was a perfectly regular, sound and valid document. - -I tried to attack the validity of the will from various directions, and -failed every time. As to its genuineness, that was obviously not in -question. There seemed to me only two conceivable respects in which any -objection could be raised, viz. the competency of Jeffrey to execute a -will and the possibility of undue influence having been brought to bear -on him. - -With reference to the first, there was the undoubted fact that Jeffrey -was addicted to the opium habit, and this might, under some -circumstances, interfere with a testator's competency to make a will. -But had any such circumstances existed in this case? Had the drug habit -produced such mental changes in the deceased as would destroy or weaken -his judgment? There was not a particle of evidence in favour of any such -belief. Up to the very end he had managed his own affairs, and, if his -habits of life had undergone a change, they were still the habits of a -perfectly sane and responsible man. - -The question of undue influence was more difficult. If it applied to any -person in particular, that person could be none other than John -Blackmore. Now it was an undoubted fact that, of all Jeffrey's -acquaintance, his brother John was the only one who knew that he was in -residence at New Inn. Moreover John had visited him there more than -once. It was therefore possible that influence might have been brought -to bear on the deceased. But there was no evidence that it had. The fact -that the deceased man's only brother should be the one person who knew -where he was living was not a remarkable one, and it had been -satisfactorily explained by the necessity of Jeffrey's finding a -reference on applying for the chambers. And against the theory of undue -influence was the fact that the testator had voluntarily brought his -will to the lodge and executed it in the presence of entirely -disinterested witnesses. - -In the end I had to give up the problem in despair, and, abandoning the -documents, turned my attention to the facts elicited by our visit to New -Inn. - -What had we learned from our exploration? It was clear that Thorndyke -had picked up some facts that had appeared to him important. But -important in what respect? The only possible issue that could be raised -was the validity or otherwise of Jeffrey Blackmore's will; and since the -validity of that will was supported by positive evidence of the most -incontestable kind, it seemed that nothing that we had observed could -have any real bearing on the case at all. - -But this, of course, could not be. Thorndyke was no dreamer nor was he -addicted to wild speculation. If the facts observed by us seemed to him -to be relevant to the case, I was prepared to assume that they were -relevant, although I could not see their connection with it. And, on -this assumption, I proceeded to examine them afresh. - -Now, whatever Thorndyke might have observed on his own account, I had -brought away from the dead man's chambers only a single fact; and a very -extraordinary fact it was. The cuneiform inscription was upside down. -That was the sum of the evidence that I had collected; and the question -was, What did it prove? To Thorndyke it conveyed some deep significance. -What could that significance be? - -The inverted position was not a mere temporary accident, as it might -have been if the frame had been stood on a shelf or support. It was hung -on the wall, and the plates screwed on the frame showed that its -position was permanent and that it had never hung in any other. That it -could have been hung up by Jeffrey himself was clearly inconceivable. -But allowing that it had been fixed in its present position by some -workman when the new tenant moved in, the fact remained that there it -had hung, presumably for months, and that Jeffrey Blackmore, with his -expert knowledge of the cuneiform character, had never noticed that it -was upside down; or, if he had noticed it, that he had never taken the -trouble to have it altered. - -What could this mean? If he had noticed the error but had not troubled -to correct it, that would point to a very singular state of mind, an -inertness and indifference remarkable even in an opium-smoker. But -assuming such a state of mind, I could not see that it had any bearing -on the will, excepting that it was rather inconsistent with the tendency -to make fussy and needless alterations which the testator had actually -shown. On the other hand, if he had not noticed the inverted position of -the photograph he must have been nearly blind or quite idiotic; for the -photograph was over two feet long and the characters large enough to be -read easily by a person of ordinary eyesight at a distance of forty or -fifty feet. Now he obviously was not in a state of dementia, whereas his -eyesight was admittedly bad; and it seemed to me that the only -conclusion deducible from the photograph was that it furnished a measure -of the badness of the deceased man's vision--that it proved him to have -been verging on total blindness. - -But there was nothing startling new in this. He had, himself, declared -that he was fast losing his sight. And again, what was the bearing of -his partial blindness on the will? A totally blind man cannot draw up -his will at all. But if he has eyesight sufficient to enable him to -write out and sign a will, mere defective vision will not lead him to -muddle the provisions. Yet something of this kind seemed to be in -Thorndyke's mind, for now I recalled the question that he had put to the -porter: "When you read the will over in Mr. Blackmore's presence, did -you read it aloud?" That question could have but one significance. It -implied a doubt as to whether the testator was fully aware of the exact -nature of the document that he was signing. Yet, if he was able to write -and sign it, surely he was able also to read it through, to say nothing -of the fact that, unless he was demented, he must have remembered what -he had written. - -Thus, once more, my reasoning only led me into a blind alley at the end -of which was the will, regular and valid and fulfilling all the -requirements that the law imposed. Once again I had to confess myself -beaten and in full agreement with Mr. Marchmont that "there was no -case"; that "there was nothing in dispute." Nevertheless, I carefully -fixed in the pocket file that Thorndyke had given me the copy that I had -made of his notes, together with the notes on our visit to New Inn, and -the few and unsatisfactory conclusions at which I had arrived; and this -brought me to the end of my first morning in my new capacity. - -"And how," Thorndyke asked as we sat at lunch, "has my learned friend -progressed? Does he propose that we advise Mr. Marchmont to enter a -caveat?" - -"I've read all the documents and boiled all the evidence down to a stiff -jelly; and I am in a worse fog than ever." - -"There seems to be a slight mixture of metaphors in my learned friend's -remarks. But never mind the fog, Jervis. There is a certain virtue in -fog. It serves, like a picture frame, to surround the essential with a -neutral zone that separates it from the irrelevant." - -"That is a very profound observation, Thorndyke," I remarked ironically. - -"I was just thinking so myself," he rejoined. - -"And if you could contrive to explain what it means--" - -"Oh, but that is unreasonable. When one throws off a subtly philosophic -obiter dictum one looks to the discerning critic to supply the meaning. -By the way, I am going to introduce you to the gentle art of photography -this afternoon. I am getting the loan of all the cheques that were drawn -by Jeffrey Blackmore during his residence at New Inn--there are only -twenty-three of them, all told--and I am going to photograph them." - -"I shouldn't have thought the bank people would have let them go out of -their possession." - -"They are not going to. One of the partners, a Mr. Britton, is bringing -them here himself and will be present while the photographs are being -taken; so they will not go out of his custody. But, all the same, it is -a great concession, and I should not have obtained it but for the fact -that I have done a good deal of work for the bank and that Mr. Britton -is more or less a personal friend." - -"By the way, how comes it that the cheques are at the bank? Why were -they not returned to Jeffrey with the pass-book in the usual way?" - -"I understand from Britton," replied Thorndyke, "that all Jeffrey's -cheques were retained by the bank at his request. When he was travelling -he used to leave his investment securities and other valuable documents -in his bankers' custody, and, as he has never applied to have them -returned, the bankers still have them and are retaining them until the -will is proved, when they will, of course, hand over everything to the -executors." - -"What is the object of photographing these cheques?" I asked. - -"There are several objects. First, since a good photograph is -practically as good as the original, when we have the photographs we -practically have the cheques for reference. Then, since a photograph can -be duplicated indefinitely, it is possible to perform experiments on it -which involve its destruction; which would, of course, be impossible in -the case of original cheques." - -"But the ultimate object, I mean. What are you going to prove?" - -"You are incorrigible, Jervis," he exclaimed. "How should I know what I -am going to prove? This is an investigation. If I knew the result -beforehand, I shouldn't want to perform the experiment." - -He looked at his watch, and, as we rose from the table, he said: - -"If we have finished, we had better go up to the laboratory and see that -the apparatus is ready. Mr. Britton is a busy man, and, as he is doing -us a great service, we mustn't keep him waiting when he comes." - -We ascended to the laboratory, where Polton was already busy inspecting -the massively built copying camera which--with the long, steel guides on -which the easel or copy-holder travelled--took up the whole length of -the room on the side opposite to that occupied by the chemical bench. As -I was to be inducted into the photographic art, I looked at it with more -attention than I had ever done before. - -"We've made some improvements since you were here last, sir," said -Polton, who was delicately lubricating the steel guides. "We've fitted -these steel runners instead of the blackleaded wooden ones that we used -to have. And we've made two scales instead of one. Hallo! That's the -downstairs bell. Shall I go sir?" - -"Perhaps you'd better," said Thorndyke. "It may not be Mr. Britton, and -I don't want to be caught and delayed just now." - -However, it was Mr. Britton; a breezy alert-looking middle-aged man, who -came in escorted by Polton and shook our hands cordially, having been -previously warned of my presence. He carried a small but solid hand-bag, -to which he clung tenaciously up to the very moment when its contents -were required for use. - -"So that is the camera," said he, running an inquisitive eye over the -instrument. "Very fine one, too; I am a bit of a photographer myself. -What is that graduation on the side-bar?" - -"Those are the scales," replied Thorndyke, "that shows the degree of -magnification or reduction. The pointer is fixed to the easel and -travels with it, of course, showing the exact size of the photograph. -When the pointer is opposite 0 the photograph will be identical in size -with the object photographed; when it points to, say, x 6, the -photograph will be six times as long as the object, or magnified -thirty-six times superficially, whereas if the pointer is at / 6, the -photograph will be a sixth of the length of the object, or one -thirty-sixth superficial." - -"Why are there two scales?" Mr. Britton asked. - -"There is a separate scale for each of the two lenses that we -principally use. For great magnification or reduction a lens of -comparatively short focus must be used, but, as a long-focus lens gives -a more perfect image, we use one of very long focus--thirty-six -inches--for copying the same size or for slight magnification or -reduction." - -"Are you going to magnify these cheques?" Mr. Britton asked. - -"Not in the first place," replied Thorndyke. "For convenience and speed -I am going to photograph them half-size, so that six cheques will go on -one whole plate. Afterwards we can enlarge from the negatives as much as -we like. But we should probably enlarge only the signatures in any -case." - -The precious bag was now opened and the twenty-three cheques brought out -and laid on the bench in a consecutive series in the order of their -dates. They were then fixed by tapes--to avoid making pin-holes in -them--in batches of six to small drawing boards, each batch being so -arranged that the signatures were towards the middle. The first board -was clamped to the easel, the latter was slid along its guides until -the pointer stood at / 2 on the long-focus scale and Thorndyke proceeded -to focus the camera with the aid of a little microscope that Polton had -made for the purpose. When Mr. Britton and I had inspected the -exquisitely sharp image on the focusing-screen through the microscope, -Polton introduced the plate and made the first exposure, carrying the -dark-slide off to develop the plate while the next batch of cheques was -being fixed in position. - -In his photographic technique, as in everything else, Polton followed as -closely as he could the methods of his principal and instructor; methods -characterized by that unhurried precision that leads to perfect -accomplishment. When the first negative was brought forth, dripping, -from the dark-room, it was without spot or stain, scratch or pin-hole; -uniform in colour and of exactly the required density. The six cheques -shown on it--ridiculously small in appearance, though only reduced to -half-length--looked as clear and sharp as fine etchings; though, to be -sure, my opportunity for examining them was rather limited, for Polton -was uncommonly careful to keep the wet plate out of reach and so safe -from injury. - -"Well," said Mr. Britton, when, at the end of the seance, he returned -his treasures to the bag, "you have now got twenty-three of our cheques, -to all intents and purposes. I hope you are not going to make any -unlawful use of them--must tell our cashiers to keep a bright look-out; -and"--here he lowered his voice impressively and addressed himself to -me and Polton--"you understand that this is a private matter between Dr. -Thorndyke and me. Of course, as Mr. Blackmore is dead, there is no -reason why his cheques should not be photographed for legal purposes; -but we don't want it talked about; nor, I think, does Dr. Thorndyke." - -"Certainly not," Thorndyke agreed emphatically; "but you need not be -uneasy, Mr. Britton. We are very uncommunicative people in this -establishment." - -As my colleague and I escorted our visitor down the stairs, he returned -to the subject of the cheques. - -"I don't understand what you want them for," he remarked. "There is no -question turning on signatures in the case of Blackmore deceased, is -there?" - -"I should say not," Thorndyke replied rather evasively. - -"I should say very decidedly not," said Mr. Britton, "if I understood -Marchmont aright. And, even if there were, let me tell you, these -signatures that you have got wouldn't help you. I have looked them over -very closely--and I have seen a few signatures in my time, you know. -Marchmont asked me to glance over them as a matter of form, but I don't -believe in matters of form; I examined them very carefully. There is an -appreciable amount of variation; a very appreciable amount. <i>But</i> under -the variation one can trace the personal character (which is what -matters); the subtle, indescribable quality that makes it recognizable -to the expert eye as Jeffrey Blackmore's writing. You understand me. -There is such a quality, which remains when the coarser characteristics -vary; just as a man may grow old, or fat, or bald, or may take to drink, -and become quite changed; and yet, through it all, he preserves a -certain something which makes him recognizable as a member of a -particular family. Well, I find that quality in all those signatures, -and so will you, if you have had enough experience of handwriting. I -thought it best to mention it in case you might be giving yourself -unnecessary trouble." - -"It is very good of you," said Thorndyke, "and I need not say that the -information is of great value, coming from such a highly expert source. -As a matter of fact, your hint will be of great value to me." - -He shook hands with Mr. Britton, and, as the latter disappeared down the -stairs, he turned into the sitting-room and remarked: - -"There is a very weighty and significant observation, Jervis. I advise -you to consider it attentively in all its bearings." - -"You mean the fact that these signatures are undoubtedly genuine?" - -"I meant, rather, the very interesting general truth that is contained -in Britton's statement; that physiognomy is not a mere matter of facial -character. A man carries his personal trademark, not in his face only, -but in his nervous system and muscles--giving rise to characteristic -movements and gait; in his larynx--producing an individual voice; and -even in his mouth, as shown by individual peculiarities of speech and -accent. And the individual nervous system, by means of these -characteristic movements, transfers its peculiarities to inanimate -objects that are the products of such movements; as we see in pictures, -in carving, in musical execution and in handwriting. No one has ever -painted quite like Reynolds or Romney; no one has ever played exactly -like Liszt or Paganini; the pictures or the sounds produced by them, -were, so to speak, an extension of the physiognomy of the artist. And so -with handwriting. A particular specimen is the product of a particular -set of motor centres in an individual brain." - -"These are very interesting considerations, Thorndyke," I remarked; "but -I don't quite see their present application. Do you mean them to bear in -any special way on the Blackmore case?" - -"I think they do bear on it very directly. I thought so while Mr. -Britton was making his very illuminating remarks." - -"I don't see how. In fact I cannot see why you are going into the -question of the signatures at all. The signature on the will is -admittedly genuine, and that seems to me to dispose of the whole -affair." - -"My dear Jervis," said he, "you and Marchmont are allowing yourselves to -be obsessed by a particular fact--a very striking and weighty fact, I -will admit, but still, only an isolated fact. Jeffrey Blackmore executed -his will in a regular manner, complying with all the necessary -formalities and conditions. In the face of that single circumstance you -and Marchmont would 'chuck up the sponge,' as the old pugilists -expressed it. Now that is a great mistake. You should never allow -yourself to be bullied and browbeaten by a single fact." - -"But, my dear Thorndyke!" I protested, "this fact seems to be final. It -covers all possibilities---unless you can suggest any other that would -cancel it." - -"I could suggest a dozen," he replied. "Let us take an instance. -Supposing Jeffrey executed this will for a wager; that he immediately -revoked it and made a fresh will, that he placed the latter in the -custody of some person and that that person has suppressed it." - -"Surely you do not make this suggestion seriously!" I exclaimed. - -"Certainly I do not," he replied with a smile. "I merely give it as an -instance to show that your final and absolute fact is really only -conditional on there being no other fact that cancels it." - -"Do you think he might have made a third will?" - -"It is obviously possible. A man who makes two wills may make three or -more; but I may say that I see no present reason for assuming the -existence of another will. What I want to impress on you is the -necessity of considering all the facts instead of bumping heavily -against the most conspicuous one and forgetting all the rest. By the -way, here is a little problem for you. What was the object of which -these are the parts?" - -He pushed across the table a little cardboard box, having first removed -the lid. In it were a number of very small pieces of broken glass, some -of which had been cemented together by their edges. - -"These, I suppose," said I, looking with considerable curiosity at the -little collection, "are the pieces of glass that we picked up in poor -Blackmore's bedroom?" - -"Yes. You see that Polton has been endeavouring to reconstitute the -object, whatever it was; but he has not been very successful, for the -fragments were too small and irregular and the collection too -incomplete. However, here is a specimen, built up of six small pieces, -which exhibits the general character of the object fairly well." - -He picked out the little irregularly shaped object and handed it to me; -and I could not but admire the neatness with which Polton had joined the -tiny fragments together. - -I took the little "restoration," and, holding it up before my eyes, -moved it to and fro as I looked through it at the window. - -"It was not a lens," I pronounced eventually. - -"No," Thorndyke agreed, "it was not a lens." - -"And so cannot have been a spectacle-glass. But the surface was -curved--one side convex and the other concave--and the little piece that -remains of the original edge seems to have been ground to fit a bezel or -frame. I should say that these are portions of a watch-glass." - -"That is Polton's opinion," said Thorndyke, "and I think you are both -wrong." - -"What do you say to the glass of a miniature or locket?" - -"That is rather more probable, but it is not my view." - -"What do you think it is?" I asked. But Thorndyke was not to be drawn. - -"I am submitting the problem for solution by my learned friend," he -replied with an exasperating smile, and then added: "I don't say that -you and Polton are wrong; only that I don't agree with you. Perhaps you -had better make a note of the properties of this object, and consider it -at your leisure when you are ruminating on the other data referring to -the Blackmore case." - -"My ruminations," I said, "always lead me back to the same point." - -"But you mustn't let them," he replied. "Shuffle your data about. Invent -hypotheses. Never mind if they seem rather wild. Don't put them aside on -that account. Take the first hypothesis that you can invent and test it -thoroughly with your facts. You will probably have to reject it, but you -will be certain to have learned something new. Then try again with a -fresh one. You remember what I told you of my methods when I began this -branch of practice and had plenty of time on my hands?" - -"I am not sure that I do." - -"Well, I used to occupy my leisure in constructing imaginary cases, -mostly criminal, for the purpose of study and for the acquirement of -experience. For instance, I would devise an ingenious fraud and would -plan it in detail, taking every precaution that I could think of against -failure or detection, considering, and elaborately providing for, every -imaginable contingency. For the time being, my entire attention was -concentrated on it, making it as perfect and secure and undetectable as -I could with the knowledge and ingenuity at my command. I behaved -exactly as if I were proposing actually to carry it out, and my life or -liberty depended on its success--excepting that I made full notes of -every detail of the scheme. Then when my plans were as complete as I -could make them, and I could think of no way in which to improve them, I -changed sides and considered the case from the standpoint of detection. -I analysed the case, I picked out its inherent and unavoidable -weaknesses, and, especially, I noted the respects in which a fraudulent -proceeding of a particular kind differed from the <i>bona fide</i> proceeding -that it simulated. The exercise was invaluable to me. I acquired as much -experience from those imaginary cases as I should from real ones, and in -addition, I learned a method which is the one that I practise to this -day." - -"Do you mean that you still invent imaginary cases as mental exercises?" - -"No; I mean that, when I have a problem of any intricacy, I invent a -case which fits the facts and the assumed motives of one of the parties. -Then I work at that case until I find whether it leads to elucidation or -to some fundamental disagreement. In the latter case I reject it and -begin the process over again." - -"Doesn't that method sometimes involve a good deal of wasted time and -energy?" I asked. - -"No; because each time that you fail to establish a given case, you -exclude a particular explanation of the facts and narrow down the field -of inquiry. By repeating the process, you are bound, in the end, to -arrive at an imaginary case which fits all the facts. Then your -imaginary case is the real case and the problem is solved. Let me -recommend you to give the method a trial." - -I promised to do so, though with no very lively expectations as to the -result, and with this, the subject was allowed, for the present, to -drop. - - - - -Chapter XII - -The Portrait - - -The state of mind which Thorndyke had advised me to cultivate was one -that did not come easily. However much I endeavoured to shuffle the -facts of the Blackmore case, there was one which inevitably turned up on -the top of the pack. The circumstances surrounding the execution of -Jeffrey Blackmore's will intruded into all my cogitations on the subject -with hopeless persistency. That scene in the porter's lodge was to me -what King Charles's head was to poor Mr. Dick. In the midst of my -praiseworthy efforts to construct some intelligible scheme of the case, -it would make its appearance and reduce my mind to instant chaos. - -For the next few days, Thorndyke was very much occupied with one or two -civil cases, which kept him in court during the whole of the sitting; -and when he came home, he seemed indisposed to talk on professional -topics. Meanwhile, Polton worked steadily at the photographs of the -signatures, and, with a view to gaining experience, I assisted him and -watched his methods. - -In the present case, the signatures were enlarged from their original -dimensions--rather less than an inch and a half in length--to a length -of four and a half inches; which rendered all the little peculiarities -of the handwriting surprisingly distinct and conspicuous. Each signature -was eventually mounted on a slip of card bearing a number and the date -of the cheque from which it was taken, so that it was possible to place -any two signatures together for comparison. I looked over the whole -series and very carefully compared those which showed any differences, -but without discovering anything more than might have been expected in -view of Mr. Britton's statement. There were some trifling variations, -but they were all very much alike, and no one could doubt, on looking at -them, that they were all written by the same hand. - -As this, however, was apparently not in dispute, it furnished no new -information. Thorndyke's object--for I felt certain that he had -something definite in his mind--must be to test something apart from the -genuineness of the signatures. But what could that something be? I dared -not ask him, for questions of that kind were anathema, so there was -nothing for it but to lie low and see what he would do with the -photographs. - -The whole series was finished on the fourth morning after my adventure -at Sloane Square, and the pack of cards was duly delivered by Polton -when he brought in the breakfast tray. Thorndyke took up the pack -somewhat with the air of a whist player, and, as he ran through them, I -noticed that the number had increased from twenty-three to twenty-four. - -"The additional one," Thorndyke explained, "is the signature to the -first will, which was in Marchmont's possession. I have added it to the -collection as it carries us back to an earlier date. The signature of -the second will presumably resembles those of the cheques drawn about -the same date. But that is not material, or, if it should become so, we -could claim to examine the second will." - -He laid the cards out on the table in the order of their dates and -slowly ran his eye down the series. I watched him closely and ventured -presently to ask: - -"Do you agree with Mr. Britton as to the general identity of character -in the whole set of signatures?" - -"Yes," he replied. "I should certainly have put them down as being all -the signatures of one person. The variations are very slight. The later -signatures are a little stiffer, a little more shaky and indistinct, and -the B's and k's are both appreciably different from those in the earlier -ones. But there is another fact which emerges when the whole series is -seen together, and it is so striking and significant a fact, that I am -astonished at its not having been remarked on by Mr. Britton." - -"Indeed!" said I, stooping to examine the photographs with fresh -interest; "what is that?" - -"It is a very simple fact and very obvious, but yet, as I have said, -very significant. Look carefully at number one, which is the signature -of the first will, dated three years ago, and compare it with number -three, dated the eighteenth of September last year." - -"They look to me identical," said I, after a careful comparison. - -"So they do to me," said Thorndyke. "Neither of them shows the change -that occurred later. But if you look at number two, dated the sixteenth -of September, you will see that it is in the later style. So is number -four, dated the twenty-third of September; but numbers five and six, -both at the beginning of October, are in the earlier style, like the -signature of the will. Thereafter all the signatures are in the new -style; but, if you compare number two, dated the sixteenth of September -with number twenty-four, dated the fourteenth of March of this year--the -day of Jeffrey's death--you see that they exhibit no difference. Both -are in the 'later style,' but the last shows no greater change than the -first. Don't you consider these facts very striking and significant?" - -I reflected a few moments, trying to make out the deep significance to -which Thorndyke was directing my attention--and not succeeding very -triumphantly. - -"You mean," I said, "that the occasional reversions to the earlier form -convey some material suggestion?" - -"Yes; but more than that. What we learn from an inspection of this -series is this: that there was a change in the character of the -signature; a very slight change, but quite recognizable. Now that change -was not gradual or insidious nor was it progressive. It occurred at a -certain definite time. At first there were one or two reversions to the -earlier form, but after number six the new style continued to the end; -and you notice that it continued without any increase in the change and -without any variation. There are no intermediate forms. Some of the -signatures are in the 'old style' and some in the 'new,' but there are -none that are half and half. So that, to repeat: We have here two types -of signature, very much alike, but distinguishable. They alternate, but -do not merge into one another to produce intermediate forms. The change -occurs abruptly, but shows no tendency to increase as time goes on; it -is not a progressive change. What do you make of that, Jervis?" - -"It is very remarkable," I said, poring over the cards to verify -Thorndyke's statements. "I don't quite know what to make of it. If the -circumstances admitted of the idea of forgery, one would suspect the -genuineness of some of the signatures. But they don't--at any rate, in -the case of the later will, to say nothing of Mr. Britton's opinion on -the signatures." - -"Still," said Thorndyke, "there must be some explanation of the change -in the character of the signatures, and that explanation cannot be the -failing eyesight of the writer; for that is a gradually progressive and -continuous condition, whereas the change in the writing is abrupt and -intermittent." - -I considered Thorndyke's remark for a few moments; and then a -light--though not a very brilliant one--seemed to break on me. - -"I think I see what you are driving at," said I. "You mean that the -change in the writing must be associated with some new condition -affecting the writer, and that that condition existed intermittently?" - -Thorndyke nodded approvingly, and I continued: - -"The only intermittent condition that we know of is the effect of opium. -So that we might consider the clearer signatures to have been made when -Jeffrey was in his normal state, and the less distinct ones after a bout -of opium-smoking." - -"That is perfectly sound reasoning," said Thorndyke. "What further -conclusion does it lead to?" - -"It suggests that the opium habit had been only recently acquired, since -the change was noticed only about the time he went to live at New Inn; -and, since the change in the writing is at first intermittent and then -continuous, we may infer that the opium-smoking was at first occasional -and later became a a confirmed habit." - -"Quite a reasonable conclusion and very clearly stated," said Thorndyke. -"I don't say that I entirely agree with you, or that you have exhausted -the information that these signatures offer. But you have started in the -right direction." - -"I may be on the right road," I said gloomily; "but I am stuck fast in -one place and I see no chance of getting any farther." - -"But you have a quantity of data," said Thorndyke. "You have all the -facts that I had to start with, from which I constructed the hypothesis -that I am now busily engaged in verifying. I have a few more data now, -for 'as money makes money' so knowledge begets knowledge, and I put my -original capital out to interest. Shall we tabulate the facts that are -in our joint possession and see what they suggest?" - -I grasped eagerly at the offer, though I had conned over my notes again -and again. - -Thorndyke produced a slip of paper from a drawer, and, uncapping his -fountain-pen, proceeded to write down the leading facts, reading each -aloud as soon as it was written. - -"1. The second will was unnecessary since it contained no new matter, -expressed no new intentions and met no new conditions, and the first -will was quite clear and efficient. - -"2. The evident intention of the testator was to leave the bulk of his -property to Stephen Blackmore. - -"3. The second will did not, under existing circumstances, give effect -to this intention, whereas the first will did. - -"4. The signature of the second will differs slightly from that of the -first, and also from what had hitherto been the testator's ordinary -signature. - -"And now we come to a very curious group of dates, which I will advise -you to consider with great attention. - -"5. Mrs. Wilson made her will at the beginning of September last year, -without acquainting Jeffrey Blackmore, who seems to have been unaware of -the existence of this will. - -"6. His own second will was dated the twelfth of November of last year. - -"7. Mrs. Wilson died of cancer on the twelfth of March this present -year. - -"8. Jeffrey Blackmore was last seen alive on the fourteenth of March. - -"9. His body was discovered on the fifteenth of March. - -"10. The change in the character of his signature began about September -last year and became permanent after the middle of October. - -"You will find that collection of facts repay careful study, Jervis, -especially when considered in relation to the further data: - -"11. That we found in Blackmore's chambers a framed inscription of large -size, hung upside down, together with what appeared to be the remains of -a watch-glass and a box of stearine candles and some other objects." - -He passed the paper to me and I pored over it intently, focusing my -attention on the various items with all the power of my will. But, -struggle as I would, no general conclusion could be made to emerge from -the mass of apparently disconnected facts. - -"Well?" Thorndyke said presently, after watching with grave interest my -unavailing efforts; "what do you make of it?" - -"Nothing!" I exclaimed desperately, slapping the paper down on the -table. "Of course, I can see that there are some queer coincidences. But -how do they bear on the case? I understand that you want to upset this -will; which we know to have been signed without compulsion or even -suggestion in the presence of two respectable men, who have sworn to the -identity of the document. That is your object, I believe?" - -"Certainly it is." - -"Then I am hanged if I see how you are going to do it. Not, I should -say, by offering a group of vague coincidences that would muddle any -brain but your own." - -Thorndyke chuckled softly but pursued the subject no farther. - -"Put that paper in your file with your other notes," he said, "and think -it over at your leisure. And now I want a little help from you. Have you -a good memory for faces?" - -"Fairly good, I think. Why?" - -"Because I have a photograph of a man whom I think you may have met. -Just look at it and tell me if you remember the face." - -He drew a cabinet size photograph from an envelope that had come by the -morning's post and handed it to me. - -"I have certainly seen this face somewhere," said I, taking the portrait -over to the window to examine it more thoroughly, "but I can't, at the -moment, remember where." - -"Try," said Thorndyke. "If you have seen the face before, you should be -able to recall the person." - -I looked intently at the photograph, and the more I looked, the more -familiar did the face appear. Suddenly the identity of the man flashed -into my mind and I exclaimed in astonishment: - -"It can't be that poor creature at Kennington, Mr. Graves?" - -"I think it can," replied Thorndyke, "and I think it is. But could you -swear to the identity in a court of law?" - -"It is my firm conviction that the photograph is that of Mr. Graves. I -would swear to that." - -"No man ought to swear to more," said Thorndyke. "Identification is -always a matter of opinion or belief. The man who will swear -unconditionally to identity from memory only is a man whose evidence -should be discredited. I think your sworn testimony would be -sufficient." - -It is needless to say that the production of this photograph filled me -with amazement and curiosity as to how Thorndyke had obtained it. But, -as he replaced it impassively in its envelope without volunteering any -explanation, I felt that I could not question him directly. -Nevertheless, I ventured to approach the subject in an indirect manner. - -"Did you get any information from those Darmstadt people?" I asked. - -"Schnitzler? Yes. I learned, through the medium of an official -acquaintance, that Dr. H. Weiss was a stranger to them; that they knew -nothing about him excepting that he had ordered from them, and been -supplied with, a hundred grammes of pure hydrochlorate of morphine." - -"All at once?" - -"No. In separate parcels of twenty-five grammes each." - -"Is that all you know about Weiss?" - -"It is all that I actually know; but it is not all that I suspect--on -very substantial grounds. By the way, what did you think of the -coachman?" - -"I don't know that I thought very much about him. Why?" - -"You never suspected that he and Weiss were one and the same person?" - -"No. How could they be? They weren't in the least alike. And one was a -Scotchman and the other a German. But perhaps you know that they were -the same?" - -"I only know what you have told me. But considering that you never saw -them together, that the coachman was never available for messages or -assistance when Weiss was with you; that Weiss always made his -appearance some time after you arrived, and disappeared some time before -you left; it has seemed to me that they might have been the same -person." - -"I should say it was impossible. They were so very different in -appearance. But supposing that they were the same; would the fact be of -any importance?" - -"It would mean that we could save ourselves the trouble of looking for -the coachman. And it would suggest some inferences, which will occur to -you if you think the matter over. But being only a speculative opinion, -at present, it would not be safe to infer very much from it." - -"You have rather taken me by surprise," I remarked. "It seems that you -have been working at this Kennington case, and working pretty actively I -imagine, whereas I supposed that your entire attention was taken up by -the Blackmore affair." - -"It doesn't do," he replied, "to allow one's entire attention to be -taken up by any one case. I have half a dozen others--minor cases, -mostly--to which I am attending at this moment. Did you think I was -proposing to keep you under lock and key indefinitely?" - -"Well, no. But I thought the Kennington case would have to wait its -turn. And I had no idea that you were in possession of enough facts to -enable you to get any farther with it." - -"But you knew all the very striking facts of the case, and you saw the -further evidence that we extracted from the empty house." - -"Do you mean those things that we picked out from the rubbish under the -grate?" - -"Yes. You saw those curious little pieces of reed and the pair of -spectacles. They are lying in the top drawer of that cabinet at this -moment, and I should recommend you to have another look at them. To me -they are most instructive. The pieces of reed offered an extremely -valuable suggestion, and the spectacles enabled me to test that -suggestion and turn it into actual information." - -"Unfortunately," said I, "the pieces of reed convey nothing to me. I -don't know what they are or of what they have formed a part." - -"I think," he replied, "that if you examine them with due consideration, -you will find their use pretty obvious. Have a good look at them and the -spectacles too. Think over all that you know of that mysterious group of -people who lived in that house, and see if you cannot form some coherent -theory of their actions. Think, also, if we have not some information in -our possession by which we might be able to identify some of them, and -infer the identity of the others. You will have a quiet day, as I shall -not be home until the evening; set yourself this task. I assure you that -you have the material for identifying--or rather for testing the -identity of--at least one of those persons. Go over your material -systematically, and let me know in the evening what further -investigations you would propose." - -"Very well," said I. "It shall be done according to your word. I will -addle my brain afresh with the affair of Mr. Weiss and his patient, and -let the Blackmore case rip." - -"There is no need to do that. You have a whole day before you. An hour's -really close consideration of the Kennington case ought to show you what -your next move should be, and then you could devote yourself to the -consideration of Jeffrey Blackmore's will." - -With this final piece of advice, Thorndyke collected the papers for his -day's work, and, having deposited them in his brief bag, took his -departure, leaving me to my meditations. - - - - -Chapter XIII - -The Statement of Samuel Wilkins - - -As soon as I was alone, I commenced my investigations with a rather -desperate hope of eliciting some startling and unsuspected facts. I -opened the drawer and taking from it the two pieces of reed and the -shattered remains of the spectacles, laid them on the table. The repairs -that Thorndyke had contemplated in the case of the spectacles, had not -been made. Apparently they had not been necessary. The battered wreck -that lay before me, just as we had found it, had evidently furnished the -necessary information; for, since Thorndyke was in possession of a -portrait of Mr. Graves, it was clear that he had succeeded in -identifying him so far as to get into communication with some one who -had known him intimately. - -The circumstance should have been encouraging. But somehow it was not. -What was possible to Thorndyke was, theoretically, possible to me--or to -anyone else. But the possibility did not realize itself in practice. -There was the personal equation. Thorndyke's brain was not an ordinary -brain. Facts of which his mind instantly perceived the relation remained -to other people unconnected and without meaning. His powers of -observation and rapid inference were almost incredible, as I had noticed -again and again, and always with undiminished wonder. He seemed to take -in everything at a single glance and in an instant to appreciate the -meaning of everything that he had seen. - -Here was a case in point. I had myself seen all that he had seen, and, -indeed, much more; for I had looked on the very people and witnessed -their actions, whereas he had never set eyes on any of them. I had -examined the little handful of rubbish that he had gathered up so -carefully, and would have flung it back under the grate without a qualm. -Not a glimmer of light had I perceived in the cloud of mystery, nor even -a hint of the direction in which to seek enlightenment. And yet -Thorndyke had, in some incomprehensible manner, contrived to piece -together facts that I had probably not even observed, and that so -completely that he had already, in these few days, narrowed down the -field of inquiry to quite a small area. - -From these reflections I returned to the objects on the table. The -spectacles, as things of which I had some expert knowledge, were not so -profound a mystery to me. A pair of spectacles might easily afford good -evidence for identification; that I perceived clearly enough. Not a -ready-made pair, picked up casually at a shop, but a pair constructed by -a skilled optician to remedy a particular defect of vision and to fit a -particular face. And such were the spectacles before me. The build of -the frames was peculiar; the existence of a cylindrical lens--which I -could easily make out from the remaining fragments--showed that one -glass had been cut to a prescribed shape and almost certainly ground to -a particular formula, and also that the distance between centres must -have been carefully secured. Hence these spectacles had an individual -character. But it was manifestly impossible to inquire of all the -spectacle-makers in Europe--for the glasses were not necessarily made in -England. As confirmation the spectacles might be valuable; as a -starting-point they were of no use at all. - -From the spectacles I turned to the pieces of reed. These were what had -given Thorndyke his start. Would they give me a leading hint too? I -looked at them and wondered what it was that they had told Thorndyke. -The little fragment of the red paper label had a dark-brown or thin -black border ornamented with a fret-pattern, and on it I detected a -couple of tiny points of gold like the dust from leaf-gilding. But I -learned nothing from that. Then the shorter piece of reed was -artificially hollowed to fit on the longer piece. Apparently it formed a -protective sheath or cap. But what did it protect? Presumably a point or -edge of some kind. Could this be a pocket-knife of any sort, such as a -small stencil-knife? No; the material was too fragile for a -knife-handle. It could not be an etching-needle for the same reason; and -it was not a surgical appliance--at least it was not like any surgical -instrument that was known to me. - -I turned it over and over and cudgelled my brains; and then I had a -brilliant idea. Was it a reed pen of which the point had been broken -off? I knew that reed pens were still in use by draughtsmen of -decorative leanings with an affection for the "fat line." Could any of -our friends be draughtsmen? This seemed the most probable solution of -the difficulty, and the more I thought about it the more likely it -seemed. Draughtsmen usually sign their work intelligibly, and even when -they use a device instead of a signature their identity is easily -traceable. Could it be that Mr. Graves, for instance, was an -illustrator, and that Thorndyke had established his identity by looking -through the works of all the well-known thick-line draughtsmen? - -This problem occupied me for the rest of the day. My explanation did not -seem quite to fit Thorndyke's description of his methods; but I could -think of no other. I turned it over during my solitary lunch; I -meditated on it with the aid of several pipes in the afternoon; and -having refreshed my brain with a cup of tea, I went forth to walk in the -Temple gardens--which I was permitted to do without breaking my -parole--to think it out afresh. - -The result was disappointing. I was basing my reasoning on the -assumption that the pieces of reed were parts of a particular appliance, -appertaining to a particular craft; whereas they might be the remains of -something quite different, appertaining to a totally different craft or -to no craft at all. And in no case did they point to any known -individual or indicate any but the vaguest kind of search. After pacing -the pleasant walks for upwards of two hours, I at length turned back -towards our chambers, where I arrived as the lamp-lighter was just -finishing his round. - -My fruitless speculations had left me somewhat irritable. The lighted -windows that I had noticed as I approached had given me the impression -that Thorndyke had returned. I had intended to press him for a little -further information. When, therefore, I let myself into our chambers and -found, instead of my colleague, a total stranger--and only a back view -at that--I was disappointed and annoyed. - -The stranger was seated by the table, reading a large document that -looked like a lease. He made no movement when I entered, but when I -crossed the room and wished him "Good evening," he half rose and bowed -silently. It was then that I first saw his face, and a mighty start he -gave me. For one moment I actually thought he was Mr. Weiss, so close -was the resemblance, but immediately I perceived that he was a much -smaller man. - -I sat down nearly opposite and stole an occasional furtive glance at -him. The resemblance to Weiss was really remarkable. The same flaxen -hair, the same ragged beard and a similar red nose, with the patches of -<i>acne rosacea</i> spreading to the adjacent cheeks. He wore spectacles, -too, through which he took a quick glance at me now and again, returning -immediately to his document. - -After some moments of rather embarrassing silence, I ventured to remark -that it was a mild evening; to which he assented with a sort of Scotch -"Hm--hm" and nodded slowly. Then came another interval of silence, -during which I speculated on the possibility of his being a relative of -Mr. Weiss and wondered what the deuce he was doing in our chambers. - -"Have you an appointment with Dr. Thorndyke?" I asked, at length. - -He bowed solemnly, and by way of reply--in the affirmative, as I -assumed--emitted another "hm--hm." - -I looked at him sharply, a little nettled by his lack of manners; -whereupon he opened out the lease so that it screened his face, and as I -glanced at the back of the document, I was astonished to observe that it -was shaking rapidly. - -The fellow was actually laughing! What he found in my simple question to -cause him so much amusement I was totally unable to imagine. But there -it was. The tremulous movements of the document left me in no possible -doubt that he was for some reason convulsed with laughter. - -It was extremely mysterious. Also, it was rather embarrassing. I took -out my pocket file and began to look over my notes. Then the document -was lowered and I was able to get another look at the stranger's face. -He was really extraordinarily like Weiss. The shaggy eyebrows, throwing -the eye-sockets into shadow, gave him, in conjunction with the -spectacles, the same owlish, solemn expression that I had noticed in my -Kennington acquaintance; and which, by the way, was singularly out of -character with the frivolous behaviour that I had just witnessed. - -From time to time as I looked at him, he caught my eye and instantly -averted his own, turning rather red. Apparently he was a shy, nervous -man, which might account for his giggling; for I have noticed that shy -or nervous people have a habit of smiling inopportunely and even -giggling when embarrassed by meeting an over-steady eye. And it seemed -my own eye had this disconcerting quality, for even as I looked at him, -the document suddenly went up again and began to shake violently. - -I stood it for a minute or two, but, finding the situation intolerably -embarrassing, I rose, and brusquely excusing myself, went up to the -laboratory to look for Polton and inquire at what time Thorndyke was -expected home. To my surprise, however, on entering, I discovered -Thorndyke himself just finishing the mounting of a microscopical -specimen. - -"Did you know that there is some one below waiting to see you?" I asked. - -"Is it anyone you know?" he inquired. - -"No," I answered. "It is a red-nosed, sniggering fool in spectacles. He -has got a lease or a deed or some other sort of document which he has -been using to play a sort of idiotic game of Peep-Bo! I couldn't stand -him, so I came up here." - -Thorndyke laughed heartily at my description of his client. - -"What are you laughing at?" I asked sourly; at which he laughed yet more -heartily and added to the aggravation by wiping his eyes. - -"Our friend seems to have put you out," he remarked. - -"He put me out literally. If I had stayed much longer I should have -punched his head." - -"In that case," said Thorndyke, "I am glad you didn't stay. But come -down and let me introduce you." - -"No, thank you. I've had enough of him for the present." - -"But I have a very special reason for wishing to introduce you. I think -you will get some information from him that will interest you very much; -and you needn't quarrel with a man for being of a cheerful disposition." - -"Cheerful be hanged!" I exclaimed. "I don't call a man cheerful because -he behaves like a gibbering idiot." - -To this Thorndyke made no reply but a broad and appreciative smile, and -we descended to the lower floor. As we entered the room, the stranger -rose, and, glancing in an embarrassed way from one of us to the other, -suddenly broke out into an undeniable snigger. I looked at him sternly, -and Thorndyke, quite unmoved by his indecorous behaviour, said in a -grave voice: - -"Let me introduce you, Jervis; though I think you have met this -gentleman before." - -"I think not," I said stiffly. - -"Oh yes, you have, sir," interposed the stranger; and, as he spoke, I -started; for the voice was uncommonly like the familiar voice of Polton. - -I looked at the speaker with sudden suspicion. And now I could see that -the flaxen hair was a wig; that the beard had a decidedly artificial -look, and that the eyes that beamed through the spectacles were -remarkably like the eyes of our factotum. But the blotchy face, the -bulbous nose and the shaggy, overhanging eyebrows were alien features -that I could not reconcile with the personality of our refined and -aristocratic-looking little assistant. - -"Is this a practical joke?" I asked. - -"No," replied Thorndyke; "it is a demonstration. When we were talking -this morning it appeared to me that you did not realize the extent to -which it is possible to conceal identity under suitable conditions of -light. So I arranged, with Polton's rather reluctant assistance, to give -you ocular evidence. The conditions are not favourable--which makes the -demonstration more convincing. This is a very well-lighted room and -Polton is a very poor actor; in spite of which it has been possible for -you to sit opposite him for several minutes and look at him, I have no -doubt, very attentively, without discovering his identity. If the room -had been lighted only with a candle, and Polton had been equal to the -task of supporting his make-up with an appropriate voice and manner, the -deception would have been perfect." - -"I can see that he has a wig on, quite plainly," said I. - -"Yes; but you would not in a dimly lighted room. On the other hand, if -Polton were to walk down Fleet Street at mid-day in this condition, the -make-up would be conspicuously evident to any moderately observant -passer-by. The secret of making up consists in a careful adjustment to -the conditions of light and distance in which the make-up is to be seen. -That in use on the stage would look ridiculous in an ordinary room; that -which would serve in an artificially lighted room would look ridiculous -out of doors by daylight." - -"Is any effective make-up possible out of doors in ordinary daylight?" I -asked. - -"Oh, yes," replied Thorndyke. "But it must be on a totally different -scale from that of the stage. A wig, and especially a beard or -moustache, must be joined up at the edges with hair actually stuck on -the skin with transparent cement and carefully trimmed with scissors. -The same applies to eyebrows; and alterations in the colour of the skin -must be carried out much more subtly. Polton's nose has been built up -with a small covering of toupee-paste, the pimples on the cheeks -produced with little particles of the same material; and the general -tinting has been done with grease-paint with a very light scumble of -powder colour to take off some of the shine. This would be possible in -outdoor make-up, but it would have to be done with the greatest care and -delicacy; in fact, with what the art-critics call 'reticence.' A very -little make-up is sufficient and too much is fatal. You would be -surprised to see how little paste is required to alter the shape of the -nose and the entire character of the face." - -At this moment there came a loud knock at the door; a single, solid dab -of the knocker which Polton seemed to recognize, for he ejaculated: - -"Good lord, sir! That'll be Wilkins, the cabman! I'd forgotten all -about him. Whatever's to be done?" - -He stared at us in ludicrous horror for a moment or two, and then, -snatching off his wig, beard and spectacles, poked them into a cupboard. -But his appearance was now too much even for Thorndyke--who hastily got -behind him--for he had now resumed his ordinary personality--but with a -very material difference. - -"Oh, it's nothing to laugh at, sir," he exclaimed indignantly as I -crammed my handkerchief into my mouth. "Somebody's got to let him in, or -he'll go away." - -"Yes; and that won't do," said Thorndyke. "But don't worry, Polton. You -can step into the office. I'll open the door." - -Polton's presence of mind, however, seemed to have entirely forsaken -him, for he only hovered irresolutely in the wake of his principal. As -the door opened, a thick and husky voice inquired: - -"Gent of the name of Polton live here?" - -"Yes, quite right," said Thorndyke. "Come in. Your name is Wilkins, I -think?" - -"That's me, sir," said the voice; and in response to Thorndyke's -invitation, a typical "growler" cabman of the old school, complete even -to imbricated cape and dangling badge, stalked into the room, and -glancing round with a mixture of embarrassment and defiance, suddenly -fixed on Polton's nose a look of devouring curiosity. - -"Here you are, then," Polton remarked nervously. - -"Yus," replied the cabman in a slightly hostile tone. "Here I am. What -am I wanted to do? And where's this here Mr. Polton?" - -"I am Mr. Polton," replied our abashed assistant. - -"Well, it's the other Mr. Polton what I want," said the cabman, with his -eyes still riveted on the olfactory prominence. - -"There isn't any other Mr. Polton," our subordinate replied irritably. -"I am the--er--person who spoke to you in the shelter." - -"Are you though?" said the manifestly incredulous cabby. "I shouldn't -have thought it; but you ought to know. What do you want me to do?" - -"We want you," said Thorndyke, "to answer one or two questions. And the -first one is, Are you a teetotaller?" - -The question being illustrated by the production of a decanter, the -cabman's dignity relaxed somewhat. - -"I ain't bigoted," said he. - -"Then sit down and mix yourself a glass of grog. Soda or plain water?" - -"May as well have all the extries," replied the cabman, sitting down and -grasping the decanter with the air of a man who means business. "Per'aps -you wouldn't mind squirtin' out the soda, sir, bein' more used to it." - -While these preliminaries were being arranged, Polton silently slipped -out of the room, and when our visitor had fortified himself with a gulp -of the uncommonly stiff mixture, the examination began. - -"Your name, I think, is Wilkins?" said Thorndyke. - -"That's me, sir. Samuel Wilkins is my name." - -"And your occupation?" - -"Is a very tryin' one and not paid for as it deserves. I drives a cab, -sir; a four-wheeled cab is what I drives; and a very poor job it is." - -"Do you happen to remember a very foggy day about a month ago?" - -"Do I not, sir! A regler sneezer that was! Wednesday, the fourteenth of -March. I remember the date because my benefit society came down on me -for arrears that morning." - -"Will you tell us what happened to you between six and seven in the -evening of that day?" - -"I will, sir," replied the cabman, emptying his tumbler by way of -bracing himself up for the effort. "A little before six I was waiting on -the arrival side of the Great Northern Station, King's Cross, when I see -a gentleman and a lady coming out. The gentleman he looks up and down -and then he sees me and walks up to the cab and opens the door and helps -the lady in. Then he says to me: 'Do you know New Inn?' he says. That's -what he says to me what was born and brought up in White Horse Alley, -Drury Lane. - -"'Get inside,' says I. - -"'Well,' says he, 'you drive in through the gate in Wych Street,' he -says, as if he expected me to go in by Houghton Street and down the -steps, 'and then,' he says, 'you drive nearly to the end and you'll see -a house with a large brass plate at the corner of the doorway. That's -where we want to be set down,' he says, and with that he nips in and -pulls up the windows and off we goes. - -"It took us a full half-hour to get to New Inn through the fog, for I -had to get down and lead the horse part of the way. As I drove in under -the archway, I saw it was half-past six by the clock in the porter's -lodge. I drove down nearly to the end of the inn and drew up opposite a -house where there was a big brass plate by the doorway. It was number -thirty-one. Then the gent crawls out and hands me five bob--two -'arf-crowns--and then he helps the lady out, and away they waddles to -the doorway and I see them start up the stairs very slow--regler -Pilgrim's Progress. And that was the last I see of 'em." - -Thorndyke wrote down the cabman's statement verbatim together with his -own questions, and then asked: - -"Can you give us any description of the gentleman?" - -"The gent," said Wilkins, was a very respectable-looking gent, though he -did look as if he'd had a drop of something short, and small blame to -him on a day like that. But he was all there, and he knew what was the -proper fare for a foggy evening, which is more than some of 'em do. He -was a elderly gent, about sixty, and he wore spectacles, but he didn't -seem to be able to see much through 'em. He was a funny 'un to look at; -as round in the back as a turtle and he walked with his head stuck -forward like a goose." - -"What made you think he had been drinking?" - -"Well, he wasn't as steady as he might have been on his pins. But he -wasn't drunk, you know. Only a bit wobbly on the plates." - -"And the lady; what was she like?" - -"I couldn't see much of her because her head was wrapped up in a sort of -woollen veil. But I should say she wasn't a chicken. Might have been -about the same age as the gent, but I couldn't swear to that. She seemed -a trifle rickety on the pins too; in fact they were a rum-looking -couple. I watched 'em tottering across the pavement and up the stairs, -hanging on to each other, him peering through his blinkers and she -trying to see through her veil, and I thought it was a jolly good job -they'd got a nice sound cab and a steady driver to bring 'em safe home." - -"How was the lady dressed?" - -"Can't rightly say, not being a hexpert. Her head was done up in this -here veil like a pudden in a cloth and she had a small hat on. She had a -dark brown mantle with a fringe of beads round it and a black dress; and -I noticed when she got into the cab at the station that one of her -stockings looked like the bellows of a concertina. That's all I can tell -you." - -Thorndyke wrote down the last answer, and, having read the entire -statement aloud, handed the pen to our visitor. - -"If that is all correct," he said, "I will ask you to sign your name at -the bottom." - -"Do you want me to swear a affidavy that it's all true?" asked Wilkins. - -"No, thank you," replied Thorndyke. "We may have to call you to give -evidence in court, and then you'll be sworn; and you'll also be paid for -your attendance. For the present I want you to keep your own counsel and -say nothing to anybody about having been here. We have to make some -other inquiries and we don't want the affair talked about." - -"I see, sir," said Wilkins, as he laboriously traced his signature at -the foot of the statement; "you don't want the other parties for to ogle -your lay. All right, sir; you can depend on me. I'm fly, I am." - -"Thank you, Wilkins," said Thorndyke. "And now what are we to give you -for your trouble in coming here?" - -"I'll leave the fare to you, sir. You know what the information's worth; -but I should think 'arf a thick-un wouldn't hurt you." - -Thorndyke laid on the table a couple of sovereigns, at the sight of -which the cabman's eyes glistened. - -"We have your address, Wilkins," said he. "If we want you as a witness -we shall let you know, and if not, there will be another two pounds for -you at the end of a fortnight, provided you have not let this little -interview leak out." - -Wilkins gathered up the spoils gleefully. "You can trust me, sir," said -he, "for to keep my mouth shut. I knows which side my bread's buttered. -Good night, gentlemen all." - -With this comprehensive salute he moved towards the door and let -himself out. - -"Well, Jervis; what do you think of it?" Thorndyke asked, as the -cabman's footsteps faded away in a creaky diminuendo. - -"I don't know what to think. This woman is a new factor in the case and -I don't know how to place her." - -"Not entirely new," said Thorndyke. "You have not forgotten those beads -that we found in Jeffrey's bedroom, have you?" - -"No, I had not forgotten them, but I did not see that they told us much -excepting that some woman had apparently been in his bedroom at some -time." - -"That, I think, is all that they did tell us. But now they tell us that -a particular woman was in his bedroom at a particular time, which is a -good deal more significant." - -"Yes. It almost looks as if she must have been there when he made away -with himself." - -"It does, very much." - -"By the way, you were right about the colours of those beads, and also -about the way they were used." - -"As to their use, that was a mere guess; but it has turned out to be -correct. It was well that we found the beads, for, small as is the -amount of information they give, it is still enough to carry us a stage -further." - -"How so?" - -"I mean that the cabman's evidence tells us only that this woman entered -the house. The beads tell us that she was in the bedroom; which, as you -say, seems to connect her to some extent with Jeffrey's death. Not -necessarily, of course. It is only a suggestion; but a rather strong -suggestion under the peculiar circumstances." - -"Even so," said I, "this new fact seems to me so far from clearing up -the mystery, only to add to it a fresh element of still deeper mystery. -The porter's evidence at the inquest could leave no doubt that Jeffrey -contemplated suicide, and his preparations pointedly suggest this -particular night as the time selected by him for doing away with -himself. Is not that so?" - -"Certainly. The porter's evidence was very clear on that point." - -"Then I don't see where this woman comes in. It is obvious that her -presence at the inn, and especially in the bedroom, on this occasion and -in these strange, secret circumstances, has a rather sinister look; but -yet I do not see in what way she could have been connected with the -tragedy. Perhaps, after all, she has nothing to do with it. You remember -that Jeffrey went to the lodge about eight o'clock, to pay his rent, and -chatted for some time with the porter. That looks as if the lady had -already left." - -"Yes," said Thorndyke. "But, on the other hand, Jeffrey's remarks to the -porter with reference to the cab do not quite agree with the account -that we have just heard from Wilkins. Which suggests--as does Wilkins's -account generally--some secrecy as to the lady's visit to his chambers." - -"Do you know who the woman was?" I asked. - -"No, I don't know," he replied. "I have a rather strong suspicion that I -can identify her, but I am waiting for some further facts." - -"Is your suspicion founded on some new matter that you have discovered, -or is it deducible from facts that are known to me?" - -"I think," he replied, "that you know practically all that I know, -although I have, in one instance, turned a very strong suspicion into a -certainty by further inquiries. But I think you ought to be able to form -some idea as to who this lady probably was." - -"But no woman has been mentioned in the case at all." - -"No; but I think you should be able to give this lady a name, -notwithstanding." - -"Should I? Then I begin to suspect that I am not cut out for -medico-legal practice, for I don't see the faintest glimmer of a -suggestion." - -Thorndyke smiled benevolently. "Don't be discouraged, Jervis," said he. -"I expect that when you first began to go round the wards, you doubted -whether you were cut out for medical practice. I did. For special work -one needs special knowledge and an acquired faculty for making use of -it. What does a second year's student make of a small thoracic aneurysm? -He knows the anatomy of the chest; he begins to know the normal heart -sounds and areas of dullness; but he cannot yet fit his various items of -knowledge together. Then comes the experienced physician and perhaps -makes a complete diagnosis without any examination at all, merely from -hearing the patient speak or cough. He has the same facts as the -student, but he has acquired the faculty of instantly connecting an -abnormality of function with its correleated anatomical change. It is a -matter of experience. And, with your previous training, you will soon -acquire the faculty. Try to observe everything. Let nothing escape you. -And try constantly to find some connection between facts and events that -seem to be unconnected. That is my advice to you; and with that we will -put away the Blackmore case for the present and consider our day's work -at an end." - - - - -Chapter XIV - -Thorndyke Lays the Mine - - -The information supplied by Mr. Samuel Wilkins, so far from dispelling -the cloud of mystery that hung over the Blackmore case, only enveloped -it in deeper obscurity, so far as I was concerned. The new problem that -Thorndyke offered for solution was a tougher one than any of the others. -He proposed that I should identify and give a name to this mysterious -woman. But how could I? No woman, excepting Mrs. Wilson, had been -mentioned in connection with the case. This new <i>dramatis persona</i> had -appeared suddenly from nowhere and straightway vanished without leaving -a trace, excepting the two or three beads that we had picked up in -Jeffrey's room. - -Nor was it in the least clear what part, if any, she had played in the -tragedy. The facts still pointed as plainly to suicide as before her -appearance. Jeffrey's repeated hints as to his intentions, and the very -significant preparations that he had made, were enough to negative any -idea of foul play. And yet the woman's presence in the chambers at that -time, the secret manner of her arrival and her precautions against -recognition, strongly suggested some kind of complicity in the dreadful -event that followed. - -But what complicity is possible in the case of suicide? The woman might -have furnished him with the syringe and the poison, but it would not -have been necessary for her to go to his chambers for that purpose. -Vague ideas of persuasion and hypnotic suggestion floated through my -brain; but the explanations did not fit the case and the hypnotic -suggestion of crime is not very convincing to the medical mind. Then I -thought of blackmail in connection with some disgraceful secret; but -though this was a more hopeful suggestion, it was not very probable, -considering Jeffrey's age and character. - -And all these speculations failed to throw the faintest light on the -main question: "Who was this woman?" - -A couple of days passed, during which Thorndyke made no further -reference to the case. He was, most of the time, away from home, though -how he was engaged I had no idea. What was rather more unusual was that -Polton seemed to have deserted the laboratory and taken to outdoor -pursuits. I assumed that he had seized the opportunity of leaving me in -charge, and I dimly surmised that he was acting as Thorndyke's private -inquiry agent, as he seemed to have done in the case of Samuel Wilkins. - -On the evening of the second day Thorndyke came home in obviously good -spirits, and his first proceedings aroused my expectant curiosity. He -went to a cupboard and brought forth a box of Trichinopoly cheroots. Now -the Trichinopoly cheroot was Thorndyke's one dissipation, to be enjoyed -only on rare and specially festive occasions; which, in practice, meant -those occasions on which he had scored some important point or solved -some unusually tough problem. Wherefore I watched him with lively -interest. - -"It's a pity that the 'Trichy' is such a poisonous beast," he remarked, -taking up one of the cheroots and sniffing at it delicately. "There is -no other cigar like it, to a really abandoned smoker." He laid the cigar -back in the box and continued: "I think I shall treat myself to one -after dinner to celebrate the occasion." - -"What occasion?" I asked. - -"The completion of the Blackmore case. I am just going to write to -Marchmont advising him to enter a caveat." - -"Do you mean to say that you have discovered a flaw in the will, after -all?" - -"A flaw!" he exclaimed. "My dear Jervis, that second will is a forgery." - -I stared at him in amazement; for his assertion sounded like nothing -more or less than arrant nonsense. - -"But the thing is impossible, Thorndyke," I said. "Not only did the -witnesses recognize their own signatures and the painter's greasy -finger-marks, but they had both read the will and remembered its -contents." - -"Yes; that is the interesting feature in the case. It is a very pretty -problem. I shall give you a last chance to solve it. To-morrow evening -we shall have to give a full explanation, so you have another -twenty-four hours in which to think it over. And, meanwhile, I am going -to take you to my club to dine. I think we shall be pretty safe there -from Mrs. Schallibaum." - -He sat down and wrote a letter, which was apparently quite a short one, -and having addressed and stamped it, prepared to go out. - -"Come," said he, "let us away to 'the gay and festive scenes and halls -of dazzling light.' We will lay the mine in the Fleet Street pillar box. -I should like to be in Marchmont's office when it explodes." - -"I expect, for that matter," said I, "that the explosion will be felt -pretty distinctly in these chambers." - -"I expect so, too," replied Thorndyke; "and that reminds me that I shall -be out all day to-morrow, so, if Marchmont calls, you must do all that -you can to persuade him to come round after dinner and bring Stephen -Blackmore, if possible. I am anxious to have Stephen here, as he will be -able to give us some further information and confirm certain matters of -fact." - -I promised to exercise my utmost powers of persuasion on Mr. Marchmont -which I should certainly have done on my own account, being now on the -very tiptoe of curiosity to hear Thorndyke's explanation of the -unthinkable conclusion at which he had arrived--and the subject dropped -completely; nor could I, during the rest of the evening, induce my -colleague to reopen it even in the most indirect or allusive manner. - -Our explanations in respect of Mr. Marchmont were fully realized; for, -on the following morning, within an hour of Thorndyke's departure from -our chambers, the knocker was plied with more than usual emphasis, and, -on my opening the door, I discovered the solicitor in company with a -somewhat older gentleman. Mr. Marchmont appeared somewhat out of humour, -while his companion was obviously in a state of extreme irritation. - -"How d'you do, Dr. Jervis?" said Marchmont as he entered at my -invitation. "Your friend, I suppose, is not in just now?" - -"No; and he will not be returning until the evening." - -"Hm; I'm sorry. We wished to see him rather particularly. This is my -partner, Mr. Winwood." - -The latter gentleman bowed stiffly and Marchmont continued: - -"We have had a letter from Dr. Thorndyke, and it is, I may say, a rather -curious letter; in fact, a very singular letter indeed." - -"It is the letter of a madman!" growled Mr. Winwood. - -"No, no, Winwood; nothing of the kind. Control yourself, I beg you. But -really, the letter is rather incomprehensible. It relates to the will of -the late Jeffrey Blackmore--you know the main facts of the case; and we -cannot reconcile it with those facts." - -"This is the letter," exclaimed Mr. Winwood, dragging the document from -his wallet and slapping it down on the table. "If you are acquainted -with the case, sir, just read that, and let us hear what <i>you</i> think." - -I took up the letter and read aloud: - -"JEFFREY BLACKMORE, DECD. - -"DEAR MR. MARCHMONT,-- - -"I have gone into this case with great care and have now no doubt that -the second will is a forgery. Criminal proceedings will, I think, be -inevitable, but meanwhile it would be wise to enter a caveat. - -"If you could look in at my chambers to-morrow evening we could talk the -case over; and I should be glad if you could bring Mr. Stephen -Blackmore; whose personal knowledge of the events and the parties -concerned would be of great assistance in clearing up obscure details. - -"I am, - -"Yours sincerely, - -"JOHN EVELYN THORNDYKE - -"C.F. MARCHMONT, ESQ." - -"Well!" exclaimed Mr. Winwood, glaring ferociously at me, "what do you -think of the learned counsel's opinion?" - -"I knew that Thorndyke was writing to you to this effect," I replied, -"but I must frankly confess that I can make nothing of it. Have you -acted on his advice?" - -"Certainly not!" shouted the irascible lawyer. "Do you suppose that we -wish to make ourselves the laughing-stock of the courts? The thing is -impossible--ridiculously impossible!" - -"It can't be that, you know," I said, a little stiffly, for I was -somewhat nettled by Mr. Winwood's manner, "or Thorndyke would not have -written this letter. The conclusion looks as impossible to me as it does -to you; but I have complete confidence in Thorndyke. If he says that the -will is a forgery, I have no doubt that it is a forgery." - -"But how the deuce can it be?" roared Winwood. "You know the -circumstances under which the will was executed." - -"Yes; but so does Thorndyke. And he is not a man who overlooks important -facts. It is useless to argue with me. I am in a complete fog about the -case myself. You had better come in this evening and talk it over with -him as he suggests." - -"It is very inconvenient," grumbled Mr. Winwood. "We shall have to dine -in town." - -"Yes," said Marchmont, "but it is the only thing to be done. As Dr. -Jervis says, we must take it that Thorndyke has something solid to base -his opinion on. He doesn't make elementary mistakes. And, of course, if -what he says is correct, Mr. Stephen's position is totally changed." - -"Bah!" exclaimed Winwood, "he has found a mare's nest, I tell you. -Still, I agree that the explanation should be worth hearing." - -"You mustn't mind Winwood," said Marchmont, in an apologetic undertone; -"he's a peppery old fellow with a rough tongue, but he doesn't mean any -harm." Which statement Winwood assented to--or dissented from; for it -was impossible to say which--by a prolonged growl. - -"We shall expect you then," I said, "about eight to-night, and you will -try to bring Mr. Stephen with you?" - -"Yes," replied Marchmont; "I think we can promise that he shall come -with us. I have sent him a telegram asking him to attend." - -With this the two lawyers took their departure, leaving me to meditate -upon my colleague's astonishing statement; which I did, considerably to -the prejudice of other employment. That Thorndyke would be able to -justify the opinion that he had given, I had no doubt whatever; but yet -there was no denying that his proposition was what Mr. Dick Swiveller -would call "a staggerer." - -When Thorndyke returned, I informed him of the visit of our two friends, -and acquainted him with the sentiments that they had expressed; whereat -he smiled with quiet amusement. - -"I thought," he remarked, "that letter would bring Marchmont to our door -before long. As to Winwood, I have never met him, but I gather that he -is one of those people whom you 'mustn't mind.' In a general way, I -object to people who tacitly claim exemption from the ordinary rules of -conduct that are held to be binding on their fellows. But, as he -promises to give us what the variety artists call 'an extra turn,' we -will make the best of him and give him a run for his money." - -Here Thorndyke smiled mischievously--I understood the meaning of that -smile later in the evening--and asked: "What do you think of the affair -yourself?" - -"I have given it up," I answered. "To my paralysed brain, the Blackmore -case is like an endless algebraical problem propounded by an insane -mathematician." - -Thorndyke laughed at my comparison, which I flatter myself was a rather -apt one. - -"Come and dine," said he, "and let us crack a bottle, that our hearts -may not turn to water under the frown of the disdainful Winwood. I think -the old 'Bell' in Holborn will meet our present requirements better than -the club. There is something jovial and roystering about an ancient -tavern; but we must keep a sharp lookout for Mrs. Schallibaum." - -Thereupon we set forth; and, after a week's close imprisonment, I once -more looked upon the friendly London streets, the cheerfully lighted -shop windows and the multitudes of companionable strangers who moved -unceasingly along the pavements. - - - -Chapter XV - -Thorndyke Explodes the Mine - - -We had not been back in our chambers more than a few minutes when the -little brass knocker on the inner door rattled out its summons. -Thorndyke himself opened the door, and, finding our three expected -visitors on the threshold, he admitted them and closed the "oak." - -"We have accepted your invitation, you see," said Marchmont, whose -manner was now a little flurried and uneasy. "This is my partner, Mr. -Winwood; you haven't met before, I think. Well, we thought we should -like to hear some further particulars from you, as we could not quite -understand your letter." - -"My conclusion, I suppose," said Thorndyke, "was a little unexpected?" - -"It was more than that, sir," exclaimed Winwood. "It was absolutely -irreconcilable either with the facts of the case or with common physical -possibilities." - -"At the first glance," Thorndyke agreed, "it would probably have that -appearance." - -"It has that appearance still to me." said Winwood, growing suddenly red -and wrathful, "and I may say that I speak as a solicitor who was -practising in the law when you were an infant in arms. You tell us, sir, -that this will is a forgery; this will, which was executed in broad -daylight in the presence of two unimpeachable witnesses who have sworn, -not only to their signatures and the contents of the document, but to -their very finger-marks on the paper. Are those finger-marks forgeries, -too? Have you examined and tested them?" - -"I have not," replied Thorndyke. "The fact is they are of no interest to -me, as I am not disputing the witnesses' signatures." - -At this, Mr. Winwood fairly danced with irritation. - -"Marchmont!" he exclaimed fiercely, "you know this good gentleman, I -believe. Tell me, is he addicted to practical jokes?" - -"Now, my dear Winwood," groaned Marchmont, "I pray you--I beg you to -control yourself. No doubt--" - -"But confound it!" roared Winwood, "you have, yourself, heard him say -that the will is a forgery, but that he doesn't dispute the signatures; -which," concluded Winwood, banging his fist down on the table, "is -damned nonsense." - -"May I suggest," interposed Stephen Blackmore, "that we came here to -receive Dr. Thorndyke's explanation of his letter. Perhaps it would be -better to postpone any comments until we have heard it." - -"Undoubtedly, undoubtedly," said Marchmont. "Let me entreat you, -Winwood, to listen patiently and refrain from interruption until we have -heard our learned friend's exposition of the case." - -"Oh, very well," Winwood replied sulkily; "I'll say no more." - -He sank into a chair with the manner of a man who shuts himself up and -turns the key; and so remained--excepting when the internal pressure -approached bursting-point--throughout the subsequent proceedings, -silent, stony and impassive, like a seated statue of Obstinacy. - -"I take it," said Marchmont, "that you have some new facts that are not -in our possession?" - -"Yes," replied Thorndyke; "we have some new facts, and we have made some -new use of the old ones. But how shall I lay the case before you? Shall -I state my theory of the sequence of events and furnish the verification -afterwards? Or shall I retrace the actual course of my investigations -and give you the facts in the order in which I obtained them myself, -with the inferences from them?" - -"I almost think," said Mr. Marchmont, "that it would be better if you -would put us in possession of the new facts. Then, if the conclusions -that follow from them are not sufficiently obvious, we could hear the -argument. What do you say, Winwood?" - -Mr. Winwood roused himself for an instant, barked out the one word -"Facts," and shut himself up again with a snap. - -"You would like to have the new facts by themselves?" said Thorndyke. - -"If you please. The facts only, in the first place, at any rate." - -"Very well," said Thorndyke; and here I caught his eye with a -mischievous twinkle in it that I understood perfectly; for I had most of -the facts myself and realized how much these two lawyers were likely to -extract from them. Winwood was going to "have a run for his money," as -Thorndyke had promised. - -My colleague, having placed on the table by his side a small cardboard -box and the sheets of notes from his file, glanced quickly at Mr. -Winwood and began: - -"The first important new facts came into my possession on the day on -which you introduced the case to me. In the evening, after you left, I -availed myself of Mr. Stephen's kind invitation to look over his uncle's -chambers in New Inn. I wished to do so in order to ascertain, if -possible, what had been the habits of the deceased during his residence -there. When I arrived with Dr. Jervis, Mr. Stephen was in the chambers, -and I learned from him that his uncle was an Oriental scholar of some -position and that he had a very thorough acquaintance with the cuneiform -writing. Now, while I was talking with Mr. Stephen I made a very curious -discovery. On the wall over the fire-place hung a large framed -photograph of an ancient Persian inscription in the cuneiform character; -and that photograph was upside down." - -"Upside down!" exclaimed Stephen. "But that is really very odd." - -"Very odd indeed," agreed Thorndyke, "and very suggestive. The way in -which it came to be inverted is pretty obvious and also rather -suggestive. The photograph had evidently been in the frame some years -but had apparently never been hung up before." - -"It had not," said Stephen, "though I don't know how you arrived at the -fact. It used to stand on the mantelpiece in his old rooms in Jermyn -Street." - -"Well," continued Thorndyke, "the frame-maker had pasted his label on -the back of the frame, and as this label hung the right way up, it -appeared as if the person who fixed the photograph on the wall had -adopted it as a guide." - -"It is very extraordinary," said Stephen. "I should have thought the -person who hung it would have asked Uncle Jeffrey which was the right -way up; and I can't imagine how on earth it could have hung all those -months without his noticing it. He must have been practically blind." - -Here Marchmont, who had been thinking hard, with knitted brows, suddenly -brightened up. - -"I see your point," said he. "You mean that if Jeffrey was as blind as -that, it would have been possible for some person to substitute a false -will, which he might sign without noticing the substitution." - -"That wouldn't make the will a forgery," growled Winwood. "If Jeffrey -signed it, it was Jeffrey's will. You could contest it if you could -prove the fraud. But he said: 'This is my will,' and the two witnesses -read it and have identified it." - -"Did they read it aloud?" asked Stephen. - -"No, they did not," replied Thorndyke. - -"Can you prove substitution?" asked Marchmont. - -"I haven't asserted it," answered Thorndyke, "My position is that the -will is a forgery." - -"But it is not," said Winwood. - -"We won't argue it now," said Thorndyke. "I ask you to note the fact -that the inscription was upside down. I also observed on the walls of -the chambers some valuable Japanese colour-prints on which were recent -damp-spots. I noted that the sitting-room had a gas-stove and that the -kitchen contained practically no stores or remains of food and hardly -any traces of even the simplest cooking. In the bedroom I found a large -box that had contained a considerable stock of hard stearine candles, -six to the pound, and that was now nearly empty. I examined the clothing -of the deceased. On the soles of the boots I observed dried mud, which -was unlike that on my own and Jervis's boots, from the gravelly square -of the inn. I noted a crease on each leg of the deceased man's trousers -as if they had been turned up half-way to the knee; and in the waistcoat -pocket I found the stump of a 'Contango' pencil. On the floor of the -bedroom, I found a portion of an oval glass somewhat like that of a -watch or locket, but ground at the edge to a double bevel. Dr. Jervis -and I also found one or two beads and a bugle, all of dark brown glass." - -Here Thorndyke paused, and Marchmont, who had been gazing at him with -growing amazement, said nervously: - -"Er--yes. Very interesting. These observations of yours--er--are--" - -"Are all the observations that I made at New Inn." - -The two lawyers looked at one another and Stephen Blackmore stared -fixedly at a spot on the hearth-rug. Then Mr. Winwood's face contorted -itself into a sour, lopsided smile. - -"You might have observed a good many other things, sir," said he, "if -you had looked. If you had examined the doors, you would have noted that -they had hinges and were covered with paint; and, if you had looked up -the chimney you might have noted that it was black inside." - -"Now, now, Winwood," protested Marchmont in an agony of uneasiness as to -what his partner might say next, "I must really beg you--er--to refrain -from--what Mr. Winwood means, Dr. Thorndyke, is that--er--we do not -quite perceive the relevancy of these--ah--observations of yours." - -"Probably not," said Thorndyke, "but you will perceive their relevancy -later. For the present, I will ask you to note the facts and bear them -in mind, so that you may be able to follow the argument when we come to -that. - -"The next set of data I acquired on the same evening, when Dr. Jervis -gave me a detailed account of a very strange adventure that befell him. -I need not burden you with all the details, but I will give you the -substance of his story." - -He then proceeded to recount the incidents connected with my visits to -Mr. Graves, dwelling on the personal peculiarities of the parties -concerned and especially of the patient, and not even forgetting the -very singular spectacles worn by Mr. Weiss. He also explained briefly -the construction of the chart, presenting the latter for the inspection -of his hearers. To this recital our three visitors listened in utter -bewilderment, as, indeed did I also; for I could not conceive in what -way my adventures could possibly be related to the affairs of the late -Mr. Blackmore. This was manifestly the view taken by Mr. Marchmont, for, -during a pause in which the chart was handed to him, he remarked -somewhat stiffly: - -"I am assuming, Dr. Thorndyke, that the curious story you are telling us -has some relevance to the matter in which we are interested." - -"You are quite correct in your assumption," replied Thorndyke. "The -story is very relevant indeed, as you will presently be convinced." - -"Thank you," said Marchmont, sinking back once more into his chair with -a sigh of resignation. - -"A few days ago," pursued Thorndyke, "Dr. Jervis and I located, with the -aid of this chart, the house to which he had been called. We found that -the late tenant had left somewhat hurriedly and that the house was to -let; and, as no other kind of investigation was possible, we obtained -the keys and made an exploration of the premises." - -Here he gave a brief account of our visit and the conditions that we -observed, and was proceeding to furnish a list of the articles that we -had found under the grate, when Mr. Winwood started from his chair. - -"Really, sir!" he exclaimed, "this is too much! Have I come here, at -great personal inconvenience, to hear you read the inventory of a -dust-heap?" - -Thorndyke smiled benevolently and caught my eye, once more, with a gleam -of amusement. - -"Sit down, Mr. Winwood," he said quietly. "You came here to learn the -facts of the case, and I am giving them to you. Please don't interrupt -needlessly and waste time." - -Winwood stared at him ferociously for several seconds; then, somewhat -disconcerted by the unruffled calm of his manner, he uttered a snort of -defiance, sat down heavily and shut himself up again. - -"We will now," Thorndyke continued, with unmoved serenity, "consider -these relics in more detail, and we will begin with this pair of -spectacles. They belonged to a person who was near-sighted and -astigmatic in the left eye and almost certainly blind in the right. Such -a description agrees entirely with Dr. Jervis's account of the sick -man." - -He paused for the moment, and then, as no one made any comment, -proceeded: - -"We next come to these little pieces of reed, which you, Mr. Stephen, -will probably recognize as the remains of a Japanese brush, such as is -used for writing in Chinese ink or for making small drawings." - -Again he paused, as though expecting some remark from his listeners; but -no one spoke, and he continued: - -"Then there is this bottle with the theatrical wig-maker's label on it, -which once contained cement such as is used for fixing on false beards, -moustaches or eyebrows." - -He paused once more and looked round expectantly at his audience, none -of whom, however, volunteered any remark. - -"Do none of these objects that I have described and shown you, seem to -have any significance for us?" he asked, in a tone of some surprise. - -"They convey nothing to me," said Mr. Marchmont, glancing at his -partner, who shook his head like a restive horse. - -"Nor to you, Mr. Stephen?" - -"No," replied Stephen. "Under the existing circumstances they convey no -reasonable suggestion to me." - -Thorndyke hesitated as if he were half inclined to say something more; -then, with a slight shrug, he turned over his notes and resumed: - -"The next group of new facts is concerned with the signatures of the -recent cheques. We have photographed them and placed them together for -the purpose of comparison and analysis." - -"I am not prepared to question the signatures." said Winwood. "We have -had a highly expert opinion, which would override ours in a court of law -even if we differed from it; which I think we do not." - -"Yes," said Marchmont; "that is so. I think we must accept the -signatures, especially as that of the will has been proved, beyond any -question" to be authentic." - -"Very well," agreed Thorndyke; "we will pass over the signatures. Then -we have some further evidence in regard to the spectacles, which serves -to verify our conclusions respecting them." - -"Perhaps," said Marchmont, "we might pass over that, too, as we do not -seem to have reached any conclusions." - -"As you please," said Thorndyke. "It is important, but we can reserve it -for verification. The next item will interest you more, I think. It is -the signed and witnessed statement of Samuel Wilkins, the driver of the -cab in which the deceased came home to the inn on the evening of his -death." - -My colleague was right. An actual document, signed by a tangible -witness, who could be put in the box and sworn, brought both lawyers to -a state of attention; and when Thorndyke read out the cabman's evidence, -their attention soon quickened into undisguised astonishment. - -"But this is a most mysterious affair," exclaimed Marchmont. "Who could -this woman have been, and what could she have been doing in Jeffrey's -chambers at this time? Can you throw any light on it, Mr. Stephen?" - -"No, indeed I can't," replied Stephen. "It is a complete mystery to me. -My uncle Jeffrey was a confirmed old bachelor, and, although he did not -dislike women, he was far from partial to their society, wrapped up as -he was in his favourite studies. To the best of my belief, he had not a -single female friend. He was not on intimate terms even with his sister, -Mrs. Wilson." - -"Very remarkable," mused Marchmont; "most remarkable. But, perhaps, you -can tell us, Dr. Thorndyke, who this woman was?" - -"I think," replied Thorndyke, "that the next item of evidence will -enable you to form an opinion for yourselves. I only obtained it -yesterday, and, as it made my case quite complete, I wrote off to you -immediately. It is the statement of Joseph Ridley, another cabman, and -unfortunately, a rather dull, unobservant fellow, unlike Wilkins. He has -not much to tell us, but what little he has is highly instructive. Here -is the statement, signed by the deponent and witnessed by me: - -"'My name is Joseph Ridley. I am the driver of a four-wheeled cab. On -the fourteenth of March, the day of the great fog, I was waiting at -Vauxhall Station, where I had just set down a fare. About five o'clock a -lady came and told me to drive over to Upper Kennington Lane to take up -a passenger. She was a middle-sized woman. I could not tell what her age -was, or what she was like, because her head was wrapped up in a sort of -knitted, woollen veil to keep out the fog. I did not notice how she was -dressed. She got into the cab and I led the horse over to Upper -Kennington Lane and a little way up the lane, until the lady tapped at -the front window for me to stop. - -"'She got out of the cab and told me to wait. Then she went away and -disappeared in the fog. Presently a lady and gentleman came from the -direction in which she had gone. The lady looked like the same lady, but -I won't answer to that. Her head was wrapped up in the same kind of veil -or shawl, and I noticed that she had on a dark coloured mantle with -bead fringe on it. - -"'The gentleman was clean shaved and wore spectacles, and he stooped a -good deal. I can't say whether his sight was good or bad. He helped the -lady into the cab and told me to drive to the Great Northern Station, -King's Cross. Then he got in himself and I drove off. I got to the -station about a quarter to six and the lady and gentleman got out. The -gentleman paid my fare and they both went into the station. I did not -notice anything unusual about either of them. Directly after they had -gone, I got a fresh fare and drove away.' - -"That," Thorndyke concluded, "is Joseph Ridley's statement; and I think -it will enable you to give a meaning to the other facts that I have -offered for your consideration." - -"I am not so sure about that," said Marchmont. "It is all exceedingly -mysterious. Your suggestion is, of course, that the woman who came to -New Inn in the cab was Mrs. Schallibaum!" - -"Not at all," replied Thorndyke. "My suggestion is that the woman was -Jeffrey Blackmore." - -There was deathly silence for a few moments. We were all absolutely -thunderstruck, and sat gaping at Thorndyke in speechless-astonishment. -Then--Mr. Winwood fairly bounced out of his chair. - -"But--my--good--sir!" he screeched. "Jeffrey Blackmore was with her at -the time!" - -"Naturally," replied Thorndyke, "my suggestion implies that the person -who was with her was not Jeffrey Blackmore." - -"But he was!" bawled Winwood. "The porter saw him!" - -"The porter saw a person whom he believed to be Jeffrey Blackmore. I -suggest that the porter's belief was erroneous." - -"Well," snapped Winwood, "perhaps you can prove that it was. I don't see -how you are going to; but perhaps you can." - -He subsided once more into his chair and glared defiantly at Thorndyke. - -"You seemed," said Stephen, "to suggest some connection between the sick -man, Graves, and my uncle. I noted it at the time, but put it aside as -impossible. Was I right. Did you mean to suggest any connection?" - -"I suggest something more than a connection. I suggest identity. My -position is that the sick man, Graves, was your uncle." - -"From Dr. Jervis's description," said Stephen, "this man must have been -very like my uncle. Both were blind in the right eye and had very poor -vision with the left; and my uncle certainly used brushes of the kind -that you have shown us, when writing in the Japanese character, for I -have watched him and admired his skill; but--" - -"But," said Marchmont, "there is the insuperable objection that, at the -very time when this man was lying sick in Kennington Lane, Mr. Jeffrey -was living at New Inn." - -"What evidence is there of that?" asked Thorndyke. - -"Evidence!" Marchmont exclaimed impatiently. "Why, my dear sir--" - -He paused suddenly, and, leaning forward, regarded Thorndyke with a new -and rather startled expression. - -"You mean to suggest--" he began. - -"I suggest that Jeffrey Blackmore never lived at New Inn at all." - -For the moment, Marchmont seemed absolutely paralysed by astonishment. - -"This is an amazing proposition!" he exclaimed, at length. "Yet the -thing is certainly not impossible, for, now that you recall the fact, I -realize that no one who had known him previously--excepting his brother, -John--ever saw him at the inn. The question of identity was never -raised." - -"Excepting," said Mr. Winwood, "in regard to the body; which was -certainly that of Jeffrey Blackmore." - -"Yes, yes. Of course," said Marchmont. "I had forgotten that for the -moment. The body was identified beyond doubt. You don't dispute the -identity of the body, do you?" - -"Certainly not," replied Thorndyke. - -Here Mr. Winwood grasped his hair with both hands and stuck his elbows -on his knees, while Marchmont drew forth a large handkerchief and mopped -his forehead. Stephen Blackmore looked from one to the other -expectantly, and finally said: - -"If I might make a suggestion, it would be that, as Dr. Thorndyke has -shown us the pieces now of the puzzle, he should be so kind as to put -them together for our information." - -"Yes," agreed Marchmont, "that will be the best plan. Let us have the -argument, Doctor, and any additional evidence that you possess." - -"The argument," said Thorndyke, "will be a rather long one, as the data -are so numerous, and there are some points in verification on which I -shall have to dwell in some detail. We will have some coffee to clear -our brains, and then I will bespeak your patience for what may seem like -a rather prolix demonstration." - - - - -Chapter XVI - -An Exposition and a Tragedy - - -"You may have wondered," Thorndyke commenced, when he had poured out the -coffee and handed round the cups, "what induced me to undertake the -minute investigation of so apparently simple and straightforward a case. -Perhaps I had better explain that first and let you see what was the -real starting-point of the inquiry. - -"When you, Mr. Marchmont and Mr. Stephen, introduced the case to me, I -made a very brief precis of the facts as you presented them, and of -these there were one or two which immediately attracted my attention. In -the first place, there was the will. It was a very strange will. It was -perfectly unnecessary. It contained no new matter; it expressed no -changed intentions; it met no new circumstances, as known to the -testator. In short it was not really a new will at all, but merely a -repetition of the first one, drafted in different and less suitable -language. It differed only in introducing a certain ambiguity from which -the original was free. It created the possibility that, in certain -circumstances, not known to or anticipated by the testator, John -Blackmore might become the principal beneficiary, contrary to the -obvious wishes of the testator. - -"The next point that impressed me was the manner of Mrs. Wilson's death. -She died of cancer. Now people do not die suddenly and unexpectedly of -cancer. This terrible disease stands almost alone in that it marks out -its victim months in advance. A person who has an incurable cancer is a -person whose death may be predicted with certainty and its date fixed -within comparatively narrow limits. - -"And now observe the remarkable series of coincidences that are brought -into light when we consider this peculiarity of the disease. Mrs. Wilson -died on the twelfth of March of this present year. Mr. Jeffrey's second -will was signed on the twelfth of November of last year; at a time, that -is to say, when the existence of cancer must have been known to Mrs. -Wilson's doctor, and might have been known to any of her relatives who -chose to inquire after her. - -"Then you will observe that the remarkable change in Mr. Jeffrey's -habits coincides in the most singular way with the same events. The -cancer must have been detectable as early as September of last year; -about the time, in fact, at which Mrs. Wilson made her will. Mr. Jeffrey -went to the inn at the beginning of October. From that time his habits -were totally changed, and I can demonstrate to you that a change--not a -gradual, but an abrupt change--took place in the character of his -signature. - -"In short, the whole of this peculiar set of circumstances--the change -in Jeffrey's habits, the change in his signature, and the execution of -his strange will--came into existence about the time when Mrs. Wilson -was first known to be suffering from cancer. - -"This struck me as a very suggestive fact. - -"Then there is the extraordinarily opportune date of Mr. Jeffrey's -death. Mrs. Wilson died on the twelfth of March. Mr. Jeffrey was found -dead on the fifteenth of March, having apparently died on the -fourteenth, on which day he was seen alive. If he had died only three -days sooner, he would have predeceased Mrs. Wilson, and her property -would never have devolved on him at all; while, if he had lived only a -day or two longer, he would have learned of her death and would -certainly have made a new will or codicil in his nephew's favour. - -"Circumstances, therefore, conspired in the most singular manner in -favour of John Blackmore. - -"But there is yet another coincidence. Jeffrey's body was found, by the -merest chance, the day after his death. But it might have remained -undiscovered for weeks, or even months; and if it had, it would have -been impossible to fix the date of his death. Then Mrs. Wilson's next -of kin would certainly have contested John Blackmore's claim--and -probably with success--on the ground that Jeffrey died before Mrs. -Wilson. But all this uncertainty is provided for by the circumstance -that Mr. Jeffrey paid his rent personally--and prematurely--to the -porter on the fourteenth of March, thus establishing beyond question the -fact that he was alive on that date; and yet further, in case the -porter's memory should be untrustworthy or his statement doubted, -Jeffrey furnished a signed and dated document--the cheque--which could -be produced in a court to furnish incontestable proof of survival. - -"To sum up this part of the evidence. Here was a will which enabled John -Blackmore to inherit the fortune of a man who, almost certainly, had no -intention of bequeathing it to him. The wording of that will seemed to -be adjusted to the peculiarities of Mrs. Wilson's disease; and the death -of the testator occurred under a peculiar set of circumstances which -seemed to be exactly adjusted to the wording of the will. Or, to put it -in another way: the wording of the will and the time, the manner and the -circumstances of the testator's death, all seemed to be precisely -adjusted to the fact that the approximate date of Mrs. Wilson's death -was known some months before it occurred. - -"Now you must admit that this compound group of coincidences, all -conspiring to a single end--the enrichment of John Blackmore--has a very -singular appearance. Coincidences are common enough in real life; but -we cannot accept too many at a time. My feeling was that there were too -many in this case and that I could not accept them without searching -inquiry." - -Thorndyke paused, and Mr. Marchmont, who had listened with close -attention, nodded, as he glanced at his silent partner. - -"You have stated the case with remarkable clearness," he said; "and I am -free to confess that some of the points that you have raised had escaped -my notice." - -"My first idea," Thorndyke resumed, "was that John Blackmore, taking -advantage of the mental enfeeblement produced by the opium habit, had -dictated this will to Jeffrey, It was then that I sought permission to -inspect Jeffrey's chambers; to learn what I could about him and to see -for myself whether they presented the dirty and disorderly appearance -characteristic of the regular opium-smoker's den. But when, during a -walk into the City, I thought over the case, it seemed to me that this -explanation hardly met the facts. Then I endeavoured to think of some -other explanation; and looking over my notes I observed two points that -seemed worth considering. One was that neither of the witnesses to the -will was really acquainted with Jeffrey Blackmore; both being strangers -who had accepted his identity on his own statement. The other was that -no one who had previously known him, with the single exception of his -brother John, had ever seen Jeffrey at the inn. - -"What was the import of these two facts? Probably they had none. But -still they suggested the desirability of considering the question: Was -the person who signed the will really Jeffrey Blackmore? The contrary -supposition--that some one had personated Jeffrey and forged his -signature to a false will--seemed wildly improbable, especially in view -of the identification of the body; but it involved no actual -impossibility; and it offered a complete explanation of the, otherwise -inexplicable, coincidences that I have mentioned. - -"I did not, however, for a moment, think that this was the true -explanation, but I resolved to bear it in mind, to test it when the -opportunity arose, and consider it by the light of any fresh facts that -I might acquire. - -"The new facts came sooner than I had expected. That same evening I went -with Dr. Jervis to New Inn and found Mr. Stephen in the chambers. By him -I was informed that Jeffrey was a learned Orientalist, with a quite -expert knowledge of the cuneiform writing; and even as he was telling me -this, I looked over his shoulder and saw a cuneiform inscription hanging -on the wall upside down. - -"Now, of this there could be only one reasonable explanation. -Disregarding the fact that no one would screw the suspension plates on a -frame without ascertaining which was the right way up, and assuming it -to be hung up inverted, it was impossible that the misplacement could -have been overlooked by Jeffrey. He was not blind, though his sight was -defective. The frame was thirty inches long and the individual -characters nearly an inch in length--about the size of the D 18 letters -of Snellen's test-types, which can be read by a person of ordinary sight -at a distance of fifty-five feet. There was, I repeat, only one -reasonable explanation; which was that the person who had inhabited -those chambers was not Jeffrey Blackmore. - -"This conclusion received considerable support from a fact which I -observed later, but mention in this place. On examining the soles of the -shoes taken from the dead man's feet, I found only the ordinary mud of -the streets. There was no trace of the peculiar gravelly mud that -adhered to my own boots and Jervis's, and which came from the square of -the inn. Yet the porter distinctly stated that the deceased, after -paying the rent, walked back towards his chambers across the square; the -mud of which should, therefore, have been conspicuous on his shoes. - -"Thus, in a moment, a wildly speculative hypothesis had assumed a high -degree of probability. - -"When Mr. Stephen was gone, Jervis and I looked over the chambers -thoroughly; and then another curious fact came to light. On the wall -were a number of fine Japanese colour-prints, all of which showed recent -damp-spots. Now, apart from the consideration that Jeffrey, who had been -at the trouble and expense of collecting these valuable prints, would -hardly have allowed them to rot on his walls, there arose the question: -How came they to be damp? There was a gas stove in the room, and a gas -stove has at least the virtue of preserving a dry atmosphere. It was -winter weather, when the stove would naturally be pretty constantly -alight. How came the walls to be so damp? The answer seemed to be that -the stove had not been constantly alight, but had been lighted only -occasionally. This suggestion was borne out by a further examination of -the rooms. In the kitchen there were practically no stores and hardly -any arrangements even for simple bachelor cooking; the bedroom offered -the same suggestion; the soap in the wash-stand was shrivelled and -cracked; there was no cast-off linen, and the shirts in the drawers, -though clean, had the peculiar yellowish, faded appearance that linen -acquires when long out of use. In short, the rooms had the appearance of -not having been lived in at all, but only visited at intervals. - -"Against this view, however, was the statement of the night porter that -he had often seen a light in Jeffrey's sitting-room at one o'clock in -the morning, with the apparent implication that it was then turned out. -Now a light may be left in an empty room, but its extinction implies the -presence of some person to extinguish it; unless some automatic device -be adopted for putting it out at a given time. Such a device--the alarm -movement of a clock, for instance, with a suitable attachment--is a -simple enough matter, but my search of the rooms failed to discover -anything of the kind. However, when looking over the drawers in the -bedroom, I came upon a large box that had held a considerable quantity -of hard stearine candles. There were only a few left, but a flat -candlestick with numerous wick-ends in its socket accounted for the -remainder. - -"These candles seemed to dispose of the difficulty. They were not -necessary for ordinary lighting, since gas was laid on in all three -rooms. For what purpose, then, were they used, and in such considerable -quantities? I subsequently obtained some of the same brand--Price's -stearine candles, six to the pound--and experimented with them. Each -candle was seven and a quarter inches in length, not counting the cone -at the top, and I found that they burned in still air at the rate of a -fraction over one inch in an hour. We may say that one of these candles -would burn in still air a little over six hours. It would thus be -possible for the person who inhabited these rooms to go away at seven -o'clock in the evening and leave a light which would burn until past one -in the morning and then extinguish itself. This, of course, was only -surmise, but it destroyed the significance of the night porter's -statement. - -"But, if the person who inhabited these chambers was not Jeffrey, who -was he? - -"The answer to that question seemed plain enough. There was only one -person who had a strong motive for perpetrating a fraud of this kind, -and there was only one person to whom it was possible. If this person -was not Jeffrey, he must have been very like Jeffrey; sufficiently like -for the body of the one to be mistaken for the body of the other. For -the production of Jeffrey's body was an essential part of the plan and -must have been contemplated from the first. But the only person who -fulfills the conditions is John Blackmore. - -"We have learned from Mr. Stephen that John and Jeffrey, though very -different in appearance in later years, were much alike as young men. -But when two brothers who are much alike as young men, become unlike in -later life, we shall find that the unlikeness is produced by superficial -differences and that the essential likeness remains. Thus, in the -present case, Jeffrey was clean shaved, had bad eyesight, wore -spectacles and stooped as he walked; John wore a beard and moustache, -had good eyesight, did not wear spectacles and had a brisk gait and -upright carriage. But supposing John to shave off his beard and -moustache, to put on spectacles and to stoop in his walk, these -conspicuous but superficial differences would vanish and the original -likeness reappear. - -"There is another consideration. John had been an actor and was an actor -of some experience. Now, any person can, with some care and practice, -make up a disguise; the great difficulty is to support that disguise by -a suitable manner and voice. But to an experienced actor this difficulty -does not exist. To him, personation is easy; and, moreover, an actor is -precisely the person to whom the idea of disguise and impersonation -would occur. - -"There is a small item bearing on this point, so small as to be hardly -worth calling evidence, but just worth noting. In the pocket of the -waistcoat taken from the body of Jeffrey I found the stump of a -'Contango' pencil; a pencil that is sold for the use of stock dealers -and brokers. Now John was an outside broker and might very probably have -used such a pencil, whereas Jeffrey had no connection with the stock -markets and there is no reason why he should have possessed a pencil of -this kind. But the fact is merely suggestive; it has no evidential -value. - -"A more important inference is to be drawn from the collected -signatures. I have remarked that the change in the signature occurred -abruptly, with one or two alterations of manner, last September, and -that there are two distinct forms with no intermediate varieties. This -is, in itself, remarkable and suspicious. But a remark made by Mr. -Britton furnishes a really valuable piece of evidence on the point we -are now considering. He admitted that the character of the signature had -undergone a change, but observed that the change did not affect the -individual or personal character of the writing. This is very important; -for handwriting is, as it were, an extension of the personality of the -writer. And just as a man to some extent snares his personality with his -near blood-relations in the form of family resemblances, so his -handwriting often shows a subtle likeness to that of his near relatives. -You must have noticed, as I have, how commonly the handwriting of one -brother resembles that of another, and in just this peculiar and subtle -way. The inference, then, from Mr. Britton's statement is, that if the -signature of the will was forged, it was probably forged by a relative -of the deceased. But the only relative in question is his brother John. - -"All the facts, therefore, pointed to John Blackmore as the person who -occupied these chambers, and I accordingly adopted that view as a -working hypothesis." - -"But this was all pure speculation," objected Mr. Winwood. - -"Not speculation," said Thorndyke. "Hypothesis. It was ordinary -inductive reasoning such as we employ in scientific research. I started -with the purely tentative hypothesis that the person who signed the will -was not Jeffrey Blackmore. I assumed this; and I may say that I did not -believe it at the time, but merely adopted it as a proposition that was -worth testing. I accordingly tested it, 'Yes?' or 'No?' with each new -fact; but as each new fact said 'Yes,' and no fact said definitely 'No,' -its probability increased rapidly by a sort of geometrical progression. -The probabilities multiplied into one another. It is a perfectly sound -method, for one knows that if a hypothesis be true, it will lead one, -sooner or later, to a crucial fact by which its truth can be -demonstrated. - -"To resume our argument. We have now set up the proposition that John -Blackmore was the tenant of New Inn and that he was personating Jeffrey. -Let us reason from this and see what it leads to. - -"If the tenant of New Inn was John, then Jeffrey must be elsewhere, -since his concealment at the inn was clearly impossible. But he could -not have been far away, for he had to be producible at short notice -whenever the death of Mrs. Wilson should make the production of his -body necessary. But if he was producible, his person must have been in -the possession or control of John. He could not have been at large, for -that would have involved the danger of his being seen and recognized. He -could not have been in any institution or place where he would be in -contact with strangers. Then he must be in some sort of confinement. But -it is difficult to keep an adult in confinement in an ordinary house. -Such a proceeding would involve great risk of discovery and the use of -violence which would leave traces on the body, to be observed and -commented on at the inquest. What alternative method could be suggested? - -"The most obvious method is that of keeping the prisoner in such a state -of debility as would confine him to his bed. But such debility could be -produced by only starvation, unsuitable food, or chronic poisoning. Of -these alternatives, poisoning is much more exact, more calculable in its -effect and more under control. The probabilities, then, were in favour -of chronic poisoning. - -"Having reached this stage, I recalled a singular case which Jervis had -mentioned to me and which seemed to illustrate this method. On our -return home I asked him for further particulars, and he then gave me a -very detailed description of the patient and the circumstances. The -upshot was rather startling. I had looked on his case as merely -illustrative, and wished to study it for the sake of the suggestions -that it might offer. But when I had heard his account, I began to -suspect that there was something more than mere parallelism of method. -It began to look as if his patient, Mr. Graves, might actually be -Jeffrey Blackmore. - -"The coincidences were remarkable. The general appearance of the patient -tallied completely with Mr. Stephen's description of his uncle Jeffrey. -The patient had a tremulous iris in his right eye and had clearly -suffered from dislocation of the crystalline lens. But from Mr. -Stephen's account of his uncle's sudden loss of sight in the right eye -after a fall, I judged that Jeffrey had also suffered from dislocation -of the lens and therefore had a tremulous iris in the right eye. The -patient, Graves, evidently had defective vision in his left eye, as -proved by the marks made behind his ears by the hooked side-bars of his -spectacles; for it is only on spectacles that are intended for constant -use that we find hooked side-bars. But Jeffrey had defective vision in -his left eye and wore spectacles constantly. Lastly, the patient Graves -was suffering from chronic morphine poisoning, and morphine was found in -the body of Jeffrey. - -"Once more, it appeared to me that there were too many coincidences. - -"The question as to whether Graves and Jeffrey were identical admitted -of fairly easy disproof; for if Graves was still alive, he could not be -Jeffrey. It was an important question and I resolved to test it without -delay. That night, Jervis and I plotted out the chart, and on the -following morning we located the house. But it was empty and to let. -The birds had flown, and we failed to discover whither they had gone. - -"However, we entered the house and explored. I have told you about the -massive bolts and fastenings that we found on the bedroom doors and -window, showing that the room had been used as a prison. I have told you -of the objects that we picked out of the dust-heap under the grate. Of -the obvious suggestion offered by the Japanese brush and the bottle of -'spirit gum' or cement, I need not speak now; but I must trouble you -with some details concerning the broken spectacles. For here we had come -upon the crucial fact to which, as I have said, all sound inductive -reasoning brings one sooner or later. - -"The spectacles were of a rather peculiar pattern. The frames were of -the type invented by Mr. Stopford of Moorfields and known by his name. -The right eye-piece was fitted with plain glass, as is usual in the case -of a blind, or useless, eye. It was very much shattered, but its -character was obvious. The glass of the left eye was much thicker and -fortunately less damaged, so that I was able accurately to test its -refraction. - -"When I reached home, I laid the pieces of the spectacles together, -measured the frames very carefully, tested the left eye-glass, and wrote -down a full description such as would have been given by the surgeon to -the spectacle-maker. Here it is, and I will ask you to note it -carefully. - -"'Spectacles for constant use. Steel frame, Stopford's pattern, curl -sides, broad bridge with gold lining. Distance between centres, 6.2 -centimetres; extreme length of side-bars, 13.3 centimetres. - -"'Right eye plain glass. - -"'Left eye -5.75 D. spherical - ------------------- - -3.25 D. cylindrical axis 35 deg..' - -"The spectacles, you see, were of a very distinctive character and -seemed to offer a good chance of identification. Stopford's frames are, -I believe, made by only one firm of opticians in London, Parry & Cuxton -of Regent Street. I therefore wrote to Mr. Cuxton, who knows me, asking -him if he had supplied spectacles to the late Jeffrey Blackmore, -Esq.--here is a copy of my letter--and if so, whether he would mind -letting me have a full description of them, together with the name of -the oculist who prescribed them. - -"He replied in this letter, which is pinned to the copy of mine, that, -about four years ago, he supplied a pair of glasses to Mr. Jeffrey -Blackmore, and described them thus: 'The spectacles were for constant -use and had steel frames of Stopford's pattern with curl sides, the -length of the side-bars including the curled ends being 13.3 cm. The -bridge was broad with a gold lining-plate, shaped as shown by the -enclosed tracing from the diagram on the prescription. Distance between -centres 6.2 cm. - -"'Right eye plain glass. - -"'Left eye -5.75 D. spherical - ------------------- - -3.25 D. cylindrical, axis 35 deg..' - -"'The spectacles were prescribed by Mr. Hindley of Wimpole Street.' - -"You see that Mr. Cuxton's description is identical with mine. However, -for further confirmation, I wrote to Mr. Hindley, asking certain -questions, to which he replied thus: - -"'You are quite right. Mr. Jeffrey Blackmore had a tremulous iris in his -right eye (which was practically blind), due to dislocation of the lens. -The pupils were rather large; certainly not contracted.' - -"Here, then, we have three important facts. One is that the spectacles -found by us at Kennington Lane were undoubtedly Jeffrey's; for it is as -unlikely that there exists another pair of spectacles exactly identical -with those as that there exists another face exactly like Jeffrey's -face. The second fact is that the description of Jeffrey tallies -completely with that of the sick man, Graves, as given by Dr. Jervis; -and the third is that when Jeffrey was seen by Mr. Hindley, there was no -sign of his being addicted to the taking of morphine. The first and -second facts, you will agree, constitute complete identification." - -"Yes," said Marchmont; "I think we must admit the identification as -being quite conclusive, though the evidence is of a kind that is more -striking to the medical than to the legal mind." - -"You will not have that complaint to make against the next item of -evidence," said Thorndyke. "It is after the lawyer's own heart, as you -shall hear. A few days ago I wrote to Mr. Stephen asking him if he -possessed a recent photograph of his uncle Jeffrey. He had one, and he -sent it to me by return. This portrait I showed to Dr. Jervis and asked -him if he had ever seen the person it represented. After examining it -attentively, without any hint whatever from me, he identified it as the -portrait of the sick man, Graves." - -"Indeed!" exclaimed Marchmont. "This is most important. Are you prepared -to swear to the identity, Dr. Jervis?" - -"I have not the slightest doubt," I replied, "that the portrait is that -of Mr. Graves." - -"Excellent!" said Marchmont, rubbing his hands gleefully; "this will be -much more convincing to a jury. Pray go on, Dr. Thorndyke." - -"That," said Thorndyke, "completes the first part of my investigation. -We had now reached a definite, demonstrable fact; and that fact, as you -see, disposed at once of the main question--the genuineness of the will. -For if the man at Kennington Lane was Jeffrey Blackmore, then the man at -New Inn was not. But it was the latter who had signed the will. -Therefore the will was not signed by Jeffrey Blackmore; that is to say, -it was a forgery. The case was complete for the purposes of the civil -proceedings; the rest of my investigations had reference to the criminal -prosecution that was inevitable. Shall I proceed, or is your interest -confined to the will?" - -"Hang the will!" exclaimed Stephen. "I want to hear how you propose to -lay hands on the villain who murdered poor old uncle Jeffrey--for I -suppose he did murder him?" - -"I think there is no doubt of it," replied Thorndyke. - -"Then," said Marchmont, "we will hear the rest of the argument, if you -please." - -"Very well," said Thorndyke. "As the evidence stands, we have proved -that Jeffrey Blackmore was a prisoner in the house in Kennington Lane -and that some one was personating him at New Inn. That some one, we have -seen, was, in all probability, John Blackmore. We now have to consider -the man Weiss. Who was he? and can we connect him in any way with New -Inn? - -"We may note in passing that Weiss and the coachman were apparently one -and the same person. They were never seen together. When Weiss was -present, the coachman was not available even for so urgent a service as -the obtaining of an antidote to the poison. Weiss always appeared some -time after Jervis's arrival and disappeared some time before his -departure, in each case sufficiently long to allow of a change of -disguise. But we need not labour the point, as it is not of primary -importance. - -"To return to Weiss. He was clearly heavily disguised, as we see by his -unwillingness to show himself even by the light of a candle. But there -is an item of positive evidence on this point which is important from -having other bearings. It is furnished by the spectacles worn by Weiss, -of which you have heard Jervis's description. These spectacles had very -peculiar optical properties. When you looked <i>through</i> them they had the -properties of plain glass; when you looked <i>at</i> them they had the -appearance of lenses. But only one kind of glass possesses these -properties; namely, that which, like an ordinary watch-glass, has -curved, parallel surfaces. But for what purpose could a person wear -'watch-glass' spectacles? Clearly, not to assist his vision. The only -alternative is disguise. - -"The properties of these spectacles introduce a very curious and -interesting feature into the case. To the majority of persons, the -wearing of spectacles for the purpose of disguise or personation, seems -a perfectly simple and easy proceeding. But, to a person of normal -eyesight, it is nothing of the kind. For, if he wears spectacles suited -for long sight he cannot see distinctly through them at all; while, if -he wears concave, or near sight, glasses, the effort to see through them -produces such strain and fatigue that his eyes become disabled -altogether. On the stage the difficulty is met by using spectacles of -plain window-glass, but in real life this would hardly do; the -'property' spectacles would be detected at once and give rise to -suspicion. - -"The personator is therefore in this dilemma: if he wears actual -spectacles, he cannot see through them; if he wears sham spectacles of -plain glass, his disguise will probably be detected. There is only one -way out of the difficulty, and that not a very satisfactory one; but Mr. -Weiss seems to have adopted it in lieu of a better. It is that of using -watch-glass spectacles such as I have described. - -"Now, what do we learn from these very peculiar glasses? In the first -place they confirm our opinion that Weiss was wearing a disguise. But, -for use in a room so very dimly lighted, the ordinary stage spectacles -would have answered quite well. The second inference is, then, that -these spectacles were prepared to be worn under more trying conditions -of light--out of doors, for instance. The third inference is that Weiss -was a man with normal eyesight; for otherwise he could have worn real -spectacles suited to the state of his vision. - -"These are inferences by the way, to which we may return. But these -glasses furnish a much more important suggestion. On the floor of the -bedroom at New Inn I found some fragments of glass which had been -trodden on. By joining one or two of them together, we have been able to -make out the general character of the object of which they formed parts. -My assistant--who was formerly a watch-maker--judged that object to be -the thin crystal glass of a lady's watch, and this, I think, was -Jervis's opinion. But the small part which remains of the original edge -furnishes proof in two respects that this was not a watch-glass. In the -first place, on taking a careful tracing of this piece of the edge, I -found that its curve was part of an ellipse; but watch-glasses, -nowadays, are invariably circular. In the second place, watch-glasses -are ground on the edge to a single bevel to snap into the bezel or -frame; but the edge of this object was ground to a double bevel, like -the edge of a spectacle-glass, which fits into a groove in the frame and -is held by the side-bar screw. The inevitable inference was that this -was a spectacle-glass. But, if so, it was part of a pair of spectacles -identical in properties with those worn by Mr. Weiss. - -"The importance of this conclusion emerges when we consider the -exceptional character of Mr. Weiss's spectacles. They were not merely -peculiar or remarkable; they were probably unique. It is exceedingly -likely that there is not in the entire world another similar pair of -spectacles. Whence the finding of these fragments of glass in the -bedroom establishes a considerable probability that Mr. Weiss was, at -some time, in the chambers at New Inn. - -"And now let us gather up the threads of this part of the argument. We -are inquiring into the identity of the man Weiss. Who was he? - -"In the first place, we find him committing a secret crime from which -John Blackmore alone will benefit. This suggests the <i>prima-facie</i> -probability that he was John Blackmore. - -"Then we find that he was a man of normal eyesight who was wearing -spectacles for the purpose of disguise. But the tenant of New Inn, whom -we have seen to be, almost certainly, John Blackmore--and whom we will, -for the present, assume to have been John Blackmore--was a man with -normal eyesight who wore spectacles for disguise. - -"John Blackmore did not reside at New Inn, but at some place within -easy reach of it. But Weiss resided at a place within easy reach of New -Inn. - -"John Blackmore must have had possession and control of the person of -Jeffrey. But Weiss had possession and control of the person of Jeffrey. - -"Weiss wore spectacles of a certain peculiar and probably unique -character. But portions of such spectacles were found in the chambers at -New Inn. - -"The overwhelming probability, therefore, is that Weiss and the tenant -of New Inn were one and the same person; and that that person was John -Blackmore." - -"That," said Mr. Winwood, "is a very plausible argument. But, you -observe, sir, that it contains an undistributed middle term." - -Thorndyke smiled genially. I think he forgave Winwood everything for -that remark. - -"You are quite right, sir," he said. "It does. And, for that reason, the -demonstration is not absolute. But we must not forget, what logicians -seem occasionally to overlook: that the 'undistributed middle,' while it -interferes with absolute proof, may be quite consistent with a degree of -probability that approaches very near to certainty. Both the Bertillon -system and the English fingerprint system involve a process of reasoning -in which the middle term is undistributed. But the great probabilities -are accepted in practice as equivalent to certainties." - -Mr. Winwood grunted a grudging assent, and Thorndyke resumed: - -"We have now furnished fairly conclusive evidence on three heads: we -have proved that the sick man, Graves, was Jeffrey Blackmore; that the -tenant of New Inn was John Blackmore; and that the man Weiss was also -John Blackmore. We now have to prove that John and Jeffrey were together -in the chambers at New Inn on the night of Jeffrey's death. - -"We know that two persons, and two persons only, came from Kennington -Lane to New Inn. But one of those persons was the tenant of New -Inn--that is, John Blackmore. Who was the other? Jeffrey is known by us -to have been at Kennington Lane. His body was found on the following -morning in the room at New Inn. No third person is known to have come -from Kennington Lane; no third person is known to have arrived at New -Inn. The inference, by exclusion, is that the second person--the -woman--was Jeffrey. - -"Again; Jeffrey had to be brought from Kennington to the inn by John. -But John was personating Jeffrey and was made up to resemble him very -closely. If Jeffrey were undisguised the two men would be almost exactly -alike; which would be very noticeable in any case and suspicious after -the death of one of them. Therefore Jeffrey would have to be disguised -in some way; and what disguise could be simpler and more effective than -the one that I suggest was used? - -"Again; it was unavoidable that some one--the cabman--should know that -Jeffrey was not alone when he came to the inn that night. If the fact -had leaked out and it had become known that a man had accompanied him to -his chambers, some suspicion might have arisen, and that suspicion would -have pointed to John, who was directly interested in his brother's -death. But if it had transpired that Jeffrey was accompanied by a woman, -there would have been less suspicion, and that suspicion would not have -pointed to John Blackmore. - -"Thus all the general probabilities are in favour of the hypothesis that -this woman was Jeffrey Blackmore. There is, however, an item of positive -evidence that strongly supports this view. When I examined the clothing -of the deceased, I found on the trousers a horizontal crease on each leg -as if the trousers had been turned up half-way to the knees. This -appearance is quite understandable if we suppose that the trousers were -worn under a skirt and were turned up so that they should not be -accidentally seen. Otherwise it is quite incomprehensible." - -"Is it not rather strange," said Marchmont, "that Jeffrey should have -allowed himself to be dressed up in this remarkable manner?" - -"I think not," replied Thorndyke. "There is no reason to suppose that he -knew how he was dressed. You have heard Jervis's description of his -condition; that of a mere automaton. You know that without his -spectacles he was practically blind, and that he could not have worn -them since we found them at the house in Kennington Lane. Probably his -head was wrapped up in the veil, and the skirt and mantle put on -afterwards; but, in any case, his condition rendered him practically -devoid of will power. That is all the evidence I have to prove that the -unknown woman was Jeffrey. It is not conclusive but it is convincing -enough for our purpose, seeing that the case against John Blackmore does -not depend upon it." - -"Your case against him is on the charge of murder, I presume?" said -Stephen. - -"Undoubtedly. And you will notice that the statements made by the -supposed Jeffrey to the porter, hinting at suicide, are now important -evidence. By the light of what we know, the announcement of intended -suicide becomes the announcement of intended murder. It conclusively -disproves what it was intended to prove; that Jeffrey died by his own -hand." - -"Yes, I see that," said Stephen, and then after a pause he asked: "Did -you identify Mrs. Schallibaum? You have told us nothing about her." - -"I have considered her as being outside the case as far as I am -concerned," replied Thorndyke. "She was an accessory; my business was -with the principal. But, of course, she will be swept up in the net. The -evidence that convicts John Blackmore will convict her. I have not -troubled about her identity. If John Blackmore is married, she is -probably his wife. Do you happen to know if he is married?" - -"Yes; but Mrs. John Blackmore is not much like Mrs. Schallibaum, -excepting that she has a cast in the left eye. She is a dark woman with -very heavy eyebrows." - -"That is to say that she differs from Mrs. Schallibaum in those -peculiarities that can be artificially changed and resembles her in the -one feature that is unchangeable. Do you know if her Christian name -happens to be Pauline?" - -"Yes, it is. She was a Miss Pauline Hagenbeck, a member of an American -theatrical company. What made you ask?" - -"The name which Jervis heard poor Jeffrey struggling to pronounce seemed -to me to resemble Pauline more than any other name." - -"There is one little point that strikes me," said Marchmont. "Is it not -rather remarkable that the porter should have noticed no difference -between the body of Jeffrey and the living man whom he knew by sight, -and who must, after all, have been distinctly different in appearance?" - -"I am glad you raised that question," Thorndyke replied, "for that very -difficulty presented itself to me at the beginning of the case. But on -thinking it over, I decided that it was an imaginary difficulty, -assuming, as we do, that there was a good deal of resemblance between -the two men. Put yourself in the porter's place and follow his mental -processes. He is informed that a dead man is lying on the bed in Mr. -Blackmore's rooms. Naturally, he assumes that the dead man is Mr. -Blackmore--who, by the way, had hinted at suicide only the night before. -With this idea he enters the chambers and sees a man a good deal like -Mr. Blackmore and wearing Mr. Blackmore's clothes, lying on Mr. -Blackmore's bed. The idea that the body could be that of some other -person has never entered his mind. If he notes any difference of -appearance he will put that down to the effects of death; for every one -knows that a man dead looks somewhat different from the same man alive. -I take it as evidence of great acuteness on the part of John Blackmore -that he should have calculated so cleverly, not only the mental process -of the porter, but the erroneous reasoning which every one would base on -the porter's conclusions. For, since the body was actually Jeffrey's, -and was identified by the porter as that of his tenant, it has been -assumed by every one that no question was possible as to the identity of -Jeffrey Blackmore and the tenant of New Inn." - -There was a brief silence, and then Marchmont asked: - -"May we take it that we have now heard all the evidence?" - -"Yes," replied Thorndyke. "That is my case." - -"Have you given information to the police?" Stephen asked eagerly. - -"Yes. As soon as I had obtained the statement of the cabman, Ridley, and -felt that I had enough evidence to secure a conviction, I called at -Scotland Yard and had an interview with the Assistant Commissioner. The -case is in the hands of Superintendent Miller of the Criminal -Investigation Department, a most acute and energetic officer. I have -been expecting to hear that the warrant has been executed, for Mr. -Miller is usually very punctilious in keeping me informed of the -progress of the cases to which I introduce him. We shall hear to-morrow, -no doubt." - -"And, for the present," said Marchmont, "the case seems to have passed -out of our hands." - -"I shall enter a caveat, all the same," said Mr. Winwood. - -"That doesn't seem very necessary," Marchmont objected. "The evidence -that we have heard is amply sufficient to ensure a conviction and there -will be plenty more when the police go into the case. And a conviction -on the charges of forgery and murder would, of course, invalidate the -second will." - -"I shall enter a caveat, all the same," repeated Mr. Winwood. - -As the two partners showed a disposition to become heated over this -question, Thorndyke suggested that they might discuss it at leisure by -the light of subsequent events. Acting on this hint--for it was now -close upon midnight--our visitors prepared to depart; and were, in fact, -just making their way towards the door when the bell rang. Thorndyke -flung open the door, and, as he recognized his visitor, greeted him with -evident satisfaction. - -"Ha! Mr. Miller; we were just speaking of you. These gentlemen are Mr. -Stephen Blackmore and his solicitors, Mr. Marchmont and Mr. Winwood. You -know Dr. Jervis, I think." - -The officer bowed to our friends and remarked: - -"I am just in time, it seems. A few minutes more and I should have -missed these gentlemen. I don't know what you'll think of my news." - -"You haven't let that villain escape, I hope," Stephen exclaimed. - -"Well," said the Superintendent, "he is out of my hands and yours too; -and so is the woman. Perhaps I had better tell you what has happened." - -"If you would be so kind," said Thorndyke, motioning the officer to a -chair. - -The superintendent seated himself with the manner of a man who has had a -long and strenuous day, and forthwith began his story. - -"As soon as we had your information, we procured a warrant for the -arrest of both parties, and then I went straight to their flat with -Inspector Badger and a sergeant. There we learned from the attendant -that they were away from home and were not expected back until to-day -about noon. We kept a watch on the premises, and this morning, about the -time appointed, a man and a woman, answering to the description, arrived -at the flat. We followed them in and saw them enter the lift, and we -were going to get into the lift too, when the man pulled the rope, and -away they went. There was nothing for us to do but run up the stairs, -which we did as fast as we could race; but they got to their landing -first, and we were only just in time to see them nip in and shut the -door. However, it seemed that we had them safe enough, for there was no -dropping out of the windows at that height; so we sent the sergeant to -get a locksmith to pick the lock or force the door, while we kept on -ringing the bell. - -"About three minutes after the sergeant left, I happened to look out of -the landing window and saw a hansom pull up opposite the flats. I put my -head out of the window, and, hang me if I didn't see our two friends -getting into the cab. It seems that there was a small lift inside the -flat communicating with the kitchen, and they had slipped down it one at -a time. - -"Well, of course, we raced down the stairs like acrobats, but by the -time we got to the bottom the cab was off with a fine start. We ran out -into Victoria Street, and there we could see it half-way down the street -and going like a chariot race. We managed to pick up another hansom and -told the cabby to keep the other one in sight, and away we went like the -very deuce; along Victoria Street and Broad Sanctuary, across Parliament -Square, over Westminster Bridge and along York Road; we kept the other -beggar in sight, but we couldn't gain an inch on him. Then we turned -into Waterloo Station, and, as we were driving up the slope we met -another hansom coming down; and when the cabby kissed his hand and -smiled at us, we guessed that he was the sportsman we had been -following. - -"But there was no time to ask questions. It is an awkward station with a -lot of different exits, and it looked a good deal as if our quarry had -got away. However, I took a chance. I remembered that the Southampton -express was due to start about this time, and I took a short cut across -the lines and made for the platform that it starts from. Just as Badger -and I got to the end, about thirty yards from the rear of the train, we -saw a man and a woman running in front of us. Then the guard blew his -whistle and the train began to move. The man and the woman managed to -scramble into one of the rear compartments and Badger and I raced up the -platform like mad. A porter tried to head us off, but Badger capsized -him and we both sprinted harder than ever, and just hopped on the -foot-board of the guard's van as the train began to get up speed. The -guard couldn't risk putting us off, so he had to let us into his van, -which suited us exactly, as we could watch the train on both sides from -the look-out. And we did watch, I can tell you; for our friend in front -had seen us. His head was out of the window as we climbed on to the -foot-board. - -"However, nothing happened until we stopped at Southampton West. There, -I need not say, we lost no time in hopping out, for we naturally -expected our friends to make a rush for the exit. But they didn't. -Badger watched the platform, and I kept a look-out to see that they -didn't slip away across the line from the off-side. But still there was -no sign of them. Then I walked up the train to the compartment which I -had seen them enter. And there they were, apparently fast asleep in the -corner by the off-side window, the man leaning back with his mouth open -and the woman resting against him with her head on his shoulder. She -gave me quite a turn when I went in to look at them, for she had her -eyes half-closed and seemed to be looking round at me with a most -horrible expression; but I found afterwards that the peculiar appearance -of looking round was due to the cast in her eye." - -"They were dead, I suppose?" said Thorndyke. - -"Yes, sir. Stone dead; and I found these on the floor of the carriage." - -He held up two tiny yellow glass tubes, each labelled "Hypodermic -tabloids. Aconitine Nitrate gr. 1/640." - -"Ha!" exclaimed Thorndyke, "this fellow was well up in alkaloidal -poisons, it seems; and they appear to have gone about prepared for -emergencies. These tubes each contained twenty tabloids, a thirty-second -of a grain altogether, so we may assume that about twelve times the -medicinal dose was swallowed. Death must have occurred in a few minutes, -and a merciful death too." - -"A more merciful death than they deserved," exclaimed Stephen, "when one -thinks of the misery and suffering that they inflicted on poor old uncle -Jeffrey. I would sooner have had them hanged." - -"It's better as it is, sir," said Miller. "There is no need, now, to -raise any questions in detail at the inquest. The publicity of a trial -for murder would have been very unpleasant for you. I wish Dr. Jervis -had given the tip to me instead of to that confounded, -over-cautious--but there, I mustn't run down my brother officers: and -it's easy to be wise after the event. - -"Good night, gentlemen. I suppose this accident disposes of your -business as far as the will is concerned?" - -"I suppose it does," agreed Mr. Winwood. "But I shall enter a caveat, -all the same." - - -THE END - - - - - - - - -End of Project Gutenberg's The Mystery of 31 New Inn, by R. 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Anyone seeking to utilize -this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +this book outside of the United States should confirm copyright status under the laws that apply to them. @@ -1,2 +1,2 @@ Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for -eBook #12187 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/12187) +book #12187 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/12187) diff --git a/old/12187-8.txt b/old/12187-8.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 39bff89..0000000 --- a/old/12187-8.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,9256 +0,0 @@ -Project Gutenberg's The Mystery of 31 New Inn, by R. Austin Freeman - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org - - -Title: The Mystery of 31 New Inn - -Author: R. Austin Freeman - -Release Date: April 28, 2004 [EBook #12187] -Last updated: February 3, 2011 -Last updated: November 25, 1012 - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MYSTERY OF 31 NEW INN *** - - - - -Produced by Steven desJardins and Distributed Proofreaders - - - - - -THE MYSTERY OF 31 NEW INN - -BY R. AUSTIN FREEMAN - -Author of "The Red Thumb Mark," -"The Eye of Osiris," etc. - - - - -TO MY FRIEND - -BERNARD E. BISHOP - - - - -Preface - - -Commenting upon one of my earlier novels, in respect of which I had -claimed to have been careful to adhere to common probabilities and to -have made use only of really practicable methods of investigation, a -critic remarked that this was of no consequence whatever, so long as the -story was amusing. - -Few people, I imagine, will agree with him. To most readers, and -certainly to the kind of reader for whom an author is willing to take -trouble, complete realism in respect of incidents and methods is an -essential factor in maintaining the interest of a detective story. Hence -it may be worth while to mention that Thorndyke's method of producing -the track chart, described in Chapters II and III, has been actually -used in practice. It is a modification of one devised by me many years -ago when I was crossing Ashanti to the city of Bontuku, the whereabouts -of which in the far interior was then only vaguely known. My -instructions were to fix the positions of all towns, villages, rivers -and mountains as accurately as possible; but finding ordinary methods of -surveying impracticable in the dense forest which covers the whole -region, I adopted this simple and apparently rude method, checking the -distances whenever possible by astronomical observation. - -The resulting route-map was surprisingly accurate, as shown by the -agreement of the outward and homeward tracks, It was published by the -Royal Geographical Society, and incorporated in the map of this region -compiled by the Intelligence Branch of the War Office, and it formed the -basis of the map which accompanied my volume of <i>Travels in Ashanti and -Jaman</i>. So that Thorndyke's plan must be taken as quite a practicable -one. - -New Inn, the background of this story, and one of the last surviving -inns of Chancery, has recently passed away after upwards of four -centuries of newness. Even now, however, a few of the old, dismantled -houses (including perhaps, the mysterious 31) may be seen from the -Strand peeping over the iron roof of the skating rink which has -displaced the picturesque hall, the pension-room and the garden. The -postern gate, too, in Houghton Street still remains, though the arch is -bricked up inside. Passing it lately, I made the rough sketch which -appears on next page, and which shows all that is left of this pleasant -old London backwater. - -R. A. F. - -GRAVESEND - - - - -[Illustration: New Inn] - - - - -Contents - - -CHAPTER. - - I THE MYSTERIOUS PATIENT - II THORNDYKE DEVISES A SCHEME - III "A CHIEL'S AMANG YE TAKIN' NOTES" - IV THE OFFICIAL VIEW - V JEFFREY BLACKMORE'S WILL - VI JEFFREY BLACKMORE, DECEASED - VII THE CUNEIFORM INSCRIPTION -VIII THE TRACK CHART - IX THE HOUSE OF MYSTERY - X THE HUNTER HUNTED - XI THE BLACKMORE CASE REVIEWED - XII THE PORTRAIT -XIII THE STATEMENT OF SAMUEL WILKINS - XIV THORNDYKE LAYS THE MINE - XV THORNDYKE EXPLODES THE MINE - XVI AN EXPOSITION AND A TRAGEDY - - - - -Chapter I - -The Mysterious Patient - - -As I look back through the years of my association with John Thorndyke, -I am able to recall a wealth of adventures and strange experiences such -as falls to the lot of very few men who pass their lives within hearing -of Big Ben. Many of these experiences I have already placed on record; -but it now occurs to me that I have hitherto left unrecorded one that -is, perhaps, the most astonishing and incredible of the whole series; an -adventure, too, that has for me the added interest that it inaugurated -my permanent association with my learned and talented friend, and marked -the close of a rather unhappy and unprosperous period of my life. - -Memory, retracing the journey through the passing years to the -starting-point of those strange events, lands me in a shabby little -ground-floor room in a house near the Walworth end of Lower Kennington -Lane. A couple of framed diplomas on the wall, a card of Snellen's -test-types and a stethoscope lying on the writing-table, proclaim it a -doctor's consulting-room; and my own position in the round-backed chair -at the said table, proclaims me the practitioner in charge. - -It was nearly nine o'clock. The noisy little clock on the mantelpiece -announced the fact, and, by its frantic ticking, seemed as anxious as I -to get the consultation hours over. I glanced wistfully at my -mud-splashed boots and wondered if I might yet venture to assume the -slippers that peeped coyly from under the shabby sofa. I even allowed my -thoughts to wander to the pipe that reposed in my coat pocket. Another -minute and I could turn down the surgery gas and shut the outer door. -The fussy little clock gave a sort of preliminary cough or hiccup, as if -it should say: "Ahem! ladies and gentlemen, I am about to strike." And -at that moment, the bottle-boy opened the door and, thrusting in his -head, uttered the one word: "Gentleman." - -Extreme economy of words is apt to result in ambiguity. But I -understood. In Kennington Lane, the race of mere men and women appeared -to be extinct. They were all gentlemen--unless they were ladies or -children--even as the Liberian army was said to consist entirely of -generals. Sweeps, labourers, milkmen, costermongers--all were -impartially invested by the democratic bottle-boy with the rank and -title of <i>armigeri</i>. The present nobleman appeared to favour the -aristocratic recreation of driving a cab or job-master's carriage, and, -as he entered the room, he touched his hat, closed the door somewhat -carefully, and then, without remark, handed me a note which bore the -superscription "Dr. Stillbury." - -"You understand," I said, as I prepared to open the envelope, "that I -am not Dr. Stillbury. He is away at present and I am looking after his -patients." - -"It doesn't signify," the man replied. "You'll do as well." - -On this, I opened the envelope and read the note, which was quite brief, -and, at first sight, in no way remarkable. - -"DEAR SIR," it ran, "Would you kindly come and see a friend of mine who -is staying with me? The bearer of this will give you further particulars -and convey you to the house. Yours truly, H. WEISS." - -There was no address on the paper and no date, and the writer was -unknown to me. - -"This note," I said, "refers to some further particulars. What are -they?" - -The messenger passed his hand over his hair with a gesture of -embarrassment. "It's a ridicklus affair," he said, with a contemptuous -laugh. "If I had been Mr. Weiss, I wouldn't have had nothing to do with -it. The sick gentleman, Mr. Graves, is one of them people what can't -abear doctors. He's been ailing now for a week or two, but nothing would -induce him to see a doctor. Mr. Weiss did everything he could to -persuade him, but it was no go. He wouldn't. However, it seems Mr. Weiss -threatened to send for a medical man on his own account, because, you -see, he was getting a bit nervous; and then Mr. Graves gave way. But -only on one condition. He said the doctor was to come from a distance -and was not to be told who he was or where he lived or anything about -him; and he made Mr. Weiss promise to keep to that condition before he'd -let him send. So Mr. Weiss promised, and, of course, he's got to keep -his word." - -"But," I said, with a smile, "you've just told me his name--if his name -really is Graves." - -"You can form your own opinion on that," said the coachman. - -"And," I added, "as to not being told where he lives, I can see that for -myself. I'm not blind, you know." - -"We'll take the risk of what you see," the man replied. "The question -is, will you take the job on?" - -Yes; that was the question, and I considered it for some time before -replying. We medical men are pretty familiar with the kind of person who -"can't abear doctors," and we like to have as little to do with him as -possible. He is a thankless and unsatisfactory patient. Intercourse with -him is unpleasant, he gives a great deal of trouble and responds badly -to treatment. If this had been my own practice, I should have declined -the case off-hand. But it was not my practice. I was only a deputy. I -could not lightly refuse work which would yield a profit to my -principal, unpleasant though it might be. - -As I turned the matter over in my mind, I half unconsciously scrutinized -my visitor--somewhat to his embarrassment--and I liked his appearance -as little as I liked his mission. He kept his station near the door, -where the light was dim--for the illumination was concentrated on the -table and the patient's chair--but I could see that he had a somewhat -sly, unprepossessing face and a greasy, red moustache that seemed out of -character with his rather perfunctory livery; though this was mere -prejudice. He wore a wig, too--not that there was anything discreditable -in that--and the thumb-nail of the hand that held his hat bore -disfiguring traces of some injury--which, again, though unsightly, in no -wise reflected on his moral character. Lastly, he watched me keenly with -a mixture of anxiety and sly complacency that I found distinctly -unpleasant. In a general way, he impressed me disagreeably. I did not -like the look of him at all; but nevertheless I decided to undertake the -case. - -"I suppose," I answered, at length, "it is no affair of mine who the -patient is or where he lives. But how do you propose to manage the -business? Am I to be led to the house blindfolded, like the visitor to -the bandit's cave?" - -The man grinned slightly and looked very decidedly relieved. - -"No, sir," he answered; "we ain't going to blindfold you. I've got a -carriage outside. I don't think you'll see much out of that." - -"Very well," I rejoined, opening the door to let him out, "I'll be with -you in a minute. I suppose you can't give me any idea as to what is the -matter with the patient?" - -"No, sir, I can't," he replied; and he went out to see to the carriage. - -I slipped into a bag an assortment of emergency drugs and a few -diagnostic instruments, turned down the gas and passed out through the -surgery. The carriage was standing at the kerb, guarded by the coachman -and watched with deep interest by the bottle-boy. I viewed it with -mingled curiosity and disfavour. It was a kind of large brougham, such -as is used by some commercial travellers, the usual glass windows being -replaced by wooden shutters intended to conceal the piles of -sample-boxes, and the doors capable of being locked from outside with a -railway key. - -As I emerged from the house, the coachman unlocked the door and held it -open. - -"How long will the journey take?" I asked, pausing with my foot on the -step. - -The coachman considered a moment or two and replied: - -"It took me, I should say, nigh upon half an hour to get here." - -This was pleasant hearing. A half an hour each way and a half an hour at -the patient's house. At that rate it would be half-past ten before I was -home again, and then it was quite probable that I should find some other -untimely messenger waiting on the doorstep. With a muttered anathema on -the unknown Mr. Graves and the unrestful life of a locum tenens, I -stepped into the uninviting vehicle. Instantly the coachman slammed the -door and turned the key, leaving me in total darkness. - -One comfort was left to me; my pipe was in my pocket. I made shift to -load it in the dark, and, having lit it with a wax match, took the -opportunity to inspect the interior of my prison. It was a shabby -affair. The moth-eaten state of the blue cloth cushions seemed to -suggest that it had been long out of regular use; the oil-cloth -floor-covering was worn into holes; ordinary internal fittings there -were none. But the appearances suggested that the crazy vehicle had been -prepared with considerable forethought for its present use. The inside -handles of the doors had apparently been removed; the wooden shutters -were permanently fixed in their places; and a paper label, stuck on the -transom below each window, had a suspicious appearance of having been -put there to cover the painted name and address of the job-master or -livery-stable keeper who had originally owned the carriage. - -These observations gave me abundant food for reflection. This Mr. Weiss -must be an excessively conscientious man if he had considered that his -promise to Mr. Graves committed him to such extraordinary precautions. -Evidently no mere following of the letter of the law was enough to -satisfy his sensitive conscience. Unless he had reasons for sharing Mr. -Graves's unreasonable desire for secrecy--for one could not suppose that -these measures of concealment had been taken by the patient himself. - -The further suggestions that evolved themselves from this consideration -were a little disquieting. Whither was I being carried and for what -purpose? The idea that I was bound for some den of thieves where I -might be robbed and possibly murdered, I dismissed with a smile. Thieves -do not make elaborately concerted plans to rob poor devils like me. -Poverty has its compensations in that respect. But there were other -possibilities. Imagination backed by experience had no difficulty in -conjuring up a number of situations in which a medical man might be -called upon, with or without coercion, either to witness or actively to -participate in the commission of some unlawful act. - -Reflections of this kind occupied me pretty actively if not very -agreeably during this strange journey. And the monotony was relieved, -too, by other distractions. I was, for example, greatly interested to -notice how, when one sense is in abeyance, the other senses rouse into a -compensating intensity of perception. I sat smoking my pipe in darkness -which was absolute save for the dim glow from the smouldering tobacco in -the bowl, and seemed to be cut off from all knowledge of the world -without. But yet I was not. The vibrations of the carriage, with its -hard springs and iron-tired wheels, registered accurately and plainly -the character of the roadway. The harsh rattle of granite setts, the -soft bumpiness of macadam, the smooth rumble of wood-pavement, the -jarring and swerving of crossed tram-lines; all were easily recognizable -and together sketched the general features of the neighbourhood through -which I was passing. And the sense of hearing filled in the details. Now -the hoot of a tug's whistle told of proximity to the river. A sudden -and brief hollow reverberation announced the passage under a railway -arch (which, by the way, happened several times during the journey); -and, when I heard the familiar whistle of a railway-guard followed by -the quick snorts of a skidding locomotive, I had as clear a picture of a -heavy passenger-train moving out of a station as if I had seen it in -broad daylight. - -I had just finished my pipe and knocked out the ashes on the heel of my -boot, when the carriage slowed down and entered a covered way--as I -could tell by the hollow echoes. Then I distinguished the clang of heavy -wooden gates closed behind me, and a moment or two later the carriage -door was unlocked and opened. I stepped out blinking into a covered -passage paved with cobbles and apparently leading down to a mews; but it -was all in darkness, and I had no time to make any detailed -observations, as the carriage had drawn up opposite a side door which -was open and in which stood a woman holding a lighted candle. - -"Is that the doctor?" she asked, speaking with a rather pronounced -German accent and shading the candle with her hand as she peered at me. - -I answered in the affirmative, and she then exclaimed: - -"I am glad you have come. Mr. Weiss will be so relieved. Come in, -please." - -I followed her across a dark passage into a dark room, where she set the -candle down on a chest of drawers and turned to depart. At the door, -however, she paused and looked back. - -"It is not a very nice room to ask you into," she said. "We are very -untidy just now, but you must excuse us. We have had so much anxiety -about poor Mr. Graves." - -"He has been ill some time, then?" - -"Yes. Some little time. At intervals, you know. Sometimes better, -sometimes not so well." - -As she spoke, she gradually backed out into the passage but did not go -away at once. I accordingly pursued my inquiries. - -"He has not been seen by any doctor, has he?" - -"No," she answered, "he has always refused to see a doctor. That has -been a great trouble to us. Mr. Weiss has been very anxious about him. -He will be so glad to hear that you have come. I had better go and tell -him. Perhaps you will kindly sit down until he is able to come to you," -and with this she departed on her mission. - -It struck me as a little odd that, considering his anxiety and the -apparent urgency of the case, Mr. Weiss should not have been waiting to -receive me. And when several minutes elapsed without his appearing, the -oddness of the circumstance impressed me still more. Having no desire, -after the journey in the carriage, to sit down, I whiled away the time -by an inspection of the room. And a very curious room it was; bare, -dirty, neglected and, apparently, unused. A faded carpet had been flung -untidily on the floor. A small, shabby table stood in the middle of the -room; and beyond this, three horsehair-covered chairs and a chest of -drawers formed the entire set of furniture. No pictures hung on the -mouldy walls, no curtains covered the shuttered windows, and the dark -drapery of cobwebs that hung from the ceiling to commemorate a long and -illustrious dynasty of spiders hinted at months of neglect and disuse. - -The chest of drawers--an incongruous article of furniture for what -seemed to be a dining-room--as being the nearest and best lighted object -received most of my attention. It was a fine old chest of nearly black -mahogany, very battered and in the last stage of decay, but originally a -piece of some pretensions. Regretful of its fallen estate, I looked it -over with some interest and had just observed on its lower corner a -little label bearing the printed inscription "Lot 201" when I heard -footsteps descending the stairs. A moment later the door opened and a -shadowy figure appeared standing close by the threshold. - -"Good evening, doctor," said the stranger, in a deep, quiet voice and -with a distinct, though not strong, German accent. "I must apologize for -keeping you waiting." - -I acknowledged the apology somewhat stiffly and asked: "You are Mr. -Weiss, I presume?" - -"Yes, I am Mr. Weiss. It is very good of you to come so far and so late -at night and to make no objection to the absurd conditions that my poor -friend has imposed." - -"Not at all," I replied. "It is my business to go when and where I am -wanted, and it is not my business to inquire into the private affairs of -my patients." - -"That is very true, sir," he agreed cordially, "and I am much obliged -to you for taking that very proper view of the case. I pointed that out -to my friend, but he is not a very reasonable man. He is very secretive -and rather suspicious by nature." - -"So I inferred. And as to his condition; is he seriously ill?" - -"Ah," said Mr. Weiss, "that is what I want you to tell me. I am very -much puzzled about him." - -"But what is the nature of his illness? What does he complain of?" - -"He makes very few complaints of any kind although he is obviously ill. -But the fact is that he is hardly ever more than half awake. He lies in -a kind of dreamy stupor from morning to night." - -This struck me as excessively strange and by no means in agreement with -the patient's energetic refusal to see a doctor. - -"But," I asked, "does he never rouse completely?" - -"Oh, yes," Mr. Weiss answered quickly; "he rouses from time to time and -is then quite rational, and, as you may have gathered, rather obstinate. -That is the peculiar and puzzling feature in the case; this alternation -between a state of stupor and an almost normal and healthy condition. -But perhaps you had better see him and judge for yourself. He had a -rather severe attack just now. Follow me, please. The stairs are rather -dark." - -The stairs were very dark, and I noticed that they were without any -covering of carpet, or even oil-cloth, so that our footsteps resounded -dismally as if we were in an empty house. I stumbled up after my guide, -feeling my way by the hand-rail, and on the first floor followed him -into a room similar in size to the one below and very barely furnished, -though less squalid than the other. A single candle at the farther end -threw its feeble light on a figure in the bed, leaving the rest of the -room in a dim twilight. - -As Mr. Weiss tiptoed into the chamber, a woman--the one who had spoken -to me below--rose from a chair by the bedside and quietly left the room -by a second door. My conductor halted, and looking fixedly at the figure -in the bed, called out: - -"Philip! Philip! Here is the doctor come to see you." - -He paused for a moment or two, and, receiving no answer, said: "He seems -to be dozing as usual. Will you go and see what you can make of him?" - -I stepped forward to the bedside, leaving Mr. Weiss at the end of the -room near the door by which we had entered, where he remained, slowly -and noiselessly pacing backwards and forwards in the semi-obscurity. By -the light of the candle I saw an elderly man with good features and a -refined, intelligent and even attractive face, but dreadfully emaciated, -bloodless and sallow. He lay quite motionless except for the scarcely -perceptible rise and fall of his chest; his eyes were nearly closed, his -features relaxed, and, though he was not actually asleep, he seemed to -be in a dreamy, somnolent, lethargic state, as if under the influence of -some narcotic. - -I watched him for a minute or so, timing his slow breathing by my -watch, and then suddenly and sharply addressed him by name; but the only -response was a slight lifting of the eyelids, which, after a brief, -drowsy glance at me, slowly subsided to their former position. - -I now proceeded to make a physical examination. First, I felt his pulse, -grasping his wrist with intentional brusqueness in the hope of rousing -him from his stupor. The beats were slow, feeble and slightly irregular, -giving clear evidence, if any were needed, of his generally lowered -vitality. I listened carefully to his heart, the sounds of which were -very distinct through the thin walls of his emaciated chest, but found -nothing abnormal beyond the feebleness and uncertainty of its action. -Then I turned my attention to his eyes, which I examined closely with -the aid of the candle and my ophthalmoscope lens, raising the lids -somewhat roughly so as to expose the whole of the irises. He submitted -without resistance to my rather ungentle handling of these sensitive -structures, and showed no signs of discomfort even when I brought the -candle-flame to within a couple of inches of his eyes. - -But this extraordinary tolerance of light was easily explained by closer -examination; for the pupils were contracted to such an extreme degree -that only the very minutest point of black was visible at the centre of -the grey iris. Nor was this the only abnormal peculiarity of the sick -man's eyes. As he lay on his back, the right iris sagged down slightly -towards its centre, showing a distinctly concave surface; and, when I -contrived to produce a slight but quick movement of the eyeball, a -perceptible undulatory movement could be detected. The patient had, in -fact, what is known as a tremulous iris, a condition that is seen in -cases where the crystalline lens has been extracted for the cure of -cataract, or where it has become accidentally displaced, leaving the -iris unsupported. In the present case, the complete condition of the -iris made it clear that the ordinary extraction operation had not been -performed, nor was I able, on the closest inspection with the aid of my -lens, to find any trace of the less common "needle operation." The -inference was that the patient had suffered from the accident known as -"dislocation of the lens"; and this led to the further inference that he -was almost or completely blind in the right eye. - -This conclusion was, indeed, to some extent negatived by a deep -indentation on the bridge of the nose, evidently produced by spectacles, -and by marks which I looked for and found behind the ears, corresponding -to the hooks or "curl sides" of the glasses. For those spectacles which -are fitted with curl sides to hook over the ears are usually intended to -be worn habitually, and this agreed with the indentation on the nose; -which was deeper than would have been accounted for by the merely -occasional use of spectacles for reading. But if only one eye was -useful, a single eye-glass would have answered the purpose; not that -there was any weight in this objection, for a single eye-glass worn -constantly would be much less convenient than a pair of hook-sided -spectacles. - -As to the nature of the patient's illness, only one opinion seemed -possible. It was a clear and typical case of opium or morphine -poisoning. To this conclusion all his symptoms seemed to point with -absolute certainty. The coated tongue, which he protruded slowly and -tremulously in response to a command bawled in his ear; his yellow skin -and ghastly expression; his contracted pupils and the stupor from which -he could hardly be roused by the roughest handling and which yet did not -amount to actual insensibility; all these formed a distinct and coherent -group of symptoms, not only pointing plainly to the nature of the drug, -but also suggesting a very formidable dose. - -But this conclusion in its turn raised a very awkward and difficult -question. If a large--a poisonous--dose of the drug had been taken, how, -and by whom had that dose been administered? The closest scrutiny of -the patient's arms and legs failed to reveal a single mark such as would -be made by a hypodermic needle. This man was clearly no common -morphinomaniac; and in the absence of the usual sprinkling of -needlemarks, there was nothing to show or suggest whether the drug had -been taken voluntarily by the patient himself or administered by someone -else. - -And then there remained the possibility that I might, after all, be -mistaken in my diagnosis. I felt pretty confident. But the wise man -always holds a doubt in reserve. And, in the present case, having regard -to the obviously serious condition of the patient, such a doubt was -eminently disturbing. Indeed, as I pocketed my stethoscope and took a -last look at the motionless, silent figure, I realized that my position -was one of extraordinary difficulty and perplexity. On the one hand my -suspicions--aroused, naturally enough, by the very unusual circumstances -that surrounded my visit--inclined me to extreme reticence; while, on -the other, it was evidently my duty to give any information that might -prove serviceable to the patient. - -As I turned away from the bed Mr. Weiss stopped his slow pacing to and -fro and faced me. The feeble light of the candle now fell on him, and I -saw him distinctly for the first time. He did not impress me favourably. -He was a thick-set, round-shouldered man, a typical fair German with -tow-coloured hair, greased and brushed down smoothly, a large, ragged, -sandy beard and coarse, sketchy features. His nose was large and thick -with a bulbous end, and inclined to a reddish purple, a tint which -extended to the adjacent parts of his face as if the colour had run. His -eyebrows were large and beetling, overhanging deep-set eyes, and he wore -a pair of spectacles which gave him a somewhat owlish expression. His -exterior was unprepossessing, and I was in a state of mind that rendered -me easily receptive of an unfavourable impression. - -"Well," he said, "what do you make of him?" I hesitated, still perplexed -by the conflicting necessities of caution and frankness, but at length -replied: - -"I think rather badly of him, Mr. Weiss. He is in a very low state." - -"Yes, I can see that. But have you come to any decision as to the nature -of his illness?" - -There was a tone of anxiety and suppressed eagerness in the question -which, while it was natural enough in the circumstances, by no means -allayed my suspicions, but rather influenced me on the side of caution. - -"I cannot give a very definite opinion at present," I replied guardedly. -"The symptoms are rather obscure and might very well indicate several -different conditions. They might be due to congestion of the brain, and, -if no other explanation were possible, I should incline to that view. -The alternative is some narcotic poison, such as opium or morphia." - -"But that is quite impossible. There is no such drug in the house, and -as he never leaves his room now, he could not get any from outside." - -"What about the servants?" I asked. - -"There are no servants excepting my housekeeper, and she is absolutely -trustworthy." - -"He might have some store of the drug that you are not aware of. Is he -left alone much?" - -"Very seldom indeed. I spend as much time with him as I can, and when I -am not able to be in the room, Mrs Schallibaum, my housekeeper, sits -with him." - -"Is he often as drowsy as he is now?" - -"Oh, very often; in fact, I should say that is his usual condition. He -rouses up now and again, and then he is quite lucid and natural for, -perhaps, an hour or so; but presently he becomes drowsy again and doses -off, and remains asleep, or half asleep, for hours on end. Do you know -of any disease that takes people in that way?" - -"No," I answered. "The symptoms are not exactly like those of any -disease that is known to me. But they are much very like those of opium -poisoning." - -"But, my dear sir," Mr. Weiss retorted impatiently, "since it is clearly -impossible that it can be opium poisoning, it must be something else. -Now, what else can it be? You were speaking of congestion of the brain." - -"Yes. But the objection to that is the very complete recovery that seems -to take place in the intervals." - -"I would not say very complete," said Mr. Weiss. "The recovery is rather -comparative. He is lucid and fairly natural in his manner, but he is -still dull and lethargic. He does not, for instance, show any desire to -go out, or even to leave his room." - -I pondered uncomfortably on these rather contradictory statements. -Clearly Mr. Weiss did not mean to entertain the theory of opium -poisoning; which was natural enough if he had no knowledge of the drug -having been used. But still-- - -"I suppose," said Mr. Weiss, "you have experience of sleeping sickness?" - -The suggestion startled me. I had not. Very few people had. At that time -practically nothing was known about the disease. It was a mere -pathological curiosity, almost unheard of excepting by a few -practitioners in remote parts of Africa, and hardly referred to in the -text-books. Its connection with the trypanosome-bearing insects was as -yet unsuspected, and, to me, its symptoms were absolutely unknown. - -"No, I have not," I replied. "The disease is nothing more than a name to -me. But why do you ask? Has Mr. Graves been abroad?" - -"Yes. He has been travelling for the last three or four years, and I -know that he spent some time recently in West Africa, where this disease -occurs. In fact, it was from him that I first heard about it." - -This was a new fact. It shook my confidence in my diagnosis very -considerably, and inclined me to reconsider my suspicions. If Mr. Weiss -was lying to me, he now had me at a decided disadvantage. - -"What do you think?" he asked. "Is it possible that this can be sleeping -sickness?" - -"I should not like to say that it is impossible," I replied. "The -disease is practically unknown to me. I have never practised out of -England and have had no occasion to study it. Until I have looked the -subject up, I should not be in a position to give an opinion. Of course, -if I could see Mr. Graves in one of what we may call his 'lucid -intervals' I should be able to form a better idea. Do you think that -could be managed?" - -"It might. I see the importance of it and will certainly do my best; but -he is a difficult man; a very difficult man. I sincerely hope it is not -sleeping sickness." - -"Why?" - -"Because--as I understood from him--that disease is invariably fatal, -sooner or later. There seem to be no cure. Do you think you will be able -to decide when you see him again?" - -"I hope so," I replied. "I shall look up the authorities and see exactly -what the symptoms are--that is, so far as they are known; but my -impression is that there is very little information available." - -"And in the meantime?" - -"We will give him some medicine and attend to his general condition, and -you had better let me see him again as soon as possible." I was about to -say that the effect of the medicine itself might throw some light on the -patient's condition, but, as I proposed to treat him for morphine -poisoning, I thought it wiser to keep this item of information to -myself. Accordingly, I confined myself to a few general directions as to -the care of the patient, to which Mr. Weiss listened attentively. "And," -I concluded, "we must not lose sight of the opium question. You had -better search the room carefully and keep a close watch on the patient, -especially during his intervals of wakefulness." - -"Very well, doctor," Mr. Weiss replied, "I will do all that you tell me -and I will send for you again as soon as possible, if you do not object -to poor Graves's ridiculous conditions. And now, if you will allow me to -pay your fee, I will go and order the carriage while you are writing the -prescription." - -"There is no need for a prescription," I said. "I will make up some -medicine and give it to the coachman." - -Mr. Weiss seemed inclined to demur to this arrangement, but I had my own -reasons for insisting on it. Modern prescriptions are not difficult to -read, and I did not wish Mr. Weiss to know what treatment the patient -was having. - -As soon as I was left alone, I returned to the bedside and once more -looked down at the impassive figure. And as I looked, my suspicions -revived. It was very like morphine poisoning; and, if it was morphine, -it was no common, medicinal dose that had been given. I opened my bag -and took out my hypodermic case from which I extracted a little tube of -atropine tabloids. Shaking out into my hand a couple of the tiny discs, -I drew down the patient's under-lip and slipped the little tablets under -his tongue. Then I quickly replaced the tube and dropped the case into -my bag; and I had hardly done so when the door opened softly and the -housekeeper entered the room. - -"How do you find Mr. Graves?" she asked in what I thought a very -unnecessarily low tone, considering the patient's lethargic state. - -"He seems to be very ill," I answered. - -"So!" she rejoined, and added: "I am sorry to hear that. We have been -anxious about him." - -She seated herself on the chair by the bedside, and, shading the candle -from the patient's face--and her own, too--produced from a bag that hung -from her waist a half-finished stocking and began to knit silently and -with the skill characteristic of the German housewife. I looked at her -attentively (though she was so much in the shadow that I could see her -but indistinctly) and somehow her appearance prepossessed me as little -as did that of the other members of the household. Yet she was not an -ill-looking woman. She had an excellent figure, and the air of a person -of good social position; her features were good enough and her -colouring, although a little unusual, was not unpleasant. Like Mr. -Weiss, she had very fair hair, greased, parted in the middle and brushed -down as smoothly as the painted hair of a Dutch doll. She appeared to -have no eyebrows at all--owing, no doubt, to the light colour of the -hair--and the doll-like character was emphasized by her eyes, which were -either brown or dark grey, I could not see which. A further peculiarity -consisted in a "habit spasm," such as one often sees in nervous -children; a periodical quick jerk of the head, as if a cap-string or -dangling lock were being shaken off the cheek. Her age I judged to be -about thirty-five. - -The carriage, which one might have expected to be waiting, seemed to -take some time in getting ready. I sat, with growing impatience, -listening to the sick man's soft breathing and the click of the -housekeeper's knitting-needles. I wanted to get home, not only for my -own sake; the patient's condition made it highly desirable that the -remedies should be given as quickly as possible. But the minutes dragged -on, and I was on the point of expostulating when a bell rang on the -landing. - -"The carriage is ready," said Mrs. Schallibaum. "Let me light you down -the stairs." - -She rose, and, taking the candle, preceded me to the head of the stairs, -where she stood holding the light over the baluster-rail as I descended -and crossed the passage to the open side door. The carriage was drawn up -in the covered way as I could see by the faint glimmer of the distant -candle; which also enabled me dimly to discern the coachman standing -close by in the shadow. I looked round, rather expecting to see Mr. -Weiss, but, as he made no appearance, I entered the carriage. The door -was immediately banged to and locked, and I then heard the heavy bolts -of the gates withdrawn and the loud creaking of hinges. The carriage -moved out slowly and stopped; the gates slammed to behind me; I felt the -lurch as the coachman climbed to his seat and we started forward. - -My reflections during the return journey were the reverse of agreeable. -I could not rid myself of the conviction that I was being involved in -some very suspicious proceedings. It was possible, of course, that this -feeling was due to the strange secrecy that surrounded my connection -with this case; that, had I made my visit under ordinary conditions, I -might have found in the patient's symptoms nothing to excite suspicion -or alarm. It might be so, but that consideration did not comfort me. - -Then, my diagnosis might be wrong. It might be that this was, in -reality, a case of some brain affection accompanied by compression, such -as slow haemorrhage, abscess, tumour or simple congestion. These cases -were very difficult at times. But the appearances in this one did not -consistently agree with the symptoms accompanying any of these -conditions. As to sleeping sickness, it was, perhaps a more hopeful -suggestion, but I could not decide for or against it until I had more -knowledge; and against this view was the weighty fact that the symptoms -did exactly agree with the theory of morphine poisoning. - -But even so, there was no conclusive evidence of any criminal act. The -patient might be a confirmed opium-eater, and the symptoms heightened by -deliberate deception. The cunning of these unfortunates is proverbial -and is only equalled by their secretiveness and mendacity. It would be -quite possible for this man to feign profound stupor so long as he was -watched, and then, when left alone for a few minutes, to nip out of bed -and help himself from some secret store of the drug. This would be quite -in character with his objection to seeing a doctor and his desire for -secrecy. But still, I did not believe it to be the true explanation. In -spite of all the various alternative possibilities, my suspicions came -back to Mr. Weiss and the strange, taciturn woman, and refused to budge. - -For all the circumstances of the case were suspicious. The elaborate -preparations implied by the state of the carriage in which I was -travelling; the make-shift appearance of the house; the absence of -ordinary domestic servants, although a coachman was kept; the evident -desire of Mr. Weiss and the woman to avoid thorough inspection of their -persons; and, above all, the fact that the former had told me a -deliberate lie. For he had lied, beyond all doubt. His statement as to -the almost continuous stupor was absolutely irreconcilable with his -other statement as to the patient's wilfulness and obstinacy and even -more irreconcilable with the deep and comparatively fresh marks of the -spectacles on the patient's nose. That man had certainly worn spectacles -within twenty-four hours, which he would hardly have done if he had been -in a state bordering on coma. - -My reflections were interrupted by the stopping of the carriage. The -door was unlocked and thrown open, and I emerged from my dark and stuffy -prison opposite my own house. - -"I will let you have the medicine in a minute or two," I said to the -coachman; and, as I let myself in with my latch-key, my mind came back -swiftly from the general circumstances of the case to the very critical -condition of the patient. Already I was regretting that I had not taken -more energetic measures to rouse him and restore his flagging vitality; -for it would be a terrible thing if he should take a turn for the worse -and die before the coachman returned with the remedies. Spurred on by -this alarming thought, I made up the medicines quickly and carried the -hastily wrapped bottles out to the man, whom I found standing by the -horse's head. - -"Get back as quickly as you can," I said, "and tell Mr. Weiss to lose no -time in giving the patient the draught in the small bottle. The -directions are on the labels." - -The coachman took the packages from me without reply, climbed to his -seat, touched the horse with his whip and drove off at a rapid pace -towards Newington Butts. - -The little clock in the consulting-room showed that it was close on -eleven; time for a tired G.P. to be thinking of bed. But I was not -sleepy. Over my frugal supper I found myself taking up anew the thread -of my meditations, and afterwards, as I smoked my last pipe by the -expiring surgery fire, the strange and sinister features of the case -continued to obtrude themselves on my notice. I looked up Stillbury's -little reference library for information on the subject of sleeping -sickness, but learned no more than that it was "a rare and obscure -disease of which very little was known at present." I read up morphine -poisoning and was only further confirmed in the belief that my diagnosis -was correct; which would have been more satisfactory if the -circumstances had been different. - -For the interest of the case was not merely academic. I was in a -position of great difficulty and responsibility and had to decide on a -course of action. What ought I to do? Should I maintain the professional -secrecy to which I was tacitly committed, or ought I to convey a hint to -the police? - -Suddenly, and with a singular feeling of relief, I bethought myself of -my old friend and fellow-student, John Thorndyke, now an eminent -authority on Medical Jurisprudence. I had been associated with him -temporarily in one case as his assistant, and had then been deeply -impressed by his versatile learning, his acuteness and his marvellous -resourcefulness. Thorndyke was a barrister in extensive practice, and so -would be able to tell me at once what was my duty from a legal point of -view; and, as he was also a doctor of medicine, he would understand the -exigencies of medical practice. If I could find time to call at the -Temple and lay the case before him, all my doubts and difficulties would -be resolved. - -Anxiously, I opened my visiting-list to see what kind of day's work was -in store for me on the morrow. It was not a heavy day, even allowing for -one or two extra calls in the morning, but yet I was doubtful whether it -would allow of my going so far from my district, until my eye caught, -near the foot of the page, the name of Burton. Now Mr. Burton lived in -one of the old houses on the east side of Bouverie Street, less than -five minutes' walk from Thorndyke's chambers in King's Bench Walk; and -he was, moreover, a "chronic" who could safely be left for the last. -When I had done with Mr. Burton I could look in on my friend with a very -good chance of catching him on his return from the hospital. I could -allow myself time for quite a long chat with him, and, by taking a -hansom, still get back in good time for the evening's work. - -This was a great comfort. At the prospect of sharing my responsibilities -with a friend on whose judgment I could so entirely rely, my -embarrassments seemed to drop from me in a moment. Having entered the -engagement in my visiting-list, I rose, in greatly improved spirits, and -knocked out my pipe just as the little clock banged out impatiently the -hour of midnight. - - - - -Chapter II - -Thorndyke Devises a Scheme - - -As I entered the Temple by the Tudor Street gate the aspect of the place -smote my senses with an air of agreeable familiarity. Here had I spent -many a delightful hour when working with Thorndyke at the remarkable -Hornby case, which the newspapers had called "The Case of the Red Thumb -Mark"; and here had I met the romance of my life, the story whereof is -told elsewhere. The place was thus endeared to me by pleasant -recollections of a happy past, and its associations suggested hopes of -happiness yet to come and in the not too far distant future. - -My brisk tattoo on the little brass knocker brought to the door no less -a person than Thorndyke himself; and the warmth of his greeting made me -at once proud and ashamed. For I had not only been an absentee; I had -been a very poor correspondent. - -"The prodigal has returned, Polton," he exclaimed, looking into the -room. "Here is Dr. Jervis." - -I followed him into the room and found Polton--his confidential servant, -laboratory assistant, artificer and general "familiar"--setting out the -tea-tray on a small table. The little man shook hands cordially with me, -and his face crinkled up into the sort of smile that one might expect to -see on a benevolent walnut. - -"We've often talked about you, sir," said he. "The doctor was wondering -only yesterday when you were coming back to us." - -As I was not "coming back to them" quite in the sense intended I felt a -little guilty, but reserved my confidences for Thorndyke's ear and -replied in polite generalities. Then Polton fetched the tea-pot from the -laboratory, made up the fire and departed, and Thorndyke and I subsided, -as of old, into our respective arm-chairs. - -"And whence do you spring from in this unexpected fashion?" my colleague -asked. "You look as if you had been making professional visits." - -"I have. The base of operations is in Lower Kennington Lane." - -"Ah! Then you are 'back once more on the old trail'?" - -"Yes," I answered, with a laugh, "'the old trail, the long trail, the -trail that is always new.'" - -"And leads nowhere," Thorndyke added grimly. - -I laughed again; not very heartily, for there was an uncomfortable -element of truth in my friend's remark, to which my own experience bore -only too complete testimony. The medical practitioner whose lack of -means forces him to subsist by taking temporary charge of other men's -practices is apt to find that the passing years bring him little but -grey hairs and a wealth of disagreeable experience. - -"You will have to drop it, Jervis; you will, indeed," Thorndyke resumed -after a pause. "This casual employment is preposterous for a man of your -class and professional attainments. Besides, are you not engaged to be -married and to a most charming girl?" - -"Yes, I know. I have been a fool. But I will really amend my ways. If -necessary, I will pocket my pride and let Juliet advance the money to -buy a practice." - -"That," said Thorndyke, "is a very proper resolution. Pride and reserve -between people who are going to be husband and wife, is an absurdity. -But why buy a practice? Have you forgotten my proposal?" - -"I should be an ungrateful brute if I had." - -"Very well. I repeat it now. Come to me as my junior, read for the Bar -and work with me, and, with your abilities, you will have a chance of -something like a career. I want you, Jervis," he added, earnestly. "I -must have a junior, with my increasing practice, and you are the junior -I want. We are old and tried friends; we have worked together; we like -and trust one another, and you are the best man for the job that I know. -Come; I am not going to take a refusal. This is an ultimatum." - -"And what is the alternative?" I asked with a smile at his eagerness. - -"There isn't any. You are going to say yes." - -"I believe I am," I answered, not without emotion; "and I am more -rejoiced at your offer and more grateful than I can tell you. But we -must leave the final arrangements for our next meeting--in a week or so, -I hope--for I have to be back in an hour, and I want to consult you on -a matter of some importance." - -"Very well," said Thorndyke; "we will leave the formal agreement for -consideration at our next meeting. What is it that you want my opinion -on?" - -"The fact is," I said, "I am in a rather awkward dilemma, and I want you -to tell me what you think I ought to do." - -Thorndyke paused in the act of refilling my cup and glanced at me with -unmistakable anxiety. - -"Nothing of an unpleasant nature, I hope," said he. - -"No, no; nothing of that kind," I answered with a smile as I interpreted -the euphemism; for "something unpleasant," in the case of a young and -reasonably presentable medical man is ordinarily the equivalent of -trouble with the female of his species. "It is nothing that concerns me -personally at all," I continued; "it is a question of professional -responsibility. But I had better give you an account of the affair in a -complete narrative, as I know that you like to have your data in a -regular and consecutive order." - -Thereupon I proceeded to relate the history of my visit to the -mysterious Mr. Graves, not omitting any single circumstance or detail -that I could recollect. - -Thorndyke listened from the very beginning of my story with the closest -attention. His face was the most impassive that I have ever seen; -ordinarily as inscrutable as a bronze mask; but to me, who knew him -intimately, there was a certain something--a change of colour, perhaps, -or an additional sparkle of the eye--that told me when his curious -passion for investigation was fully aroused. And now, as I told him of -that weird journey and the strange, secret house to which it had brought -me, I could see that it offered a problem after his very heart. During -the whole of my narration he sat as motionless as a statue, evidently -committing the whole story to memory, detail by detail; and even when I -had finished he remained for an appreciable time without moving or -speaking. - -At length he looked up at me. "This is a very extraordinary affair, -Jervis," he said. - -"Very," I agreed; "and the question that is agitating me is, what is to -be done?" - -"Yes," he said, meditatively, "that is the question; and an uncommonly -difficult question it is. It really involves the settlement of the -antecedent question: What is it that is happening at that house?" - -"What do you think is happening at that house?" I asked. - -"We must go slow, Jervis," he replied. "We must carefully separate the -legal tissues from the medical, and avoid confusing what we know with -what we suspect. Now, with reference to the medical aspects of the case. -The first question that confronts us is that of sleeping sickness, or -negro-lethargy as it is sometimes called; and here we are in a -difficulty. We have not enough knowledge. Neither of us, I take it, has -ever seen a case, and the extant descriptions are inadequate. From what -I know of the disease, its symptoms agree with those in your case in -respect of the alleged moroseness and in the gradually increasing -periods of lethargy alternating with periods of apparent recovery. On -the other hand, the disease is said to be confined to negroes; but that -probably means only that negroes alone have hitherto been exposed to the -conditions that produce it. A more important fact is that, as far as I -know, extreme contraction of the pupils is not a symptom of sleeping -sickness. To sum up, the probabilities are against sleeping sickness, -but with our insufficient knowledge, we cannot definitely exclude it." - -"You think that it may really be sleeping sickness?" - -"No; personally I do not entertain that theory for a moment. But I am -considering the evidence apart from our opinions on the subject. We have -to accept it as a conceivable hypothesis that it may be sleeping -sickness because we cannot positively prove that it is not. That is all. -But when we come to the hypothesis of morphine poisoning, the case is -different. The symptoms agree with those of morphine poisoning in every -respect. There is no exception or disagreement whatever. The common -sense of the matter is therefore that we adopt morphine poisoning as our -working diagnosis; which is what you seem to have done." - -"Yes. For purposes of treatment." - -"Exactly. For medical purposes you adopted the more probable view and -dismissed the less probable. That was the reasonable thing to do. But -for legal purposes you must entertain both possibilities; for the -hypothesis of poisoning involves serious legal issues, whereas the -hypothesis of disease involves no legal issues at all." - -"That doesn't sound very helpful," I remarked. - -"It indicates the necessity for caution," he retorted. - -"Yes, I see that. But what is your own opinion of the case?" - -"Well," he said, "let us consider the facts in order. Here is a man who, -we assume, is under the influence of a poisonous dose of morphine. The -question is, did he take that dose himself or was it administered to him -by some other person? If he took it himself, with what object did he -take it? The history that was given to you seems completely to exclude -the idea of suicide. But the patient's condition seems equally to -exclude the idea of morphinomania. Your opium-eater does not reduce -himself to a state of coma. He usually keeps well within the limits of -the tolerance that has been established. The conclusion that emerges is, -I think, that the drug was administered by some other person; and the -most likely person seems to be Mr. Weiss." - -"Isn't morphine a very unusual poison?" - -"Very; and most inconvenient except in a single, fatal dose, by reason -of the rapidity with which tolerance of the drug is established. But we -must not forget that slow morphine poisoning might be eminently -suitable in certain cases. The manner in which it enfeebles the will, -confuses the judgment and debilitates the body might make it very useful -to a poisoner whose aim was to get some instrument or document executed, -such as a will, deed or assignment. And death could be produced -afterwards by other means. You see the important bearing of this?" - -"You mean in respect of a death certificate?" - -"Yes. Suppose Mr. Weiss to have given a large dose of morphine. He then -sends for you and throws out a suggestion of sleeping sickness. If you -accept the suggestion he is pretty safe. He can repeat the process until -he kills his victim and then get a certificate from you which will cover -the murder. It was quite an ingenious scheme--which, by the way, is -characteristic of intricate crimes; your subtle criminal often plans his -crime like a genius, but he generally executes it like a fool--as this -man seems to have done, if we are not doing him an injustice." - -"How has he acted like a fool?" - -"In several respects. In the first place, he should have chosen his -doctor. A good, brisk, confident man who 'knows his own mind' is the -sort of person who would have suited him; a man who would have jumped at -a diagnosis and stuck to it; or else an ignorant weakling of alcoholic -tendencies. It was shockingly bad luck to run against a cautious -scientific practitioner like my learned friend. Then, of course, all -this secrecy was sheer tomfoolery, exactly calculated to put a careful -man on his guard; as it has actually done. If Mr. Weiss is really a -criminal, he has mismanaged his affairs badly." - -"And you apparently think that he is a criminal?" - -"I suspect him deeply. But I should like to ask you one or two questions -about him. You say he spoke with a German accent. What command of -English had he? Was his vocabulary good? Did he use any German idioms?" - -"No. I should say that his English was perfect, and I noticed that his -phrases were quite well chosen even for an Englishman." - -"Did he seem to you 'made up' in any way; disguised, I mean?" - -"I couldn't say. The light was so very feeble." - -"You couldn't see the colour of his eyes, for instance?" - -"No. I think they were grey, but I couldn't be sure." - -"And as to the coachman. He wore a wig, you said. Could you see the -colour of his eyes? Or any peculiarity by which you could recognize -him?" - -"He had a malformed thumb-nail on his right hand. That is all I can say -about him." - -"He didn't strike you as resembling Weiss in any way; in voice or -features?" - -"Not at all; and he spoke, as I told you, with a distinct Scotch -accent." - -"The reason I ask is that if Weiss is attempting to poison this man, the -coachman is almost certain to be a confederate and might be a relative. -You had better examine him closely if you get another chance." - -"I will. And that brings me back to the question, What am I to do? Ought -I to report the case to the police?" - -"I am inclined to think not. You have hardly enough facts. Of course, if -Mr. Weiss has administered poison 'unlawfully and maliciously' he has -committed a felony, and is liable under the Consolidation Acts of 1861 -to ten years' penal servitude. But I do not see how you could swear an -information. You don't know that he administered the poison--if poison -has really been administered--and you cannot give any reliable name or -any address whatever. Then there is the question of sleeping sickness. -You reject it for medical purposes, but you could not swear, in a court -of law, that this is not a case of sleeping sickness." - -"No," I admitted, "I could not." - -"Then I think the police would decline to move in the matter, and you -might find that you had raised a scandal in Dr. Stillbury's practice to -no purpose." - -"So you think I had better do nothing in the matter?" - -"For the present. It is, of course, a medical man's duty to assist -justice in any way that is possible. But a doctor is not a detective; he -should not go out of his way to assume police functions. He should keep -his eyes and ears open, and, though, in general, he should keep his own -counsel, it is his duty to note very carefully anything that seems to -him likely to bear on any important legal issues. It is not his -business officiously to initiate criminal inquiries, but it is -emphatically his business to be ready, if called upon, to assist justice -with information that his special knowledge and opportunities have -rendered accessible to him. You see the bearing of this?" - -"You mean that I should note down what I have seen and heard and say -nothing about it until I am asked." - -"Yes; if nothing further happens. But if you should be sent for again, I -think it is your duty to make further observations with a view, if -necessary, to informing the police. It may be, for instance, of vital -importance to identify the house, and it is your duty to secure the -means of doing so." - -"But, my dear Thorndyke," I expostulated, "I have told you how I was -conveyed to the house. Now, will you kindly explain to me how a man, -boxed up in a pitch-dark carriage, is going to identify any place to -which he may be carried?" - -"The problem doesn't appear to me to present any serious difficulties," -he replied. - -"Doesn't it?" said I. "To me it looks like a pretty solid impossibility. -But what do you suggest? Should I break out of the house and run away up -the street? Or should I bore a hole through the shutter of the carriage -and peep out?" - -Thorndyke smiled indulgently. "The methods proposed by my learned friend -display a certain crudity inappropriate to the character of a man of -science; to say nothing of the disadvantage of letting the enemy into -our counsels. No, no, Jervis; we can do something better than that. -Just excuse me for a minute while I run up to the laboratory." - -He hurried away to Polton's sanctum on the upper floor, leaving me to -speculate on the method by which he proposed that a man should be -enabled, as Sam Weller would express it, "to see through a flight of -stairs and a deal door"; or, what was equally opaque, the wooden -shutters of a closed carriage. - -"Now," he said, when he returned a couple of minutes later with a small, -paper-covered notebook in his hand, "I have set Polton to work on a -little appliance that will, I think, solve our difficulty, and I will -show you how I propose that you should make your observations. First of -all, we have to rule the pages of this book into columns." - -He sat down at the table and began methodically to rule the pages each -into three columns, two quite narrow and one broad. The process occupied -some time, during which I sat and watched with impatient curiosity the -unhurried, precise movements of Thorndyke's pencil, all agog to hear the -promised explanation. He was just finishing the last page when there -came a gentle tap at the door, and Polton entered with a satisfied smile -on his dry, shrewd-looking face and a small board in his hand. - -"Will this do, sir?" he asked. - -As he spoke he handed the little board to Thorndyke, who looked at it -and passed it to me. - -"The very thing, Polton," my friend replied. "Where did you find it? -It's of no use for you to pretend that you've made it in about two -minutes and a half." - -Polton smiled one of his queer crinkly smiles, and remarking that "it -didn't take much making," departed much gratified by the compliment. - -"What a wonderful old fellow that is, Jervis," Thorndyke observed as his -factotum retired. "He took in the idea instantly and seems to have -produced the finished article by magic, as the conjurers bring forth -rabbits and bowls of goldfish at a moment's notice. I suppose you see -what your <i>modus operandi</i> is to be?" - -I had gathered a clue from the little appliance--a plate of white -fret-wood about seven inches by five, to one corner of which a -pocket-compass had been fixed with shellac--but was not quite clear as -to the details of the method. - -"You can read a compass pretty quickly, I think?" Thorndyke said. - -"Of course I can. Used we not to sail a yacht together when we were -students?" - -"To be sure we did; and we will again before we die. And now as to your -method of locating this house. Here is a pocket reading-lamp which you -can hook on the carriage lining. This notebook can be fixed to the board -with an india-rubber band--thus. You observe that the thoughtful Polton -has stuck a piece of thread on the glass of the compass to serve as a -lubber's line. This is how you will proceed. As soon as you are locked -in the carriage, light your lamp--better have a book with you in case -the light is noticed--take out your watch and put the board on your -knee, keeping its long side exactly in a line with the axis of the -carriage. Then enter in one narrow column of your notebook the time, in -the other the direction shown by the compass, and in the broad column -any particulars, including the number of steps the horse makes in a -minute. Like this." - -He took a loose sheet of paper and made one or two sample entries on it -in pencil, thus-- - - "9.40. S.E. Start from home. - 9.41 S.W. Granite setts. - 9.43. S.W. Wood pavement. Hoofs 104. - 9.47. W. by S Granite crossing. Macadam-- - -and so on. Note every change of direction, with the time; and whenever -you hear or feel anything from outside, note it, with the time and -direction; and don't forget to note any variations in the horse's pace. -You follow the process?" - -"Perfectly. But do you think the method is accurate enough to fix the -position of a house? Remember, this is only a pocket-compass with no -dial, and it will jump frightfully. And the mode of estimating distance -is very rough." - -"That is all perfectly true," Thorndyke answered. "But you are -overlooking certain important facts. The track-chart that you will -produce can be checked by other data. The house, for instance, has a -covered way by which you could identify it if you knew approximately -where to look for it. Then you must remember that your carriage is not -travelling over a featureless plain. It is passing through streets which -have a determined position and direction and which are accurately -represented on the ordnance map. I think, Jervis, that, in spite of the -apparent roughness of the method, if you make your observations -carefully, we shall have no trouble in narrowing down the inquiry to a -quite small area. If we get the chance, that is to say." - -"Yes, if we do. I am doubtful whether Mr. Weiss will require my services -again, but I sincerely hope he will. It would be rare sport to locate -his secret burrow, all unsuspected. But now I must really be off." - -"Good-bye, then," said Thorndyke, slipping a well-sharpened pencil -through the rubber band that fixed the notebook to the board. "Let me -know how the adventure progresses--if it progresses at all--and -remember, I hold your promise to come and see me again quite soon in any -case." - -He handed me the board and the lamp, and, when I had slipped them into -my pocket, we shook hands and I hurried away, a little uneasy at having -left my charge so long. - - - - -Chapter III - -"A Chiel's Amang Ye Takin' Notes" - - -The attitude of the suspicious man tends to generate in others the kind -of conduct that seems to justify his suspicions. In most of us there -lurks a certain strain of mischief which trustfulness disarms but -distrust encourages. The inexperienced kitten which approaches us -confidingly with arched back and upright tail, soliciting caresses, -generally receives the gentle treatment that it expects; whereas the -worldly-wise tom-cat, who, in response to friendly advances, scampers -away and grins at us suspiciously from the fancied security of an -adjacent wall, impels us to accelerate his retreat with a well-directed -clod. - -Now the proceedings of Mr. H. Weiss resembled those of the tom-cat -aforesaid and invited an analogous reply. To a responsible professional -man his extraordinary precautions were at once an affront and a -challenge. Apart from graver considerations, I found myself dwelling -with unholy pleasure on the prospect of locating the secret hiding-place -from which he seemed to grin at me with such complacent defiance; and I -lost no time and spared no trouble in preparing myself for the -adventure. The very hansom which bore me from the Temple to Kennington -Lane was utilized for a preliminary test of Thorndyke's little -apparatus. During the whole of that brief journey I watched the compass -closely, noted the feel and sound of the road-material and timed the -trotting of the horse. And the result was quite encouraging. It is true -that the compass-needle oscillated wildly to the vibration of the cab, -but still its oscillations took place around a definite point which was -the average direction, and it was evident to me that the data it -furnished were very fairly reliable. I felt very little doubt, after the -preliminary trial, as to my being able to produce a moderately -intelligible track-chart if only I should get an opportunity to exercise -my skill. - -But it looked as if I should not. Mr. Weiss's promise to send for me -again soon was not fulfilled. Three days passed and still he made no -sign. I began to fear that I had been too outspoken; that the shuttered -carriage had gone forth to seek some more confiding and easy-going -practitioner, and that our elaborate preparations had been made in vain. -When the fourth day drew towards a close and still no summons had come, -I was disposed reluctantly to write the case off as a lost opportunity. - -And at that moment, in the midst of my regrets, the bottle-boy thrust an -uncomely head in at the door. His voice was coarse, his accent was -hideous, and his grammatical construction beneath contempt; but I -forgave him all when I gathered the import of his message. - -"Mr. Weiss's carriage is waiting, and he says will you come as quickly -as you can because he's took very bad to-night." - -I sprang from my chair and hastily collected the necessaries for the -journey. The little board and the lamp I put in my overcoat pocket; I -overhauled the emergency bag and added to its usual contents a bottle of -permanganate of potassium which I thought I might require. Then I tucked -the evening paper under my arm and went out. - -The coachman, who was standing at the horse's head as I emerged, touched -his hat and came forward to open the door. - -"I have fortified myself for the long drive, you see," I remarked, -exhibiting the newspaper as I stepped into the carriage. - -"But you can't read in the dark," said he. - -"No, but I have provided myself with a lamp," I replied, producing it -and striking a match. - -He watched me as I lit the lamp and hooked it on the back cushion, and -observed: - -"I suppose you found it rather a dull ride last time. It's a longish -way. They might have fitted the carriage with an inside lamp. But we -shall have to make it a quicker passage to-night. Governor says Mr. -Graves is uncommon bad." - -With this he slammed the door and locked it. I drew the board from my -pocket, laid it on my knee, glanced at my watch, and, as the coachman -climbed to his seat, I made the first entry in the little book. - -"8.58. W. by S. Start from home. Horse 13 hands." - -The first move of the carriage on starting was to turn round as if -heading for Newington Butts, and the second entry accordingly read: - -"8.58.30. E. by N." - -But this direction was not maintained long. Very soon we turned south -and then west and then south again. I sat with my eyes riveted on the -compass, following with some difficulty its rapid changes. The needle -swung to and fro incessantly but always within a definite arc, the -centre of which was the true direction. But this direction varied from -minute to minute in the most astonishing manner. West, south, east, -north, the carriage turned, "boxing" the compass until I lost all count -of direction. It was an amazing performance. Considering that the man -was driving against time on a mission of life and death urgency, his -carelessness as to direction was astounding. The tortuousness of the -route must have made the journey twice as long as it need have been -with a little more careful selection. At least so it appeared to me, -though, naturally, I was not in a position to offer an authoritative -criticism. - -As far as I could judge, we followed the same route as before. Once I -heard a tug's whistle and knew that we were near the river, and we -passed the railway station, apparently at the same time as on the -previous occasion, for I heard a passenger train start and assumed that -it was the same train. We crossed quite a number of thoroughfares with -tram-lines--I had no idea there were so many--and it was a revelation to -me to find how numerous the railway arches were in this part of London -and how continually the nature of the road-metal varied. - -It was by no means a dull journey this time. The incessant changes of -direction and variations in the character of the road kept me most -uncommonly busy; for I had hardly time to scribble down one entry before -the compass-needle would swing round sharply, showing that we had once -more turned a corner; and I was quite taken by surprise when the -carriage slowed down and turned into the covered way. Very hastily I -scribbled down the final entry ("9.24. S.E. In covered way"), and having -closed the book and slipped it and the board into my pocket, had just -opened out the newspaper when the carriage door was unlocked and opened, -whereupon I unhooked and blew out the lamp and pocketed that too, -reflecting that it might be useful later. - -As on the last occasion, Mrs. Schallibaum stood in the open doorway with -a lighted candle. But she was a good deal less self-possessed this time. -In fact she looked rather wild and terrified. Even by the candle-light -I could see that she was very pale and she seemed unable to keep still. -As she gave me the few necessary words of explanation, she fidgeted -incessantly and her hands and feet were in constant movement. - -"You had better come up with me at once," she said. "Mr. Graves is much -worse to-night. We will wait not for Mr. Weiss." - -Without waiting for a reply she quickly ascended the stairs and I -followed. The room was in much the same condition as before. But the -patient was not. As soon as I entered the room, a soft, rhythmical -gurgle from the bed gave me a very clear warning of danger. I stepped -forward quickly and looked down at the prostrate figure, and the warning -gathered emphasis. The sick man's ghastly face was yet more ghastly; his -eyes were more sunken, his skin more livid; "his nose was as sharp as a -pen," and if he did not "babble of green fields" it was because he -seemed to be beyond even that. If it had been a case of disease, I -should have said at once that he was dying. He had all the appearance of -a man <i>in articulo mortis</i>. Even as it was, feeling convinced that the -case was one of morphine poisoning, I was far from confident that I -should be able to draw him back from the extreme edge of vitality on -which he trembled so insecurely. - -"He is very ill? He is dying?" - -It was Mrs. Schallibaum's voice; very low, but eager and intense. I -turned, with my finger on the patient's wrist, and looked into the face -of the most thoroughly scared woman I have ever seen. She made no -attempt now to avoid the light, but looked me squarely in the face, and -I noticed, half-unconsciously, that her eyes were brown and had a -curious strained expression. - -"Yes," I answered, "he is very ill. He is in great danger." - -She still stared at me fixedly for some seconds. And then a very odd -thing occurred. Suddenly she squinted--squinted horribly; not with the -familiar convergent squint which burlesque artists imitate, but with -external or divergent squint of extreme near sight or unequal vision. -The effect was quite startling. One moment both her eyes were looking -straight into mine; the next, one of them rolled round until it looked -out of the uttermost corner, leaving the other gazing steadily forward. - -She was evidently conscious of the change, for she turned her head away -quickly and reddened somewhat. But it was no time for thoughts of -personal appearance. - -"You can save him, doctor! You will not let him die! He must not be -allowed to die!" - -She spoke with as much passion as if he had been the dearest friend that -she had in the world, which I suspected was far from being the case. But -her manifest terror had its uses. - -"If anything is to be done to save him," I said, "it must be done -quickly. I will give him some medicine at once, and meanwhile you must -make some strong coffee." - -"Coffee!" she exclaimed. "But we have none in the house. Will not tea -do, if I make it very strong?" - -"No, it will not. I must have coffee; and I must have it quickly." - -"Then I suppose I must go and get some. But it is late. The shops will -be shut. And I don't like leaving Mr. Graves." - -"Can't you send the coachman?" I asked. - -She shook her head impatiently. "No, that is no use. I must wait until -Mr. Weiss comes." - -"That won't do," I said, sharply. "He will slip through our fingers -while you are waiting. You must go and get that coffee at once and bring -it to me as soon as it is ready. And I want a tumbler and some water." - -She brought me a water-bottle and glass from the wash-stand and then, -with a groan of despair, hurried from the room. - -I lost no time in applying the remedies that I had to hand. Shaking out -into the tumbler a few crystals of potassium permanganate, I filled it -up with water and approached the patient. His stupor was profound. I -shook him as roughly as was safe in his depressed condition, but -elicited no resistance or responsive movement. As it seemed very -doubtful whether he was capable of swallowing, I dared not take the risk -of pouring the liquid into his mouth for fear of suffocating him. A -stomach-tube would have solved the difficulty, but, of course, I had not -one with me. I had, however, a mouth-speculum which also acted as a gag, -and, having propped the patient's mouth open with this, I hastily -slipped off one of the rubber tubes from my stethoscope and inserted -into one end of it a vulcanite ear-speculum to serve as a funnel. Then, -introducing the other end of the tube into the gullet as far as its -length would permit, I cautiously poured a small quantity of the -permanganate solution into the extemporized funnel. To my great relief a -movement of the throat showed that the swallowing reflex still existed, -and, thus encouraged, I poured down the tube as much of the fluid as I -thought it wise to administer at one time. - -The dose of permanganate that I had given was enough to neutralize any -reasonable quantity of the poison that might yet remain in the stomach. -I had next to deal with that portion of the drug which had already been -absorbed and was exercising its poisonous effects. Taking my hypodermic -case from my bag, I prepared in the syringe a full dose of atropine -sulphate, which I injected forthwith into the unconscious man's arm. And -that was all that I could do, so far as remedies were concerned, until -the coffee arrived. - -I cleaned and put away the syringe, washed the tube, and then, returning -to the bedside, endeavoured to rouse the patient from his profound -lethargy. But great care was necessary. A little injudicious roughness -of handling, and that thready, flickering pulse might stop for ever; and -yet it was almost certain that if he were not speedily aroused, his -stupor would gradually deepen until it shaded off imperceptibly into -death. I went to work very cautiously, moving his limbs about, flicking -his face and chest with the corner of a wet towel, tickling the soles -of his feet, and otherwise applying stimuli that were strong without -being violent. - -So occupied was I with my efforts to resuscitate my mysterious patient -that I did not notice the opening of the door, and it was with something -of a start that, happening to glance round, I perceived at the farther -end of the room the shadowy figure of a man relieved by two spots of -light reflected from his spectacles. How long he had been watching me I -cannot say, but, when he saw that I had observed him, he came -forward--though not very far--and I saw that he was Mr. Weiss. - -"I am afraid," he said, "that you do not find my friend so well -to-night?" - -"So well!" I exclaimed. "I don't find him well at all. I am exceedingly -anxious about him." - -"You don't--er--anticipate anything of a--er--anything serious, I hope?" - -"There is no need to anticipate," said I. "It is already about as -serious as it can be. I think he might die at any moment." - -"Good God!" he gasped. "You horrify me!" - -He was not exaggerating. In his agitation, he stepped forward into the -lighter part of the room, and I could see that his face was pale to -ghastliness--except his nose and the adjacent red patches on his cheeks, -which stood out in grotesquely hideous contrast. Presently, however, he -recovered a little and said: - -"I really think--at least I hope--that you take an unnecessarily serious -view of his condition. He has been like this before, you know." - -I felt pretty certain that he had not, but there was no use in -discussing the question. I therefore replied, as I continued my efforts -to rouse the patient: - -"That may or may not be. But in any case there comes a last time; and it -may have come now." - -"I hope not," he said; "although I understand that these cases always -end fatally sooner or later." - -"What cases?" I asked. - -"I was referring to sleeping sickness; but perhaps you have formed some -other opinion as to the nature of this dreadful complaint." - -I hesitated for a moment, and he continued: "As to your suggestion that -his symptoms might be due to drugs, I think we may consider that as -disposed of. He has been watched, practically without cessation since -you came last, and, moreover, I have myself turned out the room and -examined the bed and have not found a trace of any drug. Have you gone -into the question of sleeping sickness?" - -I looked at the man narrowly before answering, and distrusted him more -than ever. But this was no time for reticence. My concern was with the -patient and his present needs. After all, I was, as Thorndyke had said, -a doctor, not a detective, and the circumstances called for -straightforward speech and action on my part. - -"I have considered that question," I said, "and have come to a perfectly -definite conclusion. His symptoms are not those of sleeping sickness. -They are in my opinion undoubtedly due to morphine poisoning." - -"But my dear sir!" he exclaimed, "the thing is impossible! Haven't I -just told you that he has been watched continuously?" - -"I can only judge by the appearances that I find," I answered; and, -seeing that he was about to offer fresh objections, I continued: "Don't -let us waste precious time in discussion, or Mr. Graves may be dead -before we have reached a conclusion. If you will hurry them up about the -coffee that I asked for some time ago, I will take the other necessary -measures, and perhaps we may manage to pull him round." - -The rather brutal decision of my manner evidently daunted him. It must -have been plain to him that I was not prepared to accept any explanation -of the unconscious man's condition other than that of morphine -poisoning; whence the inference was pretty plain that the alternatives -were recovery or an inquest. Replying stiffly that I "must do as I -thought best," he hurried from the room, leaving me to continue my -efforts without further interruption. - -For some time these efforts seemed to make no impression. The man lay as -still and impassive as a corpse excepting for the slow, shallow and -rather irregular breathing with its ominous accompanying rattle. But -presently, by imperceptible degrees, signs of returning life began to -make their appearance. A sharp slap on the cheek with the wet towel -produced a sensible flicker of the eyelids; a similar slap on the chest -was followed by a slight gasp. A pencil, drawn over the sole of the -foot, occasioned a visible shrinking movement, and, on looking once -more at the eyes, I detected a slight change that told me that the -atropine was beginning to take effect. - -This was very encouraging, and, so far, quite satisfactory, though it -would have been premature to rejoice. I kept the patient carefully -covered and maintained the process of gentle irritation, moving his -limbs and shoulders, brushing his hair and generally bombarding his -deadened senses with small but repeated stimuli. And under this -treatment, the improvement continued so far that on my bawling a -question into his ear he actually opened his eyes for an instant, though -in another moment, the lids had sunk back into their former position. - -Soon after this, Mr. Weiss re-entered the room, followed by Mrs. -Schallibaum, who carried a small tray, on which were a jug of coffee, a -jug of milk, a cup and saucer and a sugar basin. - -"How do you find him now?" Mr. Weiss asked anxiously. - -"I am glad to say that there is a distinct improvement," I replied. "But -we must persevere. He is by no means out of the wood yet." - -I examined the coffee, which looked black and strong and had a very -reassuring smell, and, pouring out half a cupful, approached the bed. - -"Now, Mr. Graves," I shouted, "we want you to drink some of this." - -The flaccid eyelids lifted for an instant but there was no other -response. I gently opened the unresisting mouth and ladled in a couple -of spoonfuls of coffee, which were immediately swallowed; whereupon I -repeated the proceeding and continued at short intervals until the cup -was empty. The effect of the new remedy soon became apparent. He began -to mumble and mutter obscurely in response to the questions that I -bellowed at him, and once or twice he opened his eyes and looked -dreamily into my face. Then I sat him up and made him drink some coffee -from the cup, and, all the time, kept up a running fire of questions, -which made up in volume of sound for what they lacked of relevancy. - -Of these proceedings Mr. Weiss and his housekeeper were highly -interested spectators, and the former, contrary to his usual practice, -came quite close up to the bed, to get a better view. - -"It is really a most remarkable thing," he said, "but it almost looks as -if you were right, after all. He is certainly much better. But tell me, -would this treatment produce a similar improvement if the symptoms were -due to disease?" - -"No," I answered, "it certainly would not." - -"Then that seems to settle it. But it is a most mysterious affair. Can -you suggest any way in which he can have concealed a store of the drug?" - -I stood up and looked him straight in the face; it was the first chance -I had had of inspecting him by any but the feeblest light, and I looked -at him very attentively. Now, it is a curious fact--though one that most -persons must have observed--that there sometimes occurs a considerable -interval between the reception of a visual impression and its complete -transfer to the consciousness. A thing may be seen, as it were, -unconsciously, and the impression consigned, apparently, to instant -oblivion; and yet the picture may be subsequently revived by memory with -such completeness that its details can be studied as though the object -were still actually visible. - -Something of this kind must have happened to me now. Preoccupied as I -was, by the condition of the patient, the professional habit of rapid -and close observation caused me to direct a searching glance at the man -before me. It was only a brief glance--for Mr. Weiss, perhaps -embarrassed by my keen regard of him, almost immediately withdrew into -the shadow--and my attention seemed principally to be occupied by the -odd contrast between the pallor of his face and the redness of his nose -and by the peculiar stiff, bristly character of his eyebrows. But there -was another fact, and a very curious one, that was observed by me -subconsciously and instantly forgotten, to be revived later when I -reflected on the events of the night. It was this: - -As Mr. Weiss stood, with his head slightly turned, I was able to look -through one glass of his spectacles at the wall beyond. On the wall was -a framed print; and the edge of the frame, seen through the -spectacle-glass, appeared quite unaltered and free from distortion, -magnification or reduction, as if seen through plain window-glass; and -yet the reflections of the candle-flame in the spectacles showed the -flame upside down, proving conclusively that the glasses were concave on -one surface at least. The strange phenomenon was visible only for a -moment or two, and as it passed out of my sight it passed also out of my -mind. - -"No," I said, replying to the last question; "I can think of no way in -which he could have effectually hidden a store of morphine. Judging by -the symptoms, he has taken a large dose, and, if he has been in the -habit of consuming large quantities, his stock would be pretty bulky. I -can offer no suggestion whatever." - -"I suppose you consider him quite out of danger now?" - -"Oh, not at all. I think we can pull him round if we persevere, but he -must not be allowed to sink back into a state of coma. We must keep him -on the move until the effects of the drug have really passed off. If you -will put him into his dressing-gown we will walk him up and down the -room for a while." - -"But is that safe?" Mr. Weiss asked anxiously. - -"Quite safe," I answered. "I will watch his pulse carefully. The danger -is in the possibility, or rather certainty, of a relapse if he is not -kept moving." - -With obvious unwillingness and disapproval, Mr. Weiss produced a -dressing-gown and together we invested the patient in it. Then we -dragged him, very limp, but not entirely unresisting, out of bed and -stood him on his feet. He opened his eyes and blinked owlishly first at -one and then at the other of us, and mumbled a few unintelligible words -of protest; regardless of which, we thrust his feet into slippers and -endeavoured to make him walk. At first he seemed unable to stand, and we -had to support him by his arms as we urged him forward; but presently -his trailing legs began to make definite walking movements, and, after -one or two turns up and down the room, he was not only able partly to -support his weight, but showed evidence of reviving consciousness in -more energetic protests. - -At this point Mr. Weiss astonished me by transferring the arm that he -held to the housekeeper. - -"If you will excuse me, doctor," said he, "I will go now and attend to -some rather important business that I have had to leave unfinished. Mrs. -Schallibaum will be able to give you all the assistance that you -require, and will order the carriage when you think it safe to leave the -patient. In case I should not see you again I will say 'good night.' I -hope you won't think me very unceremonious." - -He shook hands with me and went out of the room, leaving me, as I have -said, profoundly astonished that he should consider any business of more -moment than the condition of his friend, whose life, even now, was but -hanging by a thread. However, it was really no concern of mine. I could -do without him, and the resuscitation of this unfortunate half-dead man -gave me occupation enough to engross my whole attention. - -The melancholy progress up and down the room re-commenced, and with it -the mumbled protests from the patient. As we walked, and especially as -we turned, I caught frequent glimpses of the housekeeper's face. But it -was nearly always in profile. She appeared to avoid looking me in the -face, though she did so once or twice; and on each of these occasions -her eyes were directed at me in a normal manner without any sign of a -squint. Nevertheless, I had the impression that when her face was turned -away from me she squinted. The "swivel eye"--the left--was towards me as -she held the patient's right arm, and it was almost continuously turned -in my direction, whereas I felt convinced that she was really looking -straight before her, though, of course, her right eye was invisible to -me. It struck me, even at the time, as an odd affair, but I was too much -concerned about my charge to give it much consideration. - -Meanwhile the patient continued to revive apace. And the more he -revived, the more energetically did he protest against this wearisome -perambulation. But he was evidently a polite gentleman, for, muddled as -his faculties were, he managed to clothe his objections in courteous and -even gracious forms of speech singularly out of agreement with the -character that Mr. Weiss had given him. - -"I thangyou," he mumbled thickly. "Ver' good take s'much trouble. Think -I will lie down now." He looked wistfully at the bed, but I wheeled him -about and marched him once more down the room. He submitted -unresistingly, but as we again approached the bed he reopened the -matter. - -"S'quite s'fficient, thang you. Gebback to bed now. Much 'bliged frall -your kindness"--here I turned him round--"no, really; m'feeling rather -tired. Sh'like to lie down now, f'you'd be s'good." - -"You must walk about a little longer, Mr. Graves," I said. "It would be -very bad for you to go to sleep again." - -He looked at me with a curious, dull surprise, and reflected awhile as -if in some perplexity. Then he looked at me again and said: - -"Thing, sir, you are mistake--mistaken me--mist--" - -Here Mrs. Schallibaum interrupted sharply: - -"The doctor thinks it's good for you to walk about. You've been sleeping -too much. He doesn't want you to sleep any more just now." - -"Don't wanter sleep; wanter lie down," said the patient. - -"But you mustn't lie down for a little while. You must walk about for a -few minutes more. And you'd better not talk. Just walk up and down." - -"There's no harm in his talking," said I; "in fact it's good for him. It -will help to keep him awake." - -"I should think it would tire him," said Mrs. Schallibaum; "and it -worries me to hear him asking to lie down when we can't let him." - -She spoke sharply and in an unnecessarily high tone so that the patient -could not fail to hear. Apparently he took in the very broad hint -contained in the concluding sentence, for he trudged wearily and -unsteadily up and down the room for some time without speaking, though -he continued to look at me from time to time as if something in my -appearance puzzled him exceedingly. At length his intolerable longing -for repose overcame his politeness and he returned to the attack. - -"Surely v' walked enough now. Feeling very tired. Am really. Would you -be s'kind 's t'let me lie down few minutes?" - -"Don't you think he might lie down for a little while?" Mrs. Schallibaum -asked. - -I felt his pulse, and decided that he was really becoming fatigued, and -that it would be wiser not to overdo the exercise while he was so weak. -Accordingly, I consented to his returning to bed, and turned him round -in that direction; whereupon he tottered gleefully towards his -resting-place like a tired horse heading for its stable. - -As soon as he was tucked in, I gave him a full cup of coffee, which he -drank with some avidity as if thirsty. Then I sat down by the bedside, -and, with a view to keeping him awake, began once more to ply him with -questions. - -"Does your head ache, Mr. Graves?" I asked. - -"The doctor says 'does your head ache?'" Mrs. Schallibaum squalled, so -loudly that the patient started perceptibly. - -"I heard him, m'dear girl," he answered with a faint smile. "Not deaf -you know. Yes. Head aches a good deal. But I thing this gennleman -mistakes--" - -"He says you are to keep awake. You mustn't go to sleep again, and you -are not to close your eyes." - -"All ri' Pol'n. Keep'm open," and he proceeded forthwith to shut them -with an air of infinite peacefulness. I grasped his hand and shook it -gently, on which he opened his eyes and looked at me sleepily. The -housekeeper stroked his head, keeping her face half-turned from me--as -she had done almost constantly, to conceal the squinting eye, as I -assumed--and said: - -"Need we keep you any longer, doctor? It is getting very late and you -have a long way to go." - -I looked doubtfully at the patient. I was loath to leave him, -distrusting these people as I did. But I had my work to do on the -morrow, with, perhaps, a night call or two in the interval, and the -endurance even of a general practitioner has its limits. - -"I think I heard the carriage some time ago," Mrs. Schallibaum added. - -I rose hesitatingly and looked at my watch. It had turned half-past -eleven. - -"You understand," I said in a low voice, "that the danger is not over? -If he is left now he will fall asleep, and in all human probability will -never wake. You clearly understand that?" - -"Yes, quite clearly. I promise you he shall not be allowed to fall -asleep again." - -As she spoke, she looked me full in the face for a few moments, and I -noted that her eyes had a perfectly normal appearance, without any trace -whatever of a squint. - -"Very well," I said. "On that understanding I will go now; and I shall -hope to find our friend quite recovered at my next visit." - -I turned to the patient, who was already dozing, and shook his hand -heartily. - -"Good-bye, Mr. Graves!" I said. "I am sorry to have to disturb your -repose so much; but you must keep awake, you know. Won't do to go to -sleep." - -"Ver' well," he replied drowsily. "Sorry t' give you all this trouble. -L' keep awake. But I think you're mistak'n--" - -"He says it's very important that you shouldn't go to sleep, and that I -am to see that you don't. Do you understand?" - -"Yes, I un'stan'. But why does this gennlem'n--?" - -"Now it's of no use for you to ask a lot of questions," Mrs. Schallibaum -said playfully; "we'll talk to you to-morrow. Good night, doctor. I'll -light you down the stairs, but I won't come down with you, or the -patient will be falling asleep again." - -Taking this definite dismissal, I retired, followed by a dreamily -surprised glance from the sick man. The housekeeper held the candle over -the balusters until I reached the bottom of the stairs, when I perceived -through the open door along the passage a glimmer of light from the -carriage lamps. The coachman was standing just outside, faintly -illuminated by the very dim lamplight, and as I stepped into the -carriage he remarked in his Scotch dialect that I "seemed to have been -makin' a nicht of it." He did not wait for any reply--none being in fact -needed--but shut the door and locked it. - -I lit my little pocket-lamp and hung it on the back cushion. I even drew -the board and notebook from my pocket. But it seemed rather unnecessary -to take a fresh set of notes, and, to tell the truth, I rather shirked -the labour, tired as I was after my late exertions; besides, I wanted -to think over the events of the evening, while they were fresh in my -memory. Accordingly I put away the notebook, filled and lighted my pipe, -and settled myself to review the incidents attending my second visit to -this rather uncanny house. - -Considered in leisurely retrospect, that visit offered quite a number of -problems that called for elucidation. There was the patient's condition, -for instance. Any doubt as to the cause of his symptoms was set at rest -by the effect of the antidotes. Mr. Graves was certainly under the -influence of morphine, and the only doubtful question was how he had -become so. That he had taken the poison himself was incredible. No -morphinomaniac would take such a knock-down dose. It was practically -certain that the poison had been administered by someone else, and, on -Mr. Weiss's own showing, there was no one but himself and the -housekeeper who could have administered it. And to this conclusion all -the other very queer circumstances pointed. - -What were these circumstances? They were, as I have said, numerous, -though many of them seemed trivial. To begin with, Mr. Weiss's habit of -appearing some time after my arrival and disappearing some time before -my departure was decidedly odd. But still more odd was his sudden -departure this evening on what looked like a mere pretext. That -departure coincided in time with the sick man's recovery of the power of -speech. Could it be that Mr. Weiss was afraid that the half-conscious -man might say something compromising to him in my presence? It looked -rather like it. And yet he had gone away and left me with the patient -and the housekeeper. - -But when I came to think about it I remembered that Mrs. Schallibaum had -shown some anxiety to prevent the patient from talking. She had -interrupted him more than once, and had on two occasions broken in when -he seemed to be about to ask me some question. I was "mistaken" about -something. What was that something that he wanted to tell me? - -It had struck me as singular that there should be no coffee in the -house, but a sufficiency of tea. Germans are not usually tea-drinkers -and they do take coffee. But perhaps there was nothing in this. Rather -more remarkable was the invisibility of the coachman. Why could he not -be sent to fetch the coffee, and why did not he, rather than the -housekeeper, come to take the place of Mr. Weiss when the latter had to -go away. - -There were other points, too. I recalled the word that sounded like -"Pol'n," which Mr. Graves had used in speaking to the housekeeper. -Apparently it was a Christian name of some kind; but why did Mr. Graves -call the woman by her Christian name when Mr. Weiss addressed her -formally as Mrs. Schallibaum? And, as to the woman herself: what was the -meaning of that curious disappearing squint? Physically it presented no -mystery. The woman had an ordinary divergent squint, and, like many -people, who suffer from this displacement, could, by a strong muscular -effort, bring the eyes temporarily into their normal parallel position. -I had detected the displacement when she had tried to maintain the -effort too long, and the muscular control had given way. But why had she -done it? Was it only feminine vanity--mere sensitiveness respecting a -slight personal disfigurement? It might be so; or there might be some -further motive. It was impossible to say. - -Turning this question over, I suddenly remembered the peculiarity of Mr. -Weiss's spectacles. And here I met with a real poser. I had certainly -seen through those spectacles as clearly as if they had been plain -window-glass; and they had certainly given an inverted reflection of the -candle-flame like that thrown from the surface of a concave lens. Now -they obviously could not be both flat and concave; but yet they had the -properties peculiar to both flatness and concavity. And there was a -further difficulty. If I could see objects unaltered through them, so -could Mr. Weiss. But the function of spectacles is to alter the -appearances of objects, by magnification, reduction or compensating -distortion. If they leave the appearances unchanged they are useless. I -could make nothing of it. After puzzling over it for quite a long time, -I had to give it up; which I did the less unwillingly inasmuch as the -construction of Mr. Weiss's spectacles had no apparent bearing on the -case. - -On arriving home, I looked anxiously at the message-book, and was -relieved to find that there were no further visits to be made. Having -made up a mixture for Mr. Graves and handed it to the coachman, I raked -the ashes of the surgery fire together and sat down to smoke a final -pipe while I reflected once more on the singular and suspicious case in -which I had become involved. But fatigue soon put an end to my -meditations; and having come to the conclusion that the circumstances -demanded a further consultation with Thorndyke, I turned down the gas to -a microscopic blue spark and betook myself to bed. - - - - -Chapter IV - -The Official View - - -I rose on the following morning still possessed by the determination to -make some oportunity during the day to call on Thorndyke and take his -advice on the now urgent question as to what I was to do. I use the word -"urgent" advisedly; for the incidents of the preceding evening had left -me with the firm conviction that poison was being administered for some -purpose to my mysterious patient, and that no time must be lost if his -life was to be saved. Last night he had escaped only by the narrowest -margin--assuming him to be still alive--and it was only my unexpectedly -firm attitude that had compelled Mr. Weiss to agree to restorative -measures. - -That I should be sent for again I had not the slightest expectation. If -what I so strongly suspected was true, Weiss would call in some other -doctor, in the hope of better luck, and it was imperative that he -should be stopped before it was too late. This was my view, but I meant -to have Thorndyke's opinion, and act under his direction, but - - - "The best laid plans of mice and men - Gang aft agley." - -When I came downstairs and took a preliminary glance at the rough -memorandum-book, kept by the bottle-boy, or, in his absence, by the -housemaid, I stood aghast. The morning's entries looked already like a -sample page of the Post Office directory. The new calls alone were more -than equal to an ordinary day's work, and the routine visits remained to -be added. Gloomily wondering whether the Black Death had made a sudden -reappearance in England, I hurried to the dining-room and made a hasty -breakfast, interrupted at intervals by the apparition of the bottle-boy -to announce new messages. - -The first two or three visits solved the mystery. An epidemic of -influenza had descended on the neighbourhood, and I was getting not only -our own normal work but a certain amount of overflow from other -practices. Further, it appeared that a strike in the building trade had -been followed immediately by a widespread failure of health among the -bricklayers who were members of a certain benefit club; which accounted -for the remarkable suddenness of the outbreak. - -Of course, my contemplated visit to Thorndyke was out of the question. I -should have to act on my own responsibility. But in the hurry and rush -and anxiety of the work--for some of the cases were severe and even -critical--I had no opportunity to consider any course of action, nor -time to carry it out. Even with the aid of a hansom which I chartered, -as Stillbury kept no carriage, I had not finished my last visit until -near on midnight, and was then so spent with fatigue that I fell asleep -over my postponed supper. - -As the next day opened with a further increase of work, I sent a -telegram to Dr. Stillbury at Hastings, whither he had gone, like a wise -man, to recruit after a slight illness. I asked for authority to engage -an assistant, but the reply informed me that Stillbury himself was on -his way to town; and to my relief, when I dropped in at the surgery for -a cup of tea, I found him rubbing his hands over the open day-book. - -"It's an ill wind that blows nobody good," he remarked cheerfully as we -shook hands. "This will pay the expenses of my holiday, including you. -By the way, you are not anxious to be off, I suppose?" - -As a matter of fact, I was; for I had decided to accept Thorndyke's -offer, and was now eager to take up my duties with him. But it would -have been shabby to leave Stillbury to battle alone with this rush of -work or to seek the services of a strange assistant. - -"I should like to get off as soon as you can spare me," I replied, "but -I'm not going to leave you in the lurch." - -"That's a good fellow," said Stillbury. "I knew you wouldn't. Let us -have some tea and divide up the work. Anything of interest going?" - -There were one or two unusual cases on the list, and, as we marked off -our respective patients, I gave him the histories in brief synopsis. And -then I opened the subject of my mysterious experiences at the house of -Mr. Weiss. - -"There's another affair that I want to tell you about; rather an -unpleasant business." - -"Oh, dear!" exclaimed Stillbury. He put down his cup and regarded me -with quite painful anxiety. - -"It looks to me like an undoubted case of criminal poisoning," I -continued. - -Stillbury's face cleared instantly. "Oh, I'm glad it's nothing more than -that," he said with an air of relief. "I was afraid, it was some -confounded woman. There's always that danger, you know, when a locum is -young and happens--if I may say so, Jervis--to be a good-looking fellow. -Let us hear about this case." - -I gave him a condensed narrative of my connection with the mysterious -patient, omitting any reference to Thorndyke, and passing lightly over -my efforts to fix the position of the house, and wound up with the -remark that the facts ought certainly to be communicated to the police. - -"Yes," he admitted reluctantly, "I suppose you're right. Deuced -unpleasant though. Police cases don't do a practice any good. They waste -a lot of time, too; keep you hanging about to give evidence. Still, you -are quite right. We can't stand by and see the poor devil poisoned -without making some effort. But I don't believe the police will do -anything in the matter." - -"Don't you really?" - -"No, I don't. They like to have things pretty well cut and dried before -they act. A prosecution is an expensive affair, so they don't care to -prosecute unless they are fairly sure of a conviction. If they fail they -get hauled over the coals." - -"But don't you think they would get a conviction in this case?" - -"Not on your evidence, Jervis. They might pick up something fresh, but, -if they didn't they would fail. You haven't got enough hard-baked facts -to upset a capable defence. Still, that isn't our affair. You want to -put the responsibility on the police and I entirely agree with you." - -"There ought not to be any delay," said I. - -"There needn't be. I shall look in on Mrs. Wackford and you have to see -the Rummel children; we shall pass the station on our way. Why shouldn't -we drop in and see the inspector or superintendent?" - -The suggestion met my views exactly. As soon as we had finished tea, we -set forth, and in about ten minutes found ourselves in the bare and -forbidding office attached to the station. - -The presiding officer descended from a high stool, and, carefully laying -down his pen, shook hands cordially. - -"And what can I do for you gentlemen?" he asked, with an affable smile. - -Stillbury proceeded to open our business. - -"My friend here, Dr. Jervis, who has very kindly been looking after my -work for a week or two, has had a most remarkable experience, and he -wants to tell you about it." - -"Something in my line of business?" the officer inquired. - -"That," said I, "is for you to judge. I think it is, but you may think -otherwise"; and hereupon, without further preamble, I plunged into the -history of the case, giving him a condensed statement similar to that -which I had already made to Stillbury. - -He listened with close attention, jotting down from time to time a brief -note on a sheet of paper; and, when I had finished, he wrote out in a -black-covered notebook a short précis of my statement. - -"I have written down here," he said, "the substance of what you have -told me. I will read the deposition over to you, and, if it is correct, -I will ask you to sign it." - -He did so, and, when I had signed the document, I asked him what was -likely to be done in the matter. - -"I am afraid," he replied, "that we can't take any active measures. You -have put us on our guard and we shall keep our eyes open. But I think -that is all we can do, unless we hear something further." - -"But," I exclaimed, "don't you think that it is a very suspicious -affair?" - -"I do," he replied. "A very fishy business indeed, and you were quite -right to come and tell us about it." - -"It seems a pity not to take some measures," I said. "While you are -waiting to hear something further, they may give the poor wretch a fresh -dose and kill him." - -"In which case we should hear something further, unless some fool of a -doctor were to give a death certificate." - -"But that is very unsatisfactory. The man ought not to be allowed to -die." - -"I quite agree with you, sir. But we've no evidence that he is going to -die. His friends sent for you, and you treated him skilfully and left -him in a fair way to recovery. That's all that we really know about it. -Yes, I know," the officer continued as I made signs of disagreement, -"you think that a crime is possibly going to be committed and that we -ought to prevent it. But you overrate our powers. We can only act on -evidence that a crime has actually been committed or is actually being -attempted. Now we have no such evidence. Look at your statement, and -tell me what you can swear to." - -"I think I could swear that Mr. Graves had taken a poisonous dose of -morphine." - -"And who gave him that poisonous dose?" - -"I very strongly suspect--" - -"That's no good, sir," interrupted the officer. "Suspicion isn't -evidence. We should want you to swear an information and give us enough -facts to make out a <i>primâ facie</i> case against some definite person. And -you couldn't do it. Your information amounts to this: that a certain -person has taken a poisonous dose of morphine and apparently recovered. -That's all. You can't swear that the names given to you are real names, -and you can't give us any address or even any locality." - -"I took some compass bearings in the carriage," I said. "You could -locate the house, I think, without much difficulty." - -The officer smiled faintly and fixed an abstracted gaze on the clock. - -"<i>You</i> could, sir," he replied. "I have no doubt whatever that <i>you</i> -could. <i>I</i> couldn't. But, in any case, we haven't enough to go upon. If -you learn anything fresh, I hope you will let me know; and I am very -much obliged to you for taking so much trouble in the matter. Good -evening sir. Good evening, Dr. Stillbury." - -He shook hands with us both genially, and, accepting perforce this very -polite but unmistakable dismissal, we took our departure. - -Outside the station, Stillbury heaved a comfortable sigh. He was -evidently relieved to find that no upheavals were to take place in his -domain. - -"I thought that would be their attitude," he said, "and they are quite -right, you know. The function of law is to prevent crime, it is true; -but prophylaxis in the sense in which we understand it is not possible -in legal practice." - -I assented without enthusiasm. It was disappointing to find that no -precautionary measures were to be taken. However, I had done all that I -could in the matter. No further responsibility lay upon me, and, as it -was practically certain that I had seen and heard the last of Mr. Graves -and his mysterious household, I dismissed the case from my mind. At the -next corner Stillbury and I parted to go our respective ways; and my -attention was soon transferred from the romance of crime to the -realities of epidemic influenza. - -The plethora of work in Dr. Stillbury's practice continued longer than I -had bargained for. Day after day went by and still found me tramping the -dingy streets of Kennington or scrambling up and down narrow stairways; -turning in at night dead tired, or turning out half awake to the hideous -jangle of the night bell. - -It was very provoking. For months I had resisted Thorndyke's persuasion -to give up general practice and join him. Not from lack of inclination, -but from a deep suspicion that he was thinking of my wants rather than -his own; that his was a charitable rather than a business proposal. Now -that I knew this not to be the case, I was impatient to join him; and, -as I trudged through the dreary thoroughfares of this superannuated -suburb, with its once rustic villas and its faded gardens, my thoughts -would turn enviously to the quiet dignity of the Temple and my friend's -chambers in King's Bench Walk. - -The closed carriage appeared no more; nor did any whisper either of good -or evil reach me in connection with the mysterious house from which it -had come. Mr. Graves had apparently gone out of my life for ever. - -But if he had gone out of my life, he had not gone out of my memory. -Often, as I walked my rounds, would the picture of that dimly-lit room -rise unbidden. Often would I find myself looking once more into that -ghastly face, so worn, so wasted and haggard, and yet so far from -repellent. All the incidents of that last night would reconstitute -themselves with a vividness that showed the intensity of the impression -that they had made at the time. I would have gladly forgotten the whole -affair, for every incident of it was fraught with discomfort. But it -clung to my memory; it haunted me; and ever as it returned it bore with -it the disquieting questions: Was Mr. Graves still alive? And, if he was -not, was there really nothing which could have been done to save him? - -Nearly a month passed before the practice began to show signs of -returning to its normal condition. Then the daily lists became more and -more contracted and the day's work proportionately shorter. And thus the -term of my servitude came to an end. One evening, as we were writing up -the day-book, Stillbury remarked: - -"I almost think, Jervis, I could manage by myself now. I know you are -only staying on for my sake." - -"I am staying on to finish my engagement, but I shan't be sorry to clear -out if you can do without me." - -"I think I can. When would you like to be off?" - -"As soon as possible. Say to-morrow morning, after I have made a few -visits and transferred the patients to you." - -"Very well," said Stillbury. "Then I will give you your cheque and -settle up everything to-night, so that you shall be free to go off when -you like to-morrow morning." - -Thus ended my connection with Kennington Lane. On the following day at -about noon, I found myself strolling across Waterloo Bridge with the -sensations of a newly liberated convict and a cheque for twenty-five -guineas in my pocket. My luggage was to follow when I sent for it. Now, -unhampered even by a hand-bag, I joyfully descended the steps at the -north end of the bridge and headed for King's Bench Walk by way of the -Embankment and Middle Temple Lane. - - - - -Chapter V - -Jeffrey Blackmore's Will - - -My arrival at Thorndyke's chambers was not unexpected, having been -heralded by a premonitory post-card. The "oak" was open and an -application of the little brass knocker of the inner door immediately -produced my colleague himself and a very hearty welcome. - -"At last," said Thorndyke, "you have come forth from the house of -bondage. I began to think that you had taken up your abode in Kennington -for good." - -"I was beginning, myself, to wonder when I should escape. But here I am; -and I may say at once that I am ready to shake the dust of general -practice off my feet for ever--that is, if you are still willing to have -me as your assistant." - -"Willing!" exclaimed Thorndyke, "Barkis himself was not more willing -than I. You will be invaluable to me. Let us settle the terms of our -comradeship forthwith, and to-morrow we will take measures to enter you -as a student of the Inner Temple. Shall we have our talk in the open air -and the spring sunshine?" - -I agreed readily to this proposal, for it was a bright, sunny day and -warm for the time of year--the beginning of April. We descended to the -Walk and thence slowly made our way to the quiet court behind the -church, where poor old Oliver Goldsmith lies, as he would surely have -wished to lie, in the midst of all that had been dear to him in his -chequered life. I need not record the matter of our conversation. To -Thorndyke's proposals I had no objections to offer but my own -unworthiness and his excessive liberality. A few minutes saw our -covenants fully agreed upon, and when Thorndyke had noted the points on -a slip of paper, signed and dated it and handed it to me, the business -was at an end. - -"There," my colleague said with a smile as he put away his pocket-book, -"if people would only settle their affairs in that way, a good part of -the occupation of lawyers would be gone. Brevity is the soul of wit; and -the fear of simplicity is the beginning of litigation." - -"And now," I said, "I propose that we go and feed. I will invite you to -lunch to celebrate our contract." - -"My learned junior is premature," he replied. "I had already arranged a -little festivity--or rather had modified one that was already arranged. -You remember Mr. Marchmont, the solicitor?" - -"Yes." - -"He called this morning to ask me to lunch with him and a new client at -the 'Cheshire Cheese.' I accepted and notified him that I should bring -you." - -"Why the 'Cheshire Cheese'?" I asked. - -"Why not? Marchmont's reasons for the selection were, first, that his -client has never seen an old-fashioned London tavern, and second, that -this is Wednesday and he, Marchmont, has a gluttonous affection for a -really fine beef-steak pudding. You don't object, I hope?" - -"Oh, not at all. In fact, now that you mention it, my own sensations -incline me to sympathize with Marchmont. I breakfasted rather early." - -"Then come," said Thorndyke. "The assignation is for one o'clock, and, -if we walk slowly, we shall just hit it off." - -We sauntered up Inner Temple Lane, and, crossing Fleet Street, headed -sedately for the tavern. As we entered the quaint old-world dining-room, -Thorndyke looked round and a gentleman, who was seated with a companion -at a table in one of the little boxes or compartments, rose and saluted -us. - -"Let me introduce you to my friend Mr. Stephen Blackmore," he said as we -approached. Then, turning to his companion, he introduced us by our -respective names. - -"I engaged this box," he continued, "so that we might be private if we -wished to have a little preliminary chat; not that beef-steak pudding is -a great help to conversation. But when people have a certain business -in view, their talk is sure to drift towards it, sooner or later." - -Thorndyke and I sat down opposite the lawyer and his client, and we -mutually inspected one another. Marchmont I already knew; an elderly, -professional-looking man, a typical solicitor of the old school; -fresh-faced, precise, rather irascible, and conveying a not unpleasant -impression of taking a reasonable interest in his diet. The other man -was quite young, not more than five-and-twenty, and was a fine -athletic-looking fellow with a healthy, out-of-door complexion and an -intelligent and highly prepossessing face. I took a liking to him at the -first glance, and so, I saw, did Thorndyke. - -"You two gentlemen," said Blackmore, addressing us, "seem to be quite -old acquaintances. I have heard so much about you from my friend, Reuben -Hornby." - -"Ah!" exclaimed Marchmont, "that was a queer case--'The Case of the Red -Thumb Mark,' as the papers called it. It was an eye-opener to -old-fashioned lawyers like myself. We've had scientific witnesses -before--and bullied 'em properly, by Jove! when they wouldn't give the -evidence that we wanted. But the scientific lawyer is something new. His -appearance in court made us all sit up, I can assure you." - -"I hope we shall make you sit up again," said Thorndyke. - -"You won't this time," said Marchmont. "The issues in this case of my -friend Blackmore's are purely legal; or rather, there are no issues at -all. There is nothing in dispute. I tried to prevent Blackmore from -consulting you, but he wouldn't listen to reason. Here! Waiter! How much -longer are we to be waiters? We shall die of old age before we get our -victuals!" - -The waiter smiled apologetically. "Yessir!" said he. "Coming now, sir." -And at this very moment there was borne into the room a Gargantuan -pudding in a great bucket of a basin, which being placed on a -three-legged stool was forthwith attacked ferociously by the -white-clothed, white-capped carver. We watched the process--as did every -one present--with an interest not entirely gluttonous, for it added a -pleasant touch to the picturesque old room, with its sanded floor, its -homely, pew-like boxes, its high-backed settles and the friendly -portrait of the "great lexicographer" that beamed down on us from the -wall. - -"This is a very different affair from your great, glittering modern -restaurant," Mr. Marchmont remarked. - -"It is indeed," said Blackmore, "and if this is the way in which our -ancestors lived, it would seem that they had a better idea of comfort -than we have." - -There was a short pause, during which Mr. Marchmont glared hungrily at -the pudding; then Thorndyke said: - -"So you refused to listen to reason, Mr. Blackmore?" - -"Yes. You see, Mr. Marchmont and his partner had gone into the matter -and decided that there was nothing to be done. Then I happened to -mention the affair to Reuben Hornby, and he urged me to ask your advice -on the case." - -"Like his impudence," growled Marchmont, "to meddle with my client." - -"On which," continued Blackmore, "I spoke to Mr. Marchmont and he agreed -that it was worth while to take your opinion on the case, though he -warned me to cherish no hopes, as the affair was not really within your -specialty." - -"So you understand," said Marchmont, "that we expect nothing. This is -quite a forlorn hope. We are taking your opinion as a mere formality, to -be able to say that we have left nothing untried." - -"That is an encouraging start," Thorndyke remarked. "It leaves me -unembarrassed by the possibility of failure. But meanwhile you are -arousing in me a devouring curiosity as to the nature of the case. Is it -highly confidential? Because if not, I would mention that Jervis has now -joined me as my permanent colleague." - -"It isn't confidential at all," said Marchmont. "The public are in full -possession of the facts, and we should be only too happy to put them in -still fuller possession, through the medium of the Probate Court, if we -could find a reasonable pretext. But we can't." - -Here the waiter charged our table with the fussy rapidity of the -overdue. - -"Sorry to keep you waiting, sir. Rather early, sir. Wouldn't like it -underdone, sir." - -Marchmont inspected his plate critically and remarked: - -"I sometimes suspect these oysters of being mussels; and I'll swear the -larks are sparrows." - -"Let us hope so," said Thorndyke. "The lark is better employed 'at -Heaven's gate singing' than garnishing a beef-steak pudding. But you -were telling us about your case." - -"So I was. Well it's just a matter of--ale or claret? Oh, claret, I -know. You despise the good old British John Barleycorn." - -"He that drinks beer thinks beer," retorted Thorndyke. "But you were -saying that it is just a matter of--?" - -"A matter of a perverse testator and an ill-drawn will. A peculiarly -irritating case, too, because the defective will replaces a perfectly -sound one, and the intentions of the testator were--er--were--excellent -ale, this. A little heady, perhaps, but sound. Better than your sour -French wine, Thorndyke--were--er--were quite obvious. What he evidently -desired was--mustard? Better have some mustard. No? Well, well! Even a -Frenchman would take mustard. You can have no appreciation of flavour, -Thorndyke, if you take your victuals in that crude, unseasoned state. -And, talking of flavour, do you suppose that there is really any -difference between that of a lark and that of a sparrow?" - -Thorndyke smiled grimly. "I should suppose," said he, "that they were -indistinguishable; but the question could easily be put to the test of -experiment." - -"That is true," agreed Marchmont, "and it would really be worth trying, -for, as you say, sparrows are more easily obtainable than larks. But, -about this will. I was saying--er--now, what was I saying?" - -"I understood you to say," replied Thorndyke, "that the intentions of -the testator were in some way connected with mustard. Isn't that so, -Jervis?" - -"That was what I gathered," said I. - -Marchmont gazed at us for a moment with a surprised expression and then, -laughing good-humouredly, fortified himself with a draught of ale. - -"The moral of which is," Thorndyke added, "that testamentary -dispositions should not be mixed up with beef-steak pudding." - -"I believe you're right, Thorndyke," said the unabashed solicitor. -"Business is business and eating is eating. We had better talk over our -case in my office or your chambers after lunch." - -"Yes," said Thorndyke, "come over to the Temple with me and I will give -you a cup of coffee to clear your brain. Are there any documents?" - -"I have all the papers here in my bag," replied Marchmont; and the -conversation--such conversation as is possible "when beards wag all" -over the festive board--drifted into other channels. - -As soon as the meal was finished and the reckoning paid, we trooped out -of Wine Office Court, and, insinuating ourselves through the line of -empty hansoms that, in those days, crawled in a continuous procession -on either side of Fleet Street, betook ourselves by way of Mitre Court -to King's Bench Walk. There, when the coffee had been requisitioned and -our chairs drawn up around the fire, Mr. Marchmont unloaded from his bag -a portentous bundle of papers, and we addressed ourselves to the -business in hand. - -"Now," said Marchmont, "let me repeat what I said before. Legally -speaking, we have no case--not the ghost of one. But my client wished to -take your opinion, and I agreed on the bare chance that you might detect -some point that we had overlooked. I don't think you will, for we have -gone into the case very thoroughly, but still, there is the -infinitesimal chance and we may as well take it. Would you like to read -the two wills, or shall I first explain the circumstances?" - -"I think," replied Thorndyke, "a narrative of the events in the order of -their occurrence would be most helpful. I should like to know as much as -possible about the testator before I examine the documents." - -"Very well," said Marchmont. "Then I will begin with a recital of the -circumstances, which, briefly stated, are these: My client, Stephen -Blackmore, is the son of Mr. Edward Blackmore, deceased. Edward -Blackmore had two brothers who survived him, John, the elder, and -Jeffrey, the younger. Jeffrey is the testator in this case. - -"Some two years ago, Jeffrey Blackmore executed a will by which he made -his nephew Stephen his executor and sole legatee; and a few months later -he added a codicil giving two hundred and fifty pounds to his brother -John." - -"What was the value of the estate?" Thorndyke asked. - -"About three thousand five hundred pounds, all invested in Consols. The -testator had a pension from the Foreign Office, on which he lived, -leaving his capital untouched. Soon after having made his will, he left -the rooms in Jermyn Street, where he had lived for some years, stored -his furniture and went to Florence. From thence he moved on to Rome and -then to Venice and other places in Italy, and so continued to travel -about until the end of last September, when it appears that he returned -to England, for at the beginning of October he took a set of chambers in -New Inn, which he furnished with some of the things from his old rooms. -As far as we can make out, he never communicated with any of his -friends, excepting his brother, and the fact of his being in residence -at New Inn or of his being in England at all became known to them only -when he died." - -"Was this quite in accordance with his ordinary habits?" Thorndyke -asked. - -"I should say not quite," Blackmore answered. "My uncle was a studious, -solitary man, but he was not formerly a recluse. He was not much of a -correspondent but he kept up some sort of communication with his -friends. He used, for instance, to write to me sometimes, and, when I -came down from Cambridge for the vacations, he had me to stay with him -at his rooms." - -"Is there anything known that accounts for the change in his habits?" - -"Yes, there is," replied Marchmont. "We shall come to that presently. To -proceed with the narrative: On the fifteenth of last March he was found -dead in his chambers, and a more recent will was then discovered, dated -the twelfth of November of last year. Now no change had taken place in -the circumstances of the testator to account for the new will, nor was -there any appreciable alteration in the disposition of the property. As -far as we can make out, the new will was drawn with the idea of stating -the intentions of the testator with greater exactness and for the sake -of doing away with the codicil. The entire property, with the exception -of two hundred and fifty pounds, was, as before, bequeathed to Stephen, -but the separate items were specified, and the testator's brother, John -Blackmore, was named as the executor and residuary legatee." - -"I see," said Thorndyke. "So that your client's interest in the will -would appear to be practically unaffected by the change." - -"Yes. There it is," exclaimed the lawyer, slapping the table to add -emphasis to his words. "That is the pity of it! If people who have no -knowledge of law would only refrain from tinkering at their wills, what -a world of trouble would be saved!" - -"Oh, come!" said Thorndyke. "It is not for a lawyer to say that." - -"No, I suppose not," Marchmont agreed. "Only, you see, we like the -muddle to be made by the other side. But, in this case, the muddle is on -our side. The change, as you say, seems to leave our friend Stephen's -interests unaffected. That is, of course, what poor Jeffrey Blackmore -thought. But he was mistaken. The effect of the change is absolutely -disastrous." - -"Indeed!" - -"Yes. As I have said, no alteration in the testator's circumstances had -taken place at the time the new will was executed. <i>But</i> only two days -before his death, his sister, Mrs. Edmund Wilson, died; and on her will -being proved it appeared that she had bequeathed to him her entire -personalty, estimated at about thirty thousand pounds." - -"Heigho!" exclaimed Thorndyke. "What an unfortunate affair!" - -"You are right," said Mr. Marchmont; "it was a disaster. By the original -will this great sum would have accrued to our friend Mr. Stephen, -whereas now, of course, it goes to the residuary legatee, Mr. John -Blackmore. And what makes it even more exasperating is the fact that -this is obviously not in accordance with the wishes and intentions of -Mr. Jeffrey, who clearly desired his nephew to inherit his property." - -"Yes," said Thorndyke; "I think you are justified in assuming that. But -do you know whether Mr. Jeffrey was aware of his sister's intentions?" - -"We think not. Her will was executed as recently as the third of -September last, and it seems that there had been no communication -between her and Mr. Jeffrey since that date. Besides, if you consider -Mr. Jeffrey's actions, you will see that they suggest no knowledge or -expectation of this very important bequest. A man does not make -elaborate dispositions in regard to three thousand pounds and then leave -a sum of thirty thousand to be disposed of casually as the residue of -the estate." - -"No," Thorndyke agreed. "And, as you have said, the manifest intention -of the testator was to leave the bulk of his property to Mr. Stephen. So -we may take it as virtually certain that Mr. Jeffrey had no knowledge of -the fact that he was a beneficiary under his sister's will." - -"Yes," said Mr. Marchmont, "I think we may take that as nearly certain." - -"With reference to the second will," said Thorndyke, "I suppose there is -no need to ask whether the document itself has been examined; I mean as -to its being a genuine document and perfectly regular?" - -Mr. Marchmont shook his head sadly. - -"No," he said, "I am sorry to say that there can be no possible doubt as -to the authenticity and regularity of the document. The circumstances -under which it was executed establish its genuineness beyond any -question." - -"What were those circumstances?" Thorndyke asked. - -"They were these: On the morning of the twelfth of November last, Mr. -Jeffrey came to the porter's lodge with a document in his hand. 'This,' -he said, 'is my will. I want you to witness my signature. Would you mind -doing so, and can you find another respectable person to act as the -second witness?' Now it happened that a nephew of the porter's, a -painter by trade, was at work in the Inn. The porter went out and -fetched him into the lodge and the two men agreed to witness the -signature. 'You had better read the will,' said Mr. Jeffrey. 'It is not -actually necessary, but it is an additional safeguard and there is -nothing of a private nature in the document.' The two men accordingly -read the document, and, when Mr. Jeffrey had signed it in their -presence, they affixed their signatures; and I may add that the painter -left the recognizable impressions of three greasy fingers." - -"And these witnesses have been examined?" - -"Yes. They have both sworn to the document and to their own signatures, -and the painter recognized his finger-marks." - -"That," said Thorndyke, "seems to dispose pretty effectually of any -question as to the genuineness of the will; and if, as I gather, Mr. -Jeffrey came to the lodge alone, the question of undue influence is -disposed of too." - -"Yes," said Mr. Marchmont. "I think we must pass the will as absolutely -flawless." - -"It strikes me as rather odd," said Thorndyke, "that Jeffrey should have -known so little about his sister's intentions. Can you explain it, Mr. -Blackmore?" - -"I don't think that it is very remarkable," Stephen replied. "I knew -very little of my aunt's affairs and I don't think my uncle Jeffrey knew -much more, for he was under the impression that she had only a life -interest in her husband's property. And he may have been right. It is -not clear what money this was that she left to my uncle. She was a very -taciturn woman and made few confidences to anyone." - -"So that it is possible," said Thorndyke, "that she, herself, may have -acquired this money recently by some bequest?" - -"It is quite possible," Stephen answered. - -"She died, I understand," said Thorndyke, glancing at the notes that he -had jotted down, "two days before Mr. Jeffrey. What date would that be?" - -"Jeffrey died on the fourteenth of March," said Marchmont. - -"So that Mrs. Wilson died on the twelfth of March?" - -"That is so," Marchmont replied; and Thorndyke then asked: - -"Did she die suddenly?" - -"No," replied Stephen; "she died of cancer. I understand that it was -cancer of the stomach." - -"Do you happen to know," Thorndyke asked, "what sort of relations -existed between Jeffrey and his brother John?" - -"At one time," said Stephen, "I know they were not very cordial; but the -breach may have been made up later, though I don't know that it actually -was." - -"I ask the question," said Thorndyke, "because, as I dare say you have -noticed, there is, in the first will, some hint of improved relations. -As it was originally drawn that will makes Mr. Stephen the sole legatee. -Then, a little later, a codicil is added in favour of John, showing that -Jeffrey had felt the necessity of making some recognition of his -brother. This seems to point to some change in the relations, and the -question arises: if such a change did actually occur, was it the -beginning of a new and further improving state of feeling between the -two brothers? Have you any facts bearing on that question?" - -Marchmont pursed up his lips with the air of a man considering an -unwelcome suggestion, and, after a few moments of reflection, answered: - -"I think we must say 'yes' to that. There is the undeniable fact that, -of all Jeffrey's friends, John Blackmore was the only one who knew that -he was living in New Inn." - -"Oh, John knew that, did he?" - -"Yes, he certainly did; for it came out in the evidence that he had -called on Jeffrey at his chambers more than once. There is no denying -that. But, mark you!" Mr. Marchmont added emphatically, "that does not -cover the inconsistency of the will. There is nothing in the second will -to suggest that Jeffrey intended materially to increase the bequest to -his brother." - -"I quite agree with you, Marchmont. I think that is a perfectly sound -position. You have, I suppose, fully considered the question as to -whether it would be possible to set aside the second will on the ground -that it fails to carry out the evident wishes and intentions of the -testator?" - -"Yes. My partner, Winwood, and I went into that question very carefully, -and we also took counsel's opinion--Sir Horace Barnaby--and he was of -the same opinion as ourselves; that the court would certainly uphold the -will." - -"I think that would be my own view," said Thorndyke, "especially after -what you have told me. Do I understand that John Blackmore was the only -person who knew that Jeffrey was in residence at New Inn?" - -"The only one of his private friends. His bankers knew and so did the -officials from whom he drew his pension." - -"Of course he would have to notify his bankers of his change of -address." - -"Yes, of course. And à propos of the bank, I may mention that the -manager tells me that, of late, they had noticed a slight change in the -character of Jeffrey's signature--I think you will see the reason of the -change when you hear the rest of his story. It was very trifling; not -more than commonly occurs when a man begins to grow old, especially if -there is some failure of eyesight." - -"Was Mr. Jeffrey's eyesight failing?" asked Thorndyke. - -"Yes, it was, undoubtedly," said Stephen. "He was practically blind in -one eye and, in the very last letter that I ever had from him, he -mentioned that there were signs of commencing cataract in the other." - -"You spoke of his pension. He continued to draw that regularly?" - -"Yes; he drew his allowance every month, or rather, his bankers drew it -for him. They had been accustomed to do so when he was abroad, and the -authorities seem to have allowed the practice to continue." - -Thorndyke reflected a while, running his eye over the notes on the slips -of paper in his hand, and Marchmont surveyed him with a malicious smile. -Presently the latter remarked: - -"Methinks the learned counsel is floored." - -Thorndyke laughed. "It seems to me," he retorted, "that your proceedings -are rather like those of the amiable individual who offered the bear a -flint pebble, that he might crack it and extract the kernel. Your -confounded will seems to offer no soft spot on which one could commence -an attack. But we won't give up. We seem to have sucked the will dry. -Let us now have a few facts respecting the parties concerned in it; and, -as Jeffrey is the central figure, let us begin with him and the tragedy -at New Inn that formed the starting-point of all this trouble." - - - - -Chapter VI - -Jeffrey Blackmore, Deceased - - -Having made the above proposition, Thorndyke placed a fresh slip of -paper on the blotting pad on his knee and looked inquiringly at Mr. -Marchmont; who, in his turn, sighed and looked at the bundle of -documents on the table. - -"What do you want to know?" he asked a little wearily. - -"Everything," replied Thorndyke. "You have hinted at circumstances that -would account for a change in Jeffrey's habits and that would explain an -alteration in the character of his signature. Let us have those -circumstances. And, if I might venture on a suggestion, it would be that -we take the events in the order in which they occurred or in which they -became known." - -"That's the worst of you, Thorndyke," Marchmont grumbled. "When a case -has been squeezed out to the last drop, in a legal sense, you want to -begin all over again with the family history of every one concerned and -a list of his effects and household furniture. But I suppose you will -have to be humoured; and I imagine that the best way in which to give -you the information you want will be to recite the circumstances -surrounding the death of Jeffrey Blackmore. Will that suit you?" - -"Perfectly," replied Thorndyke; and thereupon Marchmont began: - -"The death of Jeffrey Blackmore was discovered at about eleven o'clock -in the morning of the fifteenth of March. It seems that a builder's man -was ascending a ladder to examine a gutter on number 31, New Inn, when, -on passing a second-floor window that was open at the top, he looked in -and perceived a gentleman lying on a bed. The gentleman was fully -clothed and had apparently lain down on the bed to rest; at least so the -builder thought at the time, for he was merely passing the window on -his way up, and, very properly, did not make a minute examination. But -when, some ten minutes later, he came down and saw that the gentleman -was still in the same position, he looked at him more attentively; and -this is what he noticed--but perhaps we had better have it in his own -words as he told the story at the inquest. - -"'When I came to look at the gentleman a bit more closely, it struck me -that he looked rather queer. His face looked very white, or rather pale -yellow, like parchment, and his mouth was open. He did not seem to be -breathing. On the bed by his side was a brass object of some kind--I -could not make out what it was--and he seemed to be holding some small -metal object in his hand. I thought it rather a queer affair, so, when I -came down I went across to the lodge and told the porter about it. The -porter came out across the square with me and I showed him the window. -Then he told me to go up the stairs to Mr. Blackmore's chambers on the -second pair and knock and keep on knocking until I got an answer. I went -up and knocked and kept on knocking as loud as I could, but, though I -fetched everybody out of all the other chambers in the house, I couldn't -get any answer from Mr. Blackmore. So I went downstairs again and then -Mr. Walker, the porter, sent me for a policeman. - -"'I went out and met a policeman just by Dane's Inn and told him about -the affair, and he came back with me. He and the porter consulted -together, and then they told me to go up the ladder and get in at the -window and open the door of the chambers from the inside. So I went up; -and as soon as I got in at the window I saw that the gentleman was dead. -I went through the other room and opened the outer door and let in the -porter and the policeman.' - -"That," said Mr. Marchmont, laying down the paper containing the -depositions, "is the way in which poor Jeffrey Blackmore's death came to -be discovered. - -"The constable reported to his inspector and the inspector sent for the -divisional surgeon, whom he accompanied to New Inn. I need not go into -the evidence given by the police officers, as the surgeon saw all that -they saw and his statement covers everything that is known about -Jeffrey's death. This is what he says, after describing how he was sent -for and arrived at the Inn: - -"'In the bedroom I found the body of a man between fifty and sixty years -of age, which has since been identified in my presence as that of Mr. -Jeffrey Blackmore. It was fully dressed and wore boots on which was a -moderate amount of dry mud. It was lying on its back on the bed, which -did not appear to have been slept in, and showed no sign of any struggle -or disturbance. The right hand loosely grasped a hypodermic syringe -containing a few drops of clear liquid which I have since analysed and -found to be a concentrated solution of strophanthin. - -"'On the bed, close to the left side of the body, was a brass opium-pipe -of a pattern which I believe is made in China. The bowl of the pipe -contained a small quantity of charcoal, and a fragment of opium -together with some ash, and there was on the bed a little ash which -appeared to have dropped from the bowl when the pipe fell or was laid -down. On the mantelshelf in the bedroom I found a small glass-stoppered -jar containing about an ounce of solid opium, and another, larger jar -containing wood charcoal broken up into small fragments. Also a bowl -containing a quantity of ash with fragments of half-burned charcoal and -a few minute particles of charred opium. By the side of the bowl were a -knife, a kind of awl or pricker and a very small pair of tongs, which I -believe to have been used for carrying a piece of lighted charcoal to -the pipe. - -"'On the dressing-table were two glass tubes labelled "Hypodermic -Tabloids: Strophanthin 1/500 grain," and a minute glass mortar and -pestle, of which the former contained a few crystals which have since -been analysed by me and found to be strophanthin. - -"'On examining the body, I found that it had been dead about twelve -hours. There were no marks of violence or any abnormal condition -excepting a single puncture in the right thigh, apparently made by the -needle of the hypodermic syringe. The puncture was deep and vertical in -direction as if the needle had been driven in through the clothing. - -"'I made a post-mortem examination of the body and found that death was -due to poisoning by strophanthin, which appeared to have been injected -into the thigh. The two tubes which I found on the dressing-table would -each have contained, if full, twenty tabloids, each tabloid -representing one five-hundredth of a grain of strophanthin. Assuming -that the whole of this quantity was injected the amount taken would be -forty five-hundredths, or about one twelfth of a grain. The ordinary -medicinal dose of strophanthin is one five-hundredth of a grain. - -"'I also found in the body appreciable traces of morphine--the principal -alkaloid of opium--from which I infer that the deceased was a confirmed -opium-smoker. This inference was supported by the general condition of -the body, which was ill-nourished and emaciated and presented all the -appearances usually met with in the bodies of persons addicted to the -habitual use of opium.' - -"That is the evidence of the surgeon. He was recalled later, as we shall -see, but, meanwhile, I think you will agree with me that the facts -testified to by him fully account, not only for the change in Jeffrey's -habits--his solitary and secretive mode of life--but also for the -alteration in his handwriting." - -"Yes," agreed Thorndyke, "that seems to be so. By the way, what did the -change in the handwriting amount to?" - -"Very little," replied Marchmont. "It was hardly perceptible. Just a -slight loss of firmness and distinctness; such a trifling change as you -would expect to find in the handwriting of a man who had taken to drink -or drugs, or anything that might impair the steadiness of his hand. I -should not have noticed it, myself, but, of course, the people at the -bank are experts, constantly scrutinizing signatures and scrutinizing -them with a very critical eye." - -"Is there any other evidence that bears on the case?" Thorndyke asked. - -Marchmont turned over the bundle of papers and smiled grimly. - -"My dear Thorndyke," he said, "none of this evidence has the slightest -bearing on the case. It is all perfectly irrelevant as far as the will -is concerned. But I know your little peculiarities and I am indulging -you, as you see, to the top of your bent. The next evidence is that of -the chief porter, a very worthy and intelligent man named Walker. This -is what he says, after the usual preliminaries. - -"'I have viewed the body which forms the subject of this inquiry. It is -that of Mr. Jeffrey Blackmore, the tenant of a set of chambers on the -second floor of number thirty-one, New Inn. I have known the deceased -nearly six months, and during that time have seen and conversed with him -frequently. He took the chambers on the second of last October and came -into residence at once. Tenants at New Inn have to furnish two -references. The references that the deceased gave were his bankers and -his brother, Mr. John Blackmore. I may say that the deceased was very -well known to me. He was a quiet, pleasant-mannered gentleman, and it -was his habit to drop in occasionally at the lodge and have a chat with -me. I went into his chambers with him once or twice on some small -matters of business and I noticed that there were always a number of -books and papers on the table. I understood from him that he spent most -of his time indoors engaged in study and writing. I know very little -about his way of living. He had no laundress to look after his rooms, so -I suppose he did his own house-work and cooking; but he told me that he -took most of his meals outside, at restaurants or his club. - -"'Deceased impressed me as a rather melancholy, low-spirited gentleman. -He was very much troubled about his eyesight and mentioned the matter to -me on several occasions. He told me that he was practically blind in one -eye and that the sight of the other was failing rapidly. He said that -this afflicted him greatly, because his only pleasure in life was in the -reading of books, and that if he could not read he should not wish to -live. On another occasion he said that "to a blind man life was not -worth living." - -"'On the twelfth of last November he came to the lodge with a paper in -his hand which he said was his will'--But I needn't read that," said -Marchmont, turning over the leaf, "I've told you how the will was signed -and witnessed. We will pass on to the day of poor Jeffrey's death. - -"'On the fourteenth of March,' the porter says, 'at about half-past six -in the evening, the deceased came to the Inn in a four-wheeled cab. That -was the day of the great fog. I do not know if there was anyone in the -cab with the deceased, but I think not, because he came to the lodge -just before eight o'clock and had a little talk with me. He said that -he had been overtaken by the fog and could not see at all. He was quite -blind and had been obliged to ask a stranger to call a cab for him as he -could not find his way through the streets. He then gave me a cheque for -the rent. I reminded him that the rent was not due until the -twenty-fifth, but he said he wished to pay it now. He also gave me some -money to pay one or two small bills that were owing to some of the -tradespeople--a milk-man, a baker and a stationer. - -"'This struck me as very strange, because he had always managed his -business and paid the tradespeople himself. He told me that the fog had -irritated his eye so that he could hardly read, and he was afraid he -should soon be quite blind. He was very depressed; so much so that I -felt quite uneasy about him. When he left the lodge, he went back across -the square as if returning to his chambers. There was then no gate open -excepting the main gate where the lodge is situated. That was the last -time that I saw the deceased alive.'" - -Mr. Marchmont laid the paper on the table. "That is the porter's -evidence. The remaining depositions are those of Noble, the night -porter, John Blackmore and our friend here, Mr. Stephen. The night -porter had not much to tell. This is the substance of his evidence: - -"'I have viewed the body of the deceased and identify it as that of Mr. -Jeffrey Blackmore. I knew the deceased well by sight and occasionally -had a few words with him. I know nothing of his habits excepting that he -used to sit up rather late. It is one of my duties to go round the Inn -at night and call out the hours until one o'clock in the morning. When -calling out "one o'clock" I often saw a light in the sitting-room of the -deceased's chambers. On the night of the fourteenth instant, the light -was burning until past one o'clock, but it was in the bedroom. The light -in the sitting-room was out by ten o'clock.' - -"We now come to John Blackmore's evidence. He says: - -"'I have viewed the body of the deceased and recognize it as that of my -brother Jeffrey. I last saw him alive on the twenty-third of February, -when I called at his chambers. He then seemed in a very despondent state -of mind and told me that his eyesight was fast failing. I was aware that -he occasionally smoked opium, but I did not know that it was a confirmed -habit. I urged him, on several occasions, to abandon the practice. I -have no reason to believe that his affairs were in any way embarrassed -or that he had any reason for making away with himself other than his -failing eyesight; but, having regard to his state of mind when I last -saw him, I am not surprised at what has happened.' - -"That is the substance of John Blackmore's evidence, and, as to Mr. -Stephen, his statement merely sets forth the fact that he had identified -the body as that of his uncle Jeffrey. And now I think you have all the -facts. Is there anything more that you want to ask me before I go, for I -must really run away now?" - -"I should like," said Thorndyke, "to know a little more about the -parties concerned in this affair. But perhaps Mr. Stephen can give me -the information." - -"I expect he can," said Marchmont; "at any rate, he knows more about -them than I do; so I will be off. If you should happen to think of any -way," he continued, with a sly smile, "of upsetting that will, just let -me know, and I will lose no time in entering a caveat. Good-bye! Don't -trouble to let me out." - -As soon as he was gone, Thorndyke turned to Stephen Blackmore. - -"I am going," he said, "to ask you a few questions which may appear -rather trifling, but you must remember that my methods of inquiry -concern themselves with persons and things rather than with documents. -For instance, I have not gathered very completely what sort of person -your uncle Jeffrey was. Could you tell me a little more about him?" - -"What shall I tell you?" Stephen asked with a slightly embarrassed air. - -"Well, begin with his personal appearance." - -"That is rather difficult to describe," said Stephen. "He was a -medium-sized man and about five feet seven--fair, slightly grey, -clean-shaved, rather spare and slight, had grey eyes, wore spectacles -and stooped a little as he walked. He was quiet and gentle in manner, -rather yielding and irresolute in character, and his health was not at -all robust though he had no infirmity or disease excepting his bad -eyesight. His age was about fifty-five." - -"How came he to be a civil-service pensioner at fifty-five?" asked -Thorndyke. - -"Oh, that was through an accident. He had a nasty fall from a horse, -and, being a rather nervous man, the shock was very severe. For some -time after he was a complete wreck. But the failure of his eyesight was -the actual cause of his retirement. It seems that the fall damaged his -eyes in some way; in fact he practically lost the sight of one--the -right--from that moment; and, as that had been his good eye, the -accident left his vision very much impaired. So that he was at first -given sick leave and then allowed to retire on a pension." - -Thorndyke noted these particulars and then said: - -"Your uncle has been more than once referred to as a man of studious -habits. Does that mean that he pursued any particular branch of -learning?" - -"Yes. He was an enthusiastic Oriental scholar. His official duties had -taken him at one time to Yokohama and Tokio and at another to Bagdad, -and while at those places he gave a good deal of attention to the -languages, literature and arts of the countries. He was also greatly -interested in Babylonian and Assyrian archaeology, and I believe he -assisted for some time in the excavations at Birs Nimroud." - -"Indeed!" said Thorndyke. "This is very interesting. I had no idea that -he was a man of such considerable attainments. The facts mentioned by -Mr. Marchmont would hardly have led one to think of him as what he seems -to have been: a scholar of some distinction." - -"I don't know that Mr. Marchmont realized the fact himself," said -Stephen; "or that he would have considered it of any moment if he had. -Nor, as far as that goes, do I. But, of course, I have no experience of -legal matters." - -"You can never tell beforehand," said Thorndyke, "what facts may turn -out to be of moment, so that it is best to collect all you can get. By -the way, were you aware that your uncle was an opium-smoker?" - -"No, I was not. I knew that he had an opium-pipe which he brought with -him when he came home from Japan; but I thought it was only a curio. I -remember him telling me that he once tried a few puffs at an opium-pipe -and found it rather pleasant, though it gave him a headache. But I had -no idea he had contracted the habit; in fact, I may say that I was -utterly astonished when the fact came out at the inquest." - -Thorndyke made a note of this answer, too, and said: - -"I think that is all I have to ask you about your uncle Jeffrey. And now -as to Mr. John Blackmore. What sort of man is he?" - -"I am afraid I can't tell you very much about him. Until I saw him at -the inquest, I had not met him since I was a boy. But he is a very -different kind of man from Uncle Jeffrey; different in appearance and -different in character." - -"You would say that the two brothers were physically quite unlike, -then?" - -"Well," said Stephen, "I don't know that I ought to say that. Perhaps I -am exaggerating the difference. I am thinking of Uncle Jeffrey as he was -when I saw him last and of uncle John as he appeared at the inquest. -They were very different then. Jeffrey was thin, pale, clean shaven, -wore spectacles and walked with a stoop. John is a shade taller, a shade -greyer, has good eyesight, a healthy, florid complexion, a brisk, -upright carriage, is distinctly stout and wears a beard and moustache -which are black and only very slightly streaked with grey. To me they -looked as unlike as two men could, though their features were really of -the same type; indeed, I have heard it said that, as young men, they -were rather alike, and they both resembled their mother. But there is no -doubt as to their difference in character. Jeffrey was quiet, serious -and studious, whereas John rather inclined to what is called a fast -life; he used to frequent race meetings, and, I think, gambled a good -deal at times." - -"What is his profession?" - -"That would be difficult to tell; he has so many; he is so very -versatile. I believe he began life as an articled pupil in the -laboratory of a large brewery, but he soon left that and went on the -stage. He seems to have remained in 'the profession' for some years, -touring about this country and making occasional visits to America. The -life seemed to suit him and I believe he was decidedly successful as an -actor. But suddenly he left the stage and blossomed out in connection -with a bucket-shop in London." - -"And what is he doing now?" - -"At the inquest he described himself as a stockbroker, so I presume he -is still connected with the bucket-shop." - -Thorndyke rose, and taking down from the reference shelves a list of -members of the Stock Exchange, turned over the leaves. - -"Yes," he said, replacing the volume, "he must be an outside broker. His -name is not in the list of members of 'the House.' From what you tell -me, it is easy to understand that there should have been no great -intimacy between the two brothers, without assuming any kind of -ill-feeling. They simply had very little in common. Do you know of -anything more?" - -"No. I have never heard of any actual quarrel or disagreement. My -impression that they did not get on very well may have been, I think, -due to the terms of the will, especially the first will. And they -certainly did not seek one another's society." - -"That is not very conclusive," said Thorndyke. "As to the will, a -thrifty man is not usually much inclined to bequeath his savings to a -gentleman who may probably employ them in a merry little flutter on the -turf or the Stock Exchange. And then there was yourself; clearly a more -suitable subject for a legacy, as your life is all before you. But this -is mere speculation and the matter is not of much importance, as far as -we can see. And now, tell me what John Blackmore's relations were with -Mrs. Wilson. I gather that she left the bulk of her property to Jeffrey, -her younger brother. Is that so?" - -"Yes. She left nothing to John. The fact is that they were hardly on -speaking terms. I believe John had treated her rather badly, or, at any -rate, she thought he had. Mr. Wilson, her late husband, dropped some -money over an investment in connection with the bucket-shop that I spoke -of, and I think she suspected John of having let him in. She may have -been mistaken, but you know what ladies are when they get an idea into -their heads." - -"Did you know your aunt well?" - -"No; very slightly. She lived down in Devonshire and saw very little of -any of us. She was a taciturn, strong-minded woman; quite unlike her -brothers. She seems to have resembled her father's family." - -"You might give me her full name." - -"Julia Elizabeth Wilson. Her husband's name was Edmund Wilson." - -"Thank you. There is just one more point. What has happened to your -uncle's chambers in New Inn since his death?" - -"They have remained shut up. As all his effects were left to me, I have -taken over the tenancy for the present to avoid having them disturbed. I -thought of keeping them for my own use, but I don't think I could live -in them after what I have seen." - -"You have inspected them, then?" - -"Yes; I have just looked through them. I went there on the day of the -inquest." - -"Now tell me: as you looked through those rooms, what kind of impression -did they convey to you as to your uncle's habits and mode of life?" - -Stephen smiled apologetically. "I am afraid," said he, "that they did -not convey any particular impression in that respect. I looked into the -sitting-room and saw all his old familiar household gods, and then I -went into the bedroom and saw the impression on the bed where his corpse -had lain; and that gave me such a sensation of horror that I came away -at once." - -"But the appearance of the rooms must have conveyed something to your -mind," Thorndyke urged. - -"I am afraid it did not. You see, I have not your analytical eye. But -perhaps you would like to look through them yourself? If you would, pray -do so. They are my chambers now." - -"I think I should like to glance round them," Thorndyke replied. - -"Very well," said Stephen. "I will give you my card now, and I will look -in at the lodge presently and tell the porter to hand you the key -whenever you like to look over the rooms." - -He took a card from his case, and, having written a few lines on it, -handed it to Thorndyke. - -"It is very good of you," he said, "to take so much trouble. Like Mr. -Marchmont, I have no expectation of any result from your efforts, but I -am very grateful to you, all the same, for going into the case so -thoroughly. I suppose you don't see any possibility of upsetting that -will--if I may ask the question?" - -"At present," replied Thorndyke, "I do not. But until I have carefully -weighed every fact connected with the case--whether it seems to have any -bearing or not--I shall refrain from expressing, or even entertaining, -an opinion either way." - -Stephen Blackmore now took his leave; and Thorndyke, having collected -the papers containing his notes, neatly punched a couple of holes in -their margins and inserted them into a small file, which he slipped into -his pocket. - -"That," said he, "is the nucleus of the body of data on which our -investigations must be based; and I very much fear that it will not -receive any great additions. What do you think, Jervis?" - -"The case looks about as hopeless as a case could look," I replied. - -"That is what I think," said he; "and for that reason I am more than -ordinarily keen on making something of it. I have not much more hope -than Marchmont has; but I shall squeeze the case as dry as a bone before -I let go. What are you going to do? I have to attend a meeting of the -board of directors of the Griffin Life Office." - -"Shall I walk down with you?" - -"It is very good of you to offer, Jervis, but I think I will go alone. I -want to run over these notes and get the facts of the case arranged in -my mind. When I have done that, I shall be ready to pick up new matter. -Knowledge is of no use unless it is actually in your mind, so that it -can be produced at a moment's notice. So you had better get a book and -your pipe and spend a quiet hour by the fire while I assimilate the -miscellaneous mental feast that we have just enjoyed. And you might do a -little rumination yourself." - -With this, Thorndyke took his departure; and I, adopting his advice, -drew my chair closer to the fire and filled my pipe. But I did not -discover any inclination to read. The curious history that I had just -heard, and Thorndyke's evident determination to elucidate it further, -disposed me to meditation. Moreover, as his subordinate, it was my -business to occupy myself with his affairs. Wherefore, having stirred -the fire and got my pipe well alight, I abandoned myself to the renewed -consideration of the facts relating to Jeffrey Blackmore's will. - - - - -Chapter VII - -The Cuneiform Inscription - - -The surprise which Thorndyke's proceedings usually occasioned, -especially to lawyers, was principally due, I think, to my friend's -habit of viewing occurrences from an unusual standpoint. He did not look -at things quite as other men looked at them. He had no prejudices and he -knew no conventions. When other men were cocksure, Thorndyke was -doubtful. When other men despaired, he entertained hopes; and thus it -happened that he would often undertake cases that had been rejected -contemptuously by experienced lawyers, and, what is more, would bring -them to a successful issue. - -Thus it had been in the only other case in which I had been personally -associated with him--the so-called "Red Thumb Mark" case. There he was -presented with an apparent impossibility; but he had given it careful -consideration. Then, from the category of the impossible he had brought -it to that of the possible; from the merely possible to the actually -probable; from the probable to the certain; and in the end had won the -case triumphantly. - -Was it conceivable that he could make anything of the present case? He -had not declined it. He had certainly entertained it and was probably -thinking it over at this moment. Yet could anything be more impossible? -Here was the case of a man making his own will, probably writing it out -himself, bringing it voluntarily to a certain place and executing it in -the presence of competent witnesses. There was no suggestion of any -compulsion or even influence or persuasion. The testator was admittedly -sane and responsible; and if the will did not give effect to his -wishes--which, however, could not be proved--that was due to his own -carelessness in drafting the will and not to any unusual circumstances. -And the problem--which Thorndyke seemed to be considering--was how to -set aside that will. - -I reviewed the statements that I had heard, but turn them about as I -would, I could get nothing out of them but confirmation of Mr. -Marchmont's estimate of the case. One fact that I had noted with some -curiosity I again considered; that was Thorndyke's evident desire to -inspect Jeffrey Blackmore's chambers. He had, it is true, shown no -eagerness, but I had seen at the time that the questions which he put to -Stephen were put, not with any expectation of eliciting information but -for the purpose of getting an opportunity to look over the rooms -himself. - -I was still cogitating on the subject when my colleague returned, -followed by the watchful Polton with the tea-tray, and I attacked him -forthwith. - -"Well, Thorndyke," I said, "I have been thinking about this Blackmore -case while you have been gadding about." - -"And may I take it that the problem is solved?" - -"No, I'm hanged if you may. I can make nothing of it." - -"Then you are in much the same position as I am." - -"But, if you can make nothing of it, why did you undertake it?" - -"I only undertook to think about it," said Thorndyke. "I never reject a -case off-hand unless it is obviously fishy. It is surprising how -difficulties, and even impossibilities, dwindle if you look at them -attentively. My experience has taught me that the most unlikely case is, -at least, worth thinking over." - -"By the way, why do you want to look over Jeffrey's chambers? What do -you expect to find there?" - -"I have no expectations at all. I am simply looking for stray facts." - -"And all those questions that you asked Stephen Blackmore; had you -nothing in your mind--no definite purpose?" - -"No purpose beyond getting to know as much about the case as I can." - -"But," I exclaimed, "do you mean that you are going to examine those -rooms without any definite object at all?" - -"I wouldn't say that," replied Thorndyke. "This is a legal case. Let me -put an analogous medical case as being more within your present sphere. -Supposing that a man should consult you, say, about a progressive loss -of weight. He can give no explanation. He has no pain, no discomfort, no -symptoms of any kind; in short, he feels perfectly well in every -respect; <i>but</i> he is losing weight continuously. What would you do?" - -"I should overhaul him thoroughly," I answered. - -"Why? What would you expect to find?" - -"I don't know that I should start by expecting to find anything in -particular. But I should overhaul him organ by organ and function by -function, and if I could find nothing abnormal I should have to give it -up." - -"Exactly," said Thorndyke. "And that is just my position and my line of -action. Here is a case which is perfectly regular and straightforward -excepting in one respect. It has a single abnormal feature. And for that -abnormality there is nothing to account. - -"Jeffrey Blackmore made a will. It was a well-drawn will and it -apparently gave full effect to his intentions. Then he revoked that will -and made another. No change had occurred in his circumstances or in his -intentions. The provisions of the new will were believed by him to be -identical with those of the old one. The new will differed from the old -one only in having a defect in the drafting from which the first will -was free, and of which he must have been unaware. Now why did he revoke -the first will and replace it with another which he believed to be -identical in its provisions? There is no answer to that question. It is -an abnormal feature in the case. There must be some explanation of that -abnormality and it is my business to discover it. But the facts in my -possession yield no such explanation. Therefore it is my purpose to -search for new facts which may give me a starting-point for an -investigation." - -This exposition of Thorndyke's proposed conduct of the case, reasonable -as it was, did not impress me as very convincing. I found myself coming -back to Marchmont's position, that there was really nothing in dispute. -But other matters claimed our attention at the moment, and it was not -until after dinner that my colleague reverted to the subject. - -"How should you like to take a turn round to New Inn this evening?" he -asked. - -"I should have thought," said I, "that it would be better to go by -daylight. Those old chambers are not usually very well illuminated." - -"That is well thought of," said Thorndyke. "We had better take a lamp -with us. Let us go up to the laboratory and get one from Polton." - -"There is no need to do that," said I. "The pocket-lamp that you lent me -is in my overcoat pocket. I put it there to return it to you." - -"Did you have occasion to use it?" he asked. - -"Yes. I paid another visit to the mysterious house and carried out your -plan. I must tell you about it later." - -"Do. I shall be keenly interested to hear all about your adventures. Is -there plenty of candle left in the lamp?" - -"Oh yes. I only used it for about an hour." - -"Then let us be off," said Thorndyke; and we accordingly set forth on -our quest; and, as we went, I reflected once more on the apparent -vagueness of our proceedings. Presently I reopened the subject with -Thorndyke. - -"I can't imagine," said I, "that you have absolutely nothing in view. -That you are going to this place with no defined purpose whatever." - -"I did not say exactly that," replied Thorndyke. "I said that I was not -going to look for any particular thing or fact. I am going in the hope -that I may observe something that may start a new train of speculation. -But that is not all. You know that an investigation follows a certain -logical course. It begins with the observation of the conspicuous facts. -We have done that. The facts were supplied by Marchmont. The next stage -is to propose to oneself one or more provisional explanations or -hypotheses. We have done that, too--or, at least I have, and I suppose -you have." - -"I haven't," said I. "There is Jeffrey's will, but why he should have -made the change I cannot form the foggiest idea. But I should like to -hear your provisional theories on the subject." - -"You won't hear them at present. They are mere wild conjectures. But to -resume: what do we do next?" - -"Go to New Inn and rake over the deceased gentleman's apartments." - -Thorndyke smilingly ignored my answer and continued-- - -"We examine each explanation in turn and see what follows from it; -whether it agrees with all the facts and leads to the discovery of new -ones, or, on the other hand, disagrees with some facts or leads us to an -absurdity. Let us take a simple example. - -"Suppose we find scattered over a field a number of largish masses of -stone, which are entirely different in character from the rocks found in -the neighbourhood. The question arises, how did those stones get into -that field? Three explanations are proposed. One: that they are the -products of former volcanic action; two: that they were brought from a -distance by human agency; three: that they were carried thither from -some distant country by icebergs. Now each of those explanations -involves certain consequences. If the stones are volcanic, then they -were once in a state of fusion. But we find that they are unaltered -limestone and contain fossils. Then they are not volcanic. If they were -borne by icebergs, then they were once part of a glacier and some of -them will probably show the flat surfaces with parallel scratches which -are found on glacier-borne stones. We examine them and find the -characteristic scratched surfaces. Then they have probably been brought -to this place by icebergs. But this does not exclude human agency, for -they might have been brought by men to this place from some other where -the icebergs had deposited them. A further comparison with other facts -would be needed. - -"So we proceed in cases like this present one. Of the facts that are -known to us we invent certain explanations. From each of those -explanations we deduce consequences; and if those consequences agree -with new facts, they confirm the explanation, whereas if they disagree -they tend to disprove it. But here we are at our destination." - -We turned out of Wych Street into the arched passage leading into New -Inn, and, halting at the half-door of the lodge, perceived a stout, -purple-faced man crouching over the fire, coughing violently. He held up -his hand to intimate that he was fully occupied for the moment, and we -accordingly waited for his paroxysm to subside. At length he turned -towards us, wiping his eyes, and inquired our business. - -"Mr. Stephen Blackmore," said Thorndyke, "has given me permission to -look over his chambers. He said that he would mention the matter to -you." - -"So he has, sir," said the porter; "but he has just taken the key -himself to go to the chambers. If you walk across the Inn you'll find -him there; it's on the farther side; number thirty-one, second floor." - -We made our way across to the house indicated, the ground floor of which -was occupied by a solicitor's offices and was distinguished by a -good-sized brass plate. Although it had now been dark some time there -was no light on the lower stairs, but we encountered on the first-floor -landing a man who had just lit the lamp there. Thorndyke halted to -address him. - -"Can you tell me who occupies the chambers on the third floor?" - -"The third floor has been empty about three months," was the reply. - -"We are going up to look at the chambers on the second floor," said -Thorndyke. "Are they pretty quiet?" - -"Quiet!" exclaimed the man. "Lord bless you the place is like a cemetery -for the deaf and dumb. There's the solicitors on the ground floor and -the architects on the first floor. They both clear out about six, and -when they're gone the house is as empty as a blown hegg. I don't wonder -poor Mr. Blackmore made away with his-self. Livin' up there all alone, -it must have been like Robinson Crusoe without no man Friday and not -even a blooming goat to talk to. Quiet! It's quiet enough, if that's -what you want. Wouldn't be no good to <i>me</i>." - -With a contemptuous shake of the head, he turned and retired down the -next flight, and, as the echoes of his footsteps died away we resumed -our ascent. - -"So it would appear," Thorndyke commented, "that when Jeffrey Blackmore -came home that last evening, the house was empty." - -Arrived on the second-floor landing, we were confronted by a -solid-looking door on the lintel of which the deceased man's name was -painted in white lettering which still looked new and fresh. Thorndyke -knocked at the door, which was at once opened by Stephen Blackmore. - -"I haven't wasted any time before taking advantage of your permission, -you see," my colleague said as we entered. - -"No, indeed," said Stephen; "you are very prompt. I have been rather -wondering what kind of information you expect to gather from an -inspection of these rooms." - -Thorndyke smiled genially, amused, no doubt, by the similarity of -Stephen's remarks to those of mine which he had so recently criticized. - -"A man of science, Mr. Blackmore," he said, "expects nothing. He -collects facts and keeps an open mind. As to me, I am a mere legal -Autolycus, a snapper-up of unconsidered trifles of evidence. When I have -accumulated a few facts, I arrange them, compare them and think about -them. Sometimes the comparison yields new matter and sometimes it -doesn't; but in any case, believe me, it is a capital error to decide -beforehand what data are to be sought for." - -"Yes, I suppose that is so," said Stephen; "though, to me, it almost -looks as if Mr. Marchmont was right; that there is nothing to -investigate." - -"You should have thought of that before you consulted me," laughed -Thorndyke. "As it is, I am engaged to look into the case and I shall do -so; and, as I have said, I shall keep an open mind until I have all the -facts in my possession." - -He glanced round the sitting-room, which we had now entered, and -continued: - -"These are fine, dignified old rooms. It seems a sin to have covered up -all this oak panelling and that carved cornice and mantel with paint. -Think what it must have been like when the beautiful figured wood was -exposed." - -"It would be very dark," Stephen observed. - -"Yes," Thorndyke agreed, "and I suppose we care more for light and less -for beauty than our ancestors did. But now, tell me; looking round these -rooms, do they convey to you a similar impression to that which the old -rooms did? Have they the same general character?" - -"Not quite, I think. Of course the rooms in Jermyn Street were in a -different kind of house, but beyond that, I seem to feel a certain -difference; which is rather odd, seeing that the furniture is the same. -But the old rooms were more cosy, more homelike. I find something rather -bare and cheerless, I was almost going to say squalid, in the look of -these chambers." - -"That is rather what I should have expected," said Thorndyke. "The opium -habit alters a man's character profoundly; and, somehow, apart from the -mere furnishing, a room reflects in some subtle way, but very -distinctly, the personality of its occupant, especially when that -occupant lives a solitary life. Do you see any evidences of the -activities that used to occupy your uncle?" - -"Not very much," replied Stephen. "But the place may not be quite as he -left it. I found one or two of his books on the table and put them back -in the shelves, but I found no manuscript or notes such as he used to -make. I noticed, too, that his ink-slab which he used to keep so -scrupulously clean is covered with dry smears and that the stick of ink -is all cracked at the end, as if he had not used it for months. It seems -to point to a great change in his habits." - -"What used he to do with Chinese ink?" Thorndyke asked. - -"He corresponded with some of his native friends in Japan, and he used -to write in the Japanese character even if they understood English. That -was what he chiefly used the Chinese ink for. But he also used to copy -the inscriptions from these things." Here Stephen lifted from the -mantelpiece what looked like a fossil Bath bun, but was actually a clay -tablet covered with minute indented writing. - -"Your uncle could read the cuneiform character, then?" - -"Yes; he was something of an expert. These tablets are, I believe, -leases and other legal documents from Eridu and other Babylonian cities. -He used to copy the inscriptions in the cuneiform writing and then -translate them into English. But I mustn't stay here any longer as I -have an engagement for this evening. I just dropped in to get these two -volumes--<i>Thornton's History of Babylonia</i>, which he once advised me to -read. Shall I give you the key? You'd better have it and leave it with -the porter as you go out." - -He shook hands with us and we walked out with him to the landing and -stood watching him as he ran down the stairs. Glancing at Thorndyke by -the light of the gas lamp on the landing, I thought I detected in his -impassive face that almost imperceptible change of expression to which I -have already alluded as indicating pleasure or satisfaction. - -"You are looking quite pleased with yourself," I remarked. - -"I am not displeased," he replied calmly. "Autolycus has picked up a few -crumbs; very small ones, but still crumbs. No doubt his learned junior -has picked up a few likewise?" - -I shook my head--and inwardly suspected it of being rather a thick head. - -"I did not perceive anything in the least degree significant in what -Stephen was telling you," said I. "It was all very interesting, but it -did not seem to have any bearing on his uncle's will." - -"I was not referring only to what Stephen has told us, although that -was, as you say, very interesting. While he was talking I was looking -about the room, and I have seen a very strange thing. Let me show it to -you." - -He linked his arm in mine and, walking me back into the room, halted -opposite the fire-place. - -"There," said he, "look at that. It is a most remarkable object." - -[Illustration: THE INVERTED INSCRIPTION.] - -I followed the direction of his gaze and saw an oblong frame enclosing a -large photograph of an inscription in the weird and cabalistic -arrow-head character. I looked at it in silence for some seconds and -then, somewhat disappointed, remarked: - -"I don't see anything very remarkable in it, under the circumstances. In -any ordinary room it would be, I admit; but Stephen has just told us -that his uncle was something of an expert in cuneiform writing." - -"Exactly," said Thorndyke. "That is my point. That is what makes it so -remarkable." - -"I don't follow you at all," said I. "That a man should hang upon his -wall an inscription that is legible to him does not seem to me at all -out of the way. It would be much more singular if he should hang up an -inscription that he could <i>not</i> read." - -"No doubt," replied Thorndyke. "But you will agree with me that it would -be still more singular if a man should hang upon his wall an inscription -that he <i>could</i> read--and hang it upside down." - -I stared at Thorndyke in amazement. - -"Do you mean to tell me," I exclaimed, "that that photograph is really -upside down?" - -"I do indeed," he replied. - -"But how do you know? Have we here yet another Oriental scholar?" - -Thorndyke chuckled. "Some fool," he replied, "has said that 'a little -knowledge is a dangerous thing.' Compared with much knowledge, it may -be; but it is a vast deal better than no knowledge. Here is a case in -point. I have read with very keen interest the wonderful history of the -decipherment of the cuneiform writing, and I happen to recollect one or -two of the main facts that seemed to me to be worth remembering. This -particular inscription is in the Persian cuneiform, a much more simple -and open form of the script than the Babylonian or Assyrian; in fact, I -suspect that this is the famous inscription from the gateway at -Persepolis--the first to be deciphered; which would account for its -presence here in a frame. Now this script consists, as you see, of two -kinds of characters; the small, solid, acutely pointed characters which -are known as wedges, and the larger, more obtuse characters, somewhat -like our government broad arrows, and called arrow-heads. The names are -rather unfortunate, as both forms are wedge-like and both resemble -arrow-heads. The script reads from left to right, like our own writing, -and unlike that of the Semitic peoples and the primitive Greeks; and the -rule for the placing of the characters is that all the 'wedges' point to -the right or downwards and the arrow-head forms are open towards the -right. But if you look at this photograph you will see that all the -wedges point upwards to the left and that the arrow-head characters are -open towards the left. Obviously the photograph is upside down." - -"But," I exclaimed, "this is really most mysterious. What do you suppose -can be the explanation?" - -"I think," replied Thorndyke, "that we may perhaps get a suggestion from -the back of the frame. Let us see." - -He disengaged the frame from the two nails on which it hung, and, -turning it round, glanced at the back; which he then presented for my -inspection. A label on the backing paper bore the words, "J. Budge, -Frame-maker and Gilder, 16, Gt. Anne Street, W.C." - -"Well?" I said, when I had read the label without gathering from it -anything fresh. - -"The label, you observe, is the right way up as it hangs on the wall." - -"So it is," I rejoined hastily, a little annoyed that I had not been -quicker to observe so obvious a fact. "I see your point. You mean that -the frame-maker hung the thing upside down and Jeffrey never noticed the -mistake?" - -"That is a perfectly sound explanation," said Thorndyke. "But I think -there is something more. You will notice that the label is an old one; -it must have been on some years, to judge by its dingy appearance, -whereas the two mirror-plates look to me comparatively new. But we can -soon put that matter to the test, for the label was evidently stuck on -when the frame was new, and if the plates were screwed on at the same -time, the wood that they cover will be clean and new-looking." - -He drew from his pocket a "combination" knife containing, among other -implements, a screw-driver, with which he carefully extracted the screws -from one of the little brass plates by which the frame had been -suspended from the nails. - -"You see," he said, when he had removed the plate and carried the -photograph over to the gasjet, "the wood covered by the plate is as -dirty and time-stained as the rest of the frame. The plates have been -put on recently." - -"And what are we to infer from that?" - -"Well, since there are no other marks of plates or rings upon the -frame, we may safely infer that the photograph was never hung up until -it came to these rooms." - -"Yes, I suppose we may. But what then? What inference does that lead -to?" - -Thorndyke reflected for a few moments and I continued: - -"It is evident that this photograph suggests more to you than it does to -me. I should like to hear your exposition of its bearing on the case, if -it has any." - -"Whether or no it has any real bearing on the case," Thorndyke answered, -"it is impossible for me to say at this stage. I told you that I had -proposed to myself one or two hypotheses to account for and explain -Jeffrey Blackmore's will, and I may say that the curious misplacement of -this photograph fits more than one of them. I won't say more than that, -because I think it would be profitable to you to work at this case -independently. You have all the facts that I have and you shall have a -copy of my notes of Marchmont's statement of the case. With this -material you ought to be able to reach some conclusion. Of course -neither of us may be able to make anything of the case--it doesn't look -very hopeful at present--but whatever happens, we can compare notes -after the event and you will be the richer by so much experience of -actual investigation. But I will start you off with one hint, which is -this: that neither you nor Marchmont seem to appreciate in the least the -very extraordinary nature of the facts that he communicated to us." - -"I thought Marchmont seemed pretty much alive to the fact that it was a -very queer will." - -"So he did," agreed Thorndyke. "But that is not quite what I mean. The -whole set of circumstances, taken together and in relation to one -another, impressed me as most remarkable; and that is why I am giving so -much attention to what looks at first sight like such a very unpromising -case. Copy out my notes, Jervis, and examine the facts critically. I -think you will see what I mean. And now let us proceed." - -He replaced the brass plate and having reinserted the screws, hung up -the frame, and proceeded to browse slowly round the room, stopping now -and again to inspect the Japanese colour-prints and framed photographs -of buildings and other objects of archaeological interest that formed -the only attempts at wall-decoration. To one of the former he drew my -attention. - -"These things are of some value," he remarked. "Here is one by -Utamaro--that little circle with the mark over it is his signature--and -you notice that the paper is becoming spotted in places with mildew. The -fact is worth noting in more than one connection." - -I accordingly made a mental note and the perambulation continued. - -"You observe that Jeffrey used a gas-stove, instead of a coal fire, no -doubt to economize work, but perhaps for other reasons. Presumably he -cooked by gas, too; let us see." - -We wandered into the little cupboard-like kitchen and glanced round. A -ring-burner on a shelf, a kettle, a frying-pan and a few pieces of -crockery were its sole appointments. Apparently the porter was correct -in his statement as to Jeffrey's habits. - -Returning to the sitting-room, Thorndyke resumed his inspection, pulling -out the table drawers, peering inquisitively into cupboards and -bestowing a passing glance on each of the comparatively few objects that -the comfortless room contained. - -"I have never seen a more characterless apartment," was his final -comment. "There is nothing that seems to suggest any kind of habitual -activity on the part of the occupant. Let us look at the bedroom." - -We passed through into the chamber of tragic memories, and, when -Thorndyke had lit the gas, we stood awhile looking about us in silence. -It was a bare, comfortless room, dirty, neglected and squalid. The bed -appeared not to have been remade since the catastrophe, for an -indentation still marked the place where the corpse had lain, and even a -slight powdering of ash could still be seen on the shabby counterpane. -It looked to me a typical opium-smoker's bedroom. - -"Well," Thorndyke remarked at length, "there is character enough -here--of a kind. Jeffrey Blackmore would seem to have been a man of few -needs. One could hardly imagine a bedroom in which less attention seemed -to have been given to the comfort of the occupant." - -He looked about him keenly and continued: "The syringe and the rest of -the lethal appliances and material have been taken away, I see. -Probably the analyst did not return them. But there are the opium-pipe -and the jar and the ash-bowl, and I presume those are the clothes that -the undertakers removed from the body. Shall we look them over?" - -He took up the clothes which lay, roughly folded, on a chair and held -them up, garment by garment. - -"These are evidently the trousers," he remarked, spreading them out on -the bed. "Here is a little white spot on the middle of the thigh which -looks like a patch of small crystals from a drop of the solution. Just -light the lamp, Jervis, and let us examine it with a lens." - -I lit the lamp, and when we had examined the spot minutely and -identified it as a mass of minute crystals, Thorndyke asked: - -"What do you make of those creases? You see there is one on each leg." - -"It looks as if the trousers had been turned up. But if they have been -they must have been turned up about seven inches. Poor Jeffrey couldn't -have had much regard for appearances, for they would have been right -above his socks. But perhaps the creases were made in undressing the -body." - -"That is possible," said Thorndyke: "though I don't quite see how it -would have happened. I notice that his pockets seem to have been -emptied--no, wait; here is something in the waistcoat pocket." - -He drew out a shabby, pigskin card-case and a stump of lead pencil, at -which latter he looked with what seemed to me much more interest than -was deserved by so commonplace an object. - -"The cards, you observe," said he, "are printed from type, not from a -plate. I would note that fact. And tell me what you make of that." - -He handed me the pencil, which I examined with concentrated attention, -helping myself even with the lamp and my pocket lens. But even with -these aids I failed to discover anything unusual in its appearance. -Thorndyke watched me with a mischievous smile, and, when I had finished, -inquired: - -"Well; what is it?" - -"Confound you!" I exclaimed. "It's a pencil. Any fool can see that, and -this particular fool can't see any more. It's a wretched stump of a -pencil, villainously cut to an abominably bad point. It is coloured dark -red on the outside and was stamped with some name that began with -C--O--Co-operative Stores, perhaps." - -"Now, my dear Jervis," Thorndyke protested, "don't begin by confusing -speculation with fact. The letters which remain are C--O. Note that fact -and find out what pencils there are which have inscriptions beginning -with those letters. I am not going to help you, because you can easily -do this for yourself. And it will be good discipline even if the fact -turns out to mean nothing." - -At this moment he stepped back suddenly, and, looking down at the floor, -said: - -"Give me the lamp, Jervis, I've trodden on something that felt like -glass." - -I brought the lamp to the place where he had been standing, close by -the bed, and we both knelt on the floor, throwing the light of the lamp -on the bare and dusty boards. Under the bed, just within reach of the -foot of a person standing close by, was a little patch of fragments of -glass. Thorndyke produced a piece of paper from his pocket and -delicately swept the little fragments on to it, remarking: - -"By the look of things, I am not the first person who has trodden on -that object, whatever it is. Do you mind holding the lamp while I -inspect the remains?" - -I took the lamp and held it over the paper while he examined the little -heap of glass through his lens. - -"Well," I asked. "What have you found?" - -"That is what I am asking myself," he replied. "As far as I can judge by -the appearance of these fragments, they appear to be portions of a small -watch-glass. I wish there were some larger pieces." - -"Perhaps there are," said I. "Let us look about the floor under the -bed." - -We resumed our groping about the dirty floor, throwing the light of the -lamp on one spot after another. Presently, as we moved the lamp about, -its light fell on a small glass bead, which I instantly picked up and -exhibited to Thorndyke. - -"Is this of any interest to you?" I asked. - -Thorndyke took the bead and examined it curiously. - -"It is certainly," he said, "a very odd thing to find in the bedroom of -an old bachelor like Jeffrey, especially as we know that he employed no -woman to look after his rooms. Of course, it may be a relic of the last -tenant. Let us see if there are any more." - -We renewed our search, crawling under the bed and throwing the light of -the lamp in all directions over the floor. The result was the discovery -of three more beads, one entire bugle and the crushed remains of -another, which had apparently been trodden on. All of these, including -the fragments of the bugle that had been crushed, Thorndyke placed -carefully on the paper, which he laid on the dressing-table the more -conveniently to examine our find. - -"I am sorry," said he, "that there are no more fragments of the -watch-glass, or whatever it was. The broken pieces were evidently picked -up, with the exception of the one that I trod on, which was an isolated -fragment that had been overlooked. As to the beads, judging by their -number and the position in which we found some of them--that crushed -bugle, for instance--they must have been dropped during Jeffrey's -tenancy and probably quite recently." - -"What sort of garment do you suppose they came from?" I asked. - -"They may have been part of a beaded veil or the trimming of a dress, -but the grouping rather suggests to me a tag of bead fringe. The colour -is rather unusual." - -"I thought they looked like black beads." - -"So they do by this light, but I think that by daylight we shall find -them to be a dark, reddish-brown. You can see the colour now if you look -at the smaller fragments of the one that is crushed." - -He handed me his lens, and, when I had verified his statement, he -produced from his pocket a small tin box with a closely-fitting lid in -which he deposited the paper, having first folded it up into a small -parcel. - -"We will put the pencil in too," said he; and, as he returned the box to -his pocket he added: "you had better get one of these little boxes from -Polton. It is often useful to have a safe receptacle for small and -fragile articles." - -He folded up and replaced the dead man's clothes as we had found them. -Then, observing a pair of shoes standing by the wall, he picked them up -and looked them over thoughtfully, paying special attention to the backs -of the soles and the fronts of the heels. - -"I suppose we may take it," said he, "that these are the shoes that poor -Jeffrey wore on the night of his death. At any rate there seem to be no -others. He seems to have been a fairly clean walker. The streets were -shockingly dirty that day, as I remember most distinctly. Do you see any -slippers? I haven't noticed any." - -He opened and peeped into a cupboard in which an overcoat surmounted by -a felt hat hung from a peg like an attenuated suicide; he looked in all -the corners and into the sitting-room, but no slippers were to be seen. - -"Our friend seems to have had surprisingly little regard for comfort," -Thorndyke remarked. "Think of spending the winter evenings in damp boots -by a gas fire!" - -"Perhaps the opium-pipe compensated," said I; "or he may have gone to -bed early." - -"But he did not. The night porter used to see the light in his rooms at -one o'clock in the morning. In the sitting-room, too, you remember. But -he seems to have been in the habit of reading in bed--or perhaps -smoking--for here is a candlestick with the remains of a whole dynasty -of candles in it. As there is gas in the room, he couldn't have wanted -the candle to undress by. He used stearine candles, too; not the common -paraffin variety. I wonder why he went to that expense." - -"Perhaps the smell of the paraffin candle spoiled the aroma of the -opium," I suggested; to which Thorndyke made no reply but continued his -inspection of the room, pulling out the drawer of the washstand--which -contained a single, worn-out nail-brush--and even picking up and -examining the dry and cracked cake of soap in the dish. - -"He seems to have had a fair amount of clothing," said Thorndyke, who -was now going through the chest of drawers, "though, by the look of it, -he didn't change very often, and the shirts have a rather yellow and -faded appearance. I wonder how he managed about his washing. Why, here -are a couple of pairs of boots in the drawer with his clothes! And here -is his stock of candles. Quite a large box--though nearly empty now--of -stearine candles, six to the pound." - -He closed the drawer and cast another inquiring look round the room. - -"I think we have seen all now, Jervis," he said, "unless there is -anything more that you would like to look into?" - -"No," I replied. "I have seen all that I wanted to see and more than I -am able to attach any meaning to. So we may as well go." - -I blew out the lamp and put it in my overcoat pocket, and, when we had -turned out the gas in both rooms, we took our departure. - -As we approached the lodge, we found our stout friend in the act of -retiring in favour of the night porter. Thorndyke handed him the key of -the chambers, and, after a few sympathetic inquiries, about his -health--which was obviously very indifferent--said: - -"Let me see; you were one of the witnesses to Mr. Blackmore's will, I -think?" - -"I was, sir," replied the porter. - -"And I believe you read the document through before you witnessed the -signature?" - -"I did, sir." - -"Did you read it aloud?" - -"Aloud, sir! Lor' bless you, no, sir! Why should I? The other witness -read it, and, of course, Mr. Blackmore knew what was in it, seeing that -it was in his own handwriting. What should I want to read it aloud for?" - -"No, of course you wouldn't want to. By the way, I have been wondering -how Mr. Blackmore managed about his washing." - -The porter evidently regarded this question with some disfavour, for he -replied only with an interrogative grunt. It was, in fact, rather an odd -question. - -"Did you get it done for him," Thorndyke pursued. - -"No, certainly not, sir. He got it done for himself. The laundry people -used to deliver the basket here at the lodge, and Mr. Blackmore used to -take it in with him when he happened to be passing." - -"It was not delivered at his chambers, then?" - -"No, sir. Mr. Blackmore was a very studious gentleman and he didn't like -to be disturbed. A studious gentleman would naturally not like to be -disturbed." - -Thorndyke cordially agreed with these very proper sentiments and finally -wished the porter "good night." We passed out through the gateway into -Wych Street, and, turning our faces eastward towards the Temple, set -forth in silence, each thinking his own thoughts. What Thorndyke's were -I cannot tell, though I have no doubt that he was busily engaged in -piecing together all that he had seen and heard and considering its -possible application to the case in hand. - -As to me, my mind was in a whirl of confusion. All this searching and -examining seemed to be the mere flogging of a dead horse. The will was -obviously a perfectly valid and regular will and there was an end of the -matter. At least, so it seemed to me. But clearly that was not -Thorndyke's view. His investigations were certainly not purposeless; -and, as I walked by his side trying to conceive some purpose in his -actions, I only became more and more mystified as I recalled them one -by one, and perhaps most of all by the cryptic questions that I had just -heard him address to the equally mystified porter. - - - - -Chapter VIII - -The Track Chart - - -As Thorndyke and I arrived at the main gateway of the Temple and he -swung round into the narrow lane, it was suddenly borne in on me that I -had made no arrangements for the night. Events had followed one another -so continuously and each had been so engrossing that I had lost sight of -what I may call my domestic affairs. - -"We seem to be heading for your chambers, Thorndyke," I ventured to -remark. "It is a little late to think of it, but I have not yet settled -where I am to put up to-night." - -"My dear fellow," he replied, "you are going to put up in your own -bedroom which has been waiting in readiness for you ever since you left -it. Polton went up and inspected it as soon as you arrived. I take it -that you will consider my chambers yours until such time as you may join -the benedictine majority and set up a home for yourself." - -"That is very handsome of you," said I. "You didn't mention that the -billet you offered was a resident appointment." - -"Rooms and commons included," said Thorndyke; and when I protested that -I should at least contribute to the costs of living he impatiently -waved the suggestion away. We were still arguing the question when we -reached our chambers--as I will now call them--and a diversion was -occasioned by my taking the lamp from my pocket and placing it on the -table. - -"Ah," my colleague remarked, "that is a little reminder. We will put it -on the mantelpiece for Polton to collect and you shall give me a full -account of your further adventures in the wilds of Kennington. That was -a very odd affair. I have often wondered how it ended." - -He drew our two arm-chairs up to the fire, put on some more coal, placed -the tobacco jar on the table exactly equidistant from the two chairs, -and settled himself with the air of a man who is anticipating an -agreeable entertainment. - -I filled my pipe, and, taking up the thread of the story where I had -broken off on the last occasion, began to outline my later experiences. -But he brought me up short. - -"Don't be sketchy, Jervis. To be sketchy is to be vague. Detail, my -child, detail is the soul of induction. Let us have all the facts. We -can sort them out afterwards." - -I began afresh in a vein of the extremest circumstantiality. With -deliberate malice I loaded a prolix narrative with every triviality that -a fairly retentive memory could rake out of the half-forgotten past. I -cudgelled my brains for irrelevant incidents. I described with the -minutest accuracy things that had not the faintest significance. I drew -a vivid picture of the carriage inside and out; I painted a lifelike -portrait of the horse, even going into particulars of the harness--which -I was surprised to find that I had noticed. I described the furniture of -the dining-room and the cobwebs that had hung from the ceiling; the -auction-ticket on the chest of drawers, the rickety table and the -melancholy chairs. I gave the number per minute of the patient's -respirations and the exact quantity of coffee consumed on each occasion, -with an exhaustive description of the cup from which it was taken; and I -left no personal details unconsidered, from the patient's finger-nails -to the roseate pimples on Mr. Weiss's nose. - -But my tactics of studied prolixity were a complete failure. The attempt -to fatigue Thorndyke's brain with superabundant detail was like trying -to surfeit a pelican with whitebait. He consumed it all with calm -enjoyment and asked for more; and when, at last, I did really begin to -think that I had bored him a little, he staggered me by reading over his -notes and starting a brisk cross-examination to elicit fresh facts! And -the most surprising thing of all was that when I had finished I seemed -to know a great deal more about the case than I had ever known before. - -"It was a very remarkable affair," he observed, when the -cross-examination was over--leaving me somewhat in the condition of a -cider-apple that has just been removed from a hydraulic press--"a very -suspicious affair with a highly unsatisfactory end. I am not sure that I -entirely agree with your police officer. Nor do I fancy that some of my -acquaintances at Scotland Yard would have agreed with him." - -"Do you think I ought to have taken any further measures?" I asked -uneasily. - -"No; I don't see how you could. You did all that was possible under the -circumstances. You gave information, which is all that a private -individual can do, especially if he is an overworked general -practitioner. But still, an actual crime is the affair of every good -citizen. I think we ought to take some action." - -"You think there really was a crime, then?" - -"What else can one think? What do you think about it yourself?" - -"I don't like to think about it at all. The recollection of that -corpse-like figure in that gloomy bedroom has haunted me ever since I -left the house. What do you suppose has happened?" - -Thorndyke did not answer for a few seconds. At length he said gravely: - -"I am afraid, Jervis, that the answer to that question can be given in -one word." - -"Murder?" I asked with a slight shudder. - -He nodded, and we were both silent for a while. - -"The probability," he resumed after a pause, "that Mr. Graves is alive -at this moment seems to me infinitesimal. There was evidently a -conspiracy to murder him, and the deliberate, persistent manner in which -that object was being pursued points to a very strong and definite -motive. Then the tactics adopted point to considerable forethought and -judgment. They are not the tactics of a fool or an ignoramus. We may -criticize the closed carriage as a tactical mistake, calculated to -arouse suspicion, but we have to weigh it against its alternative." - -"What is that?" - -"Well, consider the circumstances. Suppose Weiss had called you in in -the ordinary way. You would still have detected the use of poison. But -now you could have located your man and made inquiries about him in the -neighbourhood. You would probably have given the police a hint and they -would almost certainly have taken action, as they would have had the -means of identifying the parties. The result would have been fatal to -Weiss. The closed carriage invited suspicion, but it was a great -safeguard. Weiss's method's were not so unsound after all. He is a -cautious man, but cunning and very persistent. And he could be bold on -occasion. The use of the blinded carriage was a decidedly audacious -proceeding. I should put him down as a gambler of a very discreet, -courageous and resourceful type." - -"Which all leads to the probability that he has pursued his scheme and -brought it to a successful issue." - -"I am afraid it does. But--have you got your notes of the -compass-bearings?" - -"The book is in my overcoat pocket with the board. I will fetch them." - -I went into the office, where our coats hung, and brought back the -notebook with the little board to which it was still attached by the -rubber band. Thorndyke took them from me, and, opening the book, ran -his eye quickly down one page after another. Suddenly he glanced at the -clock. - -"It is a little late to begin," said he, "but these notes look rather -alluring. I am inclined to plot them out at once. I fancy, from their -appearance, that they will enable us to locate the house without much -difficulty. But don't let me keep you up if you are tired. I can work -them out by myself." - -"You won't do anything of the kind," I exclaimed. "I am as keen on -plotting them as you are, and, besides, I want to see how it is done. It -seems to be a rather useful accomplishment." - -"It is," said Thorndyke. "In our work, the ability to make a rough but -reliable sketch survey is often of great value. Have you ever looked -over these notes?" - -"No. I put the book away when I came in and have never looked at it -since." - -"It is a quaint document. You seem to be rich in railway bridges in -those parts, and the route was certainly none of the most direct, as you -noticed at the time. However, we will plot it out and then we shall see -exactly what it looks like and whither it leads us." - -He retired to the laboratory and presently returned with a T-square, a -military protractor, a pair of dividers and a large drawing-board on -which was pinned a sheet of cartridge paper. - -"Now," said he, seating himself at the table with the board before him, -"as to the method. You started from a known position and you arrived at -a place the position of which is at present unknown. We shall fix the -position of that spot by applying two factors, the distance that you -travelled and the direction in which you were moving. The direction is -given by the compass; and, as the horse seems to have kept up a -remarkably even pace, we can take time as representing distance. You -seem to have been travelling at about eight miles an hour, that is, -roughly, a seventh of a mile in one minute. So if, on our chart, we take -one inch as representing one minute, we shall be working with a scale of -about seven inches to the mile." - -"That doesn't sound very exact as to distance," I objected. - -"It isn't. But that doesn't matter much. We have certain landmarks, such -as these railway arches that you have noted, by which the actual -distance can be settled after the route is plotted. You had better read -out the entries, and, opposite each, write a number for reference, so -that we need not confuse the chart by writing details on it. I shall -start near the middle of the board, as neither you nor I seem to have -the slightest notion what your general direction was." - -I laid the open notebook before me and read out the first entry: - -"'Eight fifty-eight. West by South. Start from home. Horse thirteen -hands.'" - -"You turned round at once, I understand," said Thorndyke, "so we draw no -line in that direction. The next is--?" - -"'Eight fifty-eight minutes, thirty seconds, East by North'; and the -next is 'Eight fifty-nine, North-east.'" - -"Then you travelled east by north about a fifteenth of a mile and we -shall put down half an inch on the chart. Then you turned north-east. -How long did you go on?" - -"Exactly a minute. The next entry is 'Nine. West north-west.'" - -"Then you travelled about the seventh of a mile in a north-easterly -direction and we draw a line an inch long at an angle of forty-five -degrees to the right of the north and south line. From the end of that -we carry a line at an angle of fifty-six and a quarter degrees to the -left of the north and south line, and so on. The method is perfectly -simple, you see." - -"Perfectly; I quite understand it now." - -I went back to my chair and continued to read out the entries from the -notebook while Thorndyke laid off the lines of direction with the -protractor, taking out the distances with the dividers from a scale of -equal parts on the back of the instrument. As the work proceeded, I -noticed, from time to time, a smile of quiet amusement spread over my -colleague's keen, attentive face, and at each new reference to a railway -bridge he chuckled softly. - -"What, again!" he laughed, as I recorded the passage of the fifth or -sixth bridge. "It's like a game of croquet. Go on. What is the next?" - -I went on reading out the notes until I came to the final one: - -"'Nine twenty-four. South-east. In covered way. Stop. Wooden gates -closed.'" - -Thorndyke ruled off the last line, remarking: "Then your covered way is -on the south side of a street which bears north-east. So we complete our -chart. Just look at your route, Jervis." - -He held up the board with a quizzical smile and I stared in astonishment -at the chart. The single line, which represented the route of the -carriage, zigzagged in the most amazing manner, turning, re-turning and -crossing itself repeatedly, evidently passing more than once down the -same thoroughfares and terminating at a comparatively short distance -from its commencement. - -"Why!" I exclaimed, the "rascal must have lived quite near to -Stillbury's house!" - -Thorndyke measured with the dividers the distance between the starting -and arriving points of the route and took it off from the scale. - -"Five-eighths of a mile, roughly," he said. "You could have walked it in -less than ten minutes. And now let us get out the ordnance map and see -if we can give to each of those marvellously erratic lines 'a local -habitation and a name.'" - -He spread the map out on the table and placed our chart by its side. - -"I think," said he, "you started from Lower Kennington Lane?" - -"Yes, from this point," I replied, indicating the spot with a pencil. - -"Then," said Thorndyke, "if we swing the chart round twenty degrees to -correct the deviation of the compass, we can compare it with the -ordnance map." - -He set off with the protractor an angle of twenty degrees from the -north and south line and turned the chart round to that extent. After -closely scrutinizing the map and the chart and comparing the one with -the other, he said: - -"By mere inspection it seems fairly easy to identify the thoroughfares -that correspond to the lines of the chart. Take the part that is near -your destination. At nine twenty-one you passed under a bridge, going -westward. That would seem to be Glasshouse Street. Then you turned -south, apparently along the Albert Embankment, where you heard the tug's -whistle. Then you heard a passenger train start on your left; that would -be Vauxhall Station. Next you turned round due east and passed under a -large railway bridge, which suggests the bridge that carries the Station -over Upper Kennington Lane. If that is so, your house should be on the -south side of Upper Kennington Lane, some three hundred yards from the -bridge. But we may as well test our inferences by one or two -measurements." - -"How can you do that if you don't know the exact scale of the chart?" - -"I will show you," said Thorndyke. "We shall establish the true scale -and that will form part of the proof." - -He rapidly constructed on the upper blank part of the paper, a -proportional diagram consisting of two intersecting lines with a single -cross-line. - -"This long line," he explained, "is the distance from Stillbury's house -to the Vauxhall railway bridge as it appears on the chart; the shorter -cross-line is the same distance taken from the ordnance map. If our -inference is correct and the chart is reasonably accurate, all the other -distances will show a similar proportion. Let us try some of them. Take -the distance from Vauxhall bridge to the Glasshouse Street bridge." - -[Illustration: The Track Chart, showing the route followed by Weiss's -carriage. - -A.--Starting-point in Lower Kennington Lane. - -B.--Position of Mr. Weiss's house. The dotted lines connecting the -bridges indicate probable railway lines.] - -He made the two measurements carefully, and, as the point of the -dividers came down almost precisely in the correct place on the diagram, -he looked up at me. - -"Considering the roughness of the method by which the chart was made, I -think that is pretty conclusive, though, if you look at the various -arches that you passed under and see how nearly they appear to follow -the position of the South-Western Railway line, you hardly need further -proof. But I will take a few more proportional measurements for the -satisfaction of proving the case by scientific methods before we proceed -to verify our conclusions by a visit to the spot." - -He took off one or two more distances, and on comparing them with the -proportional distances on the ordnance map, found them in every case as -nearly correct as could be expected. - -"Yes," said Thorndyke, laying down the dividers, "I think we have -narrowed down the locality of Mr. Weiss's house to a few yards in a -known street. We shall get further help from your note of nine -twenty-three thirty, which records a patch of newly laid macadam -extending up to the house." - -"That new macadam will be pretty well smoothed down by now," I objected. - -"Not so very completely," answered Thorndyke. "It is only a little over -a month ago, and there has been very little wet weather since. It may be -smooth, but it will be easily distinguishable from the old." - -"And do I understand that you propose to go and explore the -neighbourhood?" - -"Undoubtedly I do. That is to say, I intend to convert the locality of -this house into a definite address; which, I think, will now be -perfectly easy, unless we should have the bad luck to find more than one -covered way. Even then, the difficulty would be trifling." - -"And when you have ascertained where Mr. Weiss lives? What then?" - -"That will depend on circumstances. I think we shall probably call at -Scotland Yard and have a little talk with our friend Mr. Superintendent -Miller; unless, for any reason, it seems better to look into the case -ourselves." - -"When is this voyage of exploration to take place?" - -Thorndyke considered this question, and, taking out his pocket-book, -glanced through his engagements. - -"It seems to me," he said, "that to-morrow is a fairly free day. We -could take the morning without neglecting other business. I suggest that -we start immediately after breakfast. How will that suit my learned -friend?" - -"My time is yours," I replied; "and if you choose to waste it on matters -that don't concern you, that's your affair." - -"Then we will consider the arrangement to stand for to-morrow morning, -or rather, for this morning, as I see that it is past twelve." - -With this Thorndyke gathered up the chart and instruments and we -separated for the night. - - - - -Chapter IX - -The House of Mystery - - -Half-past nine on the following morning found us spinning along the -Albert Embankment in a hansom to the pleasant tinkle of the horse's -bell. Thorndyke appeared to be in high spirits, though the full -enjoyment of the matutinal pipe precluded fluent conversation. As a -precaution, he had put my notebook in his pocket before starting, and -once or twice he took it out and looked over its pages; but he made no -reference to the object of our quest, and the few remarks that he -uttered would have indicated that his thoughts were occupied with other -matters. - -Arrived at Vauxhall Station, we alighted and forthwith made our way to -the bridge that spans Upper Kennington Lane near its junction with -Harleyford Road. - -"Here is our starting point," said Thorndyke. "From this place to the -house is about three hundred yards--say four hundred and twenty -paces--and at about two hundred paces we ought to reach our patch of new -road-metal. Now, are you ready? If we keep step we shall average our -stride." - -We started together at a good pace, stepping out with military -regularity and counting aloud as we went. As we told out the hundred and -ninety-fourth pace I observed Thorndyke nod towards the roadway a little -ahead, and, looking at it attentively as we approached, it was easy to -see by the regularity of surface and lighter colour, that it had -recently been re-metalled. - -Having counted out the four hundred and twenty paces, we halted, and -Thorndyke turned to me with a smile of triumph. - -"Not a bad estimate, Jervis," said he. "That will be your house if I am -not much mistaken. There is no other mews or private roadway in sight." - -He pointed to a narrow turning some dozen yards ahead, apparently the -entrance to a mews or yard and closed by a pair of massive wooden gates. - -"Yes," I answered, "there can be no doubt that this is the place; but, -by Jove!" I added, as we drew nearer, "the nest is empty! Do you see?" - -I pointed to a bill that was stuck on the gate, bearing, as I could see -at this distance, the inscription "To Let." - -"Here is a new and startling, if not altogether unexpected, -development," said Thorndyke, as we stood gazing at the bill; which set -forth that "these premises, including stabling and workshops," were "to -be let on lease or otherwise," and referred inquiries to Messrs. Ryebody -Brothers, house-agents and valuers, Upper Kennington Lane. "The question -is, should we make a few inquiries of the agent, or should we get the -keys and have a look at the inside of the house? I am inclined to do -both, and the latter first, if Messrs. Ryebody Brothers will trust us -with the keys." - -We proceeded up the lane to the address given, and, entering the -office, Thorndyke made his request--somewhat to the surprise of the -clerk; for Thorndyke was not quite the kind of person whom one naturally -associates with stabling and workshops. However, there was no -difficulty, but as the clerk sorted out the keys from a bunch hanging -from a hook, he remarked: - -"I expect you will find the place in a rather dirty and neglected -condition. The house has not been cleaned yet; it is just as it was left -when the brokers took away the furniture." - -"Was the last tenant sold up, then?" Thorndyke asked. - -"Oh, no. He had to leave rather unexpectedly to take up some business in -Germany." - -"I hope he paid his rent," said Thorndyke. - -"Oh, yes. Trust us for that. But I should say that Mr. Weiss--that was -his name--was a man of some means. He seemed to have plenty of money, -though he always paid in notes. I don't fancy he had a banking account -in this country. He hadn't been here more than about six or seven months -and I imagine he didn't know many people in England, as he paid us a -cash deposit in lieu of references when he first came." - -"I think you said his name was Weiss. It wouldn't be H. Weiss by any -chance?" - -"I believe it was. But I can soon tell you." He opened a drawer and -consulted what looked like a book of receipt forms. "Yes; H Weiss. Do -you know him, sir?" - -"I knew a Mr. H. Weiss some years ago. He came from Bremen, I -remember." - -"This Mr. Weiss has gone back to Hamburg," the clerk observed. - -"Ah," said Thorndyke, "then it would seem not to be the same. My -acquaintance was a fair man with a beard and a decidedly red nose and he -wore spectacles." - -"That's the man. You've described him exactly," said the clerk, who was -apparently rather easily satisfied in the matter of description. - -"Dear me," said Thorndyke; "what a small world it is. Do you happen to -have a note of his address in Hamburg?" - -"I haven't," the clerk replied. "You see we've done with him, having got -the rent, though the house is not actually surrendered yet. Mr Weiss's -housekeeper still has the front-door key. She doesn't start for Hamburg -for a week or so, and meanwhile she keeps the key so that she can call -every day and see if there are any letters." - -"Indeed," said Thorndyke. "I wonder if he still has the same -housekeeper." - -"This lady is a German," replied the clerk, "with a regular jaw-twisting -name. Sounded like Shallybang." - -"Schallibaum. That is the lady. A fair woman with hardly any eyebrows -and a pronounced cast in the left eye." - -"Now that's very curious, sir," said the clerk. "It's the same name, and -this is a fair woman with remarkably thin eyebrows, I remember, now that -you mention it. But it can't be the same person. I have only seen her a -few times and then only just for a minute or so; but I'm quite certain -she had no cast in her eye. So, you see, sir, she can't be the same -person. You can dye your hair or you can wear a wig or you can paint -your face; but a squint is a squint. There's no faking a swivel eye." - -Thorndyke laughed softly. "I suppose not; unless, perhaps, some one -might invent an adjustable glass eye. Are these the keys?" - -"Yes, sir. The large one belongs to the wicket in the front gate. The -other is the latch-key belonging to the side door. Mrs. Shallybang has -the key of the front door." - -"Thank you," said Thorndyke. He took the keys, to which a wooden label -was attached, and we made our way back towards the house of mystery, -discussing the clerk's statements as we went. - -"A very communicable young gentleman, that," Thorndyke remarked. "He -seemed quite pleased to relieve the monotony of office work with a -little conversation. And I am sure I was very delighted to indulge him." - -"He hadn't much to tell, all the same," said I. - -Thorndyke looked at me in surprise. "I don't know what you would have, -Jervis, unless you expect casual strangers to present you with a -ready-made body of evidence, fully classified, with all the inferences -and implications stated. It seemed to me that he was a highly -instructive young man." - -"What did you learn from him?" I asked. - -"Oh, come, Jervis," he protested; "is that a fair question, under our -present arrangement? However, I will mention a few points. We learn that -about six or seven months ago, Mr. H. Weiss dropped from the clouds into -Kennington Lane and that he has now ascended from Kennington Lane into -the clouds. That is a useful piece of information. Then we learn that -Mrs. Schallibaum has remained in England; which might be of little -importance if it were not for a very interesting corollary that it -suggests." - -"What is that?" - -"I must leave you to consider the facts at your leisure; but you will -have noticed the ostensible reason for her remaining behind. She is -engaged in puttying up the one gaping joint in their armour. One of them -has been indiscreet enough to give this address to some -correspondent--probably a foreign correspondent. Now, as they obviously -wish to leave no tracks, they cannot give their new address to the Post -Office to have their letters forwarded, and, on the other hand, a letter -left in the box might establish such a connection as would enable them -to be traced. Moreover, the letter might be of a kind that they would -not wish to fall into the wrong hands. They would not have given this -address excepting under some peculiar circumstances." - -"No, I should think not, if they took this house for the express purpose -of committing a crime in it." - -"Exactly. And then there is one other fact that you may have gathered -from our young friend's remarks." - -"What is that?" - -"That a controllable squint is a very valuable asset to a person who -wishes to avoid identification." - -"Yes, I did note that. The fellow seemed to think that it was absolutely -conclusive." - -"And so would most people; especially in the case of a squint of that -kind. We can all squint towards our noses, but no normal person can turn -his eyes away from one another. My impression is that the presence or -absence, as the case might be, of a divergent squint would be accepted -as absolute disproof of identity. But here we are." - -He inserted the key into the wicket of the large gate, and, when we had -stepped through into the covered way, he locked it from the inside. - -"Why have you locked us in?" I asked, seeing that the wicket had a -latch. - -"Because," he replied, "if we now hear any one on the premises we shall -know who it is. Only one person besides ourselves has a key." - -His reply startled me somewhat. I stopped and looked at him. - -"That is a quaint situation, Thorndyke. I hadn't thought of it. Why she -may actually come to the house while we are here; in fact, she may be in -the house at this moment." - -"I hope not," said he. "We don't particularly want Mr. Weiss to be put -on his guard, for I take it, he is a pretty wide-awake gentleman under -any circumstances. If she does come, we had better keep out of sight. I -think we will look over the house first. That is of the most interest to -us. If the lady does happen to come while we are here, she may stay to -show us over the place and keep an eye on us. So we will leave the -stables to the last." - -We walked down the entry to the side door at which I had been admitted -by Mrs. Schallibaum on the occasion of my previous visits. Thorndyke -inserted the latch-key, and, as soon as we were inside, shut the door -and walked quickly through into the hall, whither I followed him. He -made straight for the front door, where, having slipped up the catch of -the lock, he began very attentively to examine the letter-box. It was a -somewhat massive wooden box, fitted with a lock of good quality and -furnished with a wire grille through which one could inspect the -interior. - -"We are in luck, Jervis," Thorndyke remarked. "Our visit has been most -happily timed. There is a letter in the box." - -"Well," I said, "we can't get it out; and if we could, it would be -hardly justifiable." - -"I don't know," he replied, "that I am prepared to assent off-hand to -either of those propositions; but I would rather not tamper with another -person's letter, even if that person should happen to be a murderer. -Perhaps we can get the information we want from the outside of the -envelope." - -He produced from his pocket a little electric lamp fitted with a -bull's-eye, and, pressing the button, threw a beam of light in through -the grille. The letter was lying on the bottom of the box face upwards, -so that the address could easily be read. - -"Herrn Dr. H. Weiss," Thorndyke read aloud. "German stamp, postmark -apparently Darmstadt. You notice that the 'Herrn Dr.' is printed and the -rest written. What do you make of that?" - -"I don't quite know. Do you think he is really a medical man?" - -"Perhaps we had better finish our investigation, in case we are -disturbed, and discuss the bearings of the facts afterwards. The name of -the sender may be on the flap of the envelope. If it is not, I shall -pick the lock and take out the letter. Have you got a probe about you?" - -"Yes; by force of habit I am still carrying my pocket case." - -I took the little case from my pocket and extracting from it a jointed -probe of thickish silver wire, screwed the two halves together and -handed the completed instrument to Thorndyke; who passed the slender rod -through the grille and adroitly turned the letter over. - -"Ha!" he exclaimed with deep satisfaction, as the light fell on the -reverse of the envelope, "we are saved from the necessity of theft--or -rather, unauthorized borrowing--'Johann Schnitzler, Darmstadt.' That is -all that we actually want. The German police can do the rest if -necessary." - -He handed me back my probe, pocketed his lamp, released the catch of the -lock on the door, and turned away along the dark, musty-smelling hall. - -"Do you happen to know the name of Johann Schnitzler?" he asked. - -I replied that I had no recollection of ever having heard the name -before. - -"Neither have I," said he; "but I think we may form a pretty shrewd -guess as to his avocation. As you saw, the words 'Herrn Dr.' were -printed on the envelope, leaving the rest of the address to be written -by hand. The plain inference is that he is a person who habitually -addresses letters to medical men, and as the style of the envelope and -the lettering--which is printed, not embossed--is commercial, we may -assume that he is engaged in some sort of trade. Now, what is a likely -trade?" - -"He might be an instrument maker or a drug manufacturer; more probably -the latter, as there is an extensive drug and chemical industry in -Germany, and as Mr. Weiss seemed to have more use for drugs than -instruments." - -"Yes, I think you are right; but we will look him up when we get home. -And now we had better take a glance at the bedroom; that is, if you can -remember which room it was." - -"It was on the first floor," said I, "and the door by which I entered -was just at the head of the stairs." - -We ascended the two flights, and, as we reached the landing, I halted. - -"This was the door," I said, and was about to turn the handle when -Thorndyke caught me by the arm. - -"One moment, Jervis," said he. "What do you make of this?" - -He pointed to a spot near the bottom of the door where, on close -inspection, four good-sized screw-holes were distinguishable. They had -been neatly stopped with putty and covered with knotting, and were so -nearly the colour of the grained and varnished woodwork as to be hardly -visible. - -"Evidently," I answered, "there has been a bolt there, though it seems a -queer place to fix one." - -"Not at all," replied Thorndyke. "If you look up you will see that there -was another at the top of the door, and, as the lock is in the middle, -they must have been highly effective. But there are one or two other -points that strike one. First, you will notice that the bolts have been -fixed on quite recently, for the paint that they covered is of the same -grimy tint as that on the rest of the door. Next, they have been taken -off, which, seeing that they could hardly have been worth the trouble of -removal, seems to suggest that the person who fixed them considered that -their presence might appear remarkable, while the screw-holes, which -have been so skilfully and carefully stopped, would be less conspicuous. - -"Then, they are on the outside of the door--an unusual situation for -bedroom bolts--and were of considerable size. They were long and thick." - -"I can see, by the position of the screw-holes, that they were long; but -how do you arrive at their thickness?" - -"By the size of the counter-holes in the jamb of the door. These holes -have been very carefully filled with wooden plugs covered with knotting; -but you can make out their diameter, which is that of the bolts, and -which is decidedly out of proportion for an ordinary bedroom door. Let -me show you a light." - -He flashed his lamp into the dark corner, and I was able to see -distinctly the portentously large holes into which the bolts had fitted, -and also to note the remarkable neatness with which they had been -plugged. - -"There was a second door, I remember," said I. "Let us see if that was -guarded in a similar manner." - -We strode through the empty room, awakening dismal echoes as we trod the -bare boards, and flung open the other door. At top and bottom, similar -groups of screw-holes showed that this also had been made secure, and -that these bolts had been of the same very substantial character as the -others. - -Thorndyke turned away from the door with a slight frown. - -"If we had any doubts," said he, "as to what has been going on in this -house, these traces of massive fastenings would be almost enough to -settle them." - -"They might have been there before Weiss came," I suggested. "He only -came about seven months ago and there is no date on the screw-holes." - -"That is quite true. But when, with their recent fixture, you couple the -facts that they have been removed, that very careful measures have been -taken to obliterate the traces of their presence, and that they would -have been indispensable for the commission of the crime that we are -almost certain was being committed here, it looks like an excess of -caution to seek other explanations." - -"But," I objected, "if the man, Graves, was really imprisoned, could not -he have smashed the window and called for help?" - -"The window looks out on the yard, as you see; but I expect it was -secured too." - -He drew the massive, old-fashioned shutters out of their recess and -closed them. - -"Yes, here we are." He pointed to four groups of screw-holes at the -corners of the shutters, and, once more producing his lamp, narrowly -examined the insides of the recesses into which the shutters folded. - -"The nature of the fastening is quite evident," said he. "An iron bar -passed right across at the top and bottom and was secured by a staple -and padlock. You can see the mark the bar made in the recess when the -shutters were folded. When these bars were fixed and padlocked and the -bolts were shot, this room was as secure, for a prisoner unprovided with -tools, as a cell in Newgate." - -We looked at one another for awhile without speaking; and I fancy that -if Mr. H. Weiss could have seen our faces he might have thought it -desirable to seek some retreat even more remote than Hamburg. - -"It was a diabolical affair, Jervis," Thorndyke said at length, in an -ominously quiet and even gentle tone. "A sordid, callous, cold-blooded -crime of a type that is to me utterly unforgivable and incapable of -extenuation. Of course, it may have failed. Mr. Graves may even now be -alive. I shall make it my very especial business to ascertain whether he -is or not. And if he is not, I shall take it to myself as a sacred duty -to lay my hand on the man who has compassed his death." - -I looked at Thorndyke with something akin to awe. In the quiet -unemotional tone of his voice, in his unruffled manner and the stony -calm of his face, there was something much more impressive, more -fateful, than there could have been in the fiercest threats or the most -passionate denunciations. I felt that in those softly spoken words he -had pronounced the doom of the fugitive villain. - -He turned away from the window and glanced round the empty room. It -seemed that our discovery of the fastenings had exhausted the -information that it had to offer. - -"It is a thousand pities," I remarked, "that we were unable to look -round before they moved out the furniture. We might have found some clue -to the scoundrel's identity." - -"Yes," replied Thorndyke; "there isn't much information to be gathered -here, I am afraid. I see they have swept up the small litter from the -floor and poked it under the grate. We will turn that over, as there -seems to be nothing else, and then look at the other rooms." - -He raked out the little heap of rubbish with his stick and spread it out -on the hearth. It certainly looked unpromising enough, being just such a -rubbish heap as may be swept up in any untidy room during a move. But -Thorndyke went through it systematically, examining each item -attentively, even to the local tradesmen's bills and empty paper bags, -before laying them aside. Another rake of his stick scattered the bulky -masses of crumpled paper and brought into view an object which he picked -up with some eagerness. It was a portion of a pair of spectacles, which -had apparently been trodden on, for the side-bar was twisted and bent -and the glass was shattered into fragments. - -"This ought to give us a hint," said he. "It will probably have belonged -either to Weiss or Graves, as Mrs. Schallibaum apparently did not wear -glasses. Let us see if we can find the remainder." - -We both groped carefully with our sticks amongst the rubbish, spreading -it out on the hearth and removing the numerous pieces of crumpled paper. -Our search was rewarded by the discovery of the second eye-piece of the -spectacles, of which the glass was badly cracked but less shattered than -the other. I also picked up two tiny sticks at which Thorndyke looked -with deep interest before laying them on the mantelshelf. - -"We will consider them presently," said he. "Let us finish with the -spectacles first. You see that the left eye-glass is a concave -cylindrical lens of some sort. We can make out that much from the -fragments that remain, and we can measure the curvature when we get them -home, although that will be easier if we can collect some more fragments -and stick them together. The right eye is plain glass; that is quite -evident. Then these will have belonged to your patient, Jervis. You said -that the tremulous iris was in the right eye, I think?" - -"Yes," I replied. "These will be his spectacles, without doubt." - -"They are peculiar frames," he continued. "If they were made in this -country, we might be able to discover the maker. But we must collect as -many fragments of glass as we can." - -Once more we searched amongst the rubbish and succeeded, eventually, in -recovering some seven or eight small fragments of the broken -spectacle-glasses, which Thorndyke laid on the mantelshelf beside the -little sticks. - -"By the way, Thorndyke," I said, taking up the latter to examine them -afresh, "what are these things? Can you make anything of them?" - -He looked at them thoughtfully for a few moments and then replied: - -"I don't think I will tell you what they are. You should find that out -for yourself, and it will be well worth your while to do so. They are -rather suggestive objects under the circumstances. But notice their -peculiarities carefully. Both are portions of some smooth, stout reed. -There is a long, thin stick--about six inches long--and a thicker piece -only three inches in length. The longer piece has a little scrap of red -paper stuck on at the end; apparently a portion of a label of some kind -with an ornamental border. The other end of the stick has been broken -off. The shorter, stouter stick has had its central cavity artificially -enlarged so that it fits over the other to form a cap or sheath. Make a -careful note of those facts and try to think what they probably mean; -what would be the most likely use for an object of this kind. When you -have ascertained that, you will have learned something new about this -case. And now, to resume our investigations. Here is a very suggestive -thing." He picked up a small, wide-mouthed bottle and, holding it up for -my inspection, continued: "Observe the fly sticking to the inside, and -the name on the label, 'Fox, Russell Street, Covent Garden.'" - -"I don't know Mr. Fox." - -"Then I will inform you that he is a dealer in the materials for -'make-up,' theatrical or otherwise, and will leave you to consider the -bearing of this bottle on our present investigation. There doesn't seem -to be anything else of interest in this El Dorado excepting that screw, -which you notice is about the size of those with which the bolts were -fastened on the doors. I don't think it is worth while to unstop any of -the holes to try it; we should learn nothing fresh." - -He rose, and, having kicked the discarded rubbish back under the grate, -gathered up his gleanings from the mantelpiece, carefully bestowing the -spectacles and the fragments of glass in the tin box that he appeared -always to carry in his pocket, and wrapping the larger objects in his -handkerchief. - -"A poor collection," was his comment, as he returned the box and -handkerchief to his pocket, "and yet not so poor as I had feared. -Perhaps, if we question them closely enough, these unconsidered trifles -may be made to tell us something worth learning after all. Shall we go -into the other room?" - -We passed out on to the landing and into the front room, where, guided -by experience, we made straight for the fire-place. But the little heap -of rubbish there contained nothing that even Thorndyke's inquisitive eye -could view with interest. We wandered disconsolately round the room, -peering into the empty cupboards and scanning the floor and the corners -by the skirting, without discovering a single object or relic of the -late occupants. In the course of my perambulations I halted by the -window and was looking down into the street when Thorndyke called to me -sharply: - -"Come away from the window, Jervis! Have you forgotten that Mrs. -Schallibaum may be in the neighbourhood at this moment?" - -As a matter of fact I had entirely forgotten the matter, nor did it now -strike me as anything but the remotest of possibilities. I replied to -that effect. - -"I don't agree with you," Thorndyke rejoined. "We have heard that she -comes here to look for letters. Probably she comes every day, or even -oftener. There is a good deal at stake, remember, and they cannot feel -quite as secure as they would wish. Weiss must have seen what view you -took of the case and must have had some uneasy moments thinking of what -you might do. In fact, we may take it that the fear of you drove them -out of the neighbourhood, and that they are mighty anxious to get that -letter and cut the last link that binds them to this house." - -"I suppose that is so," I agreed; "and if the lady should happen to pass -this way and should see me at the window and recognize me, she would -certainly smell a rat." - -"A rat!" exclaimed Thorndyke. "She would smell a whole pack of foxes, -and Mr. H. Weiss would be more on his guard than ever. Let us have a -look at the other rooms; there is nothing here." - -We went up to the next floor and found traces of recent occupation in -one room only. The garrets had evidently been unused, and the kitchen -and ground-floor rooms offered nothing that appeared to Thorndyke worth -noting. Then we went out by the side door and down the covered way into -the yard at the back. The workshops were fastened with rusty padlocks -that looked as if they had not been disturbed for months. The stables -were empty and had been tentatively cleaned out, the coach-house was -vacant, and presented no traces of recent use excepting a half-bald -spoke-brush. We returned up the covered way and I was about to close the -side door, which Thorndyke had left ajar, when he stopped me. - -"We'll have another look at the hall before we go," said he; and, -walking softly before me, he made his way to the front door, where, -producing his lamp, he threw a beam of light into the letter-box. - -"Any more letters?" I asked. - -"Any more!" he repeated. "Look for yourself." - -I stooped and peered through the grille into the lighted interior; and -then I uttered an exclamation. - -The box was empty. - -Thorndyke regarded me with a grim smile. "We have been caught on the -hop, Jervis, I suspect," said he. - -"It is queer," I replied. "I didn't hear any sound of the opening or -closing of the door; did you?" - -"No; I didn't hear any sound; which makes me suspect that she did. She -would have heard our voices and she is probably keeping a sharp look-out -at this very moment. I wonder if she saw you at the window. But whether -she did or not, we must go very warily. Neither of us must return to the -Temple direct, and we had better separate when we have returned the keys -and I will watch you out of sight and see if anyone is following you. -What are you going to do?" - -"If you don't want me, I shall run over to Kensington and drop in to -lunch at the Hornbys'. I said I would call as soon as I had an hour or -so free." - -"Very well. Do so; and keep a look-out in case you are followed. I have -to go down to Guildford this afternoon. Under the circumstances, I shall -not go back home, but send Polton a telegram and take a train at -Vauxhall and change at some small station where I can watch the -platform. Be as careful as you can. Remember that what you have to -avoid is being followed to any place where you are known, and, above -all, revealing your connection with number Five A, King's Bench Walk." - -Having thus considered our immediate movements, we emerged together from -the wicket, and locking it behind us, walked quickly to the -house-agents', where an opportune office-boy received the keys without -remark. As we came out of the office, I halted irresolutely and we both -looked up and down the lane. - -"There is no suspicious looking person in sight at present," Thorndyke -said, and then asked: "Which way do you think of going?" - -"It seems to me," I replied, "that my best plan would be to take a cab -or an omnibus so as to get out of the neighbourhood as quickly as -possible. If I go through Ravensden Street into Kennington Park Road, I -can pick up an omnibus that will take me to the Mansion House, where I -can change for Kensington. I shall go on the top so that I can keep a -look-out for any other omnibus or cab that may be following." - -"Yes," said Thorndyke, "that seems a good plan. I will walk with you and -see that you get a fair start." - -We walked briskly along the lane and through Ravensden Street to the -Kennington Park Road. An omnibus was approaching from the south at a -steady jog-trot and we halted at the corner to wait for it. Several -people passed us in different directions, but none seemed to take any -particular notice of us, though we observed them rather narrowly, -especially the women. Then the omnibus crawled up. I sprang on the -foot-board and ascended to the roof, where I seated myself and surveyed -the prospect to the rear. No one else got on the omnibus--which had not -stopped--and no cab or other passenger vehicle was in sight. I continued -to watch Thorndyke as he stood sentinel at the corner, and noted that no -one appeared to be making any effort to overtake the omnibus. Presently -my colleague waved his hand to me and turned back towards Vauxhall, and -I, having satisfied myself once more that no pursuing cab or hurrying -foot-passenger was in sight, decided that our precautions had been -unnecessary and settled myself in a rather more comfortable position. - - - - -Chapter X - -The Hunter Hunted - - -The omnibus of those days was a leisurely vehicle. Its ordinary pace was -a rather sluggish trot, and in a thickly populated thoroughfare its -speed was further reduced by frequent stoppages. Bearing these facts in -mind, I gave an occasional backward glance as we jogged northward, -though my attention soon began to wander from the rather remote -possibility of pursuit to the incidents of our late exploration. - -It had not been difficult to see that Thorndyke was very well pleased -with the results of our search, but excepting the letter--which -undoubtedly opened up a channel for further inquiry and possible -identification--I could not perceive that any of the traces that we had -found justified his satisfaction. There were the spectacles, for -instance. They were almost certainly the pair worn by Mr. Graves. But -what then? It was exceedingly improbable that we should be able to -discover the maker of them, and if we were, it was still more improbable -that he would be able to give us any information that would help us. -Spectacle-makers are not usually on confidential terms with their -customers. - -As to the other objects, I could make nothing of them. The little sticks -of reed evidently had some use that was known to Thorndyke and -furnished, by inference, some kind of information about Weiss, Graves, -or Mrs. Schallibaum. But I had never seen anything like them before and -they conveyed nothing whatever to me. Then the bottle that had seemed so -significant to Thorndyke was to me quite uninforming. It did, indeed, -suggest that some member of the household might be connected with the -stage, but it gave no hint as to which one. Certainly that person was -not Mr. Weiss, whose appearance was as remote from that of an actor as -could well be imagined. At any rate, the bottle and its label gave me no -more useful hint than it might be worth while to call on Mr. Fox and -make inquiries; and something told me very emphatically that this was -not what it had conveyed to Thorndyke. - -These reflections occupied me until the omnibus, having rumbled over -London Bridge and up King William Street, joined the converging streams -of traffic at the Mansion House. Here I got down and changed to an -omnibus bound for Kensington; on which I travelled westward pleasantly -enough, looking down into the teeming streets and whiling away the time -by meditating upon the very agreeable afternoon that I promised myself, -and considering how far my new arrangement with Thorndyke would justify -me in entering into certain domestic engagements of a highly interesting -kind. - -What might have happened under other circumstances it is impossible to -tell and useless to speculate; the fact is that my journey ended in a -disappointment. I arrived, all agog, at the familiar house in Endsley -Gardens only to be told by a sympathetic housemaid that the family was -out; that Mrs. Hornby had gone into the country and would not be home -until night, and--which mattered a good deal more to me--that her niece, -Miss Juliet Gibson, had accompanied her. - -Now a man who drops into lunch without announcing his intention or -previously ascertaining those of his friends has no right to quarrel -with fate if he finds an empty house. Thus philosophically I reflected -as I turned away from the house in profound discontent, demanding of the -universe in general why Mrs. Hornby need have perversely chosen my first -free day to go gadding into the country, and above all, why she must -needs spirit away the fair Juliet. This was the crowning misfortune (for -I could have endured the absence of the elder lady with commendable -fortitude), and since I could not immediately return to the Temple it -left me a mere waif and stray for the time being. - -Instinct--of the kind that manifests itself especially about one -o'clock in the afternoon--impelled me in the direction of Brompton Road, -and finally landed me at a table in a large restaurant apparently -adjusted to the needs of ladies who had come from a distance to engage -in the feminine sport of shopping. Here, while waiting for my lunch, I -sat idly scanning the morning paper and wondering what I should do with -the rest of the day; and presently it chanced that my eye caught the -announcement of a matinée at the theatre in Sloane Square. It was quite -a long time since I had been at a theatre, and, as the play--light -comedy--seemed likely to satisfy my not very critical taste, I decided -to devote the afternoon to reviving my acquaintance with the drama. -Accordingly as soon as my lunch was finished, I walked down the Brompton -Road, stepped on to an omnibus, and was duly deposited at the door of -the theatre. A couple of minutes later I found myself occupying an -excellent seat in the second row of the pit, oblivious alike of my -recent disappointment and of Thorndyke's words of warning. - -I am not an enthusiastic play-goer. To dramatic performances I am -disposed to assign nothing further than the modest function of -furnishing entertainment. I do not go to a theatre to be instructed or -to have my moral outlook elevated. But, by way of compensation, I am not -difficult to please. To a simple play, adjusted to my primitive taste, I -can bring a certain bucolic appreciation that enables me to extract from -the performance the maximum of enjoyment; and when, on this occasion, -the final curtain fell and the audience rose, I rescued my hat from its -insecure resting-place and turned to go with the feeling that I had -spent a highly agreeable afternoon. - -Emerging from the theatre, borne on the outgoing stream, I presently -found myself opposite the door of a tea-shop. Instinct--the five o'clock -instinct this time--guided me in; for we are creatures of habit, -especially of the tea habit. The unoccupied table to which I drifted was -in a shady corner not very far from the pay-desk; and here I had been -seated less than a minute when a lady passed me on her way to the -farther table. The glimpse that I caught of her as she approached--it -was but a glimpse, since she passed behind me--showed that she was -dressed in black, that she wore a beaded veil and hat, and in addition -to the glass of milk and the bun that she carried, she was encumbered by -an umbrella and a small basket, apparently containing some kind of -needlework. I must confess that I gave her very little attention at the -time, being occupied in anxious speculation as to how long it would be -before the fact of my presence would impinge on the consciousness of the -waitress. - -The exact time by the clock on the wall was three minutes and a quarter, -at the expiration of which an anaemic young woman sauntered up to the -table and bestowed on me a glance of sullen interrogation, as if mutely -demanding what the devil I wanted. I humbly requested that I might be -provided with a pot of tea; whereupon she turned on her heel (which was -a good deal worn down on the offside) and reported my conduct to a lady -behind a marble-topped counter. - -It seemed that the counter lady took a lenient view of the case, for in -less than four minutes the waitress returned and gloomily deposited on -the table before me a tea-pot, a milk-jug, a cup and saucer, a jug of -hot water, and a small pool of milk. Then she once more departed in -dudgeon. - -I had just given the tea in the pot a preliminary stir and was about to -pour out the first cup when I felt some one bump lightly against my -chair and heard something rattle on the floor. I turned quickly and -perceived the lady, whom I had seen enter, stooping just behind my -chair. It seemed that having finished her frugal meal she was on her way -out when she had dropped the little basket that I had noticed hanging -from her wrist; which basket had promptly disgorged its entire contents -on the floor. - -Now every one must have noticed the demon of agility that seems to enter -into an inanimate object when it is dropped, and the apparently -intelligent malice with which it discovers, and rolls into, the most -inaccessible places. Here was a case in point. This particular basket -had contained materials for Oriental bead-work; and no sooner had it -reached the floor than each item of its contents appeared to become -possessed of a separate and particular devil impelling it to travel at -headlong speed to some remote and unapproachable corner as distant as -possible from its fellows. - -As the only man--and almost the only person--near, the duty of -salvage-agent manifestly devolved upon me; and down I went, accordingly, -on my hands and knees, regardless of a nearly new pair of trousers, to -grope under tables, chairs and settles in reach of the scattered -treasure. A ball of the thick thread or twine I recovered from a dark -and dirty corner after a brief interview with the sharp corner of a -settle, and a multitude of the large beads with which this infernal -industry is carried on I gathered from all parts of the compass, coming -forth at length (quadrupedally) with a double handful of the -treasure-trove and a very lively appreciation of the resistant qualities -of a cast-iron table-stand when applied to the human cranium. - -The owner of the lost and found property was greatly distressed by the -accident and the trouble it had caused me; in fact she was quite -needlessly agitated about it. The hand which held the basket into which -I poured the rescued trash trembled visibly, and the brief glance that I -bestowed on her as she murmured her thanks and apologies--with a very -slight foreign accent--showed me that she was excessively pale. That -much I could see plainly in spite of the rather dim light in this part -of the shop and the beaded veil that covered her face; and I could also -see that she was a rather remarkable looking woman, with a great mass of -harsh, black hair and very broad black eyebrows that nearly met above -her nose and contrasted strikingly with the dead white of her skin. But, -of course, I did not look at her intently. Having returned her property -and received her acknowledgments, I resumed my seat and left her to go -on her way. - -I had once more grasped the handle of the tea-pot when I made a rather -curious discovery. At the bottom of the tea-cup lay a single lump of -sugar. To the majority of persons it would have meant nothing. They -would have assumed that they had dropped it in and forgotten it and -would have proceeded to pour out the tea. But it happened that, at this -time, I did not take sugar in my tea; whence it followed that the lump -had not been put in by me. Assuming, therefore, that it had been -carelessly dropped in by the waitress, I turned it out on the table, -filled the cup, added the milk, and took a tentative draught to test the -temperature. - -The cup was yet at my lips when I chanced to look into the mirror that -faced my table. Of course it reflected the part of the shop that was -behind me, including the cashier's desk; at which the owner of the -basket now stood paying for her refreshment. Between her and me was a -gas chandelier which cast its light on my back but full on her face; and -her veil notwithstanding, I could see that she was looking at me -steadily; was, in fact, watching me intently and with a very curious -expression--an expression of expectancy mingled with alarm. But this was -not all. As I returned her intent look--which I could do unobserved, -since my face, reflected in the mirror, was in deep shadow--I suddenly -perceived that that steady gaze engaged her right eye only; the other -eye was looking sharply towards her left shoulder. In short, she had a -divergent squint of the left eye. - -I put down my cup with a thrill of amazement and a sudden surging up of -suspicion and alarm. An instant's reflection reminded me that when she -had spoken to me a few moments before, both her eyes had looked into -mine without the slightest trace of a squint. My thoughts flew back to -the lump of sugar, to the unguarded milk-jug and the draught of tea that -I had already swallowed; and, hardly knowing what I intended, I started -to my feet and turned to confront her. But as I rose, she snatched up -her change and darted from the shop. Through the glass door, I saw her -spring on to the foot-board of a passing hansom and give the driver some -direction. I saw the man whip up his horse, and, by the time I reached -the door, the cab was moving off swiftly towards Sloane Street. - -I stood irresolute. I had not paid and could not run out of the shop -without making a fuss, and my hat and stick were still on the rail -opposite my seat. The woman ought to be followed, but I had no fancy for -the task. If the tea that I had swallowed was innocuous, no harm was -done and I was rid of my pursuer. So far as I was concerned, the -incident was closed. I went back to my seat, and picking up the lump of -sugar which still lay on the table where I had dropped it, put it -carefully in my pocket. But my appetite for tea was satisfied for the -present. Moreover it was hardly advisable to stay in the shop lest some -fresh spy should come to see how I fared. Accordingly I obtained my -check, handed it in at the cashier's desk and took my departure. - -All this time, it will be observed, I had been taking it for granted -that the lady in black had followed me from Kensington to this shop; -that, in fact, she was none other than Mrs. Schallibaum. And, indeed, -the circumstances had rendered the conclusion inevitable. In the very -instant when I had perceived the displacement of the left eye, complete -recognition had come upon me. When I had stood facing the woman, the -brief glance at her face had conveyed to me something dimly reminiscent -of which I had been but half conscious and had instantly forgotten. But -the sight of that characteristic squint had at once revived and -explained it. That the woman was Mrs. Schallibaum I now felt no doubt -whatever. - -Nevertheless, the whole affair was profoundly mysterious. As to the -change in the woman's appearance, there was little in that. The coarse, -black hair might be her own, dyed, or it might be a wig. The eyebrows -were made-up; it was a simple enough proceeding and made still more -simple by the beaded veil. But how did she come to be there at all? How -did she happen to be made-up in this fashion at this particular time? -And, above all, how came she to be provided with a lump of what I had -little doubt was poisoned sugar? - -I turned over the events of the day, and the more I considered them the -less comprehensible they appeared. No one had followed the omnibus -either on foot or in a vehicle, as far as I could see; and I had kept a -careful look-out, not only at starting but for some considerable time -after. Yet, all the time, Mrs. Schallibaum must have been following. -But how? If she had known that I was intending to travel by the omnibus -she might have gone to meet it and entered before I did. But she could -not have known: and moreover she did not meet the omnibus, for we -watched its approach from some considerable distance. I considered -whether she might not have been concealed in the house and overheard me -mention my destination to Thorndyke. But this failed to explain the -mystery, since I had mentioned no address beyond "Kensington." I had, -indeed, mentioned the name of Mrs. Hornby, but the supposition that my -friends might be known by name to Mrs. Schallibaum, or even that she -might have looked the name up in the directory, presented a probability -too remote to be worth entertaining. - -But, if I reached no satisfactory conclusion, my cogitations had one -useful effect; they occupied my mind to the exclusion of that -unfortunate draught of tea. Not that I had been seriously uneasy after -the first shock. The quantity that I had swallowed was not large--the -tea being hotter than I cared for--and I remembered that, when I had -thrown out the lump of sugar, I had turned the cup upside down on the -table; so there could have been nothing solid left in it. And the lump -of sugar was in itself reassuring, for it certainly would not have been -used in conjunction with any less conspicuous but more incriminating -form of poison. That lump of sugar was now in my pocket, reserved for -careful examination at my leisure; and I reflected with a faint grin -that it would be a little disconcerting if it should turn out to -contain nothing but sugar after all. - -On leaving the tea-shop, I walked up Sloane Street with the intention of -doing what I ought to have done earlier in the day. I was going to make -perfectly sure that no spy was dogging my footsteps. But for my -ridiculous confidence I could have done so quite easily before going to -Endsley Gardens; and now, made wiser by a startling experience, I -proceeded with systematic care. It was still broad daylight--for the -lamps in the tea-shop had been rendered necessary only by the faulty -construction of the premises and the dullness of the afternoon--and in -an open space I could see far enough for complete safety. Arriving at -the top of Sloane Street, I crossed Knightsbridge, and, entering Hyde -Park, struck out towards the Serpentine. Passing along the eastern -shore, I entered one of the long paths that lead towards the Marble Arch -and strode along it at such a pace as would make it necessary for any -pursuer to hurry in order to keep me in sight. Half-way across the great -stretch of turf, I halted for a few moments and noted the few people who -were coming in my direction. Then I turned sharply to the left and -headed straight for the Victoria Gate, but again, half-way, I turned off -among a clump of trees, and, standing behind the trunk of one of them, -took a fresh survey of the people who were moving along the paths. All -were at a considerable distance and none appeared to be coming my way. - -I now moved cautiously from one tree to another and passed through the -wooded region to the south, crossed the Serpentine bridge at a rapid -walk and hurrying along the south shore left the Park by Apsley House. -From hence I walked at the same rapid pace along Piccadilly, insinuating -myself among the crowd with the skill born of long acquaintance with the -London streets, crossed amidst the seething traffic at the Circus, -darted up Windmill Street and began to zigzag amongst the narrow streets -and courts of Soho. Crossing the Seven Dials and Drury Lane I passed -through the multitudinous back-streets and alleys that then filled the -area south of Lincoln's Inn, came out by Newcastle Street, Holywell -Street and Half-Moon Alley into the Strand, which I crossed immediately, -ultimately entering the Temple by Devereux Court. - -Even then I did not relax my precautions. From one court to another I -passed quickly, loitering in those dark entries and unexpected passages -that are known to so few but the regular Templars, and coming out into -the open only at the last where the wide passage of King's Bench Walk -admits of no evasion. Half-way up the stairs, I stood for some time in -the shadow, watching the approaches from the staircase window; and when, -at length, I felt satisfied that I had taken every precaution that was -possible, I inserted my key and let myself into our chambers. - -Thorndyke had already arrived, and, as I entered, he rose to greet me -with an expression of evident relief. - -"I am glad to see you, Jervis," he said. "I have been rather anxious -about you." - -"Why?" I asked. - -"For several reasons. One is that you are the sole danger that threatens -these people--as far as they know. Another is that we made a most -ridiculous mistake. We overlooked a fact that ought to have struck us -instantly. But how have you fared?" - -"Better than I deserved. That good lady stuck to me like a burr--at -least I believe she did." - -"I have no doubt she did. We have been caught napping finely, Jervis." - -"How?" - -"We'll go into that presently. Let us hear about your adventures first." - -I gave him a full account of my movements from the time when we parted -to that of my arrival home, omitting no incident that I was able to -remember and, as far as I could, reconstituting my exceedingly devious -homeward route. - -"Your retreat was masterly," he remarked with a broad smile. "I should -think that it would have utterly defeated any pursuer; and the only pity -is that it was probably wasted on the desert air. Your pursuer had by -that time become a fugitive. But you were wise to take these -precautions, for, of course, Weiss might have followed you." - -"But I thought he was in Hamburg?" - -"Did you? You are a very confiding young gentleman, for a budding -medical jurist. Of course we don't know that he is not; but the fact -that he has given Hamburg as his present whereabouts establishes a -strong presumption that he is somewhere else. I only hope that he has -not located you, and, from what you tell me of your later methods, I -fancy that you would have shaken him off even if he had started to -follow you from the tea-shop." - -"I hope so too. But how did that woman manage to stick to me in that -way? What was the mistake we made?" - -Thorndyke laughed grimly. "It was a perfectly asinine mistake, Jervis. -You started up Kennington Park Road on a leisurely, jog-trotting -omnibus, and neither you nor I remembered what there is underneath -Kennington Park Road." - -"Underneath!" I exclaimed, completely puzzled for the moment. Then, -suddenly realizing what he meant, "Of course!" I exclaimed. "Idiot that -I am! You mean the electric railway?" - -"Yes. That explains everything. Mrs. Schallibaum must have watched us -from some shop and quietly followed us up the lane. There were a good -many women about and several were walking in our direction. There was -nothing to distinguish her from the others unless you had recognized -her, which you would hardly have been able to do if she had worn a veil -and kept at a fair distance. At least I think not." - -"No," I agreed, "I certainly should not. I had only seen her in a -half-dark room. In outdoor clothes and with a veil, I should never have -been able to identify her without very close inspection. Besides there -was the disguise or make-up." - -"Not at that time. She would hardly come disguised to her own house, -for it might have led to her being challenged and asked who she was. I -think we may take it that there was no actual disguise, although she -would probably wear a shady hat and a veil; which would have prevented -either of us from picking her out from the other women in the street." - -"And what do you think happened next?" - -"I think that she simply walked past us--probably on the other side of -the road--as we stood waiting for the omnibus, and turned up Kennington -Park Road. She probably guessed that we were waiting for the omnibus and -walked up the road in the direction in which it was going. Presently the -omnibus would pass her, and there were you in full view on top keeping a -vigilant look-out in the wrong direction. Then she would quicken her -pace a little and in a minute or two would arrive at the Kennington -Station of the South London Railway. In a minute or two more she would -be in one of the electric trains whirling along under the street on -which your omnibus was crawling. She would get out at the Borough -Station, or she might take a more risky chance and go on to the -Monument; but in any case she would wait for your omnibus, hail it and -get inside. I suppose you took up some passengers on the way?" - -"Oh dear, yes. We were stopping every two or three minutes to take up or -set down passengers; and most of them were women." - -"Very well; then we may take it that when you arrived at the Mansion -House, Mrs. Schallibaum was one of your inside passengers. It was a -rather quaint situation, I think." - -"Yes, confound her! What a couple of noodles she must have thought us!" - -"No doubt. And that is the one consoling feature in the case. She will -have taken us for a pair of absolute greenhorns. But to continue. Of -course she travelled in your omnibus to Kensington--you ought to have -gone inside on both occasions, so that you could see every one who -entered and examine the inside passengers; she will have followed you to -Endsley Gardens and probably noted the house you went to. Thence she -will have followed you to the restaurant and may even have lunched -there." - -"It is quite possible," said I. "There were two rooms and they were -filled principally with women." - -"Then she will have followed you to Sloane Street, and, as you persisted -in riding outside, she could easily take an inside place in your -omnibus. As to the theatre, she must have taken it as a veritable gift -of the gods; an arrangement made by you for her special convenience." - -"Why?" - -"My dear fellow! consider. She had only to follow you in and see you -safely into your seat and there you were, left till called for. She -could then go home, make up for her part; draw out a plan of action, -with the help, perhaps, of Mr. Weiss, provide herself with the necessary -means and appliances and, at the appointed time, call and collect you." - -"That is assuming a good deal," I objected. "It is assuming, for -instance, that she lives within a moderate distance of Sloane Square. -Otherwise it would have been impossible." - -"Exactly. That is why I assume it. You don't suppose that she goes about -habitually with lumps of prepared sugar in her pocket. And if not, then -she must have got that lump from somewhere. Then the beads suggest a -carefully prepared plan, and, as I said just now, she can hardly have -been made-up when she met us in Kennington Lane. From all of which it -seems likely that her present abode is not very far from Sloane Square." - -"At any rate," said I, "it was taking a considerable risk. I might have -left the theatre before she came back." - -"Yes," Thorndyke agreed. "But it is like a woman to take chances. A man -would probably have stuck to you when once he had got you off your -guard. But she was ready to take chances. She chanced the railway, and -it came off; she chanced your remaining in the theatre, and that came -off too. She calculated on the probability of your getting tea when you -came out, and she hit it off again. And then she took one chance too -many; she assumed that you probably took sugar in your tea, and she was -wrong." - -"We are taking it for granted that the sugar was prepared," I remarked. - -"Yes. Our explanation is entirely hypothetical and may be entirely -wrong. But it all hangs together, and if we find any poisonous matter in -the sugar, it will be reasonable to assume that we are right. The sugar -is the Experimentum Crucis. If you will hand it over to me, we will go -up to the laboratory and make a preliminary test or two." - -I took the lump of sugar from my pocket and gave it to him, and he -carried it to the gas-burner, by the light of which he examined it with -a lens. - -"I don't see any foreign crystals on the surface," said he; "but we had -better make a solution and go to work systematically. If it contains any -poison we may assume that it will be some alkaloid, though I will test -for arsenic too. But a man of Weiss's type would almost certainly use an -alkaloid, on account of its smaller bulk and more ready solubility. You -ought not to have carried this loose in your pocket. For legal purposes -that would seriously interfere with its value as evidence. Bodies that -are suspected of containing poison should be carefully isolated and -preserved from contact with anything that might lead to doubt in the -analysis. It doesn't matter much to us, as this analysis is only for our -own information and we can satisfy ourselves as to the state of your -pocket. But bear the rule in mind another time." - -We now ascended to the laboratory, where Thorndyke proceeded at once to -dissolve the lump of sugar in a measured quantity of distilled water by -the aid of gentle heat. - -"Before we add any acid," said he, "or introduce any fresh matter, we -will adopt the simple preliminary measure of tasting the solution. The -sugar is a disturbing factor, but some of the alkaloids and most -mineral poisons excepting arsenic have a very characteristic taste." - -He dipped a glass rod in the warm solution and applied it gingerly to -his tongue. - -"Ha!" he exclaimed, as he carefully wiped his mouth with his -handkerchief, "simple methods are often very valuable. There isn't much -doubt as to what is in that sugar. Let me recommend my learned brother -to try the flavour. But be careful. A little of this will go a long -way." - -He took a fresh rod from the rack, and, dipping it in the solution, -handed it to me. I cautiously applied it to the tip of my tongue and was -immediately aware of a peculiar tingling sensation accompanied by a -feeling of numbness. - -"Well," said Thorndyke; "what is it?" - -"Aconite," I replied without hesitation. - -"Yes," he agreed; "aconite it is, or more probably aconitine. And that, -I think, gives us all the information we want. We need not trouble now -to make a complete analysis, though I shall have a quantitative -examination made later. You note the intensity of the taste and you see -what the strength of the solution is. Evidently that lump of sugar -contained a very large dose of the poison. If the sugar had been -dissolved in your tea, the quantity that you drank would have contained -enough aconitine to lay you out within a few minutes; which would -account for Mrs. Schallibaum's anxiety to get clear of the premises. She -saw you drink from the cup, but I imagine she had not seen you turn the -sugar out." - -"No, I should say not, to judge by her expression. She looked -terrified. She is not as hardened as her rascally companion." - -"Which is fortunate for you, Jervis. If she had not been in such a -fluster, she would have waited until you had poured out your tea, which -was what she probably meant to do, or have dropped the sugar into the -milk-jug. In either case you would have got a poisonous dose before you -noticed anything amiss." - -"They are a pretty pair, Thorndyke," I exclaimed. "A human life seems to -be no more to them than the life of a fly or a beetle." - -"No; that is so. They are typical poisoners of the worst kind; of the -intelligent, cautious, resourceful kind. They are a standing menace to -society. As long as they are at large, human lives are in danger, and it -is our business to see that they do not remain at large a moment longer -than is unavoidable. And that brings us to another point. You had better -keep indoors for the next few days." - -"Oh, nonsense," I protested. "I can take care of myself." - -"I won't dispute that," said Thorndyke, "although I might. But the -matter is of vital importance and we can't be too careful. Yours is the -only evidence that could convict these people. They know that and will -stick at nothing to get rid of you--for by this time they will almost -certainly have ascertained that the tea-shop plan has failed. Now your -life is of some value to you and to another person whom I could mention; -but apart from that, you are the indispensable instrument for ridding -society of these dangerous vermin. Moreover, if you were seen abroad and -connected with these chambers, they would get the information that their -case was really being investigated in a businesslike manner. If Weiss -has not already left the country he would do so immediately, and if he -has, Mrs. Schallibaum would join him at once, and we might never be able -to lay hands on them. You must stay indoors, out of sight, and you had -better write to Miss Gibson and ask her to warn the servants to give no -information about you to anyone." - -"And how long," I asked, "am I to be held on parole?" - -"Not long, I think. We have a very promising start. If I have any luck, -I shall be able to collect all the evidence I want in about a week. But -there is an element of chance in some of it which prevents me from -giving a date. And it is just possible that I may have started on a -false track. But that I shall be able to tell you better in a day or -two." - -"And I suppose," I said gloomily, "I shall be out of the hunt -altogether?" - -"Not at all," he replied. "You have got the Blackmore case to attend to. -I shall hand you over all the documents and get you to make an orderly -digest of the evidence. You will then have all the facts and can work -out the case for yourself. Also I shall ask you to help Polton in some -little operations which are designed to throw light into dark places and -which you will find both entertaining and instructive." - -"Supposing Mrs. Hornby should propose to call and take tea with us in -the gardens?" I suggested. - -"And bring Miss Gibson with her?" Thorndyke added dryly. "No, Jervis, it -would never do. You must make that quite clear to her. It is more -probable than not that Mrs. Schallibaum made a careful note of the house -in Endsley Gardens, and as that would be the one place actually known to -her, she and Weiss--if he is in England--would almost certainly keep a -watch on it. If they should succeed in connecting that house with these -chambers, a few inquiries would show them the exact state of the case. -No; we must keep them in the dark if we possibly can. We have shown too -much of our hand already. It is hard on you, but it cannot be helped." - -"Oh, don't think I am complaining," I exclaimed. "If it is a matter of -business, I am as keen as you are. I thought at first that you were -merely considering the safety of my vile body. When shall I start on my -job?" - -"To-morrow morning. I shall give you my notes on the Blackmore case and -the copies of the will and the depositions, from which you had better -draw up a digest of the evidence with remarks as to the conclusions that -it suggests. Then there are our gleanings from New Inn to be looked over -and considered; and with regard to this case, we have the fragments of a -pair of spectacles which had better be put together into a rather more -intelligible form in case we have to produce them in evidence. That will -keep you occupied for a day or two, together with some work -appertaining to other cases. And now let us dismiss professional topics. -You have not dined and neither have I, but I dare say Polton has made -arrangements for some sort of meal. We will go down and see." - -We descended to the lower floor, where Thorndyke's anticipations were -justified by a neatly laid table to which Polton was giving the -finishing touches. - - - - -Chapter XI - -The Blackmore Case Reviewed - - -One of the conditions of medical practice is the capability of -transferring one's attention at a moment's notice from one set of -circumstances to another equally important but entirely unrelated. At -each visit on his round, the practitioner finds himself concerned with a -particular, self-contained group of phenomena which he must consider at -the moment with the utmost concentration, but which he must instantly -dismiss from his mind as he moves on to the next case. It is a difficult -habit to acquire; for an important, distressing or obscure case is apt -to take possession of the consciousness and hinder the exercise of -attention that succeeding cases demand; but experience shows the faculty -to be indispensable, and the practitioner learns in time to forget -everything but the patient with whose condition he is occupied at the -moment. - -My first morning's work on the Blackmore case showed me that the same -faculty is demanded in legal practice; and it also showed me that I had -yet to acquire it. For, as I looked over the depositions and the copy of -the will, memories of the mysterious house in Kennington Lane -continually intruded into my reflections, and the figure of Mrs. -Schallibaum, white-faced, terrified, expectant, haunted me continually. - -In truth, my interest in the Blackmore case was little more than -academic, whereas in the Kennington case I was one of the parties and -was personally concerned. To me, John Blackmore was but a name, Jeffrey -but a shadowy figure to which I could assign no definite personality, -and Stephen himself but a casual stranger. Mr. Graves, on the other -hand, was a real person. I had seen him amidst the tragic circumstances -that had probably heralded his death, and had brought away with me, not -only a lively recollection of him, but a feeling of profound pity and -concern as to his fate. The villain Weiss, too, and the terrible woman -who aided, abetted and, perhaps, even directed him, lived in my memory -as vivid and dreadful realities. Although I had uttered no hint to -Thorndyke, I lamented inwardly that I had not been given some work--if -there was any to do--connected with this case, in which I was so deeply -interested, rather than with the dry, purely legal and utterly -bewildering case of Jeffrey Blackmore's will. - -Nevertheless, I stuck loyally to my task. I read through the depositions -and the will--without getting a single glimmer of fresh light on the -case--and I made a careful digest of all the facts. I compared my -digest with Thorndyke's notes--of which I also made a copy--and found -that, brief as they were, they contained several matters that I had -overlooked. I also drew up a brief account of our visit to New Inn, with -a list of the objects that we had observed or collected. And then I -addressed myself to the second part of my task, the statement of my -conclusions from the facts set forth. - -It was only when I came to make the attempt that I realized how -completely I was at sea. In spite of Thorndyke's recommendation to study -Marchmont's statement as it was summarized in those notes which I had -copied, and of his hint that I should find in that statement something -highly significant, I was borne irresistibly to one conclusion, and one -only--and the wrong one at that, as I suspected: that Jeffrey -Blackmore's will was a perfectly regular, sound and valid document. - -I tried to attack the validity of the will from various directions, and -failed every time. As to its genuineness, that was obviously not in -question. There seemed to me only two conceivable respects in which any -objection could be raised, viz. the competency of Jeffrey to execute a -will and the possibility of undue influence having been brought to bear -on him. - -With reference to the first, there was the undoubted fact that Jeffrey -was addicted to the opium habit, and this might, under some -circumstances, interfere with a testator's competency to make a will. -But had any such circumstances existed in this case? Had the drug habit -produced such mental changes in the deceased as would destroy or weaken -his judgment? There was not a particle of evidence in favour of any such -belief. Up to the very end he had managed his own affairs, and, if his -habits of life had undergone a change, they were still the habits of a -perfectly sane and responsible man. - -The question of undue influence was more difficult. If it applied to any -person in particular, that person could be none other than John -Blackmore. Now it was an undoubted fact that, of all Jeffrey's -acquaintance, his brother John was the only one who knew that he was in -residence at New Inn. Moreover John had visited him there more than -once. It was therefore possible that influence might have been brought -to bear on the deceased. But there was no evidence that it had. The fact -that the deceased man's only brother should be the one person who knew -where he was living was not a remarkable one, and it had been -satisfactorily explained by the necessity of Jeffrey's finding a -reference on applying for the chambers. And against the theory of undue -influence was the fact that the testator had voluntarily brought his -will to the lodge and executed it in the presence of entirely -disinterested witnesses. - -In the end I had to give up the problem in despair, and, abandoning the -documents, turned my attention to the facts elicited by our visit to New -Inn. - -What had we learned from our exploration? It was clear that Thorndyke -had picked up some facts that had appeared to him important. But -important in what respect? The only possible issue that could be raised -was the validity or otherwise of Jeffrey Blackmore's will; and since the -validity of that will was supported by positive evidence of the most -incontestable kind, it seemed that nothing that we had observed could -have any real bearing on the case at all. - -But this, of course, could not be. Thorndyke was no dreamer nor was he -addicted to wild speculation. If the facts observed by us seemed to him -to be relevant to the case, I was prepared to assume that they were -relevant, although I could not see their connection with it. And, on -this assumption, I proceeded to examine them afresh. - -Now, whatever Thorndyke might have observed on his own account, I had -brought away from the dead man's chambers only a single fact; and a very -extraordinary fact it was. The cuneiform inscription was upside down. -That was the sum of the evidence that I had collected; and the question -was, What did it prove? To Thorndyke it conveyed some deep significance. -What could that significance be? - -The inverted position was not a mere temporary accident, as it might -have been if the frame had been stood on a shelf or support. It was hung -on the wall, and the plates screwed on the frame showed that its -position was permanent and that it had never hung in any other. That it -could have been hung up by Jeffrey himself was clearly inconceivable. -But allowing that it had been fixed in its present position by some -workman when the new tenant moved in, the fact remained that there it -had hung, presumably for months, and that Jeffrey Blackmore, with his -expert knowledge of the cuneiform character, had never noticed that it -was upside down; or, if he had noticed it, that he had never taken the -trouble to have it altered. - -What could this mean? If he had noticed the error but had not troubled -to correct it, that would point to a very singular state of mind, an -inertness and indifference remarkable even in an opium-smoker. But -assuming such a state of mind, I could not see that it had any bearing -on the will, excepting that it was rather inconsistent with the tendency -to make fussy and needless alterations which the testator had actually -shown. On the other hand, if he had not noticed the inverted position of -the photograph he must have been nearly blind or quite idiotic; for the -photograph was over two feet long and the characters large enough to be -read easily by a person of ordinary eyesight at a distance of forty or -fifty feet. Now he obviously was not in a state of dementia, whereas his -eyesight was admittedly bad; and it seemed to me that the only -conclusion deducible from the photograph was that it furnished a measure -of the badness of the deceased man's vision--that it proved him to have -been verging on total blindness. - -But there was nothing startling new in this. He had, himself, declared -that he was fast losing his sight. And again, what was the bearing of -his partial blindness on the will? A totally blind man cannot draw up -his will at all. But if he has eyesight sufficient to enable him to -write out and sign a will, mere defective vision will not lead him to -muddle the provisions. Yet something of this kind seemed to be in -Thorndyke's mind, for now I recalled the question that he had put to the -porter: "When you read the will over in Mr. Blackmore's presence, did -you read it aloud?" That question could have but one significance. It -implied a doubt as to whether the testator was fully aware of the exact -nature of the document that he was signing. Yet, if he was able to write -and sign it, surely he was able also to read it through, to say nothing -of the fact that, unless he was demented, he must have remembered what -he had written. - -Thus, once more, my reasoning only led me into a blind alley at the end -of which was the will, regular and valid and fulfilling all the -requirements that the law imposed. Once again I had to confess myself -beaten and in full agreement with Mr. Marchmont that "there was no -case"; that "there was nothing in dispute." Nevertheless, I carefully -fixed in the pocket file that Thorndyke had given me the copy that I had -made of his notes, together with the notes on our visit to New Inn, and -the few and unsatisfactory conclusions at which I had arrived; and this -brought me to the end of my first morning in my new capacity. - -"And how," Thorndyke asked as we sat at lunch, "has my learned friend -progressed? Does he propose that we advise Mr. Marchmont to enter a -caveat?" - -"I've read all the documents and boiled all the evidence down to a stiff -jelly; and I am in a worse fog than ever." - -"There seems to be a slight mixture of metaphors in my learned friend's -remarks. But never mind the fog, Jervis. There is a certain virtue in -fog. It serves, like a picture frame, to surround the essential with a -neutral zone that separates it from the irrelevant." - -"That is a very profound observation, Thorndyke," I remarked ironically. - -"I was just thinking so myself," he rejoined. - -"And if you could contrive to explain what it means--" - -"Oh, but that is unreasonable. When one throws off a subtly philosophic -obiter dictum one looks to the discerning critic to supply the meaning. -By the way, I am going to introduce you to the gentle art of photography -this afternoon. I am getting the loan of all the cheques that were drawn -by Jeffrey Blackmore during his residence at New Inn--there are only -twenty-three of them, all told--and I am going to photograph them." - -"I shouldn't have thought the bank people would have let them go out of -their possession." - -"They are not going to. One of the partners, a Mr. Britton, is bringing -them here himself and will be present while the photographs are being -taken; so they will not go out of his custody. But, all the same, it is -a great concession, and I should not have obtained it but for the fact -that I have done a good deal of work for the bank and that Mr. Britton -is more or less a personal friend." - -"By the way, how comes it that the cheques are at the bank? Why were -they not returned to Jeffrey with the pass-book in the usual way?" - -"I understand from Britton," replied Thorndyke, "that all Jeffrey's -cheques were retained by the bank at his request. When he was travelling -he used to leave his investment securities and other valuable documents -in his bankers' custody, and, as he has never applied to have them -returned, the bankers still have them and are retaining them until the -will is proved, when they will, of course, hand over everything to the -executors." - -"What is the object of photographing these cheques?" I asked. - -"There are several objects. First, since a good photograph is -practically as good as the original, when we have the photographs we -practically have the cheques for reference. Then, since a photograph can -be duplicated indefinitely, it is possible to perform experiments on it -which involve its destruction; which would, of course, be impossible in -the case of original cheques." - -"But the ultimate object, I mean. What are you going to prove?" - -"You are incorrigible, Jervis," he exclaimed. "How should I know what I -am going to prove? This is an investigation. If I knew the result -beforehand, I shouldn't want to perform the experiment." - -He looked at his watch, and, as we rose from the table, he said: - -"If we have finished, we had better go up to the laboratory and see that -the apparatus is ready. Mr. Britton is a busy man, and, as he is doing -us a great service, we mustn't keep him waiting when he comes." - -We ascended to the laboratory, where Polton was already busy inspecting -the massively built copying camera which--with the long, steel guides on -which the easel or copy-holder travelled--took up the whole length of -the room on the side opposite to that occupied by the chemical bench. As -I was to be inducted into the photographic art, I looked at it with more -attention than I had ever done before. - -"We've made some improvements since you were here last, sir," said -Polton, who was delicately lubricating the steel guides. "We've fitted -these steel runners instead of the blackleaded wooden ones that we used -to have. And we've made two scales instead of one. Hallo! That's the -downstairs bell. Shall I go sir?" - -"Perhaps you'd better," said Thorndyke. "It may not be Mr. Britton, and -I don't want to be caught and delayed just now." - -However, it was Mr. Britton; a breezy alert-looking middle-aged man, who -came in escorted by Polton and shook our hands cordially, having been -previously warned of my presence. He carried a small but solid hand-bag, -to which he clung tenaciously up to the very moment when its contents -were required for use. - -"So that is the camera," said he, running an inquisitive eye over the -instrument. "Very fine one, too; I am a bit of a photographer myself. -What is that graduation on the side-bar?" - -"Those are the scales," replied Thorndyke, "that shows the degree of -magnification or reduction. The pointer is fixed to the easel and -travels with it, of course, showing the exact size of the photograph. -When the pointer is opposite 0 the photograph will be identical in size -with the object photographed; when it points to, say, × 6, the -photograph will be six times as long as the object, or magnified -thirty-six times superficially, whereas if the pointer is at ÷ 6, the -photograph will be a sixth of the length of the object, or one -thirty-sixth superficial." - -"Why are there two scales?" Mr. Britton asked. - -"There is a separate scale for each of the two lenses that we -principally use. For great magnification or reduction a lens of -comparatively short focus must be used, but, as a long-focus lens gives -a more perfect image, we use one of very long focus--thirty-six -inches--for copying the same size or for slight magnification or -reduction." - -"Are you going to magnify these cheques?" Mr. Britton asked. - -"Not in the first place," replied Thorndyke. "For convenience and speed -I am going to photograph them half-size, so that six cheques will go on -one whole plate. Afterwards we can enlarge from the negatives as much as -we like. But we should probably enlarge only the signatures in any -case." - -The precious bag was now opened and the twenty-three cheques brought out -and laid on the bench in a consecutive series in the order of their -dates. They were then fixed by tapes--to avoid making pin-holes in -them--in batches of six to small drawing boards, each batch being so -arranged that the signatures were towards the middle. The first board -was clamped to the easel, the latter was slid along its guides until -the pointer stood at ÷ 2 on the long-focus scale and Thorndyke proceeded -to focus the camera with the aid of a little microscope that Polton had -made for the purpose. When Mr. Britton and I had inspected the -exquisitely sharp image on the focusing-screen through the microscope, -Polton introduced the plate and made the first exposure, carrying the -dark-slide off to develop the plate while the next batch of cheques was -being fixed in position. - -In his photographic technique, as in everything else, Polton followed as -closely as he could the methods of his principal and instructor; methods -characterized by that unhurried precision that leads to perfect -accomplishment. When the first negative was brought forth, dripping, -from the dark-room, it was without spot or stain, scratch or pin-hole; -uniform in colour and of exactly the required density. The six cheques -shown on it--ridiculously small in appearance, though only reduced to -half-length--looked as clear and sharp as fine etchings; though, to be -sure, my opportunity for examining them was rather limited, for Polton -was uncommonly careful to keep the wet plate out of reach and so safe -from injury. - -"Well," said Mr. Britton, when, at the end of the séance, he returned -his treasures to the bag, "you have now got twenty-three of our cheques, -to all intents and purposes. I hope you are not going to make any -unlawful use of them--must tell our cashiers to keep a bright look-out; -and"--here he lowered his voice impressively and addressed himself to -me and Polton--"you understand that this is a private matter between Dr. -Thorndyke and me. Of course, as Mr. Blackmore is dead, there is no -reason why his cheques should not be photographed for legal purposes; -but we don't want it talked about; nor, I think, does Dr. Thorndyke." - -"Certainly not," Thorndyke agreed emphatically; "but you need not be -uneasy, Mr. Britton. We are very uncommunicative people in this -establishment." - -As my colleague and I escorted our visitor down the stairs, he returned -to the subject of the cheques. - -"I don't understand what you want them for," he remarked. "There is no -question turning on signatures in the case of Blackmore deceased, is -there?" - -"I should say not," Thorndyke replied rather evasively. - -"I should say very decidedly not," said Mr. Britton, "if I understood -Marchmont aright. And, even if there were, let me tell you, these -signatures that you have got wouldn't help you. I have looked them over -very closely--and I have seen a few signatures in my time, you know. -Marchmont asked me to glance over them as a matter of form, but I don't -believe in matters of form; I examined them very carefully. There is an -appreciable amount of variation; a very appreciable amount. <i>But</i> under -the variation one can trace the personal character (which is what -matters); the subtle, indescribable quality that makes it recognizable -to the expert eye as Jeffrey Blackmore's writing. You understand me. -There is such a quality, which remains when the coarser characteristics -vary; just as a man may grow old, or fat, or bald, or may take to drink, -and become quite changed; and yet, through it all, he preserves a -certain something which makes him recognizable as a member of a -particular family. Well, I find that quality in all those signatures, -and so will you, if you have had enough experience of handwriting. I -thought it best to mention it in case you might be giving yourself -unnecessary trouble." - -"It is very good of you," said Thorndyke, "and I need not say that the -information is of great value, coming from such a highly expert source. -As a matter of fact, your hint will be of great value to me." - -He shook hands with Mr. Britton, and, as the latter disappeared down the -stairs, he turned into the sitting-room and remarked: - -"There is a very weighty and significant observation, Jervis. I advise -you to consider it attentively in all its bearings." - -"You mean the fact that these signatures are undoubtedly genuine?" - -"I meant, rather, the very interesting general truth that is contained -in Britton's statement; that physiognomy is not a mere matter of facial -character. A man carries his personal trademark, not in his face only, -but in his nervous system and muscles--giving rise to characteristic -movements and gait; in his larynx--producing an individual voice; and -even in his mouth, as shown by individual peculiarities of speech and -accent. And the individual nervous system, by means of these -characteristic movements, transfers its peculiarities to inanimate -objects that are the products of such movements; as we see in pictures, -in carving, in musical execution and in handwriting. No one has ever -painted quite like Reynolds or Romney; no one has ever played exactly -like Liszt or Paganini; the pictures or the sounds produced by them, -were, so to speak, an extension of the physiognomy of the artist. And so -with handwriting. A particular specimen is the product of a particular -set of motor centres in an individual brain." - -"These are very interesting considerations, Thorndyke," I remarked; "but -I don't quite see their present application. Do you mean them to bear in -any special way on the Blackmore case?" - -"I think they do bear on it very directly. I thought so while Mr. -Britton was making his very illuminating remarks." - -"I don't see how. In fact I cannot see why you are going into the -question of the signatures at all. The signature on the will is -admittedly genuine, and that seems to me to dispose of the whole -affair." - -"My dear Jervis," said he, "you and Marchmont are allowing yourselves to -be obsessed by a particular fact--a very striking and weighty fact, I -will admit, but still, only an isolated fact. Jeffrey Blackmore executed -his will in a regular manner, complying with all the necessary -formalities and conditions. In the face of that single circumstance you -and Marchmont would 'chuck up the sponge,' as the old pugilists -expressed it. Now that is a great mistake. You should never allow -yourself to be bullied and browbeaten by a single fact." - -"But, my dear Thorndyke!" I protested, "this fact seems to be final. It -covers all possibilities---unless you can suggest any other that would -cancel it." - -"I could suggest a dozen," he replied. "Let us take an instance. -Supposing Jeffrey executed this will for a wager; that he immediately -revoked it and made a fresh will, that he placed the latter in the -custody of some person and that that person has suppressed it." - -"Surely you do not make this suggestion seriously!" I exclaimed. - -"Certainly I do not," he replied with a smile. "I merely give it as an -instance to show that your final and absolute fact is really only -conditional on there being no other fact that cancels it." - -"Do you think he might have made a third will?" - -"It is obviously possible. A man who makes two wills may make three or -more; but I may say that I see no present reason for assuming the -existence of another will. What I want to impress on you is the -necessity of considering all the facts instead of bumping heavily -against the most conspicuous one and forgetting all the rest. By the -way, here is a little problem for you. What was the object of which -these are the parts?" - -He pushed across the table a little cardboard box, having first removed -the lid. In it were a number of very small pieces of broken glass, some -of which had been cemented together by their edges. - -"These, I suppose," said I, looking with considerable curiosity at the -little collection, "are the pieces of glass that we picked up in poor -Blackmore's bedroom?" - -"Yes. You see that Polton has been endeavouring to reconstitute the -object, whatever it was; but he has not been very successful, for the -fragments were too small and irregular and the collection too -incomplete. However, here is a specimen, built up of six small pieces, -which exhibits the general character of the object fairly well." - -He picked out the little irregularly shaped object and handed it to me; -and I could not but admire the neatness with which Polton had joined the -tiny fragments together. - -I took the little "restoration," and, holding it up before my eyes, -moved it to and fro as I looked through it at the window. - -"It was not a lens," I pronounced eventually. - -"No," Thorndyke agreed, "it was not a lens." - -"And so cannot have been a spectacle-glass. But the surface was -curved--one side convex and the other concave--and the little piece that -remains of the original edge seems to have been ground to fit a bezel or -frame. I should say that these are portions of a watch-glass." - -"That is Polton's opinion," said Thorndyke, "and I think you are both -wrong." - -"What do you say to the glass of a miniature or locket?" - -"That is rather more probable, but it is not my view." - -"What do you think it is?" I asked. But Thorndyke was not to be drawn. - -"I am submitting the problem for solution by my learned friend," he -replied with an exasperating smile, and then added: "I don't say that -you and Polton are wrong; only that I don't agree with you. Perhaps you -had better make a note of the properties of this object, and consider it -at your leisure when you are ruminating on the other data referring to -the Blackmore case." - -"My ruminations," I said, "always lead me back to the same point." - -"But you mustn't let them," he replied. "Shuffle your data about. Invent -hypotheses. Never mind if they seem rather wild. Don't put them aside on -that account. Take the first hypothesis that you can invent and test it -thoroughly with your facts. You will probably have to reject it, but you -will be certain to have learned something new. Then try again with a -fresh one. You remember what I told you of my methods when I began this -branch of practice and had plenty of time on my hands?" - -"I am not sure that I do." - -"Well, I used to occupy my leisure in constructing imaginary cases, -mostly criminal, for the purpose of study and for the acquirement of -experience. For instance, I would devise an ingenious fraud and would -plan it in detail, taking every precaution that I could think of against -failure or detection, considering, and elaborately providing for, every -imaginable contingency. For the time being, my entire attention was -concentrated on it, making it as perfect and secure and undetectable as -I could with the knowledge and ingenuity at my command. I behaved -exactly as if I were proposing actually to carry it out, and my life or -liberty depended on its success--excepting that I made full notes of -every detail of the scheme. Then when my plans were as complete as I -could make them, and I could think of no way in which to improve them, I -changed sides and considered the case from the standpoint of detection. -I analysed the case, I picked out its inherent and unavoidable -weaknesses, and, especially, I noted the respects in which a fraudulent -proceeding of a particular kind differed from the <i>bona fide</i> proceeding -that it simulated. The exercise was invaluable to me. I acquired as much -experience from those imaginary cases as I should from real ones, and in -addition, I learned a method which is the one that I practise to this -day." - -"Do you mean that you still invent imaginary cases as mental exercises?" - -"No; I mean that, when I have a problem of any intricacy, I invent a -case which fits the facts and the assumed motives of one of the parties. -Then I work at that case until I find whether it leads to elucidation or -to some fundamental disagreement. In the latter case I reject it and -begin the process over again." - -"Doesn't that method sometimes involve a good deal of wasted time and -energy?" I asked. - -"No; because each time that you fail to establish a given case, you -exclude a particular explanation of the facts and narrow down the field -of inquiry. By repeating the process, you are bound, in the end, to -arrive at an imaginary case which fits all the facts. Then your -imaginary case is the real case and the problem is solved. Let me -recommend you to give the method a trial." - -I promised to do so, though with no very lively expectations as to the -result, and with this, the subject was allowed, for the present, to -drop. - - - - -Chapter XII - -The Portrait - - -The state of mind which Thorndyke had advised me to cultivate was one -that did not come easily. However much I endeavoured to shuffle the -facts of the Blackmore case, there was one which inevitably turned up on -the top of the pack. The circumstances surrounding the execution of -Jeffrey Blackmore's will intruded into all my cogitations on the subject -with hopeless persistency. That scene in the porter's lodge was to me -what King Charles's head was to poor Mr. Dick. In the midst of my -praiseworthy efforts to construct some intelligible scheme of the case, -it would make its appearance and reduce my mind to instant chaos. - -For the next few days, Thorndyke was very much occupied with one or two -civil cases, which kept him in court during the whole of the sitting; -and when he came home, he seemed indisposed to talk on professional -topics. Meanwhile, Polton worked steadily at the photographs of the -signatures, and, with a view to gaining experience, I assisted him and -watched his methods. - -In the present case, the signatures were enlarged from their original -dimensions--rather less than an inch and a half in length--to a length -of four and a half inches; which rendered all the little peculiarities -of the handwriting surprisingly distinct and conspicuous. Each signature -was eventually mounted on a slip of card bearing a number and the date -of the cheque from which it was taken, so that it was possible to place -any two signatures together for comparison. I looked over the whole -series and very carefully compared those which showed any differences, -but without discovering anything more than might have been expected in -view of Mr. Britton's statement. There were some trifling variations, -but they were all very much alike, and no one could doubt, on looking at -them, that they were all written by the same hand. - -As this, however, was apparently not in dispute, it furnished no new -information. Thorndyke's object--for I felt certain that he had -something definite in his mind--must be to test something apart from the -genuineness of the signatures. But what could that something be? I dared -not ask him, for questions of that kind were anathema, so there was -nothing for it but to lie low and see what he would do with the -photographs. - -The whole series was finished on the fourth morning after my adventure -at Sloane Square, and the pack of cards was duly delivered by Polton -when he brought in the breakfast tray. Thorndyke took up the pack -somewhat with the air of a whist player, and, as he ran through them, I -noticed that the number had increased from twenty-three to twenty-four. - -"The additional one," Thorndyke explained, "is the signature to the -first will, which was in Marchmont's possession. I have added it to the -collection as it carries us back to an earlier date. The signature of -the second will presumably resembles those of the cheques drawn about -the same date. But that is not material, or, if it should become so, we -could claim to examine the second will." - -He laid the cards out on the table in the order of their dates and -slowly ran his eye down the series. I watched him closely and ventured -presently to ask: - -"Do you agree with Mr. Britton as to the general identity of character -in the whole set of signatures?" - -"Yes," he replied. "I should certainly have put them down as being all -the signatures of one person. The variations are very slight. The later -signatures are a little stiffer, a little more shaky and indistinct, and -the B's and k's are both appreciably different from those in the earlier -ones. But there is another fact which emerges when the whole series is -seen together, and it is so striking and significant a fact, that I am -astonished at its not having been remarked on by Mr. Britton." - -"Indeed!" said I, stooping to examine the photographs with fresh -interest; "what is that?" - -"It is a very simple fact and very obvious, but yet, as I have said, -very significant. Look carefully at number one, which is the signature -of the first will, dated three years ago, and compare it with number -three, dated the eighteenth of September last year." - -"They look to me identical," said I, after a careful comparison. - -"So they do to me," said Thorndyke. "Neither of them shows the change -that occurred later. But if you look at number two, dated the sixteenth -of September, you will see that it is in the later style. So is number -four, dated the twenty-third of September; but numbers five and six, -both at the beginning of October, are in the earlier style, like the -signature of the will. Thereafter all the signatures are in the new -style; but, if you compare number two, dated the sixteenth of September -with number twenty-four, dated the fourteenth of March of this year--the -day of Jeffrey's death--you see that they exhibit no difference. Both -are in the 'later style,' but the last shows no greater change than the -first. Don't you consider these facts very striking and significant?" - -I reflected a few moments, trying to make out the deep significance to -which Thorndyke was directing my attention--and not succeeding very -triumphantly. - -"You mean," I said, "that the occasional reversions to the earlier form -convey some material suggestion?" - -"Yes; but more than that. What we learn from an inspection of this -series is this: that there was a change in the character of the -signature; a very slight change, but quite recognizable. Now that change -was not gradual or insidious nor was it progressive. It occurred at a -certain definite time. At first there were one or two reversions to the -earlier form, but after number six the new style continued to the end; -and you notice that it continued without any increase in the change and -without any variation. There are no intermediate forms. Some of the -signatures are in the 'old style' and some in the 'new,' but there are -none that are half and half. So that, to repeat: We have here two types -of signature, very much alike, but distinguishable. They alternate, but -do not merge into one another to produce intermediate forms. The change -occurs abruptly, but shows no tendency to increase as time goes on; it -is not a progressive change. What do you make of that, Jervis?" - -"It is very remarkable," I said, poring over the cards to verify -Thorndyke's statements. "I don't quite know what to make of it. If the -circumstances admitted of the idea of forgery, one would suspect the -genuineness of some of the signatures. But they don't--at any rate, in -the case of the later will, to say nothing of Mr. Britton's opinion on -the signatures." - -"Still," said Thorndyke, "there must be some explanation of the change -in the character of the signatures, and that explanation cannot be the -failing eyesight of the writer; for that is a gradually progressive and -continuous condition, whereas the change in the writing is abrupt and -intermittent." - -I considered Thorndyke's remark for a few moments; and then a -light--though not a very brilliant one--seemed to break on me. - -"I think I see what you are driving at," said I. "You mean that the -change in the writing must be associated with some new condition -affecting the writer, and that that condition existed intermittently?" - -Thorndyke nodded approvingly, and I continued: - -"The only intermittent condition that we know of is the effect of opium. -So that we might consider the clearer signatures to have been made when -Jeffrey was in his normal state, and the less distinct ones after a bout -of opium-smoking." - -"That is perfectly sound reasoning," said Thorndyke. "What further -conclusion does it lead to?" - -"It suggests that the opium habit had been only recently acquired, since -the change was noticed only about the time he went to live at New Inn; -and, since the change in the writing is at first intermittent and then -continuous, we may infer that the opium-smoking was at first occasional -and later became a a confirmed habit." - -"Quite a reasonable conclusion and very clearly stated," said Thorndyke. -"I don't say that I entirely agree with you, or that you have exhausted -the information that these signatures offer. But you have started in the -right direction." - -"I may be on the right road," I said gloomily; "but I am stuck fast in -one place and I see no chance of getting any farther." - -"But you have a quantity of data," said Thorndyke. "You have all the -facts that I had to start with, from which I constructed the hypothesis -that I am now busily engaged in verifying. I have a few more data now, -for 'as money makes money' so knowledge begets knowledge, and I put my -original capital out to interest. Shall we tabulate the facts that are -in our joint possession and see what they suggest?" - -I grasped eagerly at the offer, though I had conned over my notes again -and again. - -Thorndyke produced a slip of paper from a drawer, and, uncapping his -fountain-pen, proceeded to write down the leading facts, reading each -aloud as soon as it was written. - -"1. The second will was unnecessary since it contained no new matter, -expressed no new intentions and met no new conditions, and the first -will was quite clear and efficient. - -"2. The evident intention of the testator was to leave the bulk of his -property to Stephen Blackmore. - -"3. The second will did not, under existing circumstances, give effect -to this intention, whereas the first will did. - -"4. The signature of the second will differs slightly from that of the -first, and also from what had hitherto been the testator's ordinary -signature. - -"And now we come to a very curious group of dates, which I will advise -you to consider with great attention. - -"5. Mrs. Wilson made her will at the beginning of September last year, -without acquainting Jeffrey Blackmore, who seems to have been unaware of -the existence of this will. - -"6. His own second will was dated the twelfth of November of last year. - -"7. Mrs. Wilson died of cancer on the twelfth of March this present -year. - -"8. Jeffrey Blackmore was last seen alive on the fourteenth of March. - -"9. His body was discovered on the fifteenth of March. - -"10. The change in the character of his signature began about September -last year and became permanent after the middle of October. - -"You will find that collection of facts repay careful study, Jervis, -especially when considered in relation to the further data: - -"11. That we found in Blackmore's chambers a framed inscription of large -size, hung upside down, together with what appeared to be the remains of -a watch-glass and a box of stearine candles and some other objects." - -He passed the paper to me and I pored over it intently, focusing my -attention on the various items with all the power of my will. But, -struggle as I would, no general conclusion could be made to emerge from -the mass of apparently disconnected facts. - -"Well?" Thorndyke said presently, after watching with grave interest my -unavailing efforts; "what do you make of it?" - -"Nothing!" I exclaimed desperately, slapping the paper down on the -table. "Of course, I can see that there are some queer coincidences. But -how do they bear on the case? I understand that you want to upset this -will; which we know to have been signed without compulsion or even -suggestion in the presence of two respectable men, who have sworn to the -identity of the document. That is your object, I believe?" - -"Certainly it is." - -"Then I am hanged if I see how you are going to do it. Not, I should -say, by offering a group of vague coincidences that would muddle any -brain but your own." - -Thorndyke chuckled softly but pursued the subject no farther. - -"Put that paper in your file with your other notes," he said, "and think -it over at your leisure. And now I want a little help from you. Have you -a good memory for faces?" - -"Fairly good, I think. Why?" - -"Because I have a photograph of a man whom I think you may have met. -Just look at it and tell me if you remember the face." - -He drew a cabinet size photograph from an envelope that had come by the -morning's post and handed it to me. - -"I have certainly seen this face somewhere," said I, taking the portrait -over to the window to examine it more thoroughly, "but I can't, at the -moment, remember where." - -"Try," said Thorndyke. "If you have seen the face before, you should be -able to recall the person." - -I looked intently at the photograph, and the more I looked, the more -familiar did the face appear. Suddenly the identity of the man flashed -into my mind and I exclaimed in astonishment: - -"It can't be that poor creature at Kennington, Mr. Graves?" - -"I think it can," replied Thorndyke, "and I think it is. But could you -swear to the identity in a court of law?" - -"It is my firm conviction that the photograph is that of Mr. Graves. I -would swear to that." - -"No man ought to swear to more," said Thorndyke. "Identification is -always a matter of opinion or belief. The man who will swear -unconditionally to identity from memory only is a man whose evidence -should be discredited. I think your sworn testimony would be -sufficient." - -It is needless to say that the production of this photograph filled me -with amazement and curiosity as to how Thorndyke had obtained it. But, -as he replaced it impassively in its envelope without volunteering any -explanation, I felt that I could not question him directly. -Nevertheless, I ventured to approach the subject in an indirect manner. - -"Did you get any information from those Darmstadt people?" I asked. - -"Schnitzler? Yes. I learned, through the medium of an official -acquaintance, that Dr. H. Weiss was a stranger to them; that they knew -nothing about him excepting that he had ordered from them, and been -supplied with, a hundred grammes of pure hydrochlorate of morphine." - -"All at once?" - -"No. In separate parcels of twenty-five grammes each." - -"Is that all you know about Weiss?" - -"It is all that I actually know; but it is not all that I suspect--on -very substantial grounds. By the way, what did you think of the -coachman?" - -"I don't know that I thought very much about him. Why?" - -"You never suspected that he and Weiss were one and the same person?" - -"No. How could they be? They weren't in the least alike. And one was a -Scotchman and the other a German. But perhaps you know that they were -the same?" - -"I only know what you have told me. But considering that you never saw -them together, that the coachman was never available for messages or -assistance when Weiss was with you; that Weiss always made his -appearance some time after you arrived, and disappeared some time before -you left; it has seemed to me that they might have been the same -person." - -"I should say it was impossible. They were so very different in -appearance. But supposing that they were the same; would the fact be of -any importance?" - -"It would mean that we could save ourselves the trouble of looking for -the coachman. And it would suggest some inferences, which will occur to -you if you think the matter over. But being only a speculative opinion, -at present, it would not be safe to infer very much from it." - -"You have rather taken me by surprise," I remarked. "It seems that you -have been working at this Kennington case, and working pretty actively I -imagine, whereas I supposed that your entire attention was taken up by -the Blackmore affair." - -"It doesn't do," he replied, "to allow one's entire attention to be -taken up by any one case. I have half a dozen others--minor cases, -mostly--to which I am attending at this moment. Did you think I was -proposing to keep you under lock and key indefinitely?" - -"Well, no. But I thought the Kennington case would have to wait its -turn. And I had no idea that you were in possession of enough facts to -enable you to get any farther with it." - -"But you knew all the very striking facts of the case, and you saw the -further evidence that we extracted from the empty house." - -"Do you mean those things that we picked out from the rubbish under the -grate?" - -"Yes. You saw those curious little pieces of reed and the pair of -spectacles. They are lying in the top drawer of that cabinet at this -moment, and I should recommend you to have another look at them. To me -they are most instructive. The pieces of reed offered an extremely -valuable suggestion, and the spectacles enabled me to test that -suggestion and turn it into actual information." - -"Unfortunately," said I, "the pieces of reed convey nothing to me. I -don't know what they are or of what they have formed a part." - -"I think," he replied, "that if you examine them with due consideration, -you will find their use pretty obvious. Have a good look at them and the -spectacles too. Think over all that you know of that mysterious group of -people who lived in that house, and see if you cannot form some coherent -theory of their actions. Think, also, if we have not some information in -our possession by which we might be able to identify some of them, and -infer the identity of the others. You will have a quiet day, as I shall -not be home until the evening; set yourself this task. I assure you that -you have the material for identifying--or rather for testing the -identity of--at least one of those persons. Go over your material -systematically, and let me know in the evening what further -investigations you would propose." - -"Very well," said I. "It shall be done according to your word. I will -addle my brain afresh with the affair of Mr. Weiss and his patient, and -let the Blackmore case rip." - -"There is no need to do that. You have a whole day before you. An hour's -really close consideration of the Kennington case ought to show you what -your next move should be, and then you could devote yourself to the -consideration of Jeffrey Blackmore's will." - -With this final piece of advice, Thorndyke collected the papers for his -day's work, and, having deposited them in his brief bag, took his -departure, leaving me to my meditations. - - - - -Chapter XIII - -The Statement of Samuel Wilkins - - -As soon as I was alone, I commenced my investigations with a rather -desperate hope of eliciting some startling and unsuspected facts. I -opened the drawer and taking from it the two pieces of reed and the -shattered remains of the spectacles, laid them on the table. The repairs -that Thorndyke had contemplated in the case of the spectacles, had not -been made. Apparently they had not been necessary. The battered wreck -that lay before me, just as we had found it, had evidently furnished the -necessary information; for, since Thorndyke was in possession of a -portrait of Mr. Graves, it was clear that he had succeeded in -identifying him so far as to get into communication with some one who -had known him intimately. - -The circumstance should have been encouraging. But somehow it was not. -What was possible to Thorndyke was, theoretically, possible to me--or to -anyone else. But the possibility did not realize itself in practice. -There was the personal equation. Thorndyke's brain was not an ordinary -brain. Facts of which his mind instantly perceived the relation remained -to other people unconnected and without meaning. His powers of -observation and rapid inference were almost incredible, as I had noticed -again and again, and always with undiminished wonder. He seemed to take -in everything at a single glance and in an instant to appreciate the -meaning of everything that he had seen. - -Here was a case in point. I had myself seen all that he had seen, and, -indeed, much more; for I had looked on the very people and witnessed -their actions, whereas he had never set eyes on any of them. I had -examined the little handful of rubbish that he had gathered up so -carefully, and would have flung it back under the grate without a qualm. -Not a glimmer of light had I perceived in the cloud of mystery, nor even -a hint of the direction in which to seek enlightenment. And yet -Thorndyke had, in some incomprehensible manner, contrived to piece -together facts that I had probably not even observed, and that so -completely that he had already, in these few days, narrowed down the -field of inquiry to quite a small area. - -From these reflections I returned to the objects on the table. The -spectacles, as things of which I had some expert knowledge, were not so -profound a mystery to me. A pair of spectacles might easily afford good -evidence for identification; that I perceived clearly enough. Not a -ready-made pair, picked up casually at a shop, but a pair constructed by -a skilled optician to remedy a particular defect of vision and to fit a -particular face. And such were the spectacles before me. The build of -the frames was peculiar; the existence of a cylindrical lens--which I -could easily make out from the remaining fragments--showed that one -glass had been cut to a prescribed shape and almost certainly ground to -a particular formula, and also that the distance between centres must -have been carefully secured. Hence these spectacles had an individual -character. But it was manifestly impossible to inquire of all the -spectacle-makers in Europe--for the glasses were not necessarily made in -England. As confirmation the spectacles might be valuable; as a -starting-point they were of no use at all. - -From the spectacles I turned to the pieces of reed. These were what had -given Thorndyke his start. Would they give me a leading hint too? I -looked at them and wondered what it was that they had told Thorndyke. -The little fragment of the red paper label had a dark-brown or thin -black border ornamented with a fret-pattern, and on it I detected a -couple of tiny points of gold like the dust from leaf-gilding. But I -learned nothing from that. Then the shorter piece of reed was -artificially hollowed to fit on the longer piece. Apparently it formed a -protective sheath or cap. But what did it protect? Presumably a point or -edge of some kind. Could this be a pocket-knife of any sort, such as a -small stencil-knife? No; the material was too fragile for a -knife-handle. It could not be an etching-needle for the same reason; and -it was not a surgical appliance--at least it was not like any surgical -instrument that was known to me. - -I turned it over and over and cudgelled my brains; and then I had a -brilliant idea. Was it a reed pen of which the point had been broken -off? I knew that reed pens were still in use by draughtsmen of -decorative leanings with an affection for the "fat line." Could any of -our friends be draughtsmen? This seemed the most probable solution of -the difficulty, and the more I thought about it the more likely it -seemed. Draughtsmen usually sign their work intelligibly, and even when -they use a device instead of a signature their identity is easily -traceable. Could it be that Mr. Graves, for instance, was an -illustrator, and that Thorndyke had established his identity by looking -through the works of all the well-known thick-line draughtsmen? - -This problem occupied me for the rest of the day. My explanation did not -seem quite to fit Thorndyke's description of his methods; but I could -think of no other. I turned it over during my solitary lunch; I -meditated on it with the aid of several pipes in the afternoon; and -having refreshed my brain with a cup of tea, I went forth to walk in the -Temple gardens--which I was permitted to do without breaking my -parole--to think it out afresh. - -The result was disappointing. I was basing my reasoning on the -assumption that the pieces of reed were parts of a particular appliance, -appertaining to a particular craft; whereas they might be the remains of -something quite different, appertaining to a totally different craft or -to no craft at all. And in no case did they point to any known -individual or indicate any but the vaguest kind of search. After pacing -the pleasant walks for upwards of two hours, I at length turned back -towards our chambers, where I arrived as the lamp-lighter was just -finishing his round. - -My fruitless speculations had left me somewhat irritable. The lighted -windows that I had noticed as I approached had given me the impression -that Thorndyke had returned. I had intended to press him for a little -further information. When, therefore, I let myself into our chambers and -found, instead of my colleague, a total stranger--and only a back view -at that--I was disappointed and annoyed. - -The stranger was seated by the table, reading a large document that -looked like a lease. He made no movement when I entered, but when I -crossed the room and wished him "Good evening," he half rose and bowed -silently. It was then that I first saw his face, and a mighty start he -gave me. For one moment I actually thought he was Mr. Weiss, so close -was the resemblance, but immediately I perceived that he was a much -smaller man. - -I sat down nearly opposite and stole an occasional furtive glance at -him. The resemblance to Weiss was really remarkable. The same flaxen -hair, the same ragged beard and a similar red nose, with the patches of -<i>acne rosacea</i> spreading to the adjacent cheeks. He wore spectacles, -too, through which he took a quick glance at me now and again, returning -immediately to his document. - -After some moments of rather embarrassing silence, I ventured to remark -that it was a mild evening; to which he assented with a sort of Scotch -"Hm--hm" and nodded slowly. Then came another interval of silence, -during which I speculated on the possibility of his being a relative of -Mr. Weiss and wondered what the deuce he was doing in our chambers. - -"Have you an appointment with Dr. Thorndyke?" I asked, at length. - -He bowed solemnly, and by way of reply--in the affirmative, as I -assumed--emitted another "hm--hm." - -I looked at him sharply, a little nettled by his lack of manners; -whereupon he opened out the lease so that it screened his face, and as I -glanced at the back of the document, I was astonished to observe that it -was shaking rapidly. - -The fellow was actually laughing! What he found in my simple question to -cause him so much amusement I was totally unable to imagine. But there -it was. The tremulous movements of the document left me in no possible -doubt that he was for some reason convulsed with laughter. - -It was extremely mysterious. Also, it was rather embarrassing. I took -out my pocket file and began to look over my notes. Then the document -was lowered and I was able to get another look at the stranger's face. -He was really extraordinarily like Weiss. The shaggy eyebrows, throwing -the eye-sockets into shadow, gave him, in conjunction with the -spectacles, the same owlish, solemn expression that I had noticed in my -Kennington acquaintance; and which, by the way, was singularly out of -character with the frivolous behaviour that I had just witnessed. - -From time to time as I looked at him, he caught my eye and instantly -averted his own, turning rather red. Apparently he was a shy, nervous -man, which might account for his giggling; for I have noticed that shy -or nervous people have a habit of smiling inopportunely and even -giggling when embarrassed by meeting an over-steady eye. And it seemed -my own eye had this disconcerting quality, for even as I looked at him, -the document suddenly went up again and began to shake violently. - -I stood it for a minute or two, but, finding the situation intolerably -embarrassing, I rose, and brusquely excusing myself, went up to the -laboratory to look for Polton and inquire at what time Thorndyke was -expected home. To my surprise, however, on entering, I discovered -Thorndyke himself just finishing the mounting of a microscopical -specimen. - -"Did you know that there is some one below waiting to see you?" I asked. - -"Is it anyone you know?" he inquired. - -"No," I answered. "It is a red-nosed, sniggering fool in spectacles. He -has got a lease or a deed or some other sort of document which he has -been using to play a sort of idiotic game of Peep-Bo! I couldn't stand -him, so I came up here." - -Thorndyke laughed heartily at my description of his client. - -"What are you laughing at?" I asked sourly; at which he laughed yet more -heartily and added to the aggravation by wiping his eyes. - -"Our friend seems to have put you out," he remarked. - -"He put me out literally. If I had stayed much longer I should have -punched his head." - -"In that case," said Thorndyke, "I am glad you didn't stay. But come -down and let me introduce you." - -"No, thank you. I've had enough of him for the present." - -"But I have a very special reason for wishing to introduce you. I think -you will get some information from him that will interest you very much; -and you needn't quarrel with a man for being of a cheerful disposition." - -"Cheerful be hanged!" I exclaimed. "I don't call a man cheerful because -he behaves like a gibbering idiot." - -To this Thorndyke made no reply but a broad and appreciative smile, and -we descended to the lower floor. As we entered the room, the stranger -rose, and, glancing in an embarrassed way from one of us to the other, -suddenly broke out into an undeniable snigger. I looked at him sternly, -and Thorndyke, quite unmoved by his indecorous behaviour, said in a -grave voice: - -"Let me introduce you, Jervis; though I think you have met this -gentleman before." - -"I think not," I said stiffly. - -"Oh yes, you have, sir," interposed the stranger; and, as he spoke, I -started; for the voice was uncommonly like the familiar voice of Polton. - -I looked at the speaker with sudden suspicion. And now I could see that -the flaxen hair was a wig; that the beard had a decidedly artificial -look, and that the eyes that beamed through the spectacles were -remarkably like the eyes of our factotum. But the blotchy face, the -bulbous nose and the shaggy, overhanging eyebrows were alien features -that I could not reconcile with the personality of our refined and -aristocratic-looking little assistant. - -"Is this a practical joke?" I asked. - -"No," replied Thorndyke; "it is a demonstration. When we were talking -this morning it appeared to me that you did not realize the extent to -which it is possible to conceal identity under suitable conditions of -light. So I arranged, with Polton's rather reluctant assistance, to give -you ocular evidence. The conditions are not favourable--which makes the -demonstration more convincing. This is a very well-lighted room and -Polton is a very poor actor; in spite of which it has been possible for -you to sit opposite him for several minutes and look at him, I have no -doubt, very attentively, without discovering his identity. If the room -had been lighted only with a candle, and Polton had been equal to the -task of supporting his make-up with an appropriate voice and manner, the -deception would have been perfect." - -"I can see that he has a wig on, quite plainly," said I. - -"Yes; but you would not in a dimly lighted room. On the other hand, if -Polton were to walk down Fleet Street at mid-day in this condition, the -make-up would be conspicuously evident to any moderately observant -passer-by. The secret of making up consists in a careful adjustment to -the conditions of light and distance in which the make-up is to be seen. -That in use on the stage would look ridiculous in an ordinary room; that -which would serve in an artificially lighted room would look ridiculous -out of doors by daylight." - -"Is any effective make-up possible out of doors in ordinary daylight?" I -asked. - -"Oh, yes," replied Thorndyke. "But it must be on a totally different -scale from that of the stage. A wig, and especially a beard or -moustache, must be joined up at the edges with hair actually stuck on -the skin with transparent cement and carefully trimmed with scissors. -The same applies to eyebrows; and alterations in the colour of the skin -must be carried out much more subtly. Polton's nose has been built up -with a small covering of toupée-paste, the pimples on the cheeks -produced with little particles of the same material; and the general -tinting has been done with grease-paint with a very light scumble of -powder colour to take off some of the shine. This would be possible in -outdoor make-up, but it would have to be done with the greatest care and -delicacy; in fact, with what the art-critics call 'reticence.' A very -little make-up is sufficient and too much is fatal. You would be -surprised to see how little paste is required to alter the shape of the -nose and the entire character of the face." - -At this moment there came a loud knock at the door; a single, solid dab -of the knocker which Polton seemed to recognize, for he ejaculated: - -"Good lord, sir! That'll be Wilkins, the cabman! I'd forgotten all -about him. Whatever's to be done?" - -He stared at us in ludicrous horror for a moment or two, and then, -snatching off his wig, beard and spectacles, poked them into a cupboard. -But his appearance was now too much even for Thorndyke--who hastily got -behind him--for he had now resumed his ordinary personality--but with a -very material difference. - -"Oh, it's nothing to laugh at, sir," he exclaimed indignantly as I -crammed my handkerchief into my mouth. "Somebody's got to let him in, or -he'll go away." - -"Yes; and that won't do," said Thorndyke. "But don't worry, Polton. You -can step into the office. I'll open the door." - -Polton's presence of mind, however, seemed to have entirely forsaken -him, for he only hovered irresolutely in the wake of his principal. As -the door opened, a thick and husky voice inquired: - -"Gent of the name of Polton live here?" - -"Yes, quite right," said Thorndyke. "Come in. Your name is Wilkins, I -think?" - -"That's me, sir," said the voice; and in response to Thorndyke's -invitation, a typical "growler" cabman of the old school, complete even -to imbricated cape and dangling badge, stalked into the room, and -glancing round with a mixture of embarrassment and defiance, suddenly -fixed on Polton's nose a look of devouring curiosity. - -"Here you are, then," Polton remarked nervously. - -"Yus," replied the cabman in a slightly hostile tone. "Here I am. What -am I wanted to do? And where's this here Mr. Polton?" - -"I am Mr. Polton," replied our abashed assistant. - -"Well, it's the other Mr. Polton what I want," said the cabman, with his -eyes still riveted on the olfactory prominence. - -"There isn't any other Mr. Polton," our subordinate replied irritably. -"I am the--er--person who spoke to you in the shelter." - -"Are you though?" said the manifestly incredulous cabby. "I shouldn't -have thought it; but you ought to know. What do you want me to do?" - -"We want you," said Thorndyke, "to answer one or two questions. And the -first one is, Are you a teetotaller?" - -The question being illustrated by the production of a decanter, the -cabman's dignity relaxed somewhat. - -"I ain't bigoted," said he. - -"Then sit down and mix yourself a glass of grog. Soda or plain water?" - -"May as well have all the extries," replied the cabman, sitting down and -grasping the decanter with the air of a man who means business. "Per'aps -you wouldn't mind squirtin' out the soda, sir, bein' more used to it." - -While these preliminaries were being arranged, Polton silently slipped -out of the room, and when our visitor had fortified himself with a gulp -of the uncommonly stiff mixture, the examination began. - -"Your name, I think, is Wilkins?" said Thorndyke. - -"That's me, sir. Samuel Wilkins is my name." - -"And your occupation?" - -"Is a very tryin' one and not paid for as it deserves. I drives a cab, -sir; a four-wheeled cab is what I drives; and a very poor job it is." - -"Do you happen to remember a very foggy day about a month ago?" - -"Do I not, sir! A regler sneezer that was! Wednesday, the fourteenth of -March. I remember the date because my benefit society came down on me -for arrears that morning." - -"Will you tell us what happened to you between six and seven in the -evening of that day?" - -"I will, sir," replied the cabman, emptying his tumbler by way of -bracing himself up for the effort. "A little before six I was waiting on -the arrival side of the Great Northern Station, King's Cross, when I see -a gentleman and a lady coming out. The gentleman he looks up and down -and then he sees me and walks up to the cab and opens the door and helps -the lady in. Then he says to me: 'Do you know New Inn?' he says. That's -what he says to me what was born and brought up in White Horse Alley, -Drury Lane. - -"'Get inside,' says I. - -"'Well,' says he, 'you drive in through the gate in Wych Street,' he -says, as if he expected me to go in by Houghton Street and down the -steps, 'and then,' he says, 'you drive nearly to the end and you'll see -a house with a large brass plate at the corner of the doorway. That's -where we want to be set down,' he says, and with that he nips in and -pulls up the windows and off we goes. - -"It took us a full half-hour to get to New Inn through the fog, for I -had to get down and lead the horse part of the way. As I drove in under -the archway, I saw it was half-past six by the clock in the porter's -lodge. I drove down nearly to the end of the inn and drew up opposite a -house where there was a big brass plate by the doorway. It was number -thirty-one. Then the gent crawls out and hands me five bob--two -'arf-crowns--and then he helps the lady out, and away they waddles to -the doorway and I see them start up the stairs very slow--regler -Pilgrim's Progress. And that was the last I see of 'em." - -Thorndyke wrote down the cabman's statement verbatim together with his -own questions, and then asked: - -"Can you give us any description of the gentleman?" - -"The gent," said Wilkins, was a very respectable-looking gent, though he -did look as if he'd had a drop of something short, and small blame to -him on a day like that. But he was all there, and he knew what was the -proper fare for a foggy evening, which is more than some of 'em do. He -was a elderly gent, about sixty, and he wore spectacles, but he didn't -seem to be able to see much through 'em. He was a funny 'un to look at; -as round in the back as a turtle and he walked with his head stuck -forward like a goose." - -"What made you think he had been drinking?" - -"Well, he wasn't as steady as he might have been on his pins. But he -wasn't drunk, you know. Only a bit wobbly on the plates." - -"And the lady; what was she like?" - -"I couldn't see much of her because her head was wrapped up in a sort of -woollen veil. But I should say she wasn't a chicken. Might have been -about the same age as the gent, but I couldn't swear to that. She seemed -a trifle rickety on the pins too; in fact they were a rum-looking -couple. I watched 'em tottering across the pavement and up the stairs, -hanging on to each other, him peering through his blinkers and she -trying to see through her veil, and I thought it was a jolly good job -they'd got a nice sound cab and a steady driver to bring 'em safe home." - -"How was the lady dressed?" - -"Can't rightly say, not being a hexpert. Her head was done up in this -here veil like a pudden in a cloth and she had a small hat on. She had a -dark brown mantle with a fringe of beads round it and a black dress; and -I noticed when she got into the cab at the station that one of her -stockings looked like the bellows of a concertina. That's all I can tell -you." - -Thorndyke wrote down the last answer, and, having read the entire -statement aloud, handed the pen to our visitor. - -"If that is all correct," he said, "I will ask you to sign your name at -the bottom." - -"Do you want me to swear a affidavy that it's all true?" asked Wilkins. - -"No, thank you," replied Thorndyke. "We may have to call you to give -evidence in court, and then you'll be sworn; and you'll also be paid for -your attendance. For the present I want you to keep your own counsel and -say nothing to anybody about having been here. We have to make some -other inquiries and we don't want the affair talked about." - -"I see, sir," said Wilkins, as he laboriously traced his signature at -the foot of the statement; "you don't want the other parties for to ogle -your lay. All right, sir; you can depend on me. I'm fly, I am." - -"Thank you, Wilkins," said Thorndyke. "And now what are we to give you -for your trouble in coming here?" - -"I'll leave the fare to you, sir. You know what the information's worth; -but I should think 'arf a thick-un wouldn't hurt you." - -Thorndyke laid on the table a couple of sovereigns, at the sight of -which the cabman's eyes glistened. - -"We have your address, Wilkins," said he. "If we want you as a witness -we shall let you know, and if not, there will be another two pounds for -you at the end of a fortnight, provided you have not let this little -interview leak out." - -Wilkins gathered up the spoils gleefully. "You can trust me, sir," said -he, "for to keep my mouth shut. I knows which side my bread's buttered. -Good night, gentlemen all." - -With this comprehensive salute he moved towards the door and let -himself out. - -"Well, Jervis; what do you think of it?" Thorndyke asked, as the -cabman's footsteps faded away in a creaky diminuendo. - -"I don't know what to think. This woman is a new factor in the case and -I don't know how to place her." - -"Not entirely new," said Thorndyke. "You have not forgotten those beads -that we found in Jeffrey's bedroom, have you?" - -"No, I had not forgotten them, but I did not see that they told us much -excepting that some woman had apparently been in his bedroom at some -time." - -"That, I think, is all that they did tell us. But now they tell us that -a particular woman was in his bedroom at a particular time, which is a -good deal more significant." - -"Yes. It almost looks as if she must have been there when he made away -with himself." - -"It does, very much." - -"By the way, you were right about the colours of those beads, and also -about the way they were used." - -"As to their use, that was a mere guess; but it has turned out to be -correct. It was well that we found the beads, for, small as is the -amount of information they give, it is still enough to carry us a stage -further." - -"How so?" - -"I mean that the cabman's evidence tells us only that this woman entered -the house. The beads tell us that she was in the bedroom; which, as you -say, seems to connect her to some extent with Jeffrey's death. Not -necessarily, of course. It is only a suggestion; but a rather strong -suggestion under the peculiar circumstances." - -"Even so," said I, "this new fact seems to me so far from clearing up -the mystery, only to add to it a fresh element of still deeper mystery. -The porter's evidence at the inquest could leave no doubt that Jeffrey -contemplated suicide, and his preparations pointedly suggest this -particular night as the time selected by him for doing away with -himself. Is not that so?" - -"Certainly. The porter's evidence was very clear on that point." - -"Then I don't see where this woman comes in. It is obvious that her -presence at the inn, and especially in the bedroom, on this occasion and -in these strange, secret circumstances, has a rather sinister look; but -yet I do not see in what way she could have been connected with the -tragedy. Perhaps, after all, she has nothing to do with it. You remember -that Jeffrey went to the lodge about eight o'clock, to pay his rent, and -chatted for some time with the porter. That looks as if the lady had -already left." - -"Yes," said Thorndyke. "But, on the other hand, Jeffrey's remarks to the -porter with reference to the cab do not quite agree with the account -that we have just heard from Wilkins. Which suggests--as does Wilkins's -account generally--some secrecy as to the lady's visit to his chambers." - -"Do you know who the woman was?" I asked. - -"No, I don't know," he replied. "I have a rather strong suspicion that I -can identify her, but I am waiting for some further facts." - -"Is your suspicion founded on some new matter that you have discovered, -or is it deducible from facts that are known to me?" - -"I think," he replied, "that you know practically all that I know, -although I have, in one instance, turned a very strong suspicion into a -certainty by further inquiries. But I think you ought to be able to form -some idea as to who this lady probably was." - -"But no woman has been mentioned in the case at all." - -"No; but I think you should be able to give this lady a name, -notwithstanding." - -"Should I? Then I begin to suspect that I am not cut out for -medico-legal practice, for I don't see the faintest glimmer of a -suggestion." - -Thorndyke smiled benevolently. "Don't be discouraged, Jervis," said he. -"I expect that when you first began to go round the wards, you doubted -whether you were cut out for medical practice. I did. For special work -one needs special knowledge and an acquired faculty for making use of -it. What does a second year's student make of a small thoracic aneurysm? -He knows the anatomy of the chest; he begins to know the normal heart -sounds and areas of dullness; but he cannot yet fit his various items of -knowledge together. Then comes the experienced physician and perhaps -makes a complete diagnosis without any examination at all, merely from -hearing the patient speak or cough. He has the same facts as the -student, but he has acquired the faculty of instantly connecting an -abnormality of function with its correleated anatomical change. It is a -matter of experience. And, with your previous training, you will soon -acquire the faculty. Try to observe everything. Let nothing escape you. -And try constantly to find some connection between facts and events that -seem to be unconnected. That is my advice to you; and with that we will -put away the Blackmore case for the present and consider our day's work -at an end." - - - - -Chapter XIV - -Thorndyke Lays the Mine - - -The information supplied by Mr. Samuel Wilkins, so far from dispelling -the cloud of mystery that hung over the Blackmore case, only enveloped -it in deeper obscurity, so far as I was concerned. The new problem that -Thorndyke offered for solution was a tougher one than any of the others. -He proposed that I should identify and give a name to this mysterious -woman. But how could I? No woman, excepting Mrs. Wilson, had been -mentioned in connection with the case. This new <i>dramatis persona</i> had -appeared suddenly from nowhere and straightway vanished without leaving -a trace, excepting the two or three beads that we had picked up in -Jeffrey's room. - -Nor was it in the least clear what part, if any, she had played in the -tragedy. The facts still pointed as plainly to suicide as before her -appearance. Jeffrey's repeated hints as to his intentions, and the very -significant preparations that he had made, were enough to negative any -idea of foul play. And yet the woman's presence in the chambers at that -time, the secret manner of her arrival and her precautions against -recognition, strongly suggested some kind of complicity in the dreadful -event that followed. - -But what complicity is possible in the case of suicide? The woman might -have furnished him with the syringe and the poison, but it would not -have been necessary for her to go to his chambers for that purpose. -Vague ideas of persuasion and hypnotic suggestion floated through my -brain; but the explanations did not fit the case and the hypnotic -suggestion of crime is not very convincing to the medical mind. Then I -thought of blackmail in connection with some disgraceful secret; but -though this was a more hopeful suggestion, it was not very probable, -considering Jeffrey's age and character. - -And all these speculations failed to throw the faintest light on the -main question: "Who was this woman?" - -A couple of days passed, during which Thorndyke made no further -reference to the case. He was, most of the time, away from home, though -how he was engaged I had no idea. What was rather more unusual was that -Polton seemed to have deserted the laboratory and taken to outdoor -pursuits. I assumed that he had seized the opportunity of leaving me in -charge, and I dimly surmised that he was acting as Thorndyke's private -inquiry agent, as he seemed to have done in the case of Samuel Wilkins. - -On the evening of the second day Thorndyke came home in obviously good -spirits, and his first proceedings aroused my expectant curiosity. He -went to a cupboard and brought forth a box of Trichinopoly cheroots. Now -the Trichinopoly cheroot was Thorndyke's one dissipation, to be enjoyed -only on rare and specially festive occasions; which, in practice, meant -those occasions on which he had scored some important point or solved -some unusually tough problem. Wherefore I watched him with lively -interest. - -"It's a pity that the 'Trichy' is such a poisonous beast," he remarked, -taking up one of the cheroots and sniffing at it delicately. "There is -no other cigar like it, to a really abandoned smoker." He laid the cigar -back in the box and continued: "I think I shall treat myself to one -after dinner to celebrate the occasion." - -"What occasion?" I asked. - -"The completion of the Blackmore case. I am just going to write to -Marchmont advising him to enter a caveat." - -"Do you mean to say that you have discovered a flaw in the will, after -all?" - -"A flaw!" he exclaimed. "My dear Jervis, that second will is a forgery." - -I stared at him in amazement; for his assertion sounded like nothing -more or less than arrant nonsense. - -"But the thing is impossible, Thorndyke," I said. "Not only did the -witnesses recognize their own signatures and the painter's greasy -finger-marks, but they had both read the will and remembered its -contents." - -"Yes; that is the interesting feature in the case. It is a very pretty -problem. I shall give you a last chance to solve it. To-morrow evening -we shall have to give a full explanation, so you have another -twenty-four hours in which to think it over. And, meanwhile, I am going -to take you to my club to dine. I think we shall be pretty safe there -from Mrs. Schallibaum." - -He sat down and wrote a letter, which was apparently quite a short one, -and having addressed and stamped it, prepared to go out. - -"Come," said he, "let us away to 'the gay and festive scenes and halls -of dazzling light.' We will lay the mine in the Fleet Street pillar box. -I should like to be in Marchmont's office when it explodes." - -"I expect, for that matter," said I, "that the explosion will be felt -pretty distinctly in these chambers." - -"I expect so, too," replied Thorndyke; "and that reminds me that I shall -be out all day to-morrow, so, if Marchmont calls, you must do all that -you can to persuade him to come round after dinner and bring Stephen -Blackmore, if possible. I am anxious to have Stephen here, as he will be -able to give us some further information and confirm certain matters of -fact." - -I promised to exercise my utmost powers of persuasion on Mr. Marchmont -which I should certainly have done on my own account, being now on the -very tiptoe of curiosity to hear Thorndyke's explanation of the -unthinkable conclusion at which he had arrived--and the subject dropped -completely; nor could I, during the rest of the evening, induce my -colleague to reopen it even in the most indirect or allusive manner. - -Our explanations in respect of Mr. Marchmont were fully realized; for, -on the following morning, within an hour of Thorndyke's departure from -our chambers, the knocker was plied with more than usual emphasis, and, -on my opening the door, I discovered the solicitor in company with a -somewhat older gentleman. Mr. Marchmont appeared somewhat out of humour, -while his companion was obviously in a state of extreme irritation. - -"How d'you do, Dr. Jervis?" said Marchmont as he entered at my -invitation. "Your friend, I suppose, is not in just now?" - -"No; and he will not be returning until the evening." - -"Hm; I'm sorry. We wished to see him rather particularly. This is my -partner, Mr. Winwood." - -The latter gentleman bowed stiffly and Marchmont continued: - -"We have had a letter from Dr. Thorndyke, and it is, I may say, a rather -curious letter; in fact, a very singular letter indeed." - -"It is the letter of a madman!" growled Mr. Winwood. - -"No, no, Winwood; nothing of the kind. Control yourself, I beg you. But -really, the letter is rather incomprehensible. It relates to the will of -the late Jeffrey Blackmore--you know the main facts of the case; and we -cannot reconcile it with those facts." - -"This is the letter," exclaimed Mr. Winwood, dragging the document from -his wallet and slapping it down on the table. "If you are acquainted -with the case, sir, just read that, and let us hear what <i>you</i> think." - -I took up the letter and read aloud: - -"JEFFREY BLACKMORE, DECD. - -"DEAR MR. MARCHMONT,-- - -"I have gone into this case with great care and have now no doubt that -the second will is a forgery. Criminal proceedings will, I think, be -inevitable, but meanwhile it would be wise to enter a caveat. - -"If you could look in at my chambers to-morrow evening we could talk the -case over; and I should be glad if you could bring Mr. Stephen -Blackmore; whose personal knowledge of the events and the parties -concerned would be of great assistance in clearing up obscure details. - -"I am, - -"Yours sincerely, - -"JOHN EVELYN THORNDYKE - -"C.F. MARCHMONT, ESQ." - -"Well!" exclaimed Mr. Winwood, glaring ferociously at me, "what do you -think of the learned counsel's opinion?" - -"I knew that Thorndyke was writing to you to this effect," I replied, -"but I must frankly confess that I can make nothing of it. Have you -acted on his advice?" - -"Certainly not!" shouted the irascible lawyer. "Do you suppose that we -wish to make ourselves the laughing-stock of the courts? The thing is -impossible--ridiculously impossible!" - -"It can't be that, you know," I said, a little stiffly, for I was -somewhat nettled by Mr. Winwood's manner, "or Thorndyke would not have -written this letter. The conclusion looks as impossible to me as it does -to you; but I have complete confidence in Thorndyke. If he says that the -will is a forgery, I have no doubt that it is a forgery." - -"But how the deuce can it be?" roared Winwood. "You know the -circumstances under which the will was executed." - -"Yes; but so does Thorndyke. And he is not a man who overlooks important -facts. It is useless to argue with me. I am in a complete fog about the -case myself. You had better come in this evening and talk it over with -him as he suggests." - -"It is very inconvenient," grumbled Mr. Winwood. "We shall have to dine -in town." - -"Yes," said Marchmont, "but it is the only thing to be done. As Dr. -Jervis says, we must take it that Thorndyke has something solid to base -his opinion on. He doesn't make elementary mistakes. And, of course, if -what he says is correct, Mr. Stephen's position is totally changed." - -"Bah!" exclaimed Winwood, "he has found a mare's nest, I tell you. -Still, I agree that the explanation should be worth hearing." - -"You mustn't mind Winwood," said Marchmont, in an apologetic undertone; -"he's a peppery old fellow with a rough tongue, but he doesn't mean any -harm." Which statement Winwood assented to--or dissented from; for it -was impossible to say which--by a prolonged growl. - -"We shall expect you then," I said, "about eight to-night, and you will -try to bring Mr. Stephen with you?" - -"Yes," replied Marchmont; "I think we can promise that he shall come -with us. I have sent him a telegram asking him to attend." - -With this the two lawyers took their departure, leaving me to meditate -upon my colleague's astonishing statement; which I did, considerably to -the prejudice of other employment. That Thorndyke would be able to -justify the opinion that he had given, I had no doubt whatever; but yet -there was no denying that his proposition was what Mr. Dick Swiveller -would call "a staggerer." - -When Thorndyke returned, I informed him of the visit of our two friends, -and acquainted him with the sentiments that they had expressed; whereat -he smiled with quiet amusement. - -"I thought," he remarked, "that letter would bring Marchmont to our door -before long. As to Winwood, I have never met him, but I gather that he -is one of those people whom you 'mustn't mind.' In a general way, I -object to people who tacitly claim exemption from the ordinary rules of -conduct that are held to be binding on their fellows. But, as he -promises to give us what the variety artists call 'an extra turn,' we -will make the best of him and give him a run for his money." - -Here Thorndyke smiled mischievously--I understood the meaning of that -smile later in the evening--and asked: "What do you think of the affair -yourself?" - -"I have given it up," I answered. "To my paralysed brain, the Blackmore -case is like an endless algebraical problem propounded by an insane -mathematician." - -Thorndyke laughed at my comparison, which I flatter myself was a rather -apt one. - -"Come and dine," said he, "and let us crack a bottle, that our hearts -may not turn to water under the frown of the disdainful Winwood. I think -the old 'Bell' in Holborn will meet our present requirements better than -the club. There is something jovial and roystering about an ancient -tavern; but we must keep a sharp lookout for Mrs. Schallibaum." - -Thereupon we set forth; and, after a week's close imprisonment, I once -more looked upon the friendly London streets, the cheerfully lighted -shop windows and the multitudes of companionable strangers who moved -unceasingly along the pavements. - - - -Chapter XV - -Thorndyke Explodes the Mine - - -We had not been back in our chambers more than a few minutes when the -little brass knocker on the inner door rattled out its summons. -Thorndyke himself opened the door, and, finding our three expected -visitors on the threshold, he admitted them and closed the "oak." - -"We have accepted your invitation, you see," said Marchmont, whose -manner was now a little flurried and uneasy. "This is my partner, Mr. -Winwood; you haven't met before, I think. Well, we thought we should -like to hear some further particulars from you, as we could not quite -understand your letter." - -"My conclusion, I suppose," said Thorndyke, "was a little unexpected?" - -"It was more than that, sir," exclaimed Winwood. "It was absolutely -irreconcilable either with the facts of the case or with common physical -possibilities." - -"At the first glance," Thorndyke agreed, "it would probably have that -appearance." - -"It has that appearance still to me." said Winwood, growing suddenly red -and wrathful, "and I may say that I speak as a solicitor who was -practising in the law when you were an infant in arms. You tell us, sir, -that this will is a forgery; this will, which was executed in broad -daylight in the presence of two unimpeachable witnesses who have sworn, -not only to their signatures and the contents of the document, but to -their very finger-marks on the paper. Are those finger-marks forgeries, -too? Have you examined and tested them?" - -"I have not," replied Thorndyke. "The fact is they are of no interest to -me, as I am not disputing the witnesses' signatures." - -At this, Mr. Winwood fairly danced with irritation. - -"Marchmont!" he exclaimed fiercely, "you know this good gentleman, I -believe. Tell me, is he addicted to practical jokes?" - -"Now, my dear Winwood," groaned Marchmont, "I pray you--I beg you to -control yourself. No doubt--" - -"But confound it!" roared Winwood, "you have, yourself, heard him say -that the will is a forgery, but that he doesn't dispute the signatures; -which," concluded Winwood, banging his fist down on the table, "is -damned nonsense." - -"May I suggest," interposed Stephen Blackmore, "that we came here to -receive Dr. Thorndyke's explanation of his letter. Perhaps it would be -better to postpone any comments until we have heard it." - -"Undoubtedly, undoubtedly," said Marchmont. "Let me entreat you, -Winwood, to listen patiently and refrain from interruption until we have -heard our learned friend's exposition of the case." - -"Oh, very well," Winwood replied sulkily; "I'll say no more." - -He sank into a chair with the manner of a man who shuts himself up and -turns the key; and so remained--excepting when the internal pressure -approached bursting-point--throughout the subsequent proceedings, -silent, stony and impassive, like a seated statue of Obstinacy. - -"I take it," said Marchmont, "that you have some new facts that are not -in our possession?" - -"Yes," replied Thorndyke; "we have some new facts, and we have made some -new use of the old ones. But how shall I lay the case before you? Shall -I state my theory of the sequence of events and furnish the verification -afterwards? Or shall I retrace the actual course of my investigations -and give you the facts in the order in which I obtained them myself, -with the inferences from them?" - -"I almost think," said Mr. Marchmont, "that it would be better if you -would put us in possession of the new facts. Then, if the conclusions -that follow from them are not sufficiently obvious, we could hear the -argument. What do you say, Winwood?" - -Mr. Winwood roused himself for an instant, barked out the one word -"Facts," and shut himself up again with a snap. - -"You would like to have the new facts by themselves?" said Thorndyke. - -"If you please. The facts only, in the first place, at any rate." - -"Very well," said Thorndyke; and here I caught his eye with a -mischievous twinkle in it that I understood perfectly; for I had most of -the facts myself and realized how much these two lawyers were likely to -extract from them. Winwood was going to "have a run for his money," as -Thorndyke had promised. - -My colleague, having placed on the table by his side a small cardboard -box and the sheets of notes from his file, glanced quickly at Mr. -Winwood and began: - -"The first important new facts came into my possession on the day on -which you introduced the case to me. In the evening, after you left, I -availed myself of Mr. Stephen's kind invitation to look over his uncle's -chambers in New Inn. I wished to do so in order to ascertain, if -possible, what had been the habits of the deceased during his residence -there. When I arrived with Dr. Jervis, Mr. Stephen was in the chambers, -and I learned from him that his uncle was an Oriental scholar of some -position and that he had a very thorough acquaintance with the cuneiform -writing. Now, while I was talking with Mr. Stephen I made a very curious -discovery. On the wall over the fire-place hung a large framed -photograph of an ancient Persian inscription in the cuneiform character; -and that photograph was upside down." - -"Upside down!" exclaimed Stephen. "But that is really very odd." - -"Very odd indeed," agreed Thorndyke, "and very suggestive. The way in -which it came to be inverted is pretty obvious and also rather -suggestive. The photograph had evidently been in the frame some years -but had apparently never been hung up before." - -"It had not," said Stephen, "though I don't know how you arrived at the -fact. It used to stand on the mantelpiece in his old rooms in Jermyn -Street." - -"Well," continued Thorndyke, "the frame-maker had pasted his label on -the back of the frame, and as this label hung the right way up, it -appeared as if the person who fixed the photograph on the wall had -adopted it as a guide." - -"It is very extraordinary," said Stephen. "I should have thought the -person who hung it would have asked Uncle Jeffrey which was the right -way up; and I can't imagine how on earth it could have hung all those -months without his noticing it. He must have been practically blind." - -Here Marchmont, who had been thinking hard, with knitted brows, suddenly -brightened up. - -"I see your point," said he. "You mean that if Jeffrey was as blind as -that, it would have been possible for some person to substitute a false -will, which he might sign without noticing the substitution." - -"That wouldn't make the will a forgery," growled Winwood. "If Jeffrey -signed it, it was Jeffrey's will. You could contest it if you could -prove the fraud. But he said: 'This is my will,' and the two witnesses -read it and have identified it." - -"Did they read it aloud?" asked Stephen. - -"No, they did not," replied Thorndyke. - -"Can you prove substitution?" asked Marchmont. - -"I haven't asserted it," answered Thorndyke, "My position is that the -will is a forgery." - -"But it is not," said Winwood. - -"We won't argue it now," said Thorndyke. "I ask you to note the fact -that the inscription was upside down. I also observed on the walls of -the chambers some valuable Japanese colour-prints on which were recent -damp-spots. I noted that the sitting-room had a gas-stove and that the -kitchen contained practically no stores or remains of food and hardly -any traces of even the simplest cooking. In the bedroom I found a large -box that had contained a considerable stock of hard stearine candles, -six to the pound, and that was now nearly empty. I examined the clothing -of the deceased. On the soles of the boots I observed dried mud, which -was unlike that on my own and Jervis's boots, from the gravelly square -of the inn. I noted a crease on each leg of the deceased man's trousers -as if they had been turned up half-way to the knee; and in the waistcoat -pocket I found the stump of a 'Contango' pencil. On the floor of the -bedroom, I found a portion of an oval glass somewhat like that of a -watch or locket, but ground at the edge to a double bevel. Dr. Jervis -and I also found one or two beads and a bugle, all of dark brown glass." - -Here Thorndyke paused, and Marchmont, who had been gazing at him with -growing amazement, said nervously: - -"Er--yes. Very interesting. These observations of yours--er--are--" - -"Are all the observations that I made at New Inn." - -The two lawyers looked at one another and Stephen Blackmore stared -fixedly at a spot on the hearth-rug. Then Mr. Winwood's face contorted -itself into a sour, lopsided smile. - -"You might have observed a good many other things, sir," said he, "if -you had looked. If you had examined the doors, you would have noted that -they had hinges and were covered with paint; and, if you had looked up -the chimney you might have noted that it was black inside." - -"Now, now, Winwood," protested Marchmont in an agony of uneasiness as to -what his partner might say next, "I must really beg you--er--to refrain -from--what Mr. Winwood means, Dr. Thorndyke, is that--er--we do not -quite perceive the relevancy of these--ah--observations of yours." - -"Probably not," said Thorndyke, "but you will perceive their relevancy -later. For the present, I will ask you to note the facts and bear them -in mind, so that you may be able to follow the argument when we come to -that. - -"The next set of data I acquired on the same evening, when Dr. Jervis -gave me a detailed account of a very strange adventure that befell him. -I need not burden you with all the details, but I will give you the -substance of his story." - -He then proceeded to recount the incidents connected with my visits to -Mr. Graves, dwelling on the personal peculiarities of the parties -concerned and especially of the patient, and not even forgetting the -very singular spectacles worn by Mr. Weiss. He also explained briefly -the construction of the chart, presenting the latter for the inspection -of his hearers. To this recital our three visitors listened in utter -bewilderment, as, indeed did I also; for I could not conceive in what -way my adventures could possibly be related to the affairs of the late -Mr. Blackmore. This was manifestly the view taken by Mr. Marchmont, for, -during a pause in which the chart was handed to him, he remarked -somewhat stiffly: - -"I am assuming, Dr. Thorndyke, that the curious story you are telling us -has some relevance to the matter in which we are interested." - -"You are quite correct in your assumption," replied Thorndyke. "The -story is very relevant indeed, as you will presently be convinced." - -"Thank you," said Marchmont, sinking back once more into his chair with -a sigh of resignation. - -"A few days ago," pursued Thorndyke, "Dr. Jervis and I located, with the -aid of this chart, the house to which he had been called. We found that -the late tenant had left somewhat hurriedly and that the house was to -let; and, as no other kind of investigation was possible, we obtained -the keys and made an exploration of the premises." - -Here he gave a brief account of our visit and the conditions that we -observed, and was proceeding to furnish a list of the articles that we -had found under the grate, when Mr. Winwood started from his chair. - -"Really, sir!" he exclaimed, "this is too much! Have I come here, at -great personal inconvenience, to hear you read the inventory of a -dust-heap?" - -Thorndyke smiled benevolently and caught my eye, once more, with a gleam -of amusement. - -"Sit down, Mr. Winwood," he said quietly. "You came here to learn the -facts of the case, and I am giving them to you. Please don't interrupt -needlessly and waste time." - -Winwood stared at him ferociously for several seconds; then, somewhat -disconcerted by the unruffled calm of his manner, he uttered a snort of -defiance, sat down heavily and shut himself up again. - -"We will now," Thorndyke continued, with unmoved serenity, "consider -these relics in more detail, and we will begin with this pair of -spectacles. They belonged to a person who was near-sighted and -astigmatic in the left eye and almost certainly blind in the right. Such -a description agrees entirely with Dr. Jervis's account of the sick -man." - -He paused for the moment, and then, as no one made any comment, -proceeded: - -"We next come to these little pieces of reed, which you, Mr. Stephen, -will probably recognize as the remains of a Japanese brush, such as is -used for writing in Chinese ink or for making small drawings." - -Again he paused, as though expecting some remark from his listeners; but -no one spoke, and he continued: - -"Then there is this bottle with the theatrical wig-maker's label on it, -which once contained cement such as is used for fixing on false beards, -moustaches or eyebrows." - -He paused once more and looked round expectantly at his audience, none -of whom, however, volunteered any remark. - -"Do none of these objects that I have described and shown you, seem to -have any significance for us?" he asked, in a tone of some surprise. - -"They convey nothing to me," said Mr. Marchmont, glancing at his -partner, who shook his head like a restive horse. - -"Nor to you, Mr. Stephen?" - -"No," replied Stephen. "Under the existing circumstances they convey no -reasonable suggestion to me." - -Thorndyke hesitated as if he were half inclined to say something more; -then, with a slight shrug, he turned over his notes and resumed: - -"The next group of new facts is concerned with the signatures of the -recent cheques. We have photographed them and placed them together for -the purpose of comparison and analysis." - -"I am not prepared to question the signatures." said Winwood. "We have -had a highly expert opinion, which would override ours in a court of law -even if we differed from it; which I think we do not." - -"Yes," said Marchmont; "that is so. I think we must accept the -signatures, especially as that of the will has been proved, beyond any -question" to be authentic." - -"Very well," agreed Thorndyke; "we will pass over the signatures. Then -we have some further evidence in regard to the spectacles, which serves -to verify our conclusions respecting them." - -"Perhaps," said Marchmont, "we might pass over that, too, as we do not -seem to have reached any conclusions." - -"As you please," said Thorndyke. "It is important, but we can reserve it -for verification. The next item will interest you more, I think. It is -the signed and witnessed statement of Samuel Wilkins, the driver of the -cab in which the deceased came home to the inn on the evening of his -death." - -My colleague was right. An actual document, signed by a tangible -witness, who could be put in the box and sworn, brought both lawyers to -a state of attention; and when Thorndyke read out the cabman's evidence, -their attention soon quickened into undisguised astonishment. - -"But this is a most mysterious affair," exclaimed Marchmont. "Who could -this woman have been, and what could she have been doing in Jeffrey's -chambers at this time? Can you throw any light on it, Mr. Stephen?" - -"No, indeed I can't," replied Stephen. "It is a complete mystery to me. -My uncle Jeffrey was a confirmed old bachelor, and, although he did not -dislike women, he was far from partial to their society, wrapped up as -he was in his favourite studies. To the best of my belief, he had not a -single female friend. He was not on intimate terms even with his sister, -Mrs. Wilson." - -"Very remarkable," mused Marchmont; "most remarkable. But, perhaps, you -can tell us, Dr. Thorndyke, who this woman was?" - -"I think," replied Thorndyke, "that the next item of evidence will -enable you to form an opinion for yourselves. I only obtained it -yesterday, and, as it made my case quite complete, I wrote off to you -immediately. It is the statement of Joseph Ridley, another cabman, and -unfortunately, a rather dull, unobservant fellow, unlike Wilkins. He has -not much to tell us, but what little he has is highly instructive. Here -is the statement, signed by the deponent and witnessed by me: - -"'My name is Joseph Ridley. I am the driver of a four-wheeled cab. On -the fourteenth of March, the day of the great fog, I was waiting at -Vauxhall Station, where I had just set down a fare. About five o'clock a -lady came and told me to drive over to Upper Kennington Lane to take up -a passenger. She was a middle-sized woman. I could not tell what her age -was, or what she was like, because her head was wrapped up in a sort of -knitted, woollen veil to keep out the fog. I did not notice how she was -dressed. She got into the cab and I led the horse over to Upper -Kennington Lane and a little way up the lane, until the lady tapped at -the front window for me to stop. - -"'She got out of the cab and told me to wait. Then she went away and -disappeared in the fog. Presently a lady and gentleman came from the -direction in which she had gone. The lady looked like the same lady, but -I won't answer to that. Her head was wrapped up in the same kind of veil -or shawl, and I noticed that she had on a dark coloured mantle with -bead fringe on it. - -"'The gentleman was clean shaved and wore spectacles, and he stooped a -good deal. I can't say whether his sight was good or bad. He helped the -lady into the cab and told me to drive to the Great Northern Station, -King's Cross. Then he got in himself and I drove off. I got to the -station about a quarter to six and the lady and gentleman got out. The -gentleman paid my fare and they both went into the station. I did not -notice anything unusual about either of them. Directly after they had -gone, I got a fresh fare and drove away.' - -"That," Thorndyke concluded, "is Joseph Ridley's statement; and I think -it will enable you to give a meaning to the other facts that I have -offered for your consideration." - -"I am not so sure about that," said Marchmont. "It is all exceedingly -mysterious. Your suggestion is, of course, that the woman who came to -New Inn in the cab was Mrs. Schallibaum!" - -"Not at all," replied Thorndyke. "My suggestion is that the woman was -Jeffrey Blackmore." - -There was deathly silence for a few moments. We were all absolutely -thunderstruck, and sat gaping at Thorndyke in speechless-astonishment. -Then--Mr. Winwood fairly bounced out of his chair. - -"But--my--good--sir!" he screeched. "Jeffrey Blackmore was with her at -the time!" - -"Naturally," replied Thorndyke, "my suggestion implies that the person -who was with her was not Jeffrey Blackmore." - -"But he was!" bawled Winwood. "The porter saw him!" - -"The porter saw a person whom he believed to be Jeffrey Blackmore. I -suggest that the porter's belief was erroneous." - -"Well," snapped Winwood, "perhaps you can prove that it was. I don't see -how you are going to; but perhaps you can." - -He subsided once more into his chair and glared defiantly at Thorndyke. - -"You seemed," said Stephen, "to suggest some connection between the sick -man, Graves, and my uncle. I noted it at the time, but put it aside as -impossible. Was I right. Did you mean to suggest any connection?" - -"I suggest something more than a connection. I suggest identity. My -position is that the sick man, Graves, was your uncle." - -"From Dr. Jervis's description," said Stephen, "this man must have been -very like my uncle. Both were blind in the right eye and had very poor -vision with the left; and my uncle certainly used brushes of the kind -that you have shown us, when writing in the Japanese character, for I -have watched him and admired his skill; but--" - -"But," said Marchmont, "there is the insuperable objection that, at the -very time when this man was lying sick in Kennington Lane, Mr. Jeffrey -was living at New Inn." - -"What evidence is there of that?" asked Thorndyke. - -"Evidence!" Marchmont exclaimed impatiently. "Why, my dear sir--" - -He paused suddenly, and, leaning forward, regarded Thorndyke with a new -and rather startled expression. - -"You mean to suggest--" he began. - -"I suggest that Jeffrey Blackmore never lived at New Inn at all." - -For the moment, Marchmont seemed absolutely paralysed by astonishment. - -"This is an amazing proposition!" he exclaimed, at length. "Yet the -thing is certainly not impossible, for, now that you recall the fact, I -realize that no one who had known him previously--excepting his brother, -John--ever saw him at the inn. The question of identity was never -raised." - -"Excepting," said Mr. Winwood, "in regard to the body; which was -certainly that of Jeffrey Blackmore." - -"Yes, yes. Of course," said Marchmont. "I had forgotten that for the -moment. The body was identified beyond doubt. You don't dispute the -identity of the body, do you?" - -"Certainly not," replied Thorndyke. - -Here Mr. Winwood grasped his hair with both hands and stuck his elbows -on his knees, while Marchmont drew forth a large handkerchief and mopped -his forehead. Stephen Blackmore looked from one to the other -expectantly, and finally said: - -"If I might make a suggestion, it would be that, as Dr. Thorndyke has -shown us the pieces now of the puzzle, he should be so kind as to put -them together for our information." - -"Yes," agreed Marchmont, "that will be the best plan. Let us have the -argument, Doctor, and any additional evidence that you possess." - -"The argument," said Thorndyke, "will be a rather long one, as the data -are so numerous, and there are some points in verification on which I -shall have to dwell in some detail. We will have some coffee to clear -our brains, and then I will bespeak your patience for what may seem like -a rather prolix demonstration." - - - - -Chapter XVI - -An Exposition and a Tragedy - - -"You may have wondered," Thorndyke commenced, when he had poured out the -coffee and handed round the cups, "what induced me to undertake the -minute investigation of so apparently simple and straightforward a case. -Perhaps I had better explain that first and let you see what was the -real starting-point of the inquiry. - -"When you, Mr. Marchmont and Mr. Stephen, introduced the case to me, I -made a very brief précis of the facts as you presented them, and of -these there were one or two which immediately attracted my attention. In -the first place, there was the will. It was a very strange will. It was -perfectly unnecessary. It contained no new matter; it expressed no -changed intentions; it met no new circumstances, as known to the -testator. In short it was not really a new will at all, but merely a -repetition of the first one, drafted in different and less suitable -language. It differed only in introducing a certain ambiguity from which -the original was free. It created the possibility that, in certain -circumstances, not known to or anticipated by the testator, John -Blackmore might become the principal beneficiary, contrary to the -obvious wishes of the testator. - -"The next point that impressed me was the manner of Mrs. Wilson's death. -She died of cancer. Now people do not die suddenly and unexpectedly of -cancer. This terrible disease stands almost alone in that it marks out -its victim months in advance. A person who has an incurable cancer is a -person whose death may be predicted with certainty and its date fixed -within comparatively narrow limits. - -"And now observe the remarkable series of coincidences that are brought -into light when we consider this peculiarity of the disease. Mrs. Wilson -died on the twelfth of March of this present year. Mr. Jeffrey's second -will was signed on the twelfth of November of last year; at a time, that -is to say, when the existence of cancer must have been known to Mrs. -Wilson's doctor, and might have been known to any of her relatives who -chose to inquire after her. - -"Then you will observe that the remarkable change in Mr. Jeffrey's -habits coincides in the most singular way with the same events. The -cancer must have been detectable as early as September of last year; -about the time, in fact, at which Mrs. Wilson made her will. Mr. Jeffrey -went to the inn at the beginning of October. From that time his habits -were totally changed, and I can demonstrate to you that a change--not a -gradual, but an abrupt change--took place in the character of his -signature. - -"In short, the whole of this peculiar set of circumstances--the change -in Jeffrey's habits, the change in his signature, and the execution of -his strange will--came into existence about the time when Mrs. Wilson -was first known to be suffering from cancer. - -"This struck me as a very suggestive fact. - -"Then there is the extraordinarily opportune date of Mr. Jeffrey's -death. Mrs. Wilson died on the twelfth of March. Mr. Jeffrey was found -dead on the fifteenth of March, having apparently died on the -fourteenth, on which day he was seen alive. If he had died only three -days sooner, he would have predeceased Mrs. Wilson, and her property -would never have devolved on him at all; while, if he had lived only a -day or two longer, he would have learned of her death and would -certainly have made a new will or codicil in his nephew's favour. - -"Circumstances, therefore, conspired in the most singular manner in -favour of John Blackmore. - -"But there is yet another coincidence. Jeffrey's body was found, by the -merest chance, the day after his death. But it might have remained -undiscovered for weeks, or even months; and if it had, it would have -been impossible to fix the date of his death. Then Mrs. Wilson's next -of kin would certainly have contested John Blackmore's claim--and -probably with success--on the ground that Jeffrey died before Mrs. -Wilson. But all this uncertainty is provided for by the circumstance -that Mr. Jeffrey paid his rent personally--and prematurely--to the -porter on the fourteenth of March, thus establishing beyond question the -fact that he was alive on that date; and yet further, in case the -porter's memory should be untrustworthy or his statement doubted, -Jeffrey furnished a signed and dated document--the cheque--which could -be produced in a court to furnish incontestable proof of survival. - -"To sum up this part of the evidence. Here was a will which enabled John -Blackmore to inherit the fortune of a man who, almost certainly, had no -intention of bequeathing it to him. The wording of that will seemed to -be adjusted to the peculiarities of Mrs. Wilson's disease; and the death -of the testator occurred under a peculiar set of circumstances which -seemed to be exactly adjusted to the wording of the will. Or, to put it -in another way: the wording of the will and the time, the manner and the -circumstances of the testator's death, all seemed to be precisely -adjusted to the fact that the approximate date of Mrs. Wilson's death -was known some months before it occurred. - -"Now you must admit that this compound group of coincidences, all -conspiring to a single end--the enrichment of John Blackmore--has a very -singular appearance. Coincidences are common enough in real life; but -we cannot accept too many at a time. My feeling was that there were too -many in this case and that I could not accept them without searching -inquiry." - -Thorndyke paused, and Mr. Marchmont, who had listened with close -attention, nodded, as he glanced at his silent partner. - -"You have stated the case with remarkable clearness," he said; "and I am -free to confess that some of the points that you have raised had escaped -my notice." - -"My first idea," Thorndyke resumed, "was that John Blackmore, taking -advantage of the mental enfeeblement produced by the opium habit, had -dictated this will to Jeffrey, It was then that I sought permission to -inspect Jeffrey's chambers; to learn what I could about him and to see -for myself whether they presented the dirty and disorderly appearance -characteristic of the regular opium-smoker's den. But when, during a -walk into the City, I thought over the case, it seemed to me that this -explanation hardly met the facts. Then I endeavoured to think of some -other explanation; and looking over my notes I observed two points that -seemed worth considering. One was that neither of the witnesses to the -will was really acquainted with Jeffrey Blackmore; both being strangers -who had accepted his identity on his own statement. The other was that -no one who had previously known him, with the single exception of his -brother John, had ever seen Jeffrey at the inn. - -"What was the import of these two facts? Probably they had none. But -still they suggested the desirability of considering the question: Was -the person who signed the will really Jeffrey Blackmore? The contrary -supposition--that some one had personated Jeffrey and forged his -signature to a false will--seemed wildly improbable, especially in view -of the identification of the body; but it involved no actual -impossibility; and it offered a complete explanation of the, otherwise -inexplicable, coincidences that I have mentioned. - -"I did not, however, for a moment, think that this was the true -explanation, but I resolved to bear it in mind, to test it when the -opportunity arose, and consider it by the light of any fresh facts that -I might acquire. - -"The new facts came sooner than I had expected. That same evening I went -with Dr. Jervis to New Inn and found Mr. Stephen in the chambers. By him -I was informed that Jeffrey was a learned Orientalist, with a quite -expert knowledge of the cuneiform writing; and even as he was telling me -this, I looked over his shoulder and saw a cuneiform inscription hanging -on the wall upside down. - -"Now, of this there could be only one reasonable explanation. -Disregarding the fact that no one would screw the suspension plates on a -frame without ascertaining which was the right way up, and assuming it -to be hung up inverted, it was impossible that the misplacement could -have been overlooked by Jeffrey. He was not blind, though his sight was -defective. The frame was thirty inches long and the individual -characters nearly an inch in length--about the size of the D 18 letters -of Snellen's test-types, which can be read by a person of ordinary sight -at a distance of fifty-five feet. There was, I repeat, only one -reasonable explanation; which was that the person who had inhabited -those chambers was not Jeffrey Blackmore. - -"This conclusion received considerable support from a fact which I -observed later, but mention in this place. On examining the soles of the -shoes taken from the dead man's feet, I found only the ordinary mud of -the streets. There was no trace of the peculiar gravelly mud that -adhered to my own boots and Jervis's, and which came from the square of -the inn. Yet the porter distinctly stated that the deceased, after -paying the rent, walked back towards his chambers across the square; the -mud of which should, therefore, have been conspicuous on his shoes. - -"Thus, in a moment, a wildly speculative hypothesis had assumed a high -degree of probability. - -"When Mr. Stephen was gone, Jervis and I looked over the chambers -thoroughly; and then another curious fact came to light. On the wall -were a number of fine Japanese colour-prints, all of which showed recent -damp-spots. Now, apart from the consideration that Jeffrey, who had been -at the trouble and expense of collecting these valuable prints, would -hardly have allowed them to rot on his walls, there arose the question: -How came they to be damp? There was a gas stove in the room, and a gas -stove has at least the virtue of preserving a dry atmosphere. It was -winter weather, when the stove would naturally be pretty constantly -alight. How came the walls to be so damp? The answer seemed to be that -the stove had not been constantly alight, but had been lighted only -occasionally. This suggestion was borne out by a further examination of -the rooms. In the kitchen there were practically no stores and hardly -any arrangements even for simple bachelor cooking; the bedroom offered -the same suggestion; the soap in the wash-stand was shrivelled and -cracked; there was no cast-off linen, and the shirts in the drawers, -though clean, had the peculiar yellowish, faded appearance that linen -acquires when long out of use. In short, the rooms had the appearance of -not having been lived in at all, but only visited at intervals. - -"Against this view, however, was the statement of the night porter that -he had often seen a light in Jeffrey's sitting-room at one o'clock in -the morning, with the apparent implication that it was then turned out. -Now a light may be left in an empty room, but its extinction implies the -presence of some person to extinguish it; unless some automatic device -be adopted for putting it out at a given time. Such a device--the alarm -movement of a clock, for instance, with a suitable attachment--is a -simple enough matter, but my search of the rooms failed to discover -anything of the kind. However, when looking over the drawers in the -bedroom, I came upon a large box that had held a considerable quantity -of hard stearine candles. There were only a few left, but a flat -candlestick with numerous wick-ends in its socket accounted for the -remainder. - -"These candles seemed to dispose of the difficulty. They were not -necessary for ordinary lighting, since gas was laid on in all three -rooms. For what purpose, then, were they used, and in such considerable -quantities? I subsequently obtained some of the same brand--Price's -stearine candles, six to the pound--and experimented with them. Each -candle was seven and a quarter inches in length, not counting the cone -at the top, and I found that they burned in still air at the rate of a -fraction over one inch in an hour. We may say that one of these candles -would burn in still air a little over six hours. It would thus be -possible for the person who inhabited these rooms to go away at seven -o'clock in the evening and leave a light which would burn until past one -in the morning and then extinguish itself. This, of course, was only -surmise, but it destroyed the significance of the night porter's -statement. - -"But, if the person who inhabited these chambers was not Jeffrey, who -was he? - -"The answer to that question seemed plain enough. There was only one -person who had a strong motive for perpetrating a fraud of this kind, -and there was only one person to whom it was possible. If this person -was not Jeffrey, he must have been very like Jeffrey; sufficiently like -for the body of the one to be mistaken for the body of the other. For -the production of Jeffrey's body was an essential part of the plan and -must have been contemplated from the first. But the only person who -fulfills the conditions is John Blackmore. - -"We have learned from Mr. Stephen that John and Jeffrey, though very -different in appearance in later years, were much alike as young men. -But when two brothers who are much alike as young men, become unlike in -later life, we shall find that the unlikeness is produced by superficial -differences and that the essential likeness remains. Thus, in the -present case, Jeffrey was clean shaved, had bad eyesight, wore -spectacles and stooped as he walked; John wore a beard and moustache, -had good eyesight, did not wear spectacles and had a brisk gait and -upright carriage. But supposing John to shave off his beard and -moustache, to put on spectacles and to stoop in his walk, these -conspicuous but superficial differences would vanish and the original -likeness reappear. - -"There is another consideration. John had been an actor and was an actor -of some experience. Now, any person can, with some care and practice, -make up a disguise; the great difficulty is to support that disguise by -a suitable manner and voice. But to an experienced actor this difficulty -does not exist. To him, personation is easy; and, moreover, an actor is -precisely the person to whom the idea of disguise and impersonation -would occur. - -"There is a small item bearing on this point, so small as to be hardly -worth calling evidence, but just worth noting. In the pocket of the -waistcoat taken from the body of Jeffrey I found the stump of a -'Contango' pencil; a pencil that is sold for the use of stock dealers -and brokers. Now John was an outside broker and might very probably have -used such a pencil, whereas Jeffrey had no connection with the stock -markets and there is no reason why he should have possessed a pencil of -this kind. But the fact is merely suggestive; it has no evidential -value. - -"A more important inference is to be drawn from the collected -signatures. I have remarked that the change in the signature occurred -abruptly, with one or two alterations of manner, last September, and -that there are two distinct forms with no intermediate varieties. This -is, in itself, remarkable and suspicious. But a remark made by Mr. -Britton furnishes a really valuable piece of evidence on the point we -are now considering. He admitted that the character of the signature had -undergone a change, but observed that the change did not affect the -individual or personal character of the writing. This is very important; -for handwriting is, as it were, an extension of the personality of the -writer. And just as a man to some extent snares his personality with his -near blood-relations in the form of family resemblances, so his -handwriting often shows a subtle likeness to that of his near relatives. -You must have noticed, as I have, how commonly the handwriting of one -brother resembles that of another, and in just this peculiar and subtle -way. The inference, then, from Mr. Britton's statement is, that if the -signature of the will was forged, it was probably forged by a relative -of the deceased. But the only relative in question is his brother John. - -"All the facts, therefore, pointed to John Blackmore as the person who -occupied these chambers, and I accordingly adopted that view as a -working hypothesis." - -"But this was all pure speculation," objected Mr. Winwood. - -"Not speculation," said Thorndyke. "Hypothesis. It was ordinary -inductive reasoning such as we employ in scientific research. I started -with the purely tentative hypothesis that the person who signed the will -was not Jeffrey Blackmore. I assumed this; and I may say that I did not -believe it at the time, but merely adopted it as a proposition that was -worth testing. I accordingly tested it, 'Yes?' or 'No?' with each new -fact; but as each new fact said 'Yes,' and no fact said definitely 'No,' -its probability increased rapidly by a sort of geometrical progression. -The probabilities multiplied into one another. It is a perfectly sound -method, for one knows that if a hypothesis be true, it will lead one, -sooner or later, to a crucial fact by which its truth can be -demonstrated. - -"To resume our argument. We have now set up the proposition that John -Blackmore was the tenant of New Inn and that he was personating Jeffrey. -Let us reason from this and see what it leads to. - -"If the tenant of New Inn was John, then Jeffrey must be elsewhere, -since his concealment at the inn was clearly impossible. But he could -not have been far away, for he had to be producible at short notice -whenever the death of Mrs. Wilson should make the production of his -body necessary. But if he was producible, his person must have been in -the possession or control of John. He could not have been at large, for -that would have involved the danger of his being seen and recognized. He -could not have been in any institution or place where he would be in -contact with strangers. Then he must be in some sort of confinement. But -it is difficult to keep an adult in confinement in an ordinary house. -Such a proceeding would involve great risk of discovery and the use of -violence which would leave traces on the body, to be observed and -commented on at the inquest. What alternative method could be suggested? - -"The most obvious method is that of keeping the prisoner in such a state -of debility as would confine him to his bed. But such debility could be -produced by only starvation, unsuitable food, or chronic poisoning. Of -these alternatives, poisoning is much more exact, more calculable in its -effect and more under control. The probabilities, then, were in favour -of chronic poisoning. - -"Having reached this stage, I recalled a singular case which Jervis had -mentioned to me and which seemed to illustrate this method. On our -return home I asked him for further particulars, and he then gave me a -very detailed description of the patient and the circumstances. The -upshot was rather startling. I had looked on his case as merely -illustrative, and wished to study it for the sake of the suggestions -that it might offer. But when I had heard his account, I began to -suspect that there was something more than mere parallelism of method. -It began to look as if his patient, Mr. Graves, might actually be -Jeffrey Blackmore. - -"The coincidences were remarkable. The general appearance of the patient -tallied completely with Mr. Stephen's description of his uncle Jeffrey. -The patient had a tremulous iris in his right eye and had clearly -suffered from dislocation of the crystalline lens. But from Mr. -Stephen's account of his uncle's sudden loss of sight in the right eye -after a fall, I judged that Jeffrey had also suffered from dislocation -of the lens and therefore had a tremulous iris in the right eye. The -patient, Graves, evidently had defective vision in his left eye, as -proved by the marks made behind his ears by the hooked side-bars of his -spectacles; for it is only on spectacles that are intended for constant -use that we find hooked side-bars. But Jeffrey had defective vision in -his left eye and wore spectacles constantly. Lastly, the patient Graves -was suffering from chronic morphine poisoning, and morphine was found in -the body of Jeffrey. - -"Once more, it appeared to me that there were too many coincidences. - -"The question as to whether Graves and Jeffrey were identical admitted -of fairly easy disproof; for if Graves was still alive, he could not be -Jeffrey. It was an important question and I resolved to test it without -delay. That night, Jervis and I plotted out the chart, and on the -following morning we located the house. But it was empty and to let. -The birds had flown, and we failed to discover whither they had gone. - -"However, we entered the house and explored. I have told you about the -massive bolts and fastenings that we found on the bedroom doors and -window, showing that the room had been used as a prison. I have told you -of the objects that we picked out of the dust-heap under the grate. Of -the obvious suggestion offered by the Japanese brush and the bottle of -'spirit gum' or cement, I need not speak now; but I must trouble you -with some details concerning the broken spectacles. For here we had come -upon the crucial fact to which, as I have said, all sound inductive -reasoning brings one sooner or later. - -"The spectacles were of a rather peculiar pattern. The frames were of -the type invented by Mr. Stopford of Moorfields and known by his name. -The right eye-piece was fitted with plain glass, as is usual in the case -of a blind, or useless, eye. It was very much shattered, but its -character was obvious. The glass of the left eye was much thicker and -fortunately less damaged, so that I was able accurately to test its -refraction. - -"When I reached home, I laid the pieces of the spectacles together, -measured the frames very carefully, tested the left eye-glass, and wrote -down a full description such as would have been given by the surgeon to -the spectacle-maker. Here it is, and I will ask you to note it -carefully. - -"'Spectacles for constant use. Steel frame, Stopford's pattern, curl -sides, broad bridge with gold lining. Distance between centres, 6.2 -centimetres; extreme length of side-bars, 13.3 centimetres. - -"'Right eye plain glass. - -"'Left eye -5.75 D. spherical - ------------------- - -3.25 D. cylindrical axis 35°.' - -"The spectacles, you see, were of a very distinctive character and -seemed to offer a good chance of identification. Stopford's frames are, -I believe, made by only one firm of opticians in London, Parry & Cuxton -of Regent Street. I therefore wrote to Mr. Cuxton, who knows me, asking -him if he had supplied spectacles to the late Jeffrey Blackmore, -Esq.--here is a copy of my letter--and if so, whether he would mind -letting me have a full description of them, together with the name of -the oculist who prescribed them. - -"He replied in this letter, which is pinned to the copy of mine, that, -about four years ago, he supplied a pair of glasses to Mr. Jeffrey -Blackmore, and described them thus: 'The spectacles were for constant -use and had steel frames of Stopford's pattern with curl sides, the -length of the side-bars including the curled ends being 13.3 cm. The -bridge was broad with a gold lining-plate, shaped as shown by the -enclosed tracing from the diagram on the prescription. Distance between -centres 6.2 cm. - -"'Right eye plain glass. - -"'Left eye -5.75 D. spherical - ------------------- - -3.25 D. cylindrical, axis 35°.' - -"'The spectacles were prescribed by Mr. Hindley of Wimpole Street.' - -"You see that Mr. Cuxton's description is identical with mine. However, -for further confirmation, I wrote to Mr. Hindley, asking certain -questions, to which he replied thus: - -"'You are quite right. Mr. Jeffrey Blackmore had a tremulous iris in his -right eye (which was practically blind), due to dislocation of the lens. -The pupils were rather large; certainly not contracted.' - -"Here, then, we have three important facts. One is that the spectacles -found by us at Kennington Lane were undoubtedly Jeffrey's; for it is as -unlikely that there exists another pair of spectacles exactly identical -with those as that there exists another face exactly like Jeffrey's -face. The second fact is that the description of Jeffrey tallies -completely with that of the sick man, Graves, as given by Dr. Jervis; -and the third is that when Jeffrey was seen by Mr. Hindley, there was no -sign of his being addicted to the taking of morphine. The first and -second facts, you will agree, constitute complete identification." - -"Yes," said Marchmont; "I think we must admit the identification as -being quite conclusive, though the evidence is of a kind that is more -striking to the medical than to the legal mind." - -"You will not have that complaint to make against the next item of -evidence," said Thorndyke. "It is after the lawyer's own heart, as you -shall hear. A few days ago I wrote to Mr. Stephen asking him if he -possessed a recent photograph of his uncle Jeffrey. He had one, and he -sent it to me by return. This portrait I showed to Dr. Jervis and asked -him if he had ever seen the person it represented. After examining it -attentively, without any hint whatever from me, he identified it as the -portrait of the sick man, Graves." - -"Indeed!" exclaimed Marchmont. "This is most important. Are you prepared -to swear to the identity, Dr. Jervis?" - -"I have not the slightest doubt," I replied, "that the portrait is that -of Mr. Graves." - -"Excellent!" said Marchmont, rubbing his hands gleefully; "this will be -much more convincing to a jury. Pray go on, Dr. Thorndyke." - -"That," said Thorndyke, "completes the first part of my investigation. -We had now reached a definite, demonstrable fact; and that fact, as you -see, disposed at once of the main question--the genuineness of the will. -For if the man at Kennington Lane was Jeffrey Blackmore, then the man at -New Inn was not. But it was the latter who had signed the will. -Therefore the will was not signed by Jeffrey Blackmore; that is to say, -it was a forgery. The case was complete for the purposes of the civil -proceedings; the rest of my investigations had reference to the criminal -prosecution that was inevitable. Shall I proceed, or is your interest -confined to the will?" - -"Hang the will!" exclaimed Stephen. "I want to hear how you propose to -lay hands on the villain who murdered poor old uncle Jeffrey--for I -suppose he did murder him?" - -"I think there is no doubt of it," replied Thorndyke. - -"Then," said Marchmont, "we will hear the rest of the argument, if you -please." - -"Very well," said Thorndyke. "As the evidence stands, we have proved -that Jeffrey Blackmore was a prisoner in the house in Kennington Lane -and that some one was personating him at New Inn. That some one, we have -seen, was, in all probability, John Blackmore. We now have to consider -the man Weiss. Who was he? and can we connect him in any way with New -Inn? - -"We may note in passing that Weiss and the coachman were apparently one -and the same person. They were never seen together. When Weiss was -present, the coachman was not available even for so urgent a service as -the obtaining of an antidote to the poison. Weiss always appeared some -time after Jervis's arrival and disappeared some time before his -departure, in each case sufficiently long to allow of a change of -disguise. But we need not labour the point, as it is not of primary -importance. - -"To return to Weiss. He was clearly heavily disguised, as we see by his -unwillingness to show himself even by the light of a candle. But there -is an item of positive evidence on this point which is important from -having other bearings. It is furnished by the spectacles worn by Weiss, -of which you have heard Jervis's description. These spectacles had very -peculiar optical properties. When you looked <i>through</i> them they had the -properties of plain glass; when you looked <i>at</i> them they had the -appearance of lenses. But only one kind of glass possesses these -properties; namely, that which, like an ordinary watch-glass, has -curved, parallel surfaces. But for what purpose could a person wear -'watch-glass' spectacles? Clearly, not to assist his vision. The only -alternative is disguise. - -"The properties of these spectacles introduce a very curious and -interesting feature into the case. To the majority of persons, the -wearing of spectacles for the purpose of disguise or personation, seems -a perfectly simple and easy proceeding. But, to a person of normal -eyesight, it is nothing of the kind. For, if he wears spectacles suited -for long sight he cannot see distinctly through them at all; while, if -he wears concave, or near sight, glasses, the effort to see through them -produces such strain and fatigue that his eyes become disabled -altogether. On the stage the difficulty is met by using spectacles of -plain window-glass, but in real life this would hardly do; the -'property' spectacles would be detected at once and give rise to -suspicion. - -"The personator is therefore in this dilemma: if he wears actual -spectacles, he cannot see through them; if he wears sham spectacles of -plain glass, his disguise will probably be detected. There is only one -way out of the difficulty, and that not a very satisfactory one; but Mr. -Weiss seems to have adopted it in lieu of a better. It is that of using -watch-glass spectacles such as I have described. - -"Now, what do we learn from these very peculiar glasses? In the first -place they confirm our opinion that Weiss was wearing a disguise. But, -for use in a room so very dimly lighted, the ordinary stage spectacles -would have answered quite well. The second inference is, then, that -these spectacles were prepared to be worn under more trying conditions -of light--out of doors, for instance. The third inference is that Weiss -was a man with normal eyesight; for otherwise he could have worn real -spectacles suited to the state of his vision. - -"These are inferences by the way, to which we may return. But these -glasses furnish a much more important suggestion. On the floor of the -bedroom at New Inn I found some fragments of glass which had been -trodden on. By joining one or two of them together, we have been able to -make out the general character of the object of which they formed parts. -My assistant--who was formerly a watch-maker--judged that object to be -the thin crystal glass of a lady's watch, and this, I think, was -Jervis's opinion. But the small part which remains of the original edge -furnishes proof in two respects that this was not a watch-glass. In the -first place, on taking a careful tracing of this piece of the edge, I -found that its curve was part of an ellipse; but watch-glasses, -nowadays, are invariably circular. In the second place, watch-glasses -are ground on the edge to a single bevel to snap into the bezel or -frame; but the edge of this object was ground to a double bevel, like -the edge of a spectacle-glass, which fits into a groove in the frame and -is held by the side-bar screw. The inevitable inference was that this -was a spectacle-glass. But, if so, it was part of a pair of spectacles -identical in properties with those worn by Mr. Weiss. - -"The importance of this conclusion emerges when we consider the -exceptional character of Mr. Weiss's spectacles. They were not merely -peculiar or remarkable; they were probably unique. It is exceedingly -likely that there is not in the entire world another similar pair of -spectacles. Whence the finding of these fragments of glass in the -bedroom establishes a considerable probability that Mr. Weiss was, at -some time, in the chambers at New Inn. - -"And now let us gather up the threads of this part of the argument. We -are inquiring into the identity of the man Weiss. Who was he? - -"In the first place, we find him committing a secret crime from which -John Blackmore alone will benefit. This suggests the <i>prima-facie</i> -probability that he was John Blackmore. - -"Then we find that he was a man of normal eyesight who was wearing -spectacles for the purpose of disguise. But the tenant of New Inn, whom -we have seen to be, almost certainly, John Blackmore--and whom we will, -for the present, assume to have been John Blackmore--was a man with -normal eyesight who wore spectacles for disguise. - -"John Blackmore did not reside at New Inn, but at some place within -easy reach of it. But Weiss resided at a place within easy reach of New -Inn. - -"John Blackmore must have had possession and control of the person of -Jeffrey. But Weiss had possession and control of the person of Jeffrey. - -"Weiss wore spectacles of a certain peculiar and probably unique -character. But portions of such spectacles were found in the chambers at -New Inn. - -"The overwhelming probability, therefore, is that Weiss and the tenant -of New Inn were one and the same person; and that that person was John -Blackmore." - -"That," said Mr. Winwood, "is a very plausible argument. But, you -observe, sir, that it contains an undistributed middle term." - -Thorndyke smiled genially. I think he forgave Winwood everything for -that remark. - -"You are quite right, sir," he said. "It does. And, for that reason, the -demonstration is not absolute. But we must not forget, what logicians -seem occasionally to overlook: that the 'undistributed middle,' while it -interferes with absolute proof, may be quite consistent with a degree of -probability that approaches very near to certainty. Both the Bertillon -system and the English fingerprint system involve a process of reasoning -in which the middle term is undistributed. But the great probabilities -are accepted in practice as equivalent to certainties." - -Mr. Winwood grunted a grudging assent, and Thorndyke resumed: - -"We have now furnished fairly conclusive evidence on three heads: we -have proved that the sick man, Graves, was Jeffrey Blackmore; that the -tenant of New Inn was John Blackmore; and that the man Weiss was also -John Blackmore. We now have to prove that John and Jeffrey were together -in the chambers at New Inn on the night of Jeffrey's death. - -"We know that two persons, and two persons only, came from Kennington -Lane to New Inn. But one of those persons was the tenant of New -Inn--that is, John Blackmore. Who was the other? Jeffrey is known by us -to have been at Kennington Lane. His body was found on the following -morning in the room at New Inn. No third person is known to have come -from Kennington Lane; no third person is known to have arrived at New -Inn. The inference, by exclusion, is that the second person--the -woman--was Jeffrey. - -"Again; Jeffrey had to be brought from Kennington to the inn by John. -But John was personating Jeffrey and was made up to resemble him very -closely. If Jeffrey were undisguised the two men would be almost exactly -alike; which would be very noticeable in any case and suspicious after -the death of one of them. Therefore Jeffrey would have to be disguised -in some way; and what disguise could be simpler and more effective than -the one that I suggest was used? - -"Again; it was unavoidable that some one--the cabman--should know that -Jeffrey was not alone when he came to the inn that night. If the fact -had leaked out and it had become known that a man had accompanied him to -his chambers, some suspicion might have arisen, and that suspicion would -have pointed to John, who was directly interested in his brother's -death. But if it had transpired that Jeffrey was accompanied by a woman, -there would have been less suspicion, and that suspicion would not have -pointed to John Blackmore. - -"Thus all the general probabilities are in favour of the hypothesis that -this woman was Jeffrey Blackmore. There is, however, an item of positive -evidence that strongly supports this view. When I examined the clothing -of the deceased, I found on the trousers a horizontal crease on each leg -as if the trousers had been turned up half-way to the knees. This -appearance is quite understandable if we suppose that the trousers were -worn under a skirt and were turned up so that they should not be -accidentally seen. Otherwise it is quite incomprehensible." - -"Is it not rather strange," said Marchmont, "that Jeffrey should have -allowed himself to be dressed up in this remarkable manner?" - -"I think not," replied Thorndyke. "There is no reason to suppose that he -knew how he was dressed. You have heard Jervis's description of his -condition; that of a mere automaton. You know that without his -spectacles he was practically blind, and that he could not have worn -them since we found them at the house in Kennington Lane. Probably his -head was wrapped up in the veil, and the skirt and mantle put on -afterwards; but, in any case, his condition rendered him practically -devoid of will power. That is all the evidence I have to prove that the -unknown woman was Jeffrey. It is not conclusive but it is convincing -enough for our purpose, seeing that the case against John Blackmore does -not depend upon it." - -"Your case against him is on the charge of murder, I presume?" said -Stephen. - -"Undoubtedly. And you will notice that the statements made by the -supposed Jeffrey to the porter, hinting at suicide, are now important -evidence. By the light of what we know, the announcement of intended -suicide becomes the announcement of intended murder. It conclusively -disproves what it was intended to prove; that Jeffrey died by his own -hand." - -"Yes, I see that," said Stephen, and then after a pause he asked: "Did -you identify Mrs. Schallibaum? You have told us nothing about her." - -"I have considered her as being outside the case as far as I am -concerned," replied Thorndyke. "She was an accessory; my business was -with the principal. But, of course, she will be swept up in the net. The -evidence that convicts John Blackmore will convict her. I have not -troubled about her identity. If John Blackmore is married, she is -probably his wife. Do you happen to know if he is married?" - -"Yes; but Mrs. John Blackmore is not much like Mrs. Schallibaum, -excepting that she has a cast in the left eye. She is a dark woman with -very heavy eyebrows." - -"That is to say that she differs from Mrs. Schallibaum in those -peculiarities that can be artificially changed and resembles her in the -one feature that is unchangeable. Do you know if her Christian name -happens to be Pauline?" - -"Yes, it is. She was a Miss Pauline Hagenbeck, a member of an American -theatrical company. What made you ask?" - -"The name which Jervis heard poor Jeffrey struggling to pronounce seemed -to me to resemble Pauline more than any other name." - -"There is one little point that strikes me," said Marchmont. "Is it not -rather remarkable that the porter should have noticed no difference -between the body of Jeffrey and the living man whom he knew by sight, -and who must, after all, have been distinctly different in appearance?" - -"I am glad you raised that question," Thorndyke replied, "for that very -difficulty presented itself to me at the beginning of the case. But on -thinking it over, I decided that it was an imaginary difficulty, -assuming, as we do, that there was a good deal of resemblance between -the two men. Put yourself in the porter's place and follow his mental -processes. He is informed that a dead man is lying on the bed in Mr. -Blackmore's rooms. Naturally, he assumes that the dead man is Mr. -Blackmore--who, by the way, had hinted at suicide only the night before. -With this idea he enters the chambers and sees a man a good deal like -Mr. Blackmore and wearing Mr. Blackmore's clothes, lying on Mr. -Blackmore's bed. The idea that the body could be that of some other -person has never entered his mind. If he notes any difference of -appearance he will put that down to the effects of death; for every one -knows that a man dead looks somewhat different from the same man alive. -I take it as evidence of great acuteness on the part of John Blackmore -that he should have calculated so cleverly, not only the mental process -of the porter, but the erroneous reasoning which every one would base on -the porter's conclusions. For, since the body was actually Jeffrey's, -and was identified by the porter as that of his tenant, it has been -assumed by every one that no question was possible as to the identity of -Jeffrey Blackmore and the tenant of New Inn." - -There was a brief silence, and then Marchmont asked: - -"May we take it that we have now heard all the evidence?" - -"Yes," replied Thorndyke. "That is my case." - -"Have you given information to the police?" Stephen asked eagerly. - -"Yes. As soon as I had obtained the statement of the cabman, Ridley, and -felt that I had enough evidence to secure a conviction, I called at -Scotland Yard and had an interview with the Assistant Commissioner. The -case is in the hands of Superintendent Miller of the Criminal -Investigation Department, a most acute and energetic officer. I have -been expecting to hear that the warrant has been executed, for Mr. -Miller is usually very punctilious in keeping me informed of the -progress of the cases to which I introduce him. We shall hear to-morrow, -no doubt." - -"And, for the present," said Marchmont, "the case seems to have passed -out of our hands." - -"I shall enter a caveat, all the same," said Mr. Winwood. - -"That doesn't seem very necessary," Marchmont objected. "The evidence -that we have heard is amply sufficient to ensure a conviction and there -will be plenty more when the police go into the case. And a conviction -on the charges of forgery and murder would, of course, invalidate the -second will." - -"I shall enter a caveat, all the same," repeated Mr. Winwood. - -As the two partners showed a disposition to become heated over this -question, Thorndyke suggested that they might discuss it at leisure by -the light of subsequent events. Acting on this hint--for it was now -close upon midnight--our visitors prepared to depart; and were, in fact, -just making their way towards the door when the bell rang. Thorndyke -flung open the door, and, as he recognized his visitor, greeted him with -evident satisfaction. - -"Ha! Mr. Miller; we were just speaking of you. These gentlemen are Mr. -Stephen Blackmore and his solicitors, Mr. Marchmont and Mr. Winwood. You -know Dr. Jervis, I think." - -The officer bowed to our friends and remarked: - -"I am just in time, it seems. A few minutes more and I should have -missed these gentlemen. I don't know what you'll think of my news." - -"You haven't let that villain escape, I hope," Stephen exclaimed. - -"Well," said the Superintendent, "he is out of my hands and yours too; -and so is the woman. Perhaps I had better tell you what has happened." - -"If you would be so kind," said Thorndyke, motioning the officer to a -chair. - -The superintendent seated himself with the manner of a man who has had a -long and strenuous day, and forthwith began his story. - -"As soon as we had your information, we procured a warrant for the -arrest of both parties, and then I went straight to their flat with -Inspector Badger and a sergeant. There we learned from the attendant -that they were away from home and were not expected back until to-day -about noon. We kept a watch on the premises, and this morning, about the -time appointed, a man and a woman, answering to the description, arrived -at the flat. We followed them in and saw them enter the lift, and we -were going to get into the lift too, when the man pulled the rope, and -away they went. There was nothing for us to do but run up the stairs, -which we did as fast as we could race; but they got to their landing -first, and we were only just in time to see them nip in and shut the -door. However, it seemed that we had them safe enough, for there was no -dropping out of the windows at that height; so we sent the sergeant to -get a locksmith to pick the lock or force the door, while we kept on -ringing the bell. - -"About three minutes after the sergeant left, I happened to look out of -the landing window and saw a hansom pull up opposite the flats. I put my -head out of the window, and, hang me if I didn't see our two friends -getting into the cab. It seems that there was a small lift inside the -flat communicating with the kitchen, and they had slipped down it one at -a time. - -"Well, of course, we raced down the stairs like acrobats, but by the -time we got to the bottom the cab was off with a fine start. We ran out -into Victoria Street, and there we could see it half-way down the street -and going like a chariot race. We managed to pick up another hansom and -told the cabby to keep the other one in sight, and away we went like the -very deuce; along Victoria Street and Broad Sanctuary, across Parliament -Square, over Westminster Bridge and along York Road; we kept the other -beggar in sight, but we couldn't gain an inch on him. Then we turned -into Waterloo Station, and, as we were driving up the slope we met -another hansom coming down; and when the cabby kissed his hand and -smiled at us, we guessed that he was the sportsman we had been -following. - -"But there was no time to ask questions. It is an awkward station with a -lot of different exits, and it looked a good deal as if our quarry had -got away. However, I took a chance. I remembered that the Southampton -express was due to start about this time, and I took a short cut across -the lines and made for the platform that it starts from. Just as Badger -and I got to the end, about thirty yards from the rear of the train, we -saw a man and a woman running in front of us. Then the guard blew his -whistle and the train began to move. The man and the woman managed to -scramble into one of the rear compartments and Badger and I raced up the -platform like mad. A porter tried to head us off, but Badger capsized -him and we both sprinted harder than ever, and just hopped on the -foot-board of the guard's van as the train began to get up speed. The -guard couldn't risk putting us off, so he had to let us into his van, -which suited us exactly, as we could watch the train on both sides from -the look-out. And we did watch, I can tell you; for our friend in front -had seen us. His head was out of the window as we climbed on to the -foot-board. - -"However, nothing happened until we stopped at Southampton West. There, -I need not say, we lost no time in hopping out, for we naturally -expected our friends to make a rush for the exit. But they didn't. -Badger watched the platform, and I kept a look-out to see that they -didn't slip away across the line from the off-side. But still there was -no sign of them. Then I walked up the train to the compartment which I -had seen them enter. And there they were, apparently fast asleep in the -corner by the off-side window, the man leaning back with his mouth open -and the woman resting against him with her head on his shoulder. She -gave me quite a turn when I went in to look at them, for she had her -eyes half-closed and seemed to be looking round at me with a most -horrible expression; but I found afterwards that the peculiar appearance -of looking round was due to the cast in her eye." - -"They were dead, I suppose?" said Thorndyke. - -"Yes, sir. Stone dead; and I found these on the floor of the carriage." - -He held up two tiny yellow glass tubes, each labelled "Hypodermic -tabloids. Aconitine Nitrate gr. 1/640." - -"Ha!" exclaimed Thorndyke, "this fellow was well up in alkaloidal -poisons, it seems; and they appear to have gone about prepared for -emergencies. These tubes each contained twenty tabloids, a thirty-second -of a grain altogether, so we may assume that about twelve times the -medicinal dose was swallowed. Death must have occurred in a few minutes, -and a merciful death too." - -"A more merciful death than they deserved," exclaimed Stephen, "when one -thinks of the misery and suffering that they inflicted on poor old uncle -Jeffrey. I would sooner have had them hanged." - -"It's better as it is, sir," said Miller. "There is no need, now, to -raise any questions in detail at the inquest. The publicity of a trial -for murder would have been very unpleasant for you. I wish Dr. Jervis -had given the tip to me instead of to that confounded, -over-cautious--but there, I mustn't run down my brother officers: and -it's easy to be wise after the event. - -"Good night, gentlemen. I suppose this accident disposes of your -business as far as the will is concerned?" - -"I suppose it does," agreed Mr. Winwood. "But I shall enter a caveat, -all the same." - - -THE END - - - - - - - - -End of Project Gutenberg's The Mystery of 31 New Inn, by R. 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Austin Freeman. -</title> -<style type="text/css"> - <!-- - P { margin-left: 4%; - margin-right: 4%; - margin-top: .75em; - text-align: justify; - margin-bottom: .75em; } - H1,H2,H3,H4,H5,H6 { text-align: center; } - HR { width: 33%; } - PRE { font-family: Courier, monospaced; } - TABLE {margin-left: 4%; margin-right: 4%; } - BLOCKQUOTE {margin-left: 7%; margin-right: 7%; } - // --> -</style> -</head> -<body> - - -<pre> - -Project Gutenberg's The Mystery of 31 New Inn, by R. Austin Freeman - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org - - -Title: The Mystery of 31 New Inn - -Author: R. Austin Freeman - -Release Date: April 28, 2004 [EBook #12187] -Last updated: February 3, 2011 -Last updated: November 25, 1012 - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MYSTERY OF 31 NEW INN *** - - - - -Produced by Steven desJardins and Distributed Proofreaders - - - - - -</pre> - -<p> </p> -<h1>THE MYSTERY OF 31 NEW INN</h1> -<h2>BY R. AUSTIN FREEMAN </h2> -<h4> -Author of "The Red Thumb Mark," -"The Eye of Osiris," etc. -</h4> - -<p> </p> - -<a name="RULE4_1"><!-- RULE4 1 --></a> -<h3> - TO MY FRIEND -</h3> -<h3> -BERNARD E. BISHOP -</h3> -<p> </p> -<p> </p> -<a name="PRF"><!-- PRF --></a> -<h2> - Preface -</h2> -<p> </p> -<p> -Commenting upon one of my earlier novels, in respect of which I had -claimed to have been careful to adhere to common probabilities and to -have made use only of really practicable methods of investigation, a -critic remarked that this was of no consequence whatever, so long as the -story was amusing. -</p> -<p> -Few people, I imagine, will agree with him. To most readers, and -certainly to the kind of reader for whom an author is willing to take -trouble, complete realism in respect of incidents and methods is an -essential factor in maintaining the interest of a detective story. Hence -it may be worth while to mention that Thorndyke's method of producing -the track chart, described in Chapters II and III, has been actually -used in practice. It is a modification of one devised by me many years -ago when I was crossing Ashanti to the city of Bontuku, the whereabouts -of which in the far interior was then only vaguely known. My -instructions were to fix the positions of all towns, villages, rivers -and mountains as accurately as possible; but finding ordinary methods of -surveying impracticable in the dense forest which covers the whole -region, I adopted this simple and apparently rude method, checking the -distances whenever possible by astronomical observation. -</p> -<p> -The resulting route-map was surprisingly accurate, as shown by the -agreement of the outward and homeward tracks, It was published by the -Royal Geographical Society, and incorporated in the map of this region -compiled by the Intelligence Branch of the War Office, and it formed the -basis of the map which accompanied my volume of <i>Travels in Ashanti and -Jaman</i>. So that Thorndyke's plan must be taken as quite a practicable -one. -</p> -<p> -New Inn, the background of this story, and one of the last surviving -inns of Chancery, has recently passed away after upwards of four -centuries of newness. Even now, however, a few of the old, dismantled -houses (including perhaps, the mysterious 31) may be seen from the -Strand peeping over the iron roof of the skating rink which has -displaced the picturesque hall, the pension-room and the garden. The -postern gate, too, in Houghton Street still remains, though the arch is -bricked up inside. Passing it lately, I made the rough sketch which -appears on next page, and which shows all that is left of this pleasant -old London backwater. -</p> -<p> </p> -<center> -R. A. F. -</center> -<center> -GRAVESEND -</center> -<p> </p> -<a name="image-1"><!-- Image 1 --></a> -<center> -<img src="newinn.png" width="25%" -alt="New inn"> -</center> -<p> </p> - -<hr> - -<a name="TOC"><!-- TOC --></a> -<h2> - Contents -</h2> - -<h3>CHAPTER I—<a href="#CH1">THE MYSTERIOUS PATIENT</a></h3> -<h3>CHAPTER II—<a href="#CH2">THORNDYKE DEVISES A SCHEME</a></h3> -<h3>CHAPTER III—<a href="#CH3">"A CHIEL'S AMANG YE TAKIN' NOTES"</a></h3> -<h3>CHAPTER IV—<a href="#CH4">THE OFFICIAL VIEW</a></h3> -<h3>CHAPTER V—<a href="#CH5">JEFFREY BLACKMORE'S WILL</a></h3> -<h3>CHAPTER VI—<a href="#CH6">JEFFREY BLACKMORE, DECEASED</a></h3> -<h3>CHAPTER VII—<a href="#CH7">THE CUNEIFORM INSCRIPTION</a></h3> -<h3>CHAPTER VIII—<a href="#CH8">THE TRACK CHART</a></h3> -<h3>CHAPTER IX—<a href="#CH9">THE HOUSE OF MYSTERY</a></h3> -<h3>CHAPTER X—<a href="#CH10">THE HUNTER HUNTED</a></h3> -<h3>CHAPTER XI—<a href="#CH11">THE BLACKMORE CASE REVIEWED</a></h3> -<h3>CHAPTER XII—<a href="#CH12">THE PORTRAIT</a></h3> -<h3>CHAPTER XIII—<a href="#CH13">THE STATEMENT OF SAMUEL WILKINS</a></h3> -<h3>CHAPTER XIV—<a href="#CH14">THORNDYKE LAYS THE MINE</a></h3> -<h3>CHAPTER XV—<a href="#CH15">THORNDYKE EXPLODES THE MINE</a></h3> -<h3>CHAPTER XVI—<a href="#CH16">AN EXPOSITION AND A TRAGEDY</a></h3> -<hr> -<h2>Illustrations</h2> -<h3>1. <a href="#image-1">New inn</a></h3> -<h3>2. <a href="#image-2">The inverted inscription</a></h3> -<h3>3. <a href="#image-3">The Track Chart, Showing the Route Followed by Weiss's Carriage</a></h3> -<hr> -<p> </p> -<a name="CH1"><!-- CH1 --></a> -<h2> - Chapter I -</h2> - -<h3> -The Mysterious Patient -</h3> -<p> </p> -<p> -As I look back through the years of my association with John Thorndyke, -I am able to recall a wealth of adventures and strange experiences such -as falls to the lot of very few men who pass their lives within hearing -of Big Ben. Many of these experiences I have already placed on record; -but it now occurs to me that I have hitherto left unrecorded one that -is, perhaps, the most astonishing and incredible of the whole series; an -adventure, too, that has for me the added interest that it inaugurated -my permanent association with my learned and talented friend, and marked -the close of a rather unhappy and unprosperous period of my life. -</p> -<p> -Memory, retracing the journey through the passing years to the -starting-point of those strange events, lands me in a shabby little -ground-floor room in a house near the Walworth end of Lower Kennington -Lane. A couple of framed diplomas on the wall, a card of Snellen's -test-types and a stethoscope lying on the writing-table, proclaim it a -doctor's consulting-room; and my own position in the round-backed chair -at the said table, proclaims me the practitioner in charge. -</p> -<p> -It was nearly nine o'clock. The noisy little clock on the mantelpiece -announced the fact, and, by its frantic ticking, seemed as anxious as I -to get the consultation hours over. I glanced wistfully at my -mud-splashed boots and wondered if I might yet venture to assume the -slippers that peeped coyly from under the shabby sofa. I even allowed my -thoughts to wander to the pipe that reposed in my coat pocket. Another -minute and I could turn down the surgery gas and shut the outer door. -The fussy little clock gave a sort of preliminary cough or hiccup, as if -it should say: "Ahem! ladies and gentlemen, I am about to strike." And -at that moment, the bottle-boy opened the door and, thrusting in his -<a name="note-word"><!-- Note Anchor word --></a>head, uttered the one word: "Gentleman." -</p> -<p> -Extreme economy of words is apt to result in ambiguity. But I -understood. In Kennington Lane, the race of mere men and women appeared -to be extinct. They were all gentlemen—unless they were ladies or -children—even as the Liberian army was said to consist entirely of -generals. Sweeps, labourers, milkmen, costermongers—all were -impartially invested by the democratic bottle-boy with the rank and -title of <i>armigeri</i>. The present nobleman appeared to favour the -aristocratic recreation of driving a cab or job-master's carriage, and, -as he entered the room, he touched his hat, closed the door somewhat -carefully, and then, without remark, handed me a note which bore the -superscription "Dr. Stillbury." -</p> -<p> -"You understand," I said, as I prepared to open the envelope, "that I -am not Dr. Stillbury. He is away at present and I am looking after his -patients." -</p> -<p> -"It doesn't signify," the man replied. "You'll do as well." -</p> -<p> -On this, I opened the envelope and read the note, which was quite brief, -and, at first sight, in no way remarkable. -</p> -<p> -"DEAR SIR," it ran, "Would you kindly come and see a friend of mine who -is staying with me? The bearer of this will give you further particulars -and convey you to the house. Yours truly, H. WEISS." -</p> -<p> -There was no address on the paper and no date, and the writer was -unknown to me. -</p> -<p> -"This note," I said, "refers to some further particulars. What are -they?" -</p> -<p> -The messenger passed his hand over his hair with a gesture of -embarrassment. "It's a ridicklus affair," he said, with a contemptuous -laugh. "If I had been Mr. Weiss, I wouldn't have had nothing to do with -it. The sick gentleman, Mr. Graves, is one of them people what can't -abear doctors. He's been ailing now for a week or two, but nothing would -induce him to see a doctor. Mr. Weiss did everything he could to -persuade him, but it was no go. He wouldn't. However, it seems Mr. Weiss -threatened to send for a medical man on his own account, because, you -see, he was getting a bit nervous; and then Mr. Graves gave way. But -only on one condition. He said the doctor was to come from a distance -and was not to be told who he was or where he lived or anything about -him; and he made Mr. Weiss promise to keep to that condition before he'd -let him send. So Mr. Weiss promised, and, of course, he's got to keep -his word." -</p> -<p> -"But," I said, with a smile, "you've just told me his name—if his name -really is Graves." -</p> -<p> -"You can form your own opinion on that," said the coachman. -</p> -<p> -"And," I added, "as to not being told where he lives, I can see that for -myself. I'm not blind, you know." -</p> -<p> -"We'll take the risk of what you see," the man replied. "The question -is, will you take the job on?" -</p> -<p> -Yes; that was the question, and I considered it for some time before -replying. We medical men are pretty familiar with the kind of person who -"can't abear doctors," and we like to have as little to do with him as -possible. He is a thankless and unsatisfactory patient. Intercourse with -him is unpleasant, he gives a great deal of trouble and responds badly -to treatment. If this had been my own practice, I should have declined -the case off-hand. But it was not my practice. I was only a deputy. I -could not lightly refuse work which would yield a profit to my -principal, unpleasant though it might be. -</p> -<p> -As I turned the matter over in my mind, I half unconsciously scrutinized -my visitor—somewhat to his embarrassment—and I liked his appearance -as little as I liked his mission. He kept his station near the door, -where the light was dim—for the illumination was concentrated on the -table and the patient's chair—but I could see that he had a somewhat -sly, unprepossessing face and a greasy, red moustache that seemed out of -character with his rather perfunctory livery; though this was mere -prejudice. He wore a wig, too—not that there was anything discreditable -in that—and the thumb-nail of the hand that held his hat bore -disfiguring traces of some injury—which, again, though unsightly, in no -wise reflected on his moral character. Lastly, he watched me keenly with -a mixture of anxiety and sly complacency that I found distinctly -unpleasant. In a general way, he impressed me disagreeably. I did not -like the look of him at all; but nevertheless I decided to undertake the -case. -</p> -<p> -"I suppose," I answered, at length, "it is no affair of mine who the -patient is or where he lives. But how do you propose to manage the -business? Am I to be led to the house blindfolded, like the visitor to -the bandit's cave?" -</p> -<p> -The man grinned slightly and looked very decidedly relieved. -</p> -<p> -"No, sir," he answered; "we ain't going to blindfold you. I've got a -carriage outside. I don't think you'll see much out of that." -</p> -<p> -"Very well," I rejoined, opening the door to let him out, "I'll be with -you in a minute. I suppose you can't give me any idea as to what is the -matter with the patient?" -</p> -<p> -"No, sir, I can't," he replied; and he went out to see to the carriage. -</p> -<p> -I slipped into a bag an assortment of emergency drugs and a few -diagnostic instruments, turned down the gas and passed out through the -surgery. The carriage was standing at the kerb, guarded by the coachman -and watched with deep interest by the bottle-boy. I viewed it with -mingled curiosity and disfavour. It was a kind of large brougham, such -as is used by some commercial travellers, the usual glass windows being -replaced by wooden shutters intended to conceal the piles of -sample-boxes, and the doors capable of being locked from outside with a -railway key. -</p> -<p> -As I emerged from the house, the coachman unlocked the door and held it -open. -</p> -<p> -"How long will the journey take?" I asked, pausing with my foot on the -step. -</p> -<p> -The coachman considered a moment or two and replied: -</p> -<p> -"It took me, I should say, nigh upon half an hour to get here." -</p> -<p> -This was pleasant hearing. A half an hour each way and a half an hour at -the patient's house. At that rate it would be half-past ten before I was -home again, and then it was quite probable that I should find some other -untimely messenger waiting on the doorstep. With a muttered anathema on -the unknown Mr. Graves and the unrestful life of a locum tenens, I -stepped into the uninviting vehicle. Instantly the coachman slammed the -door and turned the key, leaving me in total darkness. -</p> -<p> -One comfort was left to me; my pipe was in my pocket. I made shift to -load it in the dark, and, having lit it with a wax match, took the -opportunity to inspect the interior of my prison. It was a shabby -affair. The moth-eaten state of the blue cloth cushions seemed to -suggest that it had been long out of regular use; the oil-cloth -floor-covering was worn into holes; ordinary internal fittings there -were none. But the appearances suggested that the crazy vehicle had been -prepared with considerable forethought for its present use. The inside -handles of the doors had apparently been removed; the wooden shutters -were permanently fixed in their places; and a paper label, stuck on the -transom below each window, had a suspicious appearance of having been -put there to cover the painted name and address of the job-master or -livery-stable keeper who had originally owned the carriage. -</p> -<p> -These observations gave me abundant food for reflection. This Mr. Weiss -must be an excessively conscientious man if he had considered that his -promise to Mr. Graves committed him to such extraordinary precautions. -Evidently no mere following of the letter of the law was enough to -satisfy his sensitive conscience. Unless he had reasons for sharing Mr. -Graves's unreasonable desire for secrecy—for one could not suppose that -these measures of concealment had been taken by the patient himself. -</p> -<p> -The further suggestions that evolved themselves from this consideration -were a little disquieting. Whither was I being carried and for what -purpose? The idea that I was bound for some den of thieves where I -might be robbed and possibly murdered, I dismissed with a smile. Thieves -do not make elaborately concerted plans to rob poor devils like me. -Poverty has its compensations in that respect. But there were other -possibilities. Imagination backed by experience had no difficulty in -conjuring up a number of situations in which a medical man might be -called upon, with or without coercion, either to witness or actively to -participate in the commission of some unlawful act. -</p> -<p> -Reflections of this kind occupied me pretty actively if not very -agreeably during this strange journey. And the monotony was relieved, -too, by other distractions. I was, for example, greatly interested to -notice how, when one sense is in abeyance, the other senses rouse into a -compensating intensity of perception. I sat smoking my pipe in darkness -which was absolute save for the dim glow from the smouldering tobacco in -the bowl, and seemed to be cut off from all knowledge of the world -without. But yet I was not. The vibrations of the carriage, with its -hard springs and iron-tired wheels, registered accurately and plainly -the character of the roadway. The harsh rattle of granite setts, the -soft bumpiness of macadam, the smooth rumble of wood-pavement, the -jarring and swerving of crossed tram-lines; all were easily recognizable -and together sketched the general features of the neighbourhood through -which I was passing. And the sense of hearing filled in the details. Now -the hoot of a tug's whistle told of proximity to the river. A sudden -and brief hollow reverberation announced the passage under a railway -arch (which, by the way, happened several times during the journey); -and, when I heard the familiar whistle of a railway-guard followed by -the quick snorts of a skidding locomotive, I had as clear a picture of a -heavy passenger-train moving out of a station as if I had seen it in -broad daylight. -</p> -<p> -I had just finished my pipe and knocked out the ashes on the heel of my -boot, when the carriage slowed down and entered a covered way—as I -could tell by the hollow echoes. Then I distinguished the clang of heavy -wooden gates closed behind me, and a moment or two later the carriage -door was unlocked and opened. I stepped out blinking into a covered -passage paved with cobbles and apparently leading down to a mews; but it -was all in darkness, and I had no time to make any detailed -observations, as the carriage had drawn up opposite a side door which -was open and in which stood a woman holding a lighted candle. -</p> -<p> -"Is that the doctor?" she asked, speaking with a rather pronounced -German accent and shading the candle with her hand as she peered at me. -</p> -<p> -I answered in the affirmative, and she then exclaimed: -</p> -<p> -"I am glad you have come. Mr. Weiss will be so relieved. Come in, -please." -</p> -<p> -I followed her across a dark passage into a dark room, where she set the -candle down on a chest of drawers and turned to depart. At the door, -however, she paused and looked back. -</p> -<p> -"It is not a very nice room to ask you into," she said. "We are very -untidy just now, but you must excuse us. We have had so much anxiety -about poor Mr. Graves." -</p> -<p> -"He has been ill some time, then?" -</p> -<p> -"Yes. Some little time. At intervals, you know. Sometimes better, -sometimes not so well." -</p> -<p> -As she spoke, she gradually backed out into the passage but did not go -away at once. I accordingly pursued my inquiries. -</p> -<p> -"He has not been seen by any doctor, has he?" -</p> -<p> -"No," she answered, "he has always refused to see a doctor. That has -been a great trouble to us. Mr. Weiss has been very anxious about him. -He will be so glad to hear that you have come. I had better go and tell -him. Perhaps you will kindly sit down until he is able to come to you," -and with this she departed on her mission. -</p> -<p> -It struck me as a little odd that, considering his anxiety and the -apparent urgency of the case, Mr. Weiss should not have been waiting to -receive me. And when several minutes elapsed without his appearing, the -oddness of the circumstance impressed me still more. Having no desire, -after the journey in the carriage, to sit down, I whiled away the time -by an inspection of the room. And a very curious room it was; bare, -dirty, neglected and, apparently, unused. A faded carpet had been flung -untidily on the floor. A small, shabby table stood in the middle of the -room; and beyond this, three horsehair-covered chairs and a chest of -drawers formed the entire set of furniture. No pictures hung on the -mouldy walls, no curtains covered the shuttered windows, and the dark -drapery of cobwebs that hung from the ceiling to commemorate a long and -illustrious dynasty of spiders hinted at months of neglect and disuse. -</p> -<p> -The chest of drawers—an incongruous article of furniture for what -seemed to be a dining-room—as being the nearest and best lighted object -received most of my attention. It was a fine old chest of nearly black -mahogany, very battered and in the last stage of decay, but originally a -piece of some pretensions. Regretful of its fallen estate, I looked it -over with some interest and had just observed on its lower corner a -little label bearing the printed inscription "Lot 201" when I heard -footsteps descending the stairs. A moment later the door opened and a -shadowy figure appeared standing close by the threshold. -</p> -<p> -"Good evening, doctor," said the stranger, in a deep, quiet voice and -with a distinct, though not strong, German accent. "I must apologize for -keeping you waiting." -</p> -<p> -I acknowledged the apology somewhat stiffly and asked: "You are Mr. -Weiss, I presume?" -</p> -<p> -"Yes, I am Mr. Weiss. It is very good of you to come so far and so late -at night and to make no objection to the absurd conditions that my poor -friend has imposed." -</p> -<p> -"Not at all," I replied. "It is my business to go when and where I am -wanted, and it is not my business to inquire into the private affairs of -my patients." -</p> -<p> -"That is very true, sir," he agreed cordially, "and I am much obliged -to you for taking that very proper view of the case. I pointed that out -to my friend, but he is not a very reasonable man. He is very secretive -and rather suspicious by nature." -</p> -<p> -"So I inferred. And as to his condition; is he seriously ill?" -</p> -<p> -"Ah," said Mr. Weiss, "that is what I want you to tell me. I am very -much puzzled about him." -</p> -<p> -"But what is the nature of his illness? What does he complain of?" -</p> -<p> -"He makes very few complaints of any kind although he is obviously ill. -But the fact is that he is hardly ever more than half awake. He lies in -a kind of dreamy stupor from morning to night." -</p> -<p> -This struck me as excessively strange and by no means in agreement with -the patient's energetic refusal to see a doctor. -</p> -<p> -"But," I asked, "does he never rouse completely?" -</p> -<p> -"Oh, yes," Mr. Weiss answered quickly; "he rouses from time to time and -is then quite rational, and, as you may have gathered, rather obstinate. -That is the peculiar and puzzling feature in the case; this alternation -between a state of stupor and an almost normal and healthy condition. -But perhaps you had better see him and judge for yourself. He had a -rather severe attack just now. Follow me, please. The stairs are rather -dark." -</p> -<p> -The stairs were very dark, and I noticed that they were without any -covering of carpet, or even oil-cloth, so that our footsteps resounded -dismally as if we were in an empty house. I stumbled up after my guide, -feeling my way by the hand-rail, and on the first floor followed him -into a room similar in size to the one below and very barely furnished, -though less squalid than the other. A single candle at the farther end -threw its feeble light on a figure in the bed, leaving the rest of the -room in a dim twilight. -</p> -<p> -As Mr. Weiss tiptoed into the chamber, a woman—the one who had spoken -to me below—rose from a chair by the bedside and quietly left the room -by a second door. My conductor halted, and looking fixedly at the figure -in the bed, called out: -</p> -<p> -"Philip! Philip! Here is the doctor come to see you." -</p> -<p> -He paused for a moment or two, and, receiving no answer, said: "He seems -to be dozing as usual. Will you go and see what you can make of him?" -</p> -<p> -I stepped forward to the bedside, leaving Mr. Weiss at the end of the -room near the door by which we had entered, where he remained, slowly -and noiselessly pacing backwards and forwards in the semi-obscurity. By -the light of the candle I saw an elderly man with good features and a -refined, intelligent and even attractive face, but dreadfully emaciated, -bloodless and sallow. He lay quite motionless except for the scarcely -perceptible rise and fall of his chest; his eyes were nearly closed, his -features relaxed, and, though he was not actually asleep, he seemed to -be in a dreamy, somnolent, lethargic state, as if under the influence of -some narcotic. -</p> -<p> -I watched him for a minute or so, timing his slow breathing by my -watch, and then suddenly and sharply addressed him by name; but the only -response was a slight lifting of the eyelids, which, after a brief, -drowsy glance at me, slowly subsided to their former position. -</p> -<p> -I now proceeded to make a physical examination. First, I felt his pulse, -grasping his wrist with intentional brusqueness in the hope of rousing -him from his stupor. The beats were slow, feeble and slightly irregular, -giving clear evidence, if any were needed, of his generally lowered -vitality. I listened carefully to his heart, the sounds of which were -very distinct through the thin walls of his emaciated chest, but found -nothing abnormal beyond the feebleness and uncertainty of its action. -Then I turned my attention to his eyes, which I examined closely with -the aid of the candle and my ophthalmoscope lens, raising the lids -somewhat roughly so as to expose the whole of the irises. He submitted -without resistance to my rather ungentle handling of these sensitive -structures, and showed no signs of discomfort even when I brought the -candle-flame to within a couple of inches of his eyes. -</p> -<p> -But this extraordinary tolerance of light was easily explained by closer -examination; for the pupils were contracted to such an extreme degree -that only the very minutest point of black was visible at the centre of -the grey iris. Nor was this the only abnormal peculiarity of the sick -man's eyes. As he lay on his back, the right iris sagged down slightly -towards its centre, showing a distinctly concave surface; and, when I -contrived to produce a slight but quick movement of the eyeball, a -perceptible undulatory movement could be detected. The patient had, in -fact, what is known as a tremulous iris, a condition that is seen in -cases where the crystalline lens has been extracted for the cure of -cataract, or where it has become accidentally displaced, leaving the -iris unsupported. In the present case, the complete condition of the -iris made it clear that the ordinary extraction operation had not been -performed, nor was I able, on the closest inspection with the aid of my -lens, to find any trace of the less common "needle operation." The -inference was that the patient had suffered from the accident known as -"dislocation of the lens"; and this led to the further inference that he -was almost or completely blind in the right eye. -</p> -<p> -This conclusion was, indeed, to some extent negatived by a deep -indentation on the bridge of the nose, evidently produced by spectacles, -and by marks which I looked for and found behind the ears, corresponding -to the hooks or "curl sides" of the glasses. For those spectacles which -are fitted with curl sides to hook over the ears are usually intended to -be worn habitually, and this agreed with the indentation on the nose; -which was deeper than would have been accounted for by the merely -occasional use of spectacles for reading. But if only one eye was -useful, a single eye-glass would have answered the purpose; not that -there was any weight in this objection, for a single eye-glass worn -constantly would be much less convenient than a pair of hook-sided -spectacles. -</p> -<p> -As to the nature of the patient's illness, only one opinion seemed -possible. It was a clear and typical case of opium or morphine -poisoning. To this conclusion all his symptoms seemed to point with -absolute certainty. The coated tongue, which he protruded slowly and -tremulously in response to a command bawled in his ear; his yellow skin -and ghastly expression; his contracted pupils and the stupor from which -he could hardly be roused by the roughest handling and which yet did not -amount to actual insensibility; all these formed a distinct and coherent -group of symptoms, not only pointing plainly to the nature of the drug, -but also suggesting a very formidable dose. -</p> -<p> -But this conclusion in its turn raised a very awkward and difficult -question. If a large—a poisonous—dose of the drug had been taken, how, -and by whom had that dose been administered? The closest scrutiny of -the patient's arms and legs failed to reveal a single mark such as would -be made by a hypodermic needle. This man was clearly no common -morphinomaniac; and in the absence of the usual sprinkling of -needlemarks, there was nothing to show or suggest whether the drug had -been taken voluntarily by the patient himself or administered by someone -else. -</p> -<p> -And then there remained the possibility that I might, after all, be -mistaken in my diagnosis. I felt pretty confident. But the wise man -always holds a doubt in reserve. And, in the present case, having regard -to the obviously serious condition of the patient, such a doubt was -eminently disturbing. Indeed, as I pocketed my stethoscope and took a -last look at the motionless, silent figure, I realized that my position -was one of extraordinary difficulty and perplexity. On the one hand my -suspicions—aroused, naturally enough, by the very unusual circumstances -that surrounded my visit—inclined me to extreme reticence; while, on -the other, it was evidently my duty to give any information that might -prove serviceable to the patient. -</p> -<p> -As I turned away from the bed Mr. Weiss stopped his slow pacing to and -fro and faced me. The feeble light of the candle now fell on him, and I -saw him distinctly for the first time. He did not impress me favourably. -He was a thick-set, round-shouldered man, a typical fair German with -tow-coloured hair, greased and brushed down smoothly, a large, ragged, -sandy beard and coarse, sketchy features. His nose was large and thick -with a bulbous end, and inclined to a reddish purple, a tint which -extended to the adjacent parts of his face as if the colour had run. His -eyebrows were large and beetling, overhanging deep-set eyes, and he wore -a pair of spectacles which gave him a somewhat owlish expression. His -exterior was unprepossessing, and I was in a state of mind that rendered -me easily receptive of an unfavourable impression. -</p> -<p> -"Well," he said, "what do you make of him?" I hesitated, still perplexed -by the conflicting necessities of caution and frankness, but at length -replied: -</p> -<p> -"I think rather badly of him, Mr. Weiss. He is in a very low state." -</p> -<p> -"Yes, I can see that. But have you come to any decision as to the nature -of his illness?" -</p> -<p> -There was a tone of anxiety and suppressed eagerness in the question -which, while it was natural enough in the circumstances, by no means -allayed my suspicions, but rather influenced me on the side of caution. -</p> -<p> -"I cannot give a very definite opinion at present," I replied guardedly. -"The symptoms are rather obscure and might very well indicate several -different conditions. They might be due to congestion of the brain, and, -if no other explanation were possible, I should incline to that view. -The alternative is some narcotic poison, such as opium or morphia." -</p> -<p> -"But that is quite impossible. There is no such drug in the house, and -as he never leaves his room now, he could not get any from outside." -</p> -<p> -"What about the servants?" I asked. -</p> -<p> -"There are no servants excepting my housekeeper, and she is absolutely -trustworthy." -</p> -<p> -"He might have some store of the drug that you are not aware of. Is he -left alone much?" -</p> -<p> -"Very seldom indeed. I spend as much time with him as I can, and when I -am not able to be in the room, Mrs Schallibaum, my housekeeper, sits -with him." -</p> -<p> -"Is he often as drowsy as he is now?" -</p> -<p> -"Oh, very often; in fact, I should say that is his usual condition. He -rouses up now and again, and then he is quite lucid and natural for, -perhaps, an hour or so; but presently he becomes drowsy again and doses -off, and remains asleep, or half asleep, for hours on end. Do you know -of any disease that takes people in that way?" -</p> -<p> -"No," I answered. "The symptoms are not exactly like those of any -disease that is known to me. But they are much very like those of opium -poisoning." -</p> -<p> -"But, my dear sir," Mr. Weiss retorted impatiently, "since it is clearly -impossible that it can be opium poisoning, it must be something else. -Now, what else can it be? You were speaking of congestion of the brain." -</p> -<p> -"Yes. But the objection to that is the very complete recovery that seems -to take place in the intervals." -</p> -<p> -"I would not say very complete," said Mr. Weiss. "The recovery is rather -comparative. He is lucid and fairly natural in his manner, but he is -still dull and lethargic. He does not, for instance, show any desire to -go out, or even to leave his room." -</p> -<p> -I pondered uncomfortably on these rather contradictory statements. -Clearly Mr. Weiss did not mean to entertain the theory of opium -poisoning; which was natural enough if he had no knowledge of the drug -having been used. But still— -</p> -<p> -"I suppose," said Mr. Weiss, "you have experience of sleeping sickness?" -</p> -<p> -The suggestion startled me. I had not. Very few people had. At that time -practically nothing was known about the disease. It was a mere -pathological curiosity, almost unheard of excepting by a few -practitioners in remote parts of Africa, and hardly referred to in the -text-books. Its connection with the trypanosome-bearing insects was as -yet unsuspected, and, to me, its symptoms were absolutely unknown. -</p> -<p> -"No, I have not," I replied. "The disease is nothing more than a name to -me. But why do you ask? Has Mr. Graves been abroad?" -</p> -<p> -"Yes. He has been travelling for the last three or four years, and I -know that he spent some time recently in West Africa, where this disease -occurs. In fact, it was from him that I first heard about it." -</p> -<p> -This was a new fact. It shook my confidence in my diagnosis very -considerably, and inclined me to reconsider my suspicions. If Mr. Weiss -was lying to me, he now had me at a decided disadvantage. -</p> -<p> -"What do you think?" he asked. "Is it possible that this can be sleeping -sickness?" -</p> -<p> -"I should not like to say that it is impossible," I replied. "The -disease is practically unknown to me. I have never practised out of -England and have had no occasion to study it. Until I have looked the -subject up, I should not be in a position to give an opinion. Of course, -if I could see Mr. Graves in one of what we may call his 'lucid -intervals' I should be able to form a better idea. Do you think that -could be managed?" -</p> -<p> -"It might. I see the importance of it and will certainly do my best; but -he is a difficult man; a very difficult man. I sincerely hope it is not -sleeping sickness." -</p> -<p> -"Why?" -</p> -<p> -"Because—as I understood from him—that disease is invariably fatal, -sooner or later. There seem to be no cure. Do you think you will be able -to decide when you see him again?" -</p> -<p> -"I hope so," I replied. "I shall look up the authorities and see exactly -what the symptoms are—that is, so far as they are known; but my -impression is that there is very little information available." -</p> -<p> -"And in the meantime?" -</p> -<p> -"We will give him some medicine and attend to his general condition, and -you had better let me see him again as soon as possible." I was about to -say that the effect of the medicine itself might throw some light on the -patient's condition, but, as I proposed to treat him for morphine -poisoning, I thought it wiser to keep this item of information to -myself. Accordingly, I confined myself to a few general directions as to -the care of the patient, to which Mr. Weiss listened attentively. "And," -I concluded, "we must not lose sight of the opium question. You had -better search the room carefully and keep a close watch on the patient, -especially during his intervals of wakefulness." -</p> -<p> -"Very well, doctor," Mr. Weiss replied, "I will do all that you tell me -and I will send for you again as soon as possible, if you do not object -to poor Graves's ridiculous conditions. And now, if you will allow me to -pay your fee, I will go and order the carriage while you are writing the -prescription." -</p> -<p> -"There is no need for a prescription," I said. "I will make up some -medicine and give it to the coachman." -</p> -<p> -Mr. Weiss seemed inclined to demur to this arrangement, but I had my own -reasons for insisting on it. Modern prescriptions are not difficult to -read, and I did not wish Mr. Weiss to know what treatment the patient -was having. -</p> -<p> -As soon as I was left alone, I returned to the bedside and once more -looked down at the impassive figure. And as I looked, my suspicions -revived. It was very like morphine poisoning; and, if it was morphine, -it was no common, medicinal dose that had been given. I opened my bag -and took out my hypodermic case from which I extracted a little tube of -atropine tabloids. Shaking out into my hand a couple of the tiny discs, -I drew down the patient's under-lip and slipped the little tablets under -his tongue. Then I quickly replaced the tube and dropped the case into -my bag; and I had hardly done so when the door opened softly and the -housekeeper entered the room. -</p> -<p> -"How do you find Mr. Graves?" she asked in what I thought a very -unnecessarily low tone, considering the patient's lethargic state. -</p> -<p> -"He seems to be very ill," I answered. -</p> -<p> -"So!" she rejoined, and added: "I am sorry to hear that. We have been -anxious about him." -</p> -<p> -She seated herself on the chair by the bedside, and, shading the candle -from the patient's face—and her own, too—produced from a bag that hung -from her waist a half-finished stocking and began to knit silently and -with the skill characteristic of the German housewife. I looked at her -attentively (though she was so much in the shadow that I could see her -but indistinctly) and somehow her appearance prepossessed me as little -as did that of the other members of the household. Yet she was not an -ill-looking woman. She had an excellent figure, and the air of a person -of good social position; her features were good enough and her -colouring, although a little unusual, was not unpleasant. Like Mr. -Weiss, she had very fair hair, greased, parted in the middle and brushed -down as smoothly as the painted hair of a Dutch doll. She appeared to -have no eyebrows at all—owing, no doubt, to the light colour of the -hair—and the doll-like character was emphasized by her eyes, which were -either brown or dark grey, I could not see which. A further peculiarity -consisted in a "habit spasm," such as one often sees in nervous -children; a periodical quick jerk of the head, as if a cap-string or -dangling lock were being shaken off the cheek. Her age I judged to be -about thirty-five. -</p> -<p> -The carriage, which one might have expected to be waiting, seemed to -take some time in getting ready. I sat, with growing impatience, -listening to the sick man's soft breathing and the click of the -housekeeper's knitting-needles. I wanted to get home, not only for my -own sake; the patient's condition made it highly desirable that the -remedies should be given as quickly as possible. But the minutes dragged -on, and I was on the point of expostulating when a bell rang on the -landing. -</p> -<p> -"The carriage is ready," said Mrs. Schallibaum. "Let me light you down -the stairs." -</p> -<p> -She rose, and, taking the candle, preceded me to the head of the stairs, -where she stood holding the light over the baluster-rail as I descended -and crossed the passage to the open side door. The carriage was drawn up -in the covered way as I could see by the faint glimmer of the distant -candle; which also enabled me dimly to discern the coachman standing -close by in the shadow. I looked round, rather expecting to see Mr. -Weiss, but, as he made no appearance, I entered the carriage. The door -was immediately banged to and locked, and I then heard the heavy bolts -of the gates withdrawn and the loud creaking of hinges. The carriage -moved out slowly and stopped; the gates slammed to behind me; I felt the -lurch as the coachman climbed to his seat and we started forward. -</p> -<p> -My reflections during the return journey were the reverse of agreeable. -I could not rid myself of the conviction that I was being involved in -some very suspicious proceedings. It was possible, of course, that this -feeling was due to the strange secrecy that surrounded my connection -with this case; that, had I made my visit under ordinary conditions, I -might have found in the patient's symptoms nothing to excite suspicion -or alarm. It might be so, but that consideration did not comfort me. -</p> -<p> -Then, my diagnosis might be wrong. It might be that this was, in -reality, a case of some brain affection accompanied by compression, such -as slow haemorrhage, abscess, tumour or simple congestion. These cases -were very difficult at times. But the appearances in this one did not -consistently agree with the symptoms accompanying any of these -conditions. As to sleeping sickness, it was, perhaps a more hopeful -suggestion, but I could not decide for or against it until I had more -knowledge; and against this view was the weighty fact that the symptoms -did exactly agree with the theory of morphine poisoning. -</p> -<p> -But even so, there was no conclusive evidence of any criminal act. The -patient might be a confirmed opium-eater, and the symptoms heightened by -deliberate deception. The cunning of these unfortunates is proverbial -and is only equalled by their secretiveness and mendacity. It would be -quite possible for this man to feign profound stupor so long as he was -watched, and then, when left alone for a few minutes, to nip out of bed -and help himself from some secret store of the drug. This would be quite -in character with his objection to seeing a doctor and his desire for -secrecy. But still, I did not believe it to be the true explanation. In -spite of all the various alternative possibilities, my suspicions came -back to Mr. Weiss and the strange, taciturn woman, and refused to budge. -</p> -<p> -For all the circumstances of the case were suspicious. The elaborate -preparations implied by the state of the carriage in which I was -travelling; the make-shift appearance of the house; the absence of -ordinary domestic servants, although a coachman was kept; the evident -desire of Mr. Weiss and the woman to avoid thorough inspection of their -persons; and, above all, the fact that the former had told me a -deliberate lie. For he had lied, beyond all doubt. His statement as to -the almost continuous stupor was absolutely irreconcilable with his -other statement as to the patient's wilfulness and obstinacy and even -more irreconcilable with the deep and comparatively fresh marks of the -spectacles on the patient's nose. That man had certainly worn spectacles -within twenty-four hours, which he would hardly have done if he had been -in a state bordering on coma. -</p> -<p> -My reflections were interrupted by the stopping of the carriage. The -door was unlocked and thrown open, and I emerged from my dark and stuffy -prison opposite my own house. -</p> -<p> -"I will let you have the medicine in a minute or two," I said to the -coachman; and, as I let myself in with my latch-key, my mind came back -swiftly from the general circumstances of the case to the very critical -condition of the patient. Already I was regretting that I had not taken -more energetic measures to rouse him and restore his flagging vitality; -for it would be a terrible thing if he should take a turn for the worse -and die before the coachman returned with the remedies. Spurred on by -this alarming thought, I made up the medicines quickly and carried the -hastily wrapped bottles out to the man, whom I found standing by the -horse's head. -</p> -<p> -"Get back as quickly as you can," I said, "and tell Mr. Weiss to lose no -time in giving the patient the draught in the small bottle. The -directions are on the labels." -</p> -<p> -The coachman took the packages from me without reply, climbed to his -seat, touched the horse with his whip and drove off at a rapid pace -towards Newington Butts. -</p> -<p> -The little clock in the consulting-room showed that it was close on -eleven; time for a tired G.P. to be thinking of bed. But I was not -sleepy. Over my frugal supper I found myself taking up anew the thread -of my meditations, and afterwards, as I smoked my last pipe by the -expiring surgery fire, the strange and sinister features of the case -continued to obtrude themselves on my notice. I looked up Stillbury's -little reference library for information on the subject of sleeping -sickness, but learned no more than that it was "a rare and obscure -disease of which very little was known at present." I read up morphine -poisoning and was only further confirmed in the belief that my diagnosis -was correct; which would have been more satisfactory if the -circumstances had been different. -</p> -<p> -For the interest of the case was not merely academic. I was in a -position of great difficulty and responsibility and had to decide on a -course of action. What ought I to do? Should I maintain the professional -secrecy to which I was tacitly committed, or ought I to convey a hint to -the police? -</p> -<p> -Suddenly, and with a singular feeling of relief, I bethought myself of -my old friend and fellow-student, John Thorndyke, now an eminent -authority on Medical Jurisprudence. I had been associated with him -temporarily in one case as his assistant, and had then been deeply -impressed by his versatile learning, his acuteness and his marvellous -resourcefulness. Thorndyke was a barrister in extensive practice, and so -would be able to tell me at once what was my duty from a legal point of -view; and, as he was also a doctor of medicine, he would understand the -exigencies of medical practice. If I could find time to call at the -Temple and lay the case before him, all my doubts and difficulties would -be resolved. -</p> -<p> -Anxiously, I opened my visiting-list to see what kind of day's work was -in store for me on the morrow. It was not a heavy day, even allowing for -one or two extra calls in the morning, but yet I was doubtful whether it -would allow of my going so far from my district, until my eye caught, -near the foot of the page, the name of Burton. Now Mr. Burton lived in -one of the old houses on the east side of Bouverie Street, less than -five minutes' walk from Thorndyke's chambers in King's Bench Walk; and -he was, moreover, a "chronic" who could safely be left for the last. -When I had done with Mr. Burton I could look in on my friend with a very -good chance of catching him on his return from the hospital. I could -allow myself time for quite a long chat with him, and, by taking a -hansom, still get back in good time for the evening's work. -</p> -<p> -This was a great comfort. At the prospect of sharing my responsibilities -with a friend on whose judgment I could so entirely rely, my -embarrassments seemed to drop from me in a moment. Having entered the -engagement in my visiting-list, I rose, in greatly improved spirits, and -knocked out my pipe just as the little clock banged out impatiently the -hour of midnight. -</p> - -<p> </p> -<p> </p> -<a name="CH2"><!-- CH2 --></a> -<h2> - Chapter II -</h2> - -<h3> -Thorndyke Devises a Scheme -</h3> -<p> </p> -<p> -As I entered the Temple by the Tudor Street gate the aspect of the place -smote my senses with an air of agreeable familiarity. Here had I spent -many a delightful hour when working with Thorndyke at the remarkable -Hornby case, which the newspapers had called "The Case of the Red Thumb -Mark"; and here had I met the romance of my life, the story whereof is -told elsewhere. The place was thus endeared to me by pleasant -recollections of a happy past, and its associations suggested hopes of -happiness yet to come and in the not too far distant future. -</p> -<p> -My brisk tattoo on the little brass knocker brought to the door no less -a person than Thorndyke himself; and the warmth of his greeting made me -at once proud and ashamed. For I had not only been an absentee; I had -been a very poor correspondent. -</p> -<p> -"The prodigal has returned, Polton," he exclaimed, looking into the -room. "Here is Dr. Jervis." -</p> -<p> -I followed him into the room and found Polton—his confidential servant, -laboratory assistant, artificer and general "familiar"—setting out the -tea-tray on a small table. The little man shook hands cordially with me, -and his face crinkled up into the sort of smile that one might expect to -see on a benevolent walnut. -</p> -<p> -"We've often talked about you, sir," said he. "The doctor was wondering -only yesterday when you were coming back to us." -</p> -<p> -As I was not "coming back to them" quite in the sense intended I felt a -little guilty, but reserved my confidences for Thorndyke's ear and -replied in polite generalities. Then Polton fetched the tea-pot from the -laboratory, made up the fire and departed, and Thorndyke and I subsided, -as of old, into our respective arm-chairs. -</p> -<p> -"And whence do you spring from in this unexpected fashion?" my colleague -asked. "You look as if you had been making professional visits." -</p> -<p> -"I have. The base of operations is in Lower Kennington Lane." -</p> -<p> -"Ah! Then you are 'back once more on the old trail'?" -</p> -<p> -"Yes," I answered, with a laugh, "'the old trail, the long trail, the -trail that is always new.'" -</p> -<p> -"And leads nowhere," Thorndyke added grimly. -</p> -<p> -I laughed again; not very heartily, for there was an uncomfortable -element of truth in my friend's remark, to which my own experience bore -only too complete testimony. The medical practitioner whose lack of -means forces him to subsist by taking temporary charge of other men's -practices is apt to find that the passing years bring him little but -grey hairs and a wealth of disagreeable experience. -</p> -<p> -"You will have to drop it, Jervis; you will, indeed," Thorndyke resumed -after a pause. "This casual employment is preposterous for a man of your -class and professional attainments. Besides, are you not engaged to be -married and to a most charming girl?" -</p> -<p> -"Yes, I know. I have been a fool. But I will really amend my ways. If -necessary, I will pocket my pride and let Juliet advance the money to -buy a practice." -</p> -<p> -"That," said Thorndyke, "is a very proper resolution. Pride and reserve -between people who are going to be husband and wife, is an absurdity. -But why buy a practice? Have you forgotten my proposal?" -</p> -<p> -"I should be an ungrateful brute if I had." -</p> -<p> -"Very well. I repeat it now. Come to me as my junior, read for the Bar -and work with me, and, with your abilities, you will have a chance of -something like a career. I want you, Jervis," he added, earnestly. "I -must have a junior, with my increasing practice, and you are the junior -I want. We are old and tried friends; we have worked together; we like -and trust one another, and you are the best man for the job that I know. -Come; I am not going to take a refusal. This is an ultimatum." -</p> -<p> -"And what is the alternative?" I asked with a smile at his eagerness. -</p> -<p> -"There isn't any. You are going to say yes." -</p> -<p> -"I believe I am," I answered, not without emotion; "and I am more -rejoiced at your offer and more grateful than I can tell you. But we -must leave the final arrangements for our next meeting—in a week or so, -I hope—for I have to be back in an hour, and I want to consult you on -a matter of some importance." -</p> -<p> -"Very well," said Thorndyke; "we will leave the formal agreement for -consideration at our next meeting. What is it that you want my opinion -on?" -</p> -<p> -"The fact is," I said, "I am in a rather awkward dilemma, and I want you -to tell me what you think I ought to do." -</p> -<p> -Thorndyke paused in the act of refilling my cup and glanced at me with -unmistakable anxiety. -</p> -<p> -"Nothing of an unpleasant nature, I hope," said he. -</p> -<p> -"No, no; nothing of that kind," I answered with a smile as I interpreted -the euphemism; for "something unpleasant," in the case of a young and -reasonably presentable medical man is ordinarily the equivalent of -trouble with the female of his species. "It is nothing that concerns me -personally at all," I continued; "it is a question of professional -responsibility. But I had better give you an account of the affair in a -complete narrative, as I know that you like to have your data in a -regular and consecutive order." -</p> -<p> -Thereupon I proceeded to relate the history of my visit to the -mysterious Mr. Graves, not omitting any single circumstance or detail -that I could recollect. -</p> -<p> -Thorndyke listened from the very beginning of my story with the closest -attention. His face was the most impassive that I have ever seen; -ordinarily as inscrutable as a bronze mask; but to me, who knew him -intimately, there was a certain something—a change of colour, perhaps, -or an additional sparkle of the eye—that told me when his curious -passion for investigation was fully aroused. And now, as I told him of -that weird journey and the strange, secret house to which it had brought -me, I could see that it offered a problem after his very heart. During -the whole of my narration he sat as motionless as a statue, evidently -committing the whole story to memory, detail by detail; and even when I -had finished he remained for an appreciable time without moving or -speaking. -</p> -<p> -At length he looked up at me. "This is a very extraordinary affair, -Jervis," he said. -</p> -<p> -"Very," I agreed; "and the question that is agitating me is, what is to -be done?" -</p> -<p> -"Yes," he said, meditatively, "that is the question; and an uncommonly -difficult question it is. It really involves the settlement of the -antecedent question: What is it that is happening at that house?" -</p> -<p> -"What do you think is happening at that house?" I asked. -</p> -<p> -"We must go slow, Jervis," he replied. "We must carefully separate the -legal tissues from the medical, and avoid confusing what we know with -what we suspect. Now, with reference to the medical aspects of the case. -The first question that confronts us is that of sleeping sickness, or -negro-lethargy as it is sometimes called; and here we are in a -difficulty. We have not enough knowledge. Neither of us, I take it, has -ever seen a case, and the extant descriptions are inadequate. From what -I know of the disease, its symptoms agree with those in your case in -respect of the alleged moroseness and in the gradually increasing -periods of lethargy alternating with periods of apparent recovery. On -the other hand, the disease is said to be confined to negroes; but that -probably means only that negroes alone have hitherto been exposed to the -conditions that produce it. A more important fact is that, as far as I -know, extreme contraction of the pupils is not a symptom of sleeping -sickness. To sum up, the probabilities are against sleeping sickness, -but with our insufficient knowledge, we cannot definitely exclude it." -</p> -<p> -"You think that it may really be sleeping sickness?" -</p> -<p> -"No; personally I do not entertain that theory for a moment. But I am -considering the evidence apart from our opinions on the subject. We have -to accept it as a conceivable hypothesis that it may be sleeping -sickness because we cannot positively prove that it is not. That is all. -But when we come to the hypothesis of morphine poisoning, the case is -different. The symptoms agree with those of morphine poisoning in every -respect. There is no exception or disagreement whatever. The common -sense of the matter is therefore that we adopt morphine poisoning as our -working diagnosis; which is what you seem to have done." -</p> -<p> -"Yes. For purposes of treatment." -</p> -<p> -"Exactly. For medical purposes you adopted the more probable view and -dismissed the less probable. That was the reasonable thing to do. But -for legal purposes you must entertain both possibilities; for the -hypothesis of poisoning involves serious legal issues, whereas the -hypothesis of disease involves no legal issues at all." -</p> -<p> -"That doesn't sound very helpful," I remarked. -</p> -<p> -"It indicates the necessity for caution," he retorted. -</p> -<p> -"Yes, I see that. But what is your own opinion of the case?" -</p> -<p> -"Well," he said, "let us consider the facts in order. Here is a man who, -we assume, is under the influence of a poisonous dose of morphine. The -question is, did he take that dose himself or was it administered to him -by some other person? If he took it himself, with what object did he -take it? The history that was given to you seems completely to exclude -the idea of suicide. But the patient's condition seems equally to -exclude the idea of morphinomania. Your opium-eater does not reduce -himself to a state of coma. He usually keeps well within the limits of -the tolerance that has been established. The conclusion that emerges is, -I think, that the drug was administered by some other person; and the -most likely person seems to be Mr. Weiss." -</p> -<p> -"Isn't morphine a very unusual poison?" -</p> -<p> -"Very; and most inconvenient except in a single, fatal dose, by reason -of the rapidity with which tolerance of the drug is established. But we -must not forget that slow morphine poisoning might be eminently -suitable in certain cases. The manner in which it enfeebles the will, -confuses the judgment and debilitates the body might make it very useful -to a poisoner whose aim was to get some instrument or document executed, -such as a will, deed or assignment. And death could be produced -afterwards by other means. You see the important bearing of this?" -</p> -<p> -"You mean in respect of a death certificate?" -</p> -<p> -"Yes. Suppose Mr. Weiss to have given a large dose of morphine. He then -sends for you and throws out a suggestion of sleeping sickness. If you -accept the suggestion he is pretty safe. He can repeat the process until -he kills his victim and then get a certificate from you which will cover -the murder. It was quite an ingenious scheme—which, by the way, is -characteristic of intricate crimes; your subtle criminal often plans his -crime like a genius, but he generally executes it like a fool—as this -man seems to have done, if we are not doing him an injustice." -</p> -<p> -"How has he acted like a fool?" -</p> -<p> -"In several respects. In the first place, he should have chosen his -doctor. A good, brisk, confident man who 'knows his own mind' is the -sort of person who would have suited him; a man who would have jumped at -a diagnosis and stuck to it; or else an ignorant weakling of alcoholic -tendencies. It was shockingly bad luck to run against a cautious -scientific practitioner like my learned friend. Then, of course, all -this secrecy was sheer tomfoolery, exactly calculated to put a careful -man on his guard; as it has actually done. If Mr. Weiss is really a -criminal, he has mismanaged his affairs badly." -</p> -<p> -"And you apparently think that he is a criminal?" -</p> -<p> -"I suspect him deeply. But I should like to ask you one or two questions -about him. You say he spoke with a German accent. What command of -English had he? Was his vocabulary good? Did he use any German idioms?" -</p> -<p> -"No. I should say that his English was perfect, and I noticed that his -phrases were quite well chosen even for an Englishman." -</p> -<p> -"Did he seem to you 'made up' in any way; disguised, I mean?" -</p> -<p> -"I couldn't say. The light was so very feeble." -</p> -<p> -"You couldn't see the colour of his eyes, for instance?" -</p> -<p> -"No. I think they were grey, but I couldn't be sure." -</p> -<p> -"And as to the coachman. He wore a wig, you said. Could you see the -colour of his eyes? Or any peculiarity by which you could recognize -him?" -</p> -<p> -"He had a malformed thumb-nail on his right hand. That is all I can say -about him." -</p> -<p> -"He didn't strike you as resembling Weiss in any way; in voice or -features?" -</p> -<p> -"Not at all; and he spoke, as I told you, with a distinct Scotch -accent." -</p> -<p> -"The reason I ask is that if Weiss is attempting to poison this man, the -coachman is almost certain to be a confederate and might be a relative. -You had better examine him closely if you get another chance." -</p> -<p> -"I will. And that brings me back to the question, What am I to do? Ought -I to report the case to the police?" -</p> -<p> -"I am inclined to think not. You have hardly enough facts. Of course, if -Mr. Weiss has administered poison 'unlawfully and maliciously' he has -committed a felony, and is liable under the Consolidation Acts of 1861 -to ten years' penal servitude. But I do not see how you could swear an -information. You don't know that he administered the poison—if poison -has really been administered—and you cannot give any reliable name or -any address whatever. Then there is the question of sleeping sickness. -You reject it for medical purposes, but you could not swear, in a court -of law, that this is not a case of sleeping sickness." -</p> -<p> -"No," I admitted, "I could not." -</p> -<p> -"Then I think the police would decline to move in the matter, and you -might find that you had raised a scandal in Dr. Stillbury's practice to -no purpose." -</p> -<p> -"So you think I had better do nothing in the matter?" -</p> -<p> -"For the present. It is, of course, a medical man's duty to assist -justice in any way that is possible. But a doctor is not a detective; he -should not go out of his way to assume police functions. He should keep -his eyes and ears open, and, though, in general, he should keep his own -counsel, it is his duty to note very carefully anything that seems to -him likely to bear on any important legal issues. It is not his -business officiously to initiate criminal inquiries, but it is -emphatically his business to be ready, if called upon, to assist justice -with information that his special knowledge and opportunities have -rendered accessible to him. You see the bearing of this?" -</p> -<p> -"You mean that I should note down what I have seen and heard and say -nothing about it until I am asked." -</p> -<p> -"Yes; if nothing further happens. But if you should be sent for again, I -think it is your duty to make further observations with a view, if -necessary, to informing the police. It may be, for instance, of vital -importance to identify the house, and it is your duty to secure the -means of doing so." -</p> -<p> -"But, my dear Thorndyke," I expostulated, "I have told you how I was -conveyed to the house. Now, will you kindly explain to me how a man, -boxed up in a pitch-dark carriage, is going to identify any place to -which he may be carried?" -</p> -<p> -"The problem doesn't appear to me to present any serious difficulties," -he replied. -</p> -<p> -"Doesn't it?" said I. "To me it looks like a pretty solid impossibility. -But what do you suggest? Should I break out of the house and run away up -the street? Or should I bore a hole through the shutter of the carriage -and peep out?" -</p> -<p> -Thorndyke smiled indulgently. "The methods proposed by my learned friend -display a certain crudity inappropriate to the character of a man of -science; to say nothing of the disadvantage of letting the enemy into -our counsels. No, no, Jervis; we can do something better than that. -Just excuse me for a minute while I run up to the laboratory." -</p> -<p> -He hurried away to Polton's sanctum on the upper floor, leaving me to -speculate on the method by which he proposed that a man should be -enabled, as Sam Weller would express it, "to see through a flight of -stairs and a deal door"; or, what was equally opaque, the wooden -shutters of a closed carriage. -</p> -<p> -"Now," he said, when he returned a couple of minutes later with a small, -paper-covered notebook in his hand, "I have set Polton to work on a -little appliance that will, I think, solve our difficulty, and I will -show you how I propose that you should make your observations. First of -all, we have to rule the pages of this book into columns." -</p> -<p> -He sat down at the table and began methodically to rule the pages each -into three columns, two quite narrow and one broad. The process occupied -some time, during which I sat and watched with impatient curiosity the -unhurried, precise movements of Thorndyke's pencil, all agog to hear the -promised explanation. He was just finishing the last page when there -came a gentle tap at the door, and Polton entered with a satisfied smile -on his dry, shrewd-looking face and a small board in his hand. -</p> -<p> -"Will this do, sir?" he asked. -</p> -<p> -As he spoke he handed the little board to Thorndyke, who looked at it -and passed it to me. -</p> -<p> -"The very thing, Polton," my friend replied. "Where did you find it? -It's of no use for you to pretend that you've made it in about two -minutes and a half." -</p> -<p> -Polton smiled one of his queer crinkly smiles, and remarking that "it -didn't take much making," departed much gratified by the compliment. -</p> -<p> -"What a wonderful old fellow that is, Jervis," Thorndyke observed as his -factotum retired. "He took in the idea instantly and seems to have -produced the finished article by magic, as the conjurers bring forth -rabbits and bowls of goldfish at a moment's notice. I suppose you see -what your <i>modus operandi</i> is to be?" -</p> -<p> -I had gathered a clue from the little appliance—a plate of white -fret-wood about seven inches by five, to one corner of which a -pocket-compass had been fixed with shellac—but was not quite clear as -to the details of the method. -</p> -<p> -"You can read a compass pretty quickly, I think?" Thorndyke said. -</p> -<p> -"Of course I can. Used we not to sail a yacht together when we were -students?" -</p> -<p> -"To be sure we did; and we will again before we die. And now as to your -method of locating this house. Here is a pocket reading-lamp which you -can hook on the carriage lining. This notebook can be fixed to the board -with an india-rubber band—thus. You observe that the thoughtful Polton -has stuck a piece of thread on the glass of the compass to serve as a -lubber's line. This is how you will proceed. As soon as you are locked -in the carriage, light your lamp—better have a book with you in case -the light is noticed—take out your watch and put the board on your -knee, keeping its long side exactly in a line with the axis of the -carriage. Then enter in one narrow column of your notebook the time, in -the other the direction shown by the compass, and in the broad column -any particulars, including the number of steps the horse makes in a -minute. Like this." -</p> -<p> -He took a loose sheet of paper and made one or two sample entries on it -in pencil, thus— -</p> -<blockquote> - "9.40. S.E. Start from home.<br /> - 9.41 S.W. Granite setts.<br /> - 9.43. S.W. Wood pavement. Hoofs 104.<br /> - 9.47. W. by S Granite crossing. Macadam— -</blockquote> -<p> -and so on. Note every change of direction, with the time; and whenever -you hear or feel anything from outside, note it, with the time and -direction; and don't forget to note any variations in the horse's pace. -You follow the process?" -</p> -<p> -"Perfectly. But do you think the method is accurate enough to fix the -position of a house? Remember, this is only a pocket-compass with no -dial, and it will jump frightfully. And the mode of estimating distance -is very rough." -</p> -<p> -"That is all perfectly true," Thorndyke answered. "But you are -overlooking certain important facts. The track-chart that you will -produce can be checked by other data. The house, for instance, has a -covered way by which you could identify it if you knew approximately -where to look for it. Then you must remember that your carriage is not -travelling over a featureless plain. It is passing through streets which -have a determined position and direction and which are accurately -represented on the ordnance map. I think, Jervis, that, in spite of the -apparent roughness of the method, if you make your observations -carefully, we shall have no trouble in narrowing down the inquiry to a -quite small area. If we get the chance, that is to say." -</p> -<p> -"Yes, if we do. I am doubtful whether Mr. Weiss will require my services -again, but I sincerely hope he will. It would be rare sport to locate -his secret burrow, all unsuspected. But now I must really be off." -</p> -<p> -"Good-bye, then," said Thorndyke, slipping a well-sharpened pencil -through the rubber band that fixed the notebook to the board. "Let me -know how the adventure progresses—if it progresses at all—and -remember, I hold your promise to come and see me again quite soon in any -case." -</p> -<p> -He handed me the board and the lamp, and, when I had slipped them into -my pocket, we shook hands and I hurried away, a little uneasy at having -left my charge so long. -</p> - -<p> </p> -<p> </p> -<a name="CH3"><!-- CH3 --></a> -<h2> - Chapter III -</h2> - -<h3> -"A Chiel's Amang Ye Takin' Notes" -</h3> -<p> </p> -<p> -The attitude of the suspicious man tends to generate in others the kind -of conduct that seems to justify his suspicions. In most of us there -lurks a certain strain of mischief which trustfulness disarms but -distrust encourages. The inexperienced kitten which approaches us -confidingly with arched back and upright tail, soliciting caresses, -generally receives the gentle treatment that it expects; whereas the -worldly-wise tom-cat, who, in response to friendly advances, scampers -away and grins at us suspiciously from the fancied security of an -adjacent wall, impels us to accelerate his retreat with a well-directed -clod. -</p> -<p> -Now the proceedings of Mr. H. Weiss resembled those of the tom-cat -aforesaid and invited an analogous reply. To a responsible professional -man his extraordinary precautions were at once an affront and a -challenge. Apart from graver considerations, I found myself dwelling -with unholy pleasure on the prospect of locating the secret hiding-place -from which he seemed to grin at me with such complacent defiance; and I -lost no time and spared no trouble in preparing myself for the -adventure. The very hansom which bore me from the Temple to Kennington -Lane was utilized for a preliminary test of Thorndyke's little -apparatus. During the whole of that brief journey I watched the compass -closely, noted the feel and sound of the road-material and timed the -trotting of the horse. And the result was quite encouraging. It is true -that the compass-needle oscillated wildly to the vibration of the cab, -but still its oscillations took place around a definite point which was -the average direction, and it was evident to me that the data it -furnished were very fairly reliable. I felt very little doubt, after the -preliminary trial, as to my being able to produce a moderately -intelligible track-chart if only I should get an opportunity to exercise -my skill. -</p> -<p> -But it looked as if I should not. Mr. Weiss's promise to send for me -again soon was not fulfilled. Three days passed and still he made no -sign. I began to fear that I had been too outspoken; that the shuttered -carriage had gone forth to seek some more confiding and easy-going -practitioner, and that our elaborate preparations had been made in vain. -When the fourth day drew towards a close and still no summons had come, -I was disposed reluctantly to write the case off as a lost opportunity. -</p> -<p> -And at that moment, in the midst of my regrets, the bottle-boy thrust an -uncomely head in at the door. His voice was coarse, his accent was -hideous, and his grammatical construction beneath contempt; but I -forgave him all when I gathered the import of his message. -</p> -<p> -"Mr. Weiss's carriage is waiting, and he says will you come as quickly -as you can because he's took very bad to-night." -</p> -<p> -I sprang from my chair and hastily collected the necessaries for the -journey. The little board and the lamp I put in my overcoat pocket; I -overhauled the emergency bag and added to its usual contents a bottle of -permanganate of potassium which I thought I might require. Then I tucked -the evening paper under my arm and went out. -</p> -<p> -The coachman, who was standing at the horse's head as I emerged, touched -his hat and came forward to open the door. -</p> -<p> -"I have fortified myself for the long drive, you see," I remarked, -exhibiting the newspaper as I stepped into the carriage. -</p> -<p> -"But you can't read in the dark," said he. -</p> -<p> -"No, but I have provided myself with a lamp," I replied, producing it -and striking a match. -</p> -<p> -He watched me as I lit the lamp and hooked it on the back cushion, and -observed: -</p> -<p> -"I suppose you found it rather a dull ride last time. It's a longish -way. They might have fitted the carriage with an inside lamp. But we -shall have to make it a quicker passage to-night. Governor says Mr. -Graves is uncommon bad." -</p> -<p> -With this he slammed the door and locked it. I drew the board from my -pocket, laid it on my knee, glanced at my watch, and, as the coachman -climbed to his seat, I made the first entry in the little book. -</p> -<p> -"8.58. W. by S. Start from home. Horse 13 hands." -</p> -<p> -The first move of the carriage on starting was to turn round as if -heading for Newington Butts, and the second entry accordingly read: -</p> -<p> -"8.58.30. E. by N." -</p> -<p> -But this direction was not maintained long. Very soon we turned south -and then west and then south again. I sat with my eyes riveted on the -compass, following with some difficulty its rapid changes. The needle -swung to and fro incessantly but always within a definite arc, the -centre of which was the true direction. But this direction varied from -minute to minute in the most astonishing manner. West, south, east, -north, the carriage turned, "boxing" the compass until I lost all count -of direction. It was an amazing performance. Considering that the man -was driving against time on a mission of life and death urgency, his -carelessness as to direction was astounding. The tortuousness of the -route must have made the journey twice as long as it need have been -with a little more careful selection. At least so it appeared to me, -though, naturally, I was not in a position to offer an authoritative -criticism. -</p> -<p> -As far as I could judge, we followed the same route as before. Once I -heard a tug's whistle and knew that we were near the river, and we -passed the railway station, apparently at the same time as on the -previous occasion, for I heard a passenger train start and assumed that -it was the same train. We crossed quite a number of thoroughfares with -tram-lines—I had no idea there were so many—and it was a revelation to -me to find how numerous the railway arches were in this part of London -and how continually the nature of the road-metal varied. -</p> -<p> -It was by no means a dull journey this time. The incessant changes of -direction and variations in the character of the road kept me most -uncommonly busy; for I had hardly time to scribble down one entry before -the compass-needle would swing round sharply, showing that we had once -more turned a corner; and I was quite taken by surprise when the -carriage slowed down and turned into the covered way. Very hastily I -scribbled down the final entry ("9.24. S.E. In covered way"), and having -closed the book and slipped it and the board into my pocket, had just -opened out the newspaper when the carriage door was unlocked and opened, -whereupon I unhooked and blew out the lamp and pocketed that too, -reflecting that it might be useful later. -</p> -<p> -As on the last occasion, Mrs. Schallibaum stood in the open doorway with -a lighted candle. But she was a good deal less self-possessed this time. -In fact she looked rather wild and terrified. Even by the candle-light -I could see that she was very pale and she seemed unable to keep still. -As she gave me the few necessary words of explanation, she fidgeted -incessantly and her hands and feet were in constant movement. -</p> -<p> -"You had better come up with me at once," she said. "Mr. Graves is much -worse to-night. We will wait not for Mr. Weiss." -</p> -<p> -Without waiting for a reply she quickly ascended the stairs and I -followed. The room was in much the same condition as before. But the -patient was not. As soon as I entered the room, a soft, rhythmical -gurgle from the bed gave me a very clear warning of danger. I stepped -forward quickly and looked down at the prostrate figure, and the warning -gathered emphasis. The sick man's ghastly face was yet more ghastly; his -eyes were more sunken, his skin more livid; "his nose was as sharp as a -pen," and if he did not "babble of green fields" it was because he -seemed to be beyond even that. If it had been a case of disease, I -should have said at once that he was dying. He had all the appearance of -a man <i>in articulo mortis</i>. Even as it was, feeling convinced that the -case was one of morphine poisoning, I was far from confident that I -should be able to draw him back from the extreme edge of vitality on -which he trembled so insecurely. -</p> -<p> -"He is very ill? He is dying?" -</p> -<p> -It was Mrs. Schallibaum's voice; very low, but eager and intense. I -turned, with my finger on the patient's wrist, and looked into the face -of the most thoroughly scared woman I have ever seen. She made no -attempt now to avoid the light, but looked me squarely in the face, and -I noticed, half-unconsciously, that her eyes were brown and had a -curious strained expression. -</p> -<p> -"Yes," I answered, "he is very ill. He is in great danger." -</p> -<p> -She still stared at me fixedly for some seconds. And then a very odd -thing occurred. Suddenly she squinted—squinted horribly; not with the -familiar convergent squint which burlesque artists imitate, but with -external or divergent squint of extreme near sight or unequal vision. -The effect was quite startling. One moment both her eyes were looking -straight into mine; the next, one of them rolled round until it looked -out of the uttermost corner, leaving the other gazing steadily forward. -</p> -<p> -She was evidently conscious of the change, for she turned her head away -quickly and reddened somewhat. But it was no time for thoughts of -personal appearance. -</p> -<p> -"You can save him, doctor! You will not let him die! He must not be -allowed to die!" -</p> -<p> -She spoke with as much passion as if he had been the dearest friend that -she had in the world, which I suspected was far from being the case. But -her manifest terror had its uses. -</p> -<p> -"If anything is to be done to save him," I said, "it must be done -quickly. I will give him some medicine at once, and meanwhile you must -make some strong coffee." -</p> -<p> -"Coffee!" she exclaimed. "But we have none in the house. Will not tea -do, if I make it very strong?" -</p> -<p> -"No, it will not. I must have coffee; and I must have it quickly." -</p> -<p> -"Then I suppose I must go and get some. But it is late. The shops will -be shut. And I don't like leaving Mr. Graves." -</p> -<p> -"Can't you send the coachman?" I asked. -</p> -<p> -She shook her head impatiently. "No, that is no use. I must wait until -Mr. Weiss comes." -</p> -<p> -"That won't do," I said, sharply. "He will slip through our fingers -while you are waiting. You must go and get that coffee at once and bring -it to me as soon as it is ready. And I want a tumbler and some water." -</p> -<p> -She brought me a water-bottle and glass from the wash-stand and then, -with a groan of despair, hurried from the room. -</p> -<p> -I lost no time in applying the remedies that I had to hand. Shaking out -into the tumbler a few crystals of potassium permanganate, I filled it -up with water and approached the patient. His stupor was profound. I -shook him as roughly as was safe in his depressed condition, but -elicited no resistance or responsive movement. As it seemed very -doubtful whether he was capable of swallowing, I dared not take the risk -of pouring the liquid into his mouth for fear of suffocating him. A -stomach-tube would have solved the difficulty, but, of course, I had not -one with me. I had, however, a mouth-speculum which also acted as a gag, -and, having propped the patient's mouth open with this, I hastily -slipped off one of the rubber tubes from my stethoscope and inserted -into one end of it a vulcanite ear-speculum to serve as a funnel. Then, -introducing the other end of the tube into the gullet as far as its -length would permit, I cautiously poured a small quantity of the -permanganate solution into the extemporized funnel. To my great relief a -movement of the throat showed that the swallowing reflex still existed, -and, thus encouraged, I poured down the tube as much of the fluid as I -thought it wise to administer at one time. -</p> -<p> -The dose of permanganate that I had given was enough to neutralize any -reasonable quantity of the poison that might yet remain in the stomach. -I had next to deal with that portion of the drug which had already been -absorbed and was exercising its poisonous effects. Taking my hypodermic -case from my bag, I prepared in the syringe a full dose of atropine -sulphate, which I injected forthwith into the unconscious man's arm. And -that was all that I could do, so far as remedies were concerned, until -the coffee arrived. -</p> -<p> -I cleaned and put away the syringe, washed the tube, and then, returning -to the bedside, endeavoured to rouse the patient from his profound -lethargy. But great care was necessary. A little injudicious roughness -of handling, and that thready, flickering pulse might stop for ever; and -yet it was almost certain that if he were not speedily aroused, his -stupor would gradually deepen until it shaded off imperceptibly into -death. I went to work very cautiously, moving his limbs about, flicking -his face and chest with the corner of a wet towel, tickling the soles -of his feet, and otherwise applying stimuli that were strong without -being violent. -</p> -<p> -So occupied was I with my efforts to resuscitate my mysterious patient -that I did not notice the opening of the door, and it was with something -of a start that, happening to glance round, I perceived at the farther -end of the room the shadowy figure of a man relieved by two spots of -light reflected from his spectacles. How long he had been watching me I -cannot say, but, when he saw that I had observed him, he came -forward—though not very far—and I saw that he was Mr. Weiss. -</p> -<p> -"I am afraid," he said, "that you do not find my friend so well -to-night?" -</p> -<p> -"So well!" I exclaimed. "I don't find him well at all. I am exceedingly -anxious about him." -</p> -<p> -"You don't—er—anticipate anything of a—er—anything serious, I hope?" -</p> -<p> -"There is no need to anticipate," said I. "It is already about as -serious as it can be. I think he might die at any moment." -</p> -<p> -"Good God!" he gasped. "You horrify me!" -</p> -<p> -He was not exaggerating. In his agitation, he stepped forward into the -lighter part of the room, and I could see that his face was pale to -ghastliness—except his nose and the adjacent red patches on his cheeks, -which stood out in grotesquely hideous contrast. Presently, however, he -recovered a little and said: -</p> -<p> -"I really think—at least I hope—that you take an unnecessarily serious -view of his condition. He has been like this before, you know." -</p> -<p> -I felt pretty certain that he had not, but there was no use in -discussing the question. I therefore replied, as I continued my efforts -to rouse the patient: -</p> -<p> -"That may or may not be. But in any case there comes a last time; and it -may have come now." -</p> -<p> -"I hope not," he said; "although I understand that these cases always -end fatally sooner or later." -</p> -<p> -"What cases?" I asked. -</p> -<p> -"I was referring to sleeping sickness; but perhaps you have formed some -other opinion as to the nature of this dreadful complaint." -</p> -<p> -I hesitated for a moment, and he continued: "As to your suggestion that -his symptoms might be due to drugs, I think we may consider that as -disposed of. He has been watched, practically without cessation since -you came last, and, moreover, I have myself turned out the room and -examined the bed and have not found a trace of any drug. Have you gone -into the question of sleeping sickness?" -</p> -<p> -I looked at the man narrowly before answering, and distrusted him more -than ever. But this was no time for reticence. My concern was with the -patient and his present needs. After all, I was, as Thorndyke had said, -a doctor, not a detective, and the circumstances called for -straightforward speech and action on my part. -</p> -<p> -"I have considered that question," I said, "and have come to a perfectly -definite conclusion. His symptoms are not those of sleeping sickness. -They are in my opinion undoubtedly due to morphine poisoning." -</p> -<p> -"But my dear sir!" he exclaimed, "the thing is impossible! Haven't I -just told you that he has been watched continuously?" -</p> -<p> -"I can only judge by the appearances that I find," I answered; and, -seeing that he was about to offer fresh objections, I continued: "Don't -let us waste precious time in discussion, or Mr. Graves may be dead -before we have reached a conclusion. If you will hurry them up about the -coffee that I asked for some time ago, I will take the other necessary -measures, and perhaps we may manage to pull him round." -</p> -<p> -The rather brutal decision of my manner evidently daunted him. It must -have been plain to him that I was not prepared to accept any explanation -of the unconscious man's condition other than that of morphine -poisoning; whence the inference was pretty plain that the alternatives -were recovery or an inquest. Replying stiffly that I "must do as I -thought best," he hurried from the room, leaving me to continue my -efforts without further interruption. -</p> -<p> -For some time these efforts seemed to make no impression. The man lay as -still and impassive as a corpse excepting for the slow, shallow and -rather irregular breathing with its ominous accompanying rattle. But -presently, by imperceptible degrees, signs of returning life began to -make their appearance. A sharp slap on the cheek with the wet towel -produced a sensible flicker of the eyelids; a similar slap on the chest -was followed by a slight gasp. A pencil, drawn over the sole of the -foot, occasioned a visible shrinking movement, and, on looking once -more at the eyes, I detected a slight change that told me that the -atropine was beginning to take effect. -</p> -<p> -This was very encouraging, and, so far, quite satisfactory, though it -would have been premature to rejoice. I kept the patient carefully -covered and maintained the process of gentle irritation, moving his -limbs and shoulders, brushing his hair and generally bombarding his -deadened senses with small but repeated stimuli. And under this -treatment, the improvement continued so far that on my bawling a -question into his ear he actually opened his eyes for an instant, though -in another moment, the lids had sunk back into their former position. -</p> -<p> -Soon after this, Mr. Weiss re-entered the room, followed by Mrs. -Schallibaum, who carried a small tray, on which were a jug of coffee, a -jug of milk, a cup and saucer and a sugar basin. -</p> -<p> -"How do you find him now?" Mr. Weiss asked anxiously. -</p> -<p> -"I am glad to say that there is a distinct improvement," I replied. "But -we must persevere. He is by no means out of the wood yet." -</p> -<p> -I examined the coffee, which looked black and strong and had a very -reassuring smell, and, pouring out half a cupful, approached the bed. -</p> -<p> -"Now, Mr. Graves," I shouted, "we want you to drink some of this." -</p> -<p> -The flaccid eyelids lifted for an instant but there was no other -response. I gently opened the unresisting mouth and ladled in a couple -of spoonfuls of coffee, which were immediately swallowed; whereupon I -repeated the proceeding and continued at short intervals until the cup -was empty. The effect of the new remedy soon became apparent. He began -to mumble and mutter obscurely in response to the questions that I -bellowed at him, and once or twice he opened his eyes and looked -dreamily into my face. Then I sat him up and made him drink some coffee -from the cup, and, all the time, kept up a running fire of questions, -which made up in volume of sound for what they lacked of relevancy. -</p> -<p> -Of these proceedings Mr. Weiss and his housekeeper were highly -interested spectators, and the former, contrary to his usual practice, -came quite close up to the bed, to get a better view. -</p> -<p> -"It is really a most remarkable thing," he said, "but it almost looks as -if you were right, after all. He is certainly much better. But tell me, -would this treatment produce a similar improvement if the symptoms were -due to disease?" -</p> -<p> -"No," I answered, "it certainly would not." -</p> -<p> -"Then that seems to settle it. But it is a most mysterious affair. Can -you suggest any way in which he can have concealed a store of the drug?" -</p> -<p> -I stood up and looked him straight in the face; it was the first chance -I had had of inspecting him by any but the feeblest light, and I looked -at him very attentively. Now, it is a curious fact—though one that most -persons must have observed—that there sometimes occurs a considerable -interval between the reception of a visual impression and its complete -transfer to the consciousness. A thing may be seen, as it were, -unconsciously, and the impression consigned, apparently, to instant -oblivion; and yet the picture may be subsequently revived by memory with -such completeness that its details can be studied as though the object -were still actually visible. -</p> -<p> -Something of this kind must have happened to me now. Preoccupied as I -was, by the condition of the patient, the professional habit of rapid -and close observation caused me to direct a searching glance at the man -before me. It was only a brief glance—for Mr. Weiss, perhaps -embarrassed by my keen regard of him, almost immediately withdrew into -the shadow—and my attention seemed principally to be occupied by the -odd contrast between the pallor of his face and the redness of his nose -and by the peculiar stiff, bristly character of his eyebrows. But there -was another fact, and a very curious one, that was observed by me -subconsciously and instantly forgotten, to be revived later when I -reflected on the events of the night. It was this: -</p> -<p> -As Mr. Weiss stood, with his head slightly turned, I was able to look -through one glass of his spectacles at the wall beyond. On the wall was -a framed print; and the edge of the frame, seen through the -spectacle-glass, appeared quite unaltered and free from distortion, -magnification or reduction, as if seen through plain window-glass; and -yet the reflections of the candle-flame in the spectacles showed the -flame upside down, proving conclusively that the glasses were concave on -one surface at least. The strange phenomenon was visible only for a -moment or two, and as it passed out of my sight it passed also out of my -mind. -</p> -<p> -"No," I said, replying to the last question; "I can think of no way in -which he could have effectually hidden a store of morphine. Judging by -the symptoms, he has taken a large dose, and, if he has been in the -habit of consuming large quantities, his stock would be pretty bulky. I -can offer no suggestion whatever." -</p> -<p> -"I suppose you consider him quite out of danger now?" -</p> -<p> -"Oh, not at all. I think we can pull him round if we persevere, but he -must not be allowed to sink back into a state of coma. We must keep him -on the move until the effects of the drug have really passed off. If you -will put him into his dressing-gown we will walk him up and down the -room for a while." -</p> -<p> -"But is that safe?" Mr. Weiss asked anxiously. -</p> -<p> -"Quite safe," I answered. "I will watch his pulse carefully. The danger -is in the possibility, or rather certainty, of a relapse if he is not -kept moving." -</p> -<p> -With obvious unwillingness and disapproval, Mr. Weiss produced a -dressing-gown and together we invested the patient in it. Then we -dragged him, very limp, but not entirely unresisting, out of bed and -stood him on his feet. He opened his eyes and blinked owlishly first at -one and then at the other of us, and mumbled a few unintelligible words -of protest; regardless of which, we thrust his feet into slippers and -endeavoured to make him walk. At first he seemed unable to stand, and we -had to support him by his arms as we urged him forward; but presently -his trailing legs began to make definite walking movements, and, after -one or two turns up and down the room, he was not only able partly to -support his weight, but showed evidence of reviving consciousness in -more energetic protests. -</p> -<p> -At this point Mr. Weiss astonished me by transferring the arm that he -held to the housekeeper. -</p> -<p> -"If you will excuse me, doctor," said he, "I will go now and attend to -some rather important business that I have had to leave unfinished. Mrs. -Schallibaum will be able to give you all the assistance that you -require, and will order the carriage when you think it safe to leave the -patient. In case I should not see you again I will say 'good night.' I -hope you won't think me very unceremonious." -</p> -<p> -He shook hands with me and went out of the room, leaving me, as I have -said, profoundly astonished that he should consider any business of more -moment than the condition of his friend, whose life, even now, was but -hanging by a thread. However, it was really no concern of mine. I could -do without him, and the resuscitation of this unfortunate half-dead man -gave me occupation enough to engross my whole attention. -</p> -<p> -The melancholy progress up and down the room re-commenced, and with it -the mumbled protests from the patient. As we walked, and especially as -we turned, I caught frequent glimpses of the housekeeper's face. But it -was nearly always in profile. She appeared to avoid looking me in the -face, though she did so once or twice; and on each of these occasions -her eyes were directed at me in a normal manner without any sign of a -squint. Nevertheless, I had the impression that when her face was turned -away from me she squinted. The "swivel eye"—the left—was towards me as -she held the patient's right arm, and it was almost continuously turned -in my direction, whereas I felt convinced that she was really looking -straight before her, though, of course, her right eye was invisible to -me. It struck me, even at the time, as an odd affair, but I was too much -concerned about my charge to give it much consideration. -</p> -<p> -Meanwhile the patient continued to revive apace. And the more he -revived, the more energetically did he protest against this wearisome -perambulation. But he was evidently a polite gentleman, for, muddled as -his faculties were, he managed to clothe his objections in courteous and -even gracious forms of speech singularly out of agreement with the -character that Mr. Weiss had given him. -</p> -<p> -"I thangyou," he mumbled thickly. "Ver' good take s'much trouble. Think -I will lie down now." He looked wistfully at the bed, but I wheeled him -about and marched him once more down the room. He submitted -unresistingly, but as we again approached the bed he reopened the -matter. -</p> -<p> -"S'quite s'fficient, thang you. Gebback to bed now. Much 'bliged frall -your kindness"—here I turned him round—"no, really; m'feeling rather -tired. Sh'like to lie down now, f'you'd be s'good." -</p> -<p> -"You must walk about a little longer, Mr. Graves," I said. "It would be -very bad for you to go to sleep again." -</p> -<p> -He looked at me with a curious, dull surprise, and reflected awhile as -if in some perplexity. Then he looked at me again and said: -</p> -<p> -"Thing, sir, you are mistake—mistaken me—mist—" -</p> -<p> -Here Mrs. Schallibaum interrupted sharply: -</p> -<p> -"The doctor thinks it's good for you to walk about. You've been sleeping -too much. He doesn't want you to sleep any more just now." -</p> -<p> -"Don't wanter sleep; wanter lie down," said the patient. -</p> -<p> -"But you mustn't lie down for a little while. You must walk about for a -few minutes more. And you'd better not talk. Just walk up and down." -</p> -<p> -"There's no harm in his talking," said I; "in fact it's good for him. It -will help to keep him awake." -</p> -<p> -"I should think it would tire him," said Mrs. Schallibaum; "and it -worries me to hear him asking to lie down when we can't let him." -</p> -<p> -She spoke sharply and in an unnecessarily high tone so that the patient -could not fail to hear. Apparently he took in the very broad hint -contained in the concluding sentence, for he trudged wearily and -unsteadily up and down the room for some time without speaking, though -he continued to look at me from time to time as if something in my -appearance puzzled him exceedingly. At length his intolerable longing -for repose overcame his politeness and he returned to the attack. -</p> -<p> -"Surely v' walked enough now. Feeling very tired. Am really. Would you -be s'kind 's t'let me lie down few minutes?" -</p> -<p> -"Don't you think he might lie down for a little while?" Mrs. Schallibaum -asked. -</p> -<p> -I felt his pulse, and decided that he was really becoming fatigued, and -that it would be wiser not to overdo the exercise while he was so weak. -Accordingly, I consented to his returning to bed, and turned him round -in that direction; whereupon he tottered gleefully towards his -resting-place like a tired horse heading for its stable. -</p> -<p> -As soon as he was tucked in, I gave him a full cup of coffee, which he -drank with some avidity as if thirsty. Then I sat down by the bedside, -and, with a view to keeping him awake, began once more to ply him with -questions. -</p> -<p> -"Does your head ache, Mr. Graves?" I asked. -</p> -<p> -"The doctor says 'does your head ache?'" Mrs. Schallibaum squalled, so -loudly that the patient started perceptibly. -</p> -<p> -"I heard him, m'dear girl," he answered with a faint smile. "Not deaf -you know. Yes. Head aches a good deal. But I thing this gennleman -mistakes—" -</p> -<p> -"He says you are to keep awake. You mustn't go to sleep again, and you -are not to close your eyes." -</p> -<p> -"All ri' Pol'n. Keep'm open," and he proceeded forthwith to shut them -with an air of infinite peacefulness. I grasped his hand and shook it -gently, on which he opened his eyes and looked at me sleepily. The -housekeeper stroked his head, keeping her face half-turned from me—as -she had done almost constantly, to conceal the squinting eye, as I -assumed—and said: -</p> -<p> -"Need we keep you any longer, doctor? It is getting very late and you -have a long way to go." -</p> -<p> -I looked doubtfully at the patient. I was loath to leave him, -distrusting these people as I did. But I had my work to do on the -morrow, with, perhaps, a night call or two in the interval, and the -endurance even of a general practitioner has its limits. -</p> -<p> -"I think I heard the carriage some time ago," Mrs. Schallibaum added. -</p> -<p> -I rose hesitatingly and looked at my watch. It had turned half-past -eleven. -</p> -<p> -"You understand," I said in a low voice, "that the danger is not over? -If he is left now he will fall asleep, and in all human probability will -never wake. You clearly understand that?" -</p> -<p> -"Yes, quite clearly. I promise you he shall not be allowed to fall -asleep again." -</p> -<p> -As she spoke, she looked me full in the face for a few moments, and I -noted that her eyes had a perfectly normal appearance, without any trace -whatever of a squint. -</p> -<p> -"Very well," I said. "On that understanding I will go now; and I shall -hope to find our friend quite recovered at my next visit." -</p> -<p> -I turned to the patient, who was already dozing, and shook his hand -heartily. -</p> -<p> -"Good-bye, Mr. Graves!" I said. "I am sorry to have to disturb your -repose so much; but you must keep awake, you know. Won't do to go to -sleep." -</p> -<p> -"Ver' well," he replied drowsily. "Sorry t' give you all this trouble. -L' keep awake. But I think you're mistak'n—" -</p> -<p> -"He says it's very important that you shouldn't go to sleep, and that I -am to see that you don't. Do you understand?" -</p> -<p> -"Yes, I un'stan'. But why does this gennlem'n—?" -</p> -<p> -"Now it's of no use for you to ask a lot of questions," Mrs. Schallibaum -said playfully; "we'll talk to you to-morrow. Good night, doctor. I'll -light you down the stairs, but I won't come down with you, or the -patient will be falling asleep again." -</p> -<p> -Taking this definite dismissal, I retired, followed by a dreamily -surprised glance from the sick man. The housekeeper held the candle over -the balusters until I reached the bottom of the stairs, when I perceived -through the open door along the passage a glimmer of light from the -carriage lamps. The coachman was standing just outside, faintly -illuminated by the very dim lamplight, and as I stepped into the -carriage he remarked in his Scotch dialect that I "seemed to have been -makin' a nicht of it." He did not wait for any reply—none being in fact -needed—but shut the door and locked it. -</p> -<p> -I lit my little pocket-lamp and hung it on the back cushion. I even drew -the board and notebook from my pocket. But it seemed rather unnecessary -to take a fresh set of notes, and, to tell the truth, I rather shirked -the labour, tired as I was after my late exertions; besides, I wanted -to think over the events of the evening, while they were fresh in my -memory. Accordingly I put away the notebook, filled and lighted my pipe, -and settled myself to review the incidents attending my second visit to -this rather uncanny house. -</p> -<p> -Considered in leisurely retrospect, that visit offered quite a number of -problems that called for elucidation. There was the patient's condition, -for instance. Any doubt as to the cause of his symptoms was set at rest -by the effect of the antidotes. Mr. Graves was certainly under the -influence of morphine, and the only doubtful question was how he had -become so. That he had taken the poison himself was incredible. No -morphinomaniac would take such a knock-down dose. It was practically -certain that the poison had been administered by someone else, and, on -Mr. Weiss's own showing, there was no one but himself and the -housekeeper who could have administered it. And to this conclusion all -the other very queer circumstances pointed. -</p> -<p> -What were these circumstances? They were, as I have said, numerous, -though many of them seemed trivial. To begin with, Mr. Weiss's habit of -appearing some time after my arrival and disappearing some time before -my departure was decidedly odd. But still more odd was his sudden -departure this evening on what looked like a mere pretext. That -departure coincided in time with the sick man's recovery of the power of -speech. Could it be that Mr. Weiss was afraid that the half-conscious -man might say something compromising to him in my presence? It looked -rather like it. And yet he had gone away and left me with the patient -and the housekeeper. -</p> -<p> -But when I came to think about it I remembered that Mrs. Schallibaum had -shown some anxiety to prevent the patient from talking. She had -interrupted him more than once, and had on two occasions broken in when -he seemed to be about to ask me some question. I was "mistaken" about -something. What was that something that he wanted to tell me? -</p> -<p> -It had struck me as singular that there should be no coffee in the -house, but a sufficiency of tea. Germans are not usually tea-drinkers -and they do take coffee. But perhaps there was nothing in this. Rather -more remarkable was the invisibility of the coachman. Why could he not -be sent to fetch the coffee, and why did not he, rather than the -housekeeper, come to take the place of Mr. Weiss when the latter had to -go away. -</p> -<p> -There were other points, too. I recalled the word that sounded like -"Pol'n," which Mr. Graves had used in speaking to the housekeeper. -Apparently it was a Christian name of some kind; but why did Mr. Graves -call the woman by her Christian name when Mr. Weiss addressed her -formally as Mrs. Schallibaum? And, as to the woman herself: what was the -meaning of that curious disappearing squint? Physically it presented no -mystery. The woman had an ordinary divergent squint, and, like many -people, who suffer from this displacement, could, by a strong muscular -effort, bring the eyes temporarily into their normal parallel position. -I had detected the displacement when she had tried to maintain the -effort too long, and the muscular control had given way. But why had she -done it? Was it only feminine vanity—mere sensitiveness respecting a -slight personal disfigurement? It might be so; or there might be some -further motive. It was impossible to say. -</p> -<p> -Turning this question over, I suddenly remembered the peculiarity of Mr. -Weiss's spectacles. And here I met with a real poser. I had certainly -seen through those spectacles as clearly as if they had been plain -window-glass; and they had certainly given an inverted reflection of the -candle-flame like that thrown from the surface of a concave lens. Now -they obviously could not be both flat and concave; but yet they had the -properties peculiar to both flatness and concavity. And there was a -further difficulty. If I could see objects unaltered through them, so -could Mr. Weiss. But the function of spectacles is to alter the -appearances of objects, by magnification, reduction or compensating -distortion. If they leave the appearances unchanged they are useless. I -could make nothing of it. After puzzling over it for quite a long time, -I had to give it up; which I did the less unwillingly inasmuch as the -construction of Mr. Weiss's spectacles had no apparent bearing on the -case. -</p> -<p> -On arriving home, I looked anxiously at the message-book, and was -relieved to find that there were no further visits to be made. Having -made up a mixture for Mr. Graves and handed it to the coachman, I raked -the ashes of the surgery fire together and sat down to smoke a final -pipe while I reflected once more on the singular and suspicious case in -which I had become involved. But fatigue soon put an end to my -meditations; and having come to the conclusion that the circumstances -demanded a further consultation with Thorndyke, I turned down the gas to -a microscopic blue spark and betook myself to bed. -</p> - -<p> </p> -<p> </p> -<a name="CH4"><!-- CH4 --></a> -<h2> - Chapter IV -</h2> - -<h3> -The Official View -</h3> -<p> </p> -<p> -I rose on the following morning still possessed by the determination to -make some oportunity during the day to call on Thorndyke and take his -advice on the now urgent question as to what I was to do. I use the word -"urgent" advisedly; for the incidents of the preceding evening had left -me with the firm conviction that poison was being administered for some -purpose to my mysterious patient, and that no time must be lost if his -life was to be saved. Last night he had escaped only by the narrowest -margin—assuming him to be still alive—and it was only my unexpectedly -firm attitude that had compelled Mr. Weiss to agree to restorative -measures. -</p> -<p> -That I should be sent for again I had not the slightest expectation. If -what I so strongly suspected was true, Weiss would call in some other -doctor, in the hope of better luck, and it was imperative that he -should be stopped before it was too late. This was my view, but I meant -to have Thorndyke's opinion, and act under his direction, but -</p> -<blockquote> - "The best laid plans of mice and men<br /> - Gang aft agley." -</blockquote> -<p> -When I came downstairs and took a preliminary glance at the rough -memorandum-book, kept by the bottle-boy, or, in his absence, by the -housemaid, I stood aghast. The morning's entries looked already like a -sample page of the Post Office directory. The new calls alone were more -than equal to an ordinary day's work, and the routine visits remained to -be added. Gloomily wondering whether the Black Death had made a sudden -reappearance in England, I hurried to the dining-room and made a hasty -breakfast, interrupted at intervals by the apparition of the bottle-boy -to announce new messages. -</p> -<p> -The first two or three visits solved the mystery. An epidemic of -influenza had descended on the neighbourhood, and I was getting not only -our own normal work but a certain amount of overflow from other -practices. Further, it appeared that a strike in the building trade had -been followed immediately by a widespread failure of health among the -bricklayers who were members of a certain benefit club; which accounted -for the remarkable suddenness of the outbreak. -</p> -<p> -Of course, my contemplated visit to Thorndyke was out of the question. I -should have to act on my own responsibility. But in the hurry and rush -and anxiety of the work—for some of the cases were severe and even -critical—I had no opportunity to consider any course of action, nor -time to carry it out. Even with the aid of a hansom which I chartered, -as Stillbury kept no carriage, I had not finished my last visit until -near on midnight, and was then so spent with fatigue that I fell asleep -over my postponed supper. -</p> -<p> -As the next day opened with a further increase of work, I sent a -telegram to Dr. Stillbury at Hastings, whither he had gone, like a wise -man, to recruit after a slight illness. I asked for authority to engage -an assistant, but the reply informed me that Stillbury himself was on -his way to town; and to my relief, when I dropped in at the surgery for -a cup of tea, I found him rubbing his hands over the open day-book. -</p> -<p> -"It's an ill wind that blows nobody good," he remarked cheerfully as we -shook hands. "This will pay the expenses of my holiday, including you. -By the way, you are not anxious to be off, I suppose?" -</p> -<p> -As a matter of fact, I was; for I had decided to accept Thorndyke's -offer, and was now eager to take up my duties with him. But it would -have been shabby to leave Stillbury to battle alone with this rush of -work or to seek the services of a strange assistant. -</p> -<p> -"I should like to get off as soon as you can spare me," I replied, "but -I'm not going to leave you in the lurch." -</p> -<p> -"That's a good fellow," said Stillbury. "I knew you wouldn't. Let us -have some tea and divide up the work. Anything of interest going?" -</p> -<p> -There were one or two unusual cases on the list, and, as we marked off -our respective patients, I gave him the histories in brief synopsis. And -then I opened the subject of my mysterious experiences at the house of -Mr. Weiss. -</p> -<p> -"There's another affair that I want to tell you about; rather an -unpleasant business." -</p> -<p> -"Oh, dear!" exclaimed Stillbury. He put down his cup and regarded me -with quite painful anxiety. -</p> -<p> -"It looks to me like an undoubted case of criminal poisoning," I -continued. -</p> -<p> -Stillbury's face cleared instantly. "Oh, I'm glad it's nothing more than -that," he said with an air of relief. "I was afraid, it was some -confounded woman. There's always that danger, you know, when a locum is -young and happens—if I may say so, Jervis—to be a good-looking fellow. -Let us hear about this case." -</p> -<p> -I gave him a condensed narrative of my connection with the mysterious -patient, omitting any reference to Thorndyke, and passing lightly over -my efforts to fix the position of the house, and wound up with the -remark that the facts ought certainly to be communicated to the police. -</p> -<p> -"Yes," he admitted reluctantly, "I suppose you're right. Deuced -unpleasant though. Police cases don't do a practice any good. They waste -a lot of time, too; keep you hanging about to give evidence. Still, you -are quite right. We can't stand by and see the poor devil poisoned -without making some effort. But I don't believe the police will do -anything in the matter." -</p> -<p> -"Don't you really?" -</p> -<p> -"No, I don't. They like to have things pretty well cut and dried before -they act. A prosecution is an expensive affair, so they don't care to -prosecute unless they are fairly sure of a conviction. If they fail they -get hauled over the coals." -</p> -<p> -"But don't you think they would get a conviction in this case?" -</p> -<p> -"Not on your evidence, Jervis. They might pick up something fresh, but, -if they didn't they would fail. You haven't got enough hard-baked facts -to upset a capable defence. Still, that isn't our affair. You want to -put the responsibility on the police and I entirely agree with you." -</p> -<p> -"There ought not to be any delay," said I. -</p> -<p> -"There needn't be. I shall look in on Mrs. Wackford and you have to see -the Rummel children; we shall pass the station on our way. Why shouldn't -we drop in and see the inspector or superintendent?" -</p> -<p> -The suggestion met my views exactly. As soon as we had finished tea, we -set forth, and in about ten minutes found ourselves in the bare and -forbidding office attached to the station. -</p> -<p> -The presiding officer descended from a high stool, and, carefully laying -down his pen, shook hands cordially. -</p> -<p> -"And what can I do for you gentlemen?" he asked, with an affable smile. -</p> -<p> -Stillbury proceeded to open our business. -</p> -<p> -"My friend here, Dr. Jervis, who has very kindly been looking after my -work for a week or two, has had a most remarkable experience, and he -wants to tell you about it." -</p> -<p> -"Something in my line of business?" the officer inquired. -</p> -<p> -"That," said I, "is for you to judge. I think it is, but you may think -otherwise"; and hereupon, without further preamble, I plunged into the -history of the case, giving him a condensed statement similar to that -which I had already made to Stillbury. -</p> -<p> -He listened with close attention, jotting down from time to time a brief -note on a sheet of paper; and, when I had finished, he wrote out in a -black-covered notebook a short précis of my statement. -</p> -<p> -"I have written down here," he said, "the substance of what you have -told me. I will read the deposition over to you, and, if it is correct, -I will ask you to sign it." -</p> -<p> -He did so, and, when I had signed the document, I asked him what was -likely to be done in the matter. -</p> -<p> -"I am afraid," he replied, "that we can't take any active measures. You -have put us on our guard and we shall keep our eyes open. But I think -that is all we can do, unless we hear something further." -</p> -<p> -"But," I exclaimed, "don't you think that it is a very suspicious -affair?" -</p> -<p> -"I do," he replied. "A very fishy business indeed, and you were quite -right to come and tell us about it." -</p> -<p> -"It seems a pity not to take some measures," I said. "While you are -waiting to hear something further, they may give the poor wretch a fresh -dose and kill him." -</p> -<p> -"In which case we should hear something further, unless some fool of a -doctor were to give a death certificate." -</p> -<p> -"But that is very unsatisfactory. The man ought not to be allowed to -die." -</p> -<p> -"I quite agree with you, sir. But we've no evidence that he is going to -die. His friends sent for you, and you treated him skilfully and left -him in a fair way to recovery. That's all that we really know about it. -Yes, I know," the officer continued as I made signs of disagreement, -"you think that a crime is possibly going to be committed and that we -ought to prevent it. But you overrate our powers. We can only act on -evidence that a crime has actually been committed or is actually being -attempted. Now we have no such evidence. Look at your statement, and -tell me what you can swear to." -</p> -<p> -"I think I could swear that Mr. Graves had taken a poisonous dose of -morphine." -</p> -<p> -"And who gave him that poisonous dose?" -</p> -<p> -"I very strongly suspect—" -</p> -<p> -"That's no good, sir," interrupted the officer. "Suspicion isn't -evidence. We should want you to swear an information and give us enough -facts to make out a <i>primâ facie</i> case against some definite person. And -you couldn't do it. Your information amounts to this: that a certain -person has taken a poisonous dose of morphine and apparently recovered. -That's all. You can't swear that the names given to you are real names, -and you can't give us any address or even any locality." -</p> -<p> -"I took some compass bearings in the carriage," I said. "You could -locate the house, I think, without much difficulty." -</p> -<p> -The officer smiled faintly and fixed an abstracted gaze on the clock. -</p> -<p> -"<i>You</i> could, sir," he replied. "I have no doubt whatever that <i>you</i> -could. <i>I</i> couldn't. But, in any case, we haven't enough to go upon. If -you learn anything fresh, I hope you will let me know; and I am very -much obliged to you for taking so much trouble in the matter. Good -evening sir. Good evening, Dr. Stillbury." -</p> -<p> -He shook hands with us both genially, and, accepting perforce this very -polite but unmistakable dismissal, we took our departure. -</p> -<p> -Outside the station, Stillbury heaved a comfortable sigh. He was -evidently relieved to find that no upheavals were to take place in his -domain. -</p> -<p> -"I thought that would be their attitude," he said, "and they are quite -right, you know. The function of law is to prevent crime, it is true; -but prophylaxis in the sense in which we understand it is not possible -in legal practice." -</p> -<p> -I assented without enthusiasm. It was disappointing to find that no -precautionary measures were to be taken. However, I had done all that I -could in the matter. No further responsibility lay upon me, and, as it -was practically certain that I had seen and heard the last of Mr. Graves -and his mysterious household, I dismissed the case from my mind. At the -next corner Stillbury and I parted to go our respective ways; and my -attention was soon transferred from the romance of crime to the -realities of epidemic influenza. -</p> -<p> -The plethora of work in Dr. Stillbury's practice continued longer than I -had bargained for. Day after day went by and still found me tramping the -dingy streets of Kennington or scrambling up and down narrow stairways; -turning in at night dead tired, or turning out half awake to the hideous -jangle of the night bell. -</p> -<p> -It was very provoking. For months I had resisted Thorndyke's persuasion -to give up general practice and join him. Not from lack of inclination, -but from a deep suspicion that he was thinking of my wants rather than -his own; that his was a charitable rather than a business proposal. Now -that I knew this not to be the case, I was impatient to join him; and, -as I trudged through the dreary thoroughfares of this superannuated -suburb, with its once rustic villas and its faded gardens, my thoughts -would turn enviously to the quiet dignity of the Temple and my friend's -chambers in King's Bench Walk. -</p> -<p> -The closed carriage appeared no more; nor did any whisper either of good -or evil reach me in connection with the mysterious house from which it -had come. Mr. Graves had apparently gone out of my life for ever. -</p> -<p> -But if he had gone out of my life, he had not gone out of my memory. -Often, as I walked my rounds, would the picture of that dimly-lit room -rise unbidden. Often would I find myself looking once more into that -ghastly face, so worn, so wasted and haggard, and yet so far from -repellent. All the incidents of that last night would reconstitute -themselves with a vividness that showed the intensity of the impression -that they had made at the time. I would have gladly forgotten the whole -affair, for every incident of it was fraught with discomfort. But it -clung to my memory; it haunted me; and ever as it returned it bore with -it the disquieting questions: Was Mr. Graves still alive? And, if he was -not, was there really nothing which could have been done to save him? -</p> -<p> -Nearly a month passed before the practice began to show signs of -returning to its normal condition. Then the daily lists became more and -more contracted and the day's work proportionately shorter. And thus the -term of my servitude came to an end. One evening, as we were writing up -the day-book, Stillbury remarked: -</p> -<p> -"I almost think, Jervis, I could manage by myself now. I know you are -only staying on for my sake." -</p> -<p> -"I am staying on to finish my engagement, but I shan't be sorry to clear -out if you can do without me." -</p> -<p> -"I think I can. When would you like to be off?" -</p> -<p> -"As soon as possible. Say to-morrow morning, after I have made a few -visits and transferred the patients to you." -</p> -<p> -"Very well," said Stillbury. "Then I will give you your cheque and -settle up everything to-night, so that you shall be free to go off when -you like to-morrow morning." -</p> -<p> -Thus ended my connection with Kennington Lane. On the following day at -about noon, I found myself strolling across Waterloo Bridge with the -sensations of a newly liberated convict and a cheque for twenty-five -guineas in my pocket. My luggage was to follow when I sent for it. Now, -unhampered even by a hand-bag, I joyfully descended the steps at the -north end of the bridge and headed for King's Bench Walk by way of the -Embankment and Middle Temple Lane. -</p> - -<p> </p> -<p> </p> -<a name="CH5"><!-- CH5 --></a> -<h2> - Chapter V -</h2> - -<h3> -Jeffrey Blackmore's Will -</h3> -<p> </p> -<p> -My arrival at Thorndyke's chambers was not unexpected, having been -heralded by a premonitory post-card. The "oak" was open and an -application of the little brass knocker of the inner door immediately -produced my colleague himself and a very hearty welcome. -</p> -<p> -"At last," said Thorndyke, "you have come forth from the house of -bondage. I began to think that you had taken up your abode in Kennington -for good." -</p> -<p> -"I was beginning, myself, to wonder when I should escape. But here I am; -and I may say at once that I am ready to shake the dust of general -practice off my feet for ever—that is, if you are still willing to have -me as your assistant." -</p> -<p> -"Willing!" exclaimed Thorndyke, "Barkis himself was not more willing -than I. You will be invaluable to me. Let us settle the terms of our -comradeship forthwith, and to-morrow we will take measures to enter you -as a student of the Inner Temple. Shall we have our talk in the open air -and the spring sunshine?" -</p> -<p> -I agreed readily to this proposal, for it was a bright, sunny day and -warm for the time of year—the beginning of April. We descended to the -Walk and thence slowly made our way to the quiet court behind the -church, where poor old Oliver Goldsmith lies, as he would surely have -wished to lie, in the midst of all that had been dear to him in his -chequered life. I need not record the matter of our conversation. To -Thorndyke's proposals I had no objections to offer but my own -unworthiness and his excessive liberality. A few minutes saw our -covenants fully agreed upon, and when Thorndyke had noted the points on -a slip of paper, signed and dated it and handed it to me, the business -was at an end. -</p> -<p> -"There," my colleague said with a smile as he put away his pocket-book, -"if people would only settle their affairs in that way, a good part of -the occupation of lawyers would be gone. Brevity is the soul of wit; and -the fear of simplicity is the beginning of litigation." -</p> -<p> -"And now," I said, "I propose that we go and feed. I will invite you to -lunch to celebrate our contract." -</p> -<p> -"My learned junior is premature," he replied. "I had already arranged a -little festivity—or rather had modified one that was already arranged. -You remember Mr. Marchmont, the solicitor?" -</p> -<p> -"Yes." -</p> -<p> -"He called this morning to ask me to lunch with him and a new client at -the 'Cheshire Cheese.' I accepted and notified him that I should bring -you." -</p> -<p> -"Why the 'Cheshire Cheese'?" I asked. -</p> -<p> -"Why not? Marchmont's reasons for the selection were, first, that his -client has never seen an old-fashioned London tavern, and second, that -this is Wednesday and he, Marchmont, has a gluttonous affection for a -really fine beef-steak pudding. You don't object, I hope?" -</p> -<p> -"Oh, not at all. In fact, now that you mention it, my own sensations -incline me to sympathize with Marchmont. I breakfasted rather early." -</p> -<p> -"Then come," said Thorndyke. "The assignation is for one o'clock, and, -if we walk slowly, we shall just hit it off." -</p> -<p> -We sauntered up Inner Temple Lane, and, crossing Fleet Street, headed -sedately for the tavern. As we entered the quaint old-world dining-room, -Thorndyke looked round and a gentleman, who was seated with a companion -at a table in one of the little boxes or compartments, rose and saluted -us. -</p> -<p> -"Let me introduce you to my friend Mr. Stephen Blackmore," he said as we -approached. Then, turning to his companion, he introduced us by our -respective names. -</p> -<p> -"I engaged this box," he continued, "so that we might be private if we -wished to have a little preliminary chat; not that beef-steak pudding is -a great help to conversation. But when people have a certain business -in view, their talk is sure to drift towards it, sooner or later." -</p> -<p> -Thorndyke and I sat down opposite the lawyer and his client, and we -mutually inspected one another. Marchmont I already knew; an elderly, -professional-looking man, a typical solicitor of the old school; -fresh-faced, precise, rather irascible, and conveying a not unpleasant -impression of taking a reasonable interest in his diet. The other man -was quite young, not more than five-and-twenty, and was a fine -athletic-looking fellow with a healthy, out-of-door complexion and an -intelligent and highly prepossessing face. I took a liking to him at the -first glance, and so, I saw, did Thorndyke. -</p> -<p> -"You two gentlemen," said Blackmore, addressing us, "seem to be quite -old acquaintances. I have heard so much about you from my friend, Reuben -Hornby." -</p> -<p> -"Ah!" exclaimed Marchmont, "that was a queer case—'The Case of the Red -Thumb Mark,' as the papers called it. It was an eye-opener to -old-fashioned lawyers like myself. We've had scientific witnesses -before—and bullied 'em properly, by Jove! when they wouldn't give the -evidence that we wanted. But the scientific lawyer is something new. His -appearance in court made us all sit up, I can assure you." -</p> -<p> -"I hope we shall make you sit up again," said Thorndyke. -</p> -<p> -"You won't this time," said Marchmont. "The issues in this case of my -friend Blackmore's are purely legal; or rather, there are no issues at -all. There is nothing in dispute. I tried to prevent Blackmore from -consulting you, but he wouldn't listen to reason. Here! Waiter! How much -longer are we to be waiters? We shall die of old age before we get our -victuals!" -</p> -<p> -The waiter smiled apologetically. "Yessir!" said he. "Coming now, sir." -And at this very moment there was borne into the room a Gargantuan -pudding in a great bucket of a basin, which being placed on a -three-legged stool was forthwith attacked ferociously by the -white-clothed, white-capped carver. We watched the process—as did every -one present—with an interest not entirely gluttonous, for it added a -pleasant touch to the picturesque old room, with its sanded floor, its -homely, pew-like boxes, its high-backed settles and the friendly -portrait of the "great lexicographer" that beamed down on us from the -wall. -</p> -<p> -"This is a very different affair from your great, glittering modern -restaurant," Mr. Marchmont remarked. -</p> -<p> -"It is indeed," said Blackmore, "and if this is the way in which our -ancestors lived, it would seem that they had a better idea of comfort -than we have." -</p> -<p> -There was a short pause, during which Mr. Marchmont glared hungrily at -the pudding; then Thorndyke said: -</p> -<p> -"So you refused to listen to reason, Mr. Blackmore?" -</p> -<p> -"Yes. You see, Mr. Marchmont and his partner had gone into the matter -and decided that there was nothing to be done. Then I happened to -mention the affair to Reuben Hornby, and he urged me to ask your advice -on the case." -</p> -<p> -"Like his impudence," growled Marchmont, "to meddle with my client." -</p> -<p> -"On which," continued Blackmore, "I spoke to Mr. Marchmont and he agreed -that it was worth while to take your opinion on the case, though he -warned me to cherish no hopes, as the affair was not really within your -specialty." -</p> -<p> -"So you understand," said Marchmont, "that we expect nothing. This is -quite a forlorn hope. We are taking your opinion as a mere formality, to -be able to say that we have left nothing untried." -</p> -<p> -"That is an encouraging start," Thorndyke remarked. "It leaves me -unembarrassed by the possibility of failure. But meanwhile you are -arousing in me a devouring curiosity as to the nature of the case. Is it -highly confidential? Because if not, I would mention that Jervis has now -joined me as my permanent colleague." -</p> -<p> -"It isn't confidential at all," said Marchmont. "The public are in full -possession of the facts, and we should be only too happy to put them in -still fuller possession, through the medium of the Probate Court, if we -could find a reasonable pretext. But we can't." -</p> -<p> -Here the waiter charged our table with the fussy rapidity of the -overdue. -</p> -<p> -"Sorry to keep you waiting, sir. Rather early, sir. Wouldn't like it -underdone, sir." -</p> -<p> -Marchmont inspected his plate critically and remarked: -</p> -<p> -"I sometimes suspect these oysters of being mussels; and I'll swear the -larks are sparrows." -</p> -<p> -"Let us hope so," said Thorndyke. "The lark is better employed 'at -Heaven's gate singing' than garnishing a beef-steak pudding. But you -were telling us about your case." -</p> -<p> -"So I was. Well it's just a matter of—ale or claret? Oh, claret, I -know. You despise the good old British John Barleycorn." -</p> -<p> -"He that drinks beer thinks beer," retorted Thorndyke. "But you were -saying that it is just a matter of—?" -</p> -<p> -"A matter of a perverse testator and an ill-drawn will. A peculiarly -irritating case, too, because the defective will replaces a perfectly -sound one, and the intentions of the testator were—er—were—excellent -ale, this. A little heady, perhaps, but sound. Better than your sour -French wine, Thorndyke—were—er—were quite obvious. What he evidently -desired was—mustard? Better have some mustard. No? Well, well! Even a -Frenchman would take mustard. You can have no appreciation of flavour, -Thorndyke, if you take your victuals in that crude, unseasoned state. -And, talking of flavour, do you suppose that there is really any -difference between that of a lark and that of a sparrow?" -</p> -<p> -Thorndyke smiled grimly. "I should suppose," said he, "that they were -indistinguishable; but the question could easily be put to the test of -experiment." -</p> -<p> -"That is true," agreed Marchmont, "and it would really be worth trying, -for, as you say, sparrows are more easily obtainable than larks. But, -about this will. I was saying—er—now, what was I saying?" -</p> -<p> -"I understood you to say," replied Thorndyke, "that the intentions of -the testator were in some way connected with mustard. Isn't that so, -Jervis?" -</p> -<p> -"That was what I gathered," said I. -</p> -<p> -Marchmont gazed at us for a moment with a surprised expression and then, -laughing good-humouredly, fortified himself with a draught of ale. -</p> -<p> -"The moral of which is," Thorndyke added, "that testamentary -dispositions should not be mixed up with beef-steak pudding." -</p> -<p> -"I believe you're right, Thorndyke," said the unabashed solicitor. -"Business is business and eating is eating. We had better talk over our -case in my office or your chambers after lunch." -</p> -<p> -"Yes," said Thorndyke, "come over to the Temple with me and I will give -you a cup of coffee to clear your brain. Are there any documents?" -</p> -<p> -"I have all the papers here in my bag," replied Marchmont; and the -conversation—such conversation as is possible "when beards wag all" -over the festive board—drifted into other channels. -</p> -<p> -As soon as the meal was finished and the reckoning paid, we trooped out -of Wine Office Court, and, insinuating ourselves through the line of -empty hansoms that, in those days, crawled in a continuous procession -on either side of Fleet Street, betook ourselves by way of Mitre Court -to King's Bench Walk. There, when the coffee had been requisitioned and -our chairs drawn up around the fire, Mr. Marchmont unloaded from his bag -a portentous bundle of papers, and we addressed ourselves to the -business in hand. -</p> -<p> -"Now," said Marchmont, "let me repeat what I said before. Legally -speaking, we have no case—not the ghost of one. But my client wished to -take your opinion, and I agreed on the bare chance that you might detect -some point that we had overlooked. I don't think you will, for we have -gone into the case very thoroughly, but still, there is the -infinitesimal chance and we may as well take it. Would you like to read -the two wills, or shall I first explain the circumstances?" -</p> -<p> -"I think," replied Thorndyke, "a narrative of the events in the order of -their occurrence would be most helpful. I should like to know as much as -possible about the testator before I examine the documents." -</p> -<p> -"Very well," said Marchmont. "Then I will begin with a recital of the -circumstances, which, briefly stated, are these: My client, Stephen -Blackmore, is the son of Mr. Edward Blackmore, deceased. Edward -Blackmore had two brothers who survived him, John, the elder, and -Jeffrey, the younger. Jeffrey is the testator in this case. -</p> -<p> -"Some two years ago, Jeffrey Blackmore executed a will by which he made -his nephew Stephen his executor and sole legatee; and a few months later -he added a codicil giving two hundred and fifty pounds to his brother -John." -</p> -<p> -"What was the value of the estate?" Thorndyke asked. -</p> -<p> -"About three thousand five hundred pounds, all invested in Consols. The -testator had a pension from the Foreign Office, on which he lived, -leaving his capital untouched. Soon after having made his will, he left -the rooms in Jermyn Street, where he had lived for some years, stored -his furniture and went to Florence. From thence he moved on to Rome and -then to Venice and other places in Italy, and so continued to travel -about until the end of last September, when it appears that he returned -to England, for at the beginning of October he took a set of chambers in -New Inn, which he furnished with some of the things from his old rooms. -As far as we can make out, he never communicated with any of his -friends, excepting his brother, and the fact of his being in residence -at New Inn or of his being in England at all became known to them only -when he died." -</p> -<p> -"Was this quite in accordance with his ordinary habits?" Thorndyke -asked. -</p> -<p> -"I should say not quite," Blackmore answered. "My uncle was a studious, -solitary man, but he was not formerly a recluse. He was not much of a -correspondent but he kept up some sort of communication with his -friends. He used, for instance, to write to me sometimes, and, when I -came down from Cambridge for the vacations, he had me to stay with him -at his rooms." -</p> -<p> -"Is there anything known that accounts for the change in his habits?" -</p> -<p> -"Yes, there is," replied Marchmont. "We shall come to that presently. To -proceed with the narrative: On the fifteenth of last March he was found -dead in his chambers, and a more recent will was then discovered, dated -the twelfth of November of last year. Now no change had taken place in -the circumstances of the testator to account for the new will, nor was -there any appreciable alteration in the disposition of the property. As -far as we can make out, the new will was drawn with the idea of stating -the intentions of the testator with greater exactness and for the sake -of doing away with the codicil. The entire property, with the exception -of two hundred and fifty pounds, was, as before, bequeathed to Stephen, -but the separate items were specified, and the testator's brother, John -Blackmore, was named as the executor and residuary legatee." -</p> -<p> -"I see," said Thorndyke. "So that your client's interest in the will -would appear to be practically unaffected by the change." -</p> -<p> -"Yes. There it is," exclaimed the lawyer, slapping the table to add -emphasis to his words. "That is the pity of it! If people who have no -knowledge of law would only refrain from tinkering at their wills, what -a world of trouble would be saved!" -</p> -<p> -"Oh, come!" said Thorndyke. "It is not for a lawyer to say that." -</p> -<p> -"No, I suppose not," Marchmont agreed. "Only, you see, we like the -muddle to be made by the other side. But, in this case, the muddle is on -our side. The change, as you say, seems to leave our friend Stephen's -interests unaffected. That is, of course, what poor Jeffrey Blackmore -thought. But he was mistaken. The effect of the change is absolutely -disastrous." -</p> -<p> -"Indeed!" -</p> -<p> -"Yes. As I have said, no alteration in the testator's circumstances had -taken place at the time the new will was executed. <i>But</i> only two days -before his death, his sister, Mrs. Edmund Wilson, died; and on her will -being proved it appeared that she had bequeathed to him her entire -personalty, estimated at about thirty thousand pounds." -</p> -<p> -"Heigho!" exclaimed Thorndyke. "What an unfortunate affair!" -</p> -<p> -"You are right," said Mr. Marchmont; "it was a disaster. By the original -will this great sum would have accrued to our friend Mr. Stephen, -whereas now, of course, it goes to the residuary legatee, Mr. John -Blackmore. And what makes it even more exasperating is the fact that -this is obviously not in accordance with the wishes and intentions of -Mr. Jeffrey, who clearly desired his nephew to inherit his property." -</p> -<p> -"Yes," said Thorndyke; "I think you are justified in assuming that. But -do you know whether Mr. Jeffrey was aware of his sister's intentions?" -</p> -<p> -"We think not. Her will was executed as recently as the third of -September last, and it seems that there had been no communication -between her and Mr. Jeffrey since that date. Besides, if you consider -Mr. Jeffrey's actions, you will see that they suggest no knowledge or -expectation of this very important bequest. A man does not make -elaborate dispositions in regard to three thousand pounds and then leave -a sum of thirty thousand to be disposed of casually as the residue of -the estate." -</p> -<p> -"No," Thorndyke agreed. "And, as you have said, the manifest intention -of the testator was to leave the bulk of his property to Mr. Stephen. So -we may take it as virtually certain that Mr. Jeffrey had no knowledge of -the fact that he was a beneficiary under his sister's will." -</p> -<p> -"Yes," said Mr. Marchmont, "I think we may take that as nearly certain." -</p> -<p> -"With reference to the second will," said Thorndyke, "I suppose there is -no need to ask whether the document itself has been examined; I mean as -to its being a genuine document and perfectly regular?" -</p> -<p> -Mr. Marchmont shook his head sadly. -</p> -<p> -"No," he said, "I am sorry to say that there can be no possible doubt as -to the authenticity and regularity of the document. The circumstances -under which it was executed establish its genuineness beyond any -question." -</p> -<p> -"What were those circumstances?" Thorndyke asked. -</p> -<p> -"They were these: On the morning of the twelfth of November last, Mr. -Jeffrey came to the porter's lodge with a document in his hand. 'This,' -he said, 'is my will. I want you to witness my signature. Would you mind -doing so, and can you find another respectable person to act as the -second witness?' Now it happened that a nephew of the porter's, a -painter by trade, was at work in the Inn. The porter went out and -fetched him into the lodge and the two men agreed to witness the -signature. 'You had better read the will,' said Mr. Jeffrey. 'It is not -actually necessary, but it is an additional safeguard and there is -nothing of a private nature in the document.' The two men accordingly -read the document, and, when Mr. Jeffrey had signed it in their -presence, they affixed their signatures; and I may add that the painter -left the recognizable impressions of three greasy fingers." -</p> -<p> -"And these witnesses have been examined?" -</p> -<p> -"Yes. They have both sworn to the document and to their own signatures, -and the painter recognized his finger-marks." -</p> -<p> -"That," said Thorndyke, "seems to dispose pretty effectually of any -question as to the genuineness of the will; and if, as I gather, Mr. -Jeffrey came to the lodge alone, the question of undue influence is -disposed of too." -</p> -<p> -"Yes," said Mr. Marchmont. "I think we must pass the will as absolutely -flawless." -</p> -<p> -"It strikes me as rather odd," said Thorndyke, "that Jeffrey should have -known so little about his sister's intentions. Can you explain it, Mr. -Blackmore?" -</p> -<p> -"I don't think that it is very remarkable," Stephen replied. "I knew -very little of my aunt's affairs and I don't think my uncle Jeffrey knew -much more, for he was under the impression that she had only a life -interest in her husband's property. And he may have been right. It is -not clear what money this was that she left to my uncle. She was a very -taciturn woman and made few confidences to anyone." -</p> -<p> -"So that it is possible," said Thorndyke, "that she, herself, may have -acquired this money recently by some bequest?" -</p> -<p> -"It is quite possible," Stephen answered. -</p> -<p> -"She died, I understand," said Thorndyke, glancing at the notes that he -had jotted down, "two days before Mr. Jeffrey. What date would that be?" -</p> -<p> -"Jeffrey died on the fourteenth of March," said Marchmont. -</p> -<p> -"So that Mrs. Wilson died on the twelfth of March?" -</p> -<p> -"That is so," Marchmont replied; and Thorndyke then asked: -</p> -<p> -"Did she die suddenly?" -</p> -<p> -"No," replied Stephen; "she died of cancer. I understand that it was -cancer of the stomach." -</p> -<p> -"Do you happen to know," Thorndyke asked, "what sort of relations -existed between Jeffrey and his brother John?" -</p> -<p> -"At one time," said Stephen, "I know they were not very cordial; but the -breach may have been made up later, though I don't know that it actually -was." -</p> -<p> -"I ask the question," said Thorndyke, "because, as I dare say you have -noticed, there is, in the first will, some hint of improved relations. -As it was originally drawn that will makes Mr. Stephen the sole legatee. -Then, a little later, a codicil is added in favour of John, showing that -Jeffrey had felt the necessity of making some recognition of his -brother. This seems to point to some change in the relations, and the -question arises: if such a change did actually occur, was it the -beginning of a new and further improving state of feeling between the -two brothers? Have you any facts bearing on that question?" -</p> -<p> -Marchmont pursed up his lips with the air of a man considering an -unwelcome suggestion, and, after a few moments of reflection, answered: -</p> -<p> -"I think we must say 'yes' to that. There is the undeniable fact that, -of all Jeffrey's friends, John Blackmore was the only one who knew that -he was living in New Inn." -</p> -<p> -"Oh, John knew that, did he?" -</p> -<p> -"Yes, he certainly did; for it came out in the evidence that he had -called on Jeffrey at his chambers more than once. There is no denying -that. But, mark you!" Mr. Marchmont added emphatically, "that does not -cover the inconsistency of the will. There is nothing in the second will -to suggest that Jeffrey intended materially to increase the bequest to -his brother." -</p> -<p> -"I quite agree with you, Marchmont. I think that is a perfectly sound -position. You have, I suppose, fully considered the question as to -whether it would be possible to set aside the second will on the ground -that it fails to carry out the evident wishes and intentions of the -testator?" -</p> -<p> -"Yes. My partner, Winwood, and I went into that question very carefully, -and we also took counsel's opinion—Sir Horace Barnaby—and he was of -the same opinion as ourselves; that the court would certainly uphold the -will." -</p> -<p> -"I think that would be my own view," said Thorndyke, "especially after -what you have told me. Do I understand that John Blackmore was the only -person who knew that Jeffrey was in residence at New Inn?" -</p> -<p> -"The only one of his private friends. His bankers knew and so did the -officials from whom he drew his pension." -</p> -<p> -"Of course he would have to notify his bankers of his change of -address." -</p> -<p> -"Yes, of course. And à propos of the bank, I may mention that the -manager tells me that, of late, they had noticed a slight change in the -character of Jeffrey's signature—I think you will see the reason of the -change when you hear the rest of his story. It was very trifling; not -more than commonly occurs when a man begins to grow old, especially if -there is some failure of eyesight." -</p> -<p> -"Was Mr. Jeffrey's eyesight failing?" asked Thorndyke. -</p> -<p> -"Yes, it was, undoubtedly," said Stephen. "He was practically blind in -one eye and, in the very last letter that I ever had from him, he -mentioned that there were signs of commencing cataract in the other." -</p> -<p> -"You spoke of his pension. He continued to draw that regularly?" -</p> -<p> -"Yes; he drew his allowance every month, or rather, his bankers drew it -for him. They had been accustomed to do so when he was abroad, and the -authorities seem to have allowed the practice to continue." -</p> -<p> -Thorndyke reflected a while, running his eye over the notes on the slips -of paper in his hand, and Marchmont surveyed him with a malicious smile. -Presently the latter remarked: -</p> -<p> -"Methinks the learned counsel is floored." -</p> -<p> -Thorndyke laughed. "It seems to me," he retorted, "that your proceedings -are rather like those of the amiable individual who offered the bear a -flint pebble, that he might crack it and extract the kernel. Your -confounded will seems to offer no soft spot on which one could commence -an attack. But we won't give up. We seem to have sucked the will dry. -Let us now have a few facts respecting the parties concerned in it; and, -as Jeffrey is the central figure, let us begin with him and the tragedy -at New Inn that formed the starting-point of all this trouble." -</p> - -<p> </p> -<p> </p> -<a name="CH6"><!-- CH6 --></a> -<h2> - Chapter VI -</h2> - -<h3> -Jeffrey Blackmore, Deceased -</h3> -<p> </p> -<p> -Having made the above proposition, Thorndyke placed a fresh slip of -paper on the blotting pad on his knee and looked inquiringly at Mr. -Marchmont; who, in his turn, sighed and looked at the bundle of -documents on the table. -</p> -<p> -"What do you want to know?" he asked a little wearily. -</p> -<p> -"Everything," replied Thorndyke. "You have hinted at circumstances that -would account for a change in Jeffrey's habits and that would explain an -alteration in the character of his signature. Let us have those -circumstances. And, if I might venture on a suggestion, it would be that -we take the events in the order in which they occurred or in which they -became known." -</p> -<p> -"That's the worst of you, Thorndyke," Marchmont grumbled. "When a case -has been squeezed out to the last drop, in a legal sense, you want to -begin all over again with the family history of every one concerned and -a list of his effects and household furniture. But I suppose you will -have to be humoured; and I imagine that the best way in which to give -you the information you want will be to recite the circumstances -surrounding the death of Jeffrey Blackmore. Will that suit you?" -</p> -<p> -"Perfectly," replied Thorndyke; and thereupon Marchmont began: -</p> -<p> -"The death of Jeffrey Blackmore was discovered at about eleven o'clock -in the morning of the fifteenth of March. It seems that a builder's man -was ascending a ladder to examine a gutter on number 31, New Inn, when, -on passing a second-floor window that was open at the top, he looked in -and perceived a gentleman lying on a bed. The gentleman was fully -clothed and had apparently lain down on the bed to rest; at least so the -builder thought at the time, for he was merely passing the window on -his way up, and, very properly, did not make a minute examination. But -when, some ten minutes later, he came down and saw that the gentleman -was still in the same position, he looked at him more attentively; and -this is what he noticed—but perhaps we had better have it in his own -words as he told the story at the inquest. -</p> -<p> -"'When I came to look at the gentleman a bit more closely, it struck me -that he looked rather queer. His face looked very white, or rather pale -yellow, like parchment, and his mouth was open. He did not seem to be -breathing. On the bed by his side was a brass object of some kind—I -could not make out what it was—and he seemed to be holding some small -metal object in his hand. I thought it rather a queer affair, so, when I -came down I went across to the lodge and told the porter about it. The -porter came out across the square with me and I showed him the window. -Then he told me to go up the stairs to Mr. Blackmore's chambers on the -second pair and knock and keep on knocking until I got an answer. I went -up and knocked and kept on knocking as loud as I could, but, though I -fetched everybody out of all the other chambers in the house, I couldn't -get any answer from Mr. Blackmore. So I went downstairs again and then -Mr. Walker, the porter, sent me for a policeman. -</p> -<p> -"'I went out and met a policeman just by Dane's Inn and told him about -the affair, and he came back with me. He and the porter consulted -together, and then they told me to go up the ladder and get in at the -window and open the door of the chambers from the inside. So I went up; -and as soon as I got in at the window I saw that the gentleman was dead. -I went through the other room and opened the outer door and let in the -porter and the policeman.' -</p> -<p> -"That," said Mr. Marchmont, laying down the paper containing the -depositions, "is the way in which poor Jeffrey Blackmore's death came to -be discovered. -</p> -<p> -"The constable reported to his inspector and the inspector sent for the -divisional surgeon, whom he accompanied to New Inn. I need not go into -the evidence given by the police officers, as the surgeon saw all that -they saw and his statement covers everything that is known about -Jeffrey's death. This is what he says, after describing how he was sent -for and arrived at the Inn: -</p> -<p> -"'In the bedroom I found the body of a man between fifty and sixty years -of age, which has since been identified in my presence as that of Mr. -Jeffrey Blackmore. It was fully dressed and wore boots on which was a -moderate amount of dry mud. It was lying on its back on the bed, which -did not appear to have been slept in, and showed no sign of any struggle -or disturbance. The right hand loosely grasped a hypodermic syringe -containing a few drops of clear liquid which I have since analysed and -found to be a concentrated solution of strophanthin. -</p> -<p> -"'On the bed, close to the left side of the body, was a brass opium-pipe -of a pattern which I believe is made in China. The bowl of the pipe -contained a small quantity of charcoal, and a fragment of opium -together with some ash, and there was on the bed a little ash which -appeared to have dropped from the bowl when the pipe fell or was laid -down. On the mantelshelf in the bedroom I found a small glass-stoppered -jar containing about an ounce of solid opium, and another, larger jar -containing wood charcoal broken up into small fragments. Also a bowl -containing a quantity of ash with fragments of half-burned charcoal and -a few minute particles of charred opium. By the side of the bowl were a -knife, a kind of awl or pricker and a very small pair of tongs, which I -believe to have been used for carrying a piece of lighted charcoal to -the pipe. -</p> -<p> -"'On the dressing-table were two glass tubes labelled "Hypodermic -Tabloids: Strophanthin 1/500 grain," and a minute glass mortar and -pestle, of which the former contained a few crystals which have since -been analysed by me and found to be strophanthin. -</p> -<p> -"'On examining the body, I found that it had been dead about twelve -hours. There were no marks of violence or any abnormal condition -excepting a single puncture in the right thigh, apparently made by the -needle of the hypodermic syringe. The puncture was deep and vertical in -direction as if the needle had been driven in through the clothing. -</p> -<p> -"'I made a post-mortem examination of the body and found that death was -due to poisoning by strophanthin, which appeared to have been injected -into the thigh. The two tubes which I found on the dressing-table would -each have contained, if full, twenty tabloids, each tabloid -representing one five-hundredth of a grain of strophanthin. Assuming -that the whole of this quantity was injected the amount taken would be -forty five-hundredths, or about one twelfth of a grain. The ordinary -medicinal dose of strophanthin is one five-hundredth of a grain. -</p> -<p> -"'I also found in the body appreciable traces of morphine—the principal -alkaloid of opium—from which I infer that the deceased was a confirmed -opium-smoker. This inference was supported by the general condition of -the body, which was ill-nourished and emaciated and presented all the -appearances usually met with in the bodies of persons addicted to the -habitual use of opium.' -</p> -<p> -"That is the evidence of the surgeon. He was recalled later, as we shall -see, but, meanwhile, I think you will agree with me that the facts -testified to by him fully account, not only for the change in Jeffrey's -habits—his solitary and secretive mode of life—but also for the -alteration in his handwriting." -</p> -<p> -"Yes," agreed Thorndyke, "that seems to be so. By the way, what did the -change in the handwriting amount to?" -</p> -<p> -"Very little," replied Marchmont. "It was hardly perceptible. Just a -slight loss of firmness and distinctness; such a trifling change as you -would expect to find in the handwriting of a man who had taken to drink -or drugs, or anything that might impair the steadiness of his hand. I -should not have noticed it, myself, but, of course, the people at the -bank are experts, constantly scrutinizing signatures and scrutinizing -them with a very critical eye." -</p> -<p> -"Is there any other evidence that bears on the case?" Thorndyke asked. -</p> -<p> -Marchmont turned over the bundle of papers and smiled grimly. -</p> -<p> -"My dear Thorndyke," he said, "none of this evidence has the slightest -bearing on the case. It is all perfectly irrelevant as far as the will -is concerned. But I know your little peculiarities and I am indulging -you, as you see, to the top of your bent. The next evidence is that of -the chief porter, a very worthy and intelligent man named Walker. This -is what he says, after the usual preliminaries. -</p> -<p> -"'I have viewed the body which forms the subject of this inquiry. It is -that of Mr. Jeffrey Blackmore, the tenant of a set of chambers on the -second floor of number thirty-one, New Inn. I have known the deceased -nearly six months, and during that time have seen and conversed with him -frequently. He took the chambers on the second of last October and came -into residence at once. Tenants at New Inn have to furnish two -references. The references that the deceased gave were his bankers and -his brother, Mr. John Blackmore. I may say that the deceased was very -well known to me. He was a quiet, pleasant-mannered gentleman, and it -was his habit to drop in occasionally at the lodge and have a chat with -me. I went into his chambers with him once or twice on some small -matters of business and I noticed that there were always a number of -books and papers on the table. I understood from him that he spent most -of his time indoors engaged in study and writing. I know very little -about his way of living. He had no laundress to look after his rooms, so -I suppose he did his own house-work and cooking; but he told me that he -took most of his meals outside, at restaurants or his club. -</p> -<p> -"'Deceased impressed me as a rather melancholy, low-spirited gentleman. -He was very much troubled about his eyesight and mentioned the matter to -me on several occasions. He told me that he was practically blind in one -eye and that the sight of the other was failing rapidly. He said that -this afflicted him greatly, because his only pleasure in life was in the -reading of books, and that if he could not read he should not wish to -live. On another occasion he said that "to a blind man life was not -worth living." -</p> -<p> -"'On the twelfth of last November he came to the lodge with a paper in -his hand which he said was his will'—But I needn't read that," said -Marchmont, turning over the leaf, "I've told you how the will was signed -and witnessed. We will pass on to the day of poor Jeffrey's death. -</p> -<p> -"'On the fourteenth of March,' the porter says, 'at about half-past six -in the evening, the deceased came to the Inn in a four-wheeled cab. That -was the day of the great fog. I do not know if there was anyone in the -cab with the deceased, but I think not, because he came to the lodge -just before eight o'clock and had a little talk with me. He said that -he had been overtaken by the fog and could not see at all. He was quite -blind and had been obliged to ask a stranger to call a cab for him as he -could not find his way through the streets. He then gave me a cheque for -the rent. I reminded him that the rent was not due until the -twenty-fifth, but he said he wished to pay it now. He also gave me some -money to pay one or two small bills that were owing to some of the -tradespeople—a milk-man, a baker and a stationer. -</p> -<p> -"'This struck me as very strange, because he had always managed his -business and paid the tradespeople himself. He told me that the fog had -irritated his eye so that he could hardly read, and he was afraid he -should soon be quite blind. He was very depressed; so much so that I -felt quite uneasy about him. When he left the lodge, he went back across -the square as if returning to his chambers. There was then no gate open -excepting the main gate where the lodge is situated. That was the last -time that I saw the deceased alive.'" -</p> -<p> -Mr. Marchmont laid the paper on the table. "That is the porter's -evidence. The remaining depositions are those of Noble, the night -porter, John Blackmore and our friend here, Mr. Stephen. The night -porter had not much to tell. This is the substance of his evidence: -</p> -<p> -"'I have viewed the body of the deceased and identify it as that of Mr. -Jeffrey Blackmore. I knew the deceased well by sight and occasionally -had a few words with him. I know nothing of his habits excepting that he -used to sit up rather late. It is one of my duties to go round the Inn -at night and call out the hours until one o'clock in the morning. When -calling out "one o'clock" I often saw a light in the sitting-room of the -deceased's chambers. On the night of the fourteenth instant, the light -was burning until past one o'clock, but it was in the bedroom. The light -in the sitting-room was out by ten o'clock.' -</p> -<p> -"We now come to John Blackmore's evidence. He says: -</p> -<p> -"'I have viewed the body of the deceased and recognize it as that of my -brother Jeffrey. I last saw him alive on the twenty-third of February, -when I called at his chambers. He then seemed in a very despondent state -of mind and told me that his eyesight was fast failing. I was aware that -he occasionally smoked opium, but I did not know that it was a confirmed -habit. I urged him, on several occasions, to abandon the practice. I -have no reason to believe that his affairs were in any way embarrassed -or that he had any reason for making away with himself other than his -failing eyesight; but, having regard to his state of mind when I last -saw him, I am not surprised at what has happened.' -</p> -<p> -"That is the substance of John Blackmore's evidence, and, as to Mr. -Stephen, his statement merely sets forth the fact that he had identified -the body as that of his uncle Jeffrey. And now I think you have all the -facts. Is there anything more that you want to ask me before I go, for I -must really run away now?" -</p> -<p> -"I should like," said Thorndyke, "to know a little more about the -parties concerned in this affair. But perhaps Mr. Stephen can give me -the information." -</p> -<p> -"I expect he can," said Marchmont; "at any rate, he knows more about -them than I do; so I will be off. If you should happen to think of any -way," he continued, with a sly smile, "of upsetting that will, just let -me know, and I will lose no time in entering a caveat. Good-bye! Don't -trouble to let me out." -</p> -<p> -As soon as he was gone, Thorndyke turned to Stephen Blackmore. -</p> -<p> -"I am going," he said, "to ask you a few questions which may appear -rather trifling, but you must remember that my methods of inquiry -concern themselves with persons and things rather than with documents. -For instance, I have not gathered very completely what sort of person -your uncle Jeffrey was. Could you tell me a little more about him?" -</p> -<p> -"What shall I tell you?" Stephen asked with a slightly embarrassed air. -</p> -<p> -"Well, begin with his personal appearance." -</p> -<p> -"That is rather difficult to describe," said Stephen. "He was a -medium-sized man and about five feet seven—fair, slightly grey, -clean-shaved, rather spare and slight, had grey eyes, wore spectacles -and stooped a little as he walked. He was quiet and gentle in manner, -rather yielding and irresolute in character, and his health was not at -all robust though he had no infirmity or disease excepting his bad -eyesight. His age was about fifty-five." -</p> -<p> -"How came he to be a civil-service pensioner at fifty-five?" asked -Thorndyke. -</p> -<p> -"Oh, that was through an accident. He had a nasty fall from a horse, -and, being a rather nervous man, the shock was very severe. For some -time after he was a complete wreck. But the failure of his eyesight was -the actual cause of his retirement. It seems that the fall damaged his -eyes in some way; in fact he practically lost the sight of one—the -right—from that moment; and, as that had been his good eye, the -accident left his vision very much impaired. So that he was at first -given sick leave and then allowed to retire on a pension." -</p> -<p> -Thorndyke noted these particulars and then said: -</p> -<p> -"Your uncle has been more than once referred to as a man of studious -habits. Does that mean that he pursued any particular branch of -learning?" -</p> -<p> -"Yes. He was an enthusiastic Oriental scholar. His official duties had -taken him at one time to Yokohama and Tokio and at another to Bagdad, -and while at those places he gave a good deal of attention to the -languages, literature and arts of the countries. He was also greatly -interested in Babylonian and Assyrian archaeology, and I believe he -assisted for some time in the excavations at Birs Nimroud." -</p> -<p> -"Indeed!" said Thorndyke. "This is very interesting. I had no idea that -he was a man of such considerable attainments. The facts mentioned by -Mr. Marchmont would hardly have led one to think of him as what he seems -to have been: a scholar of some distinction." -</p> -<p> -"I don't know that Mr. Marchmont realized the fact himself," said -Stephen; "or that he would have considered it of any moment if he had. -Nor, as far as that goes, do I. But, of course, I have no experience of -legal matters." -</p> -<p> -"You can never tell beforehand," said Thorndyke, "what facts may turn -out to be of moment, so that it is best to collect all you can get. By -the way, were you aware that your uncle was an opium-smoker?" -</p> -<p> -"No, I was not. I knew that he had an opium-pipe which he brought with -him when he came home from Japan; but I thought it was only a curio. I -remember him telling me that he once tried a few puffs at an opium-pipe -and found it rather pleasant, though it gave him a headache. But I had -no idea he had contracted the habit; in fact, I may say that I was -utterly astonished when the fact came out at the inquest." -</p> -<p> -Thorndyke made a note of this answer, too, and said: -</p> -<p> -"I think that is all I have to ask you about your uncle Jeffrey. And now -as to Mr. John Blackmore. What sort of man is he?" -</p> -<p> -"I am afraid I can't tell you very much about him. Until I saw him at -the inquest, I had not met him since I was a boy. But he is a very -different kind of man from Uncle Jeffrey; different in appearance and -different in character." -</p> -<p> -"You would say that the two brothers were physically quite unlike, -then?" -</p> -<p> -"Well," said Stephen, "I don't know that I ought to say that. Perhaps I -am exaggerating the difference. I am thinking of Uncle Jeffrey as he was -when I saw him last and of uncle John as he appeared at the inquest. -They were very different then. Jeffrey was thin, pale, clean shaven, -wore spectacles and walked with a stoop. John is a shade taller, a shade -greyer, has good eyesight, a healthy, florid complexion, a brisk, -upright carriage, is distinctly stout and wears a beard and moustache -which are black and only very slightly streaked with grey. To me they -looked as unlike as two men could, though their features were really of -the same type; indeed, I have heard it said that, as young men, they -were rather alike, and they both resembled their mother. But there is no -doubt as to their difference in character. Jeffrey was quiet, serious -and studious, whereas John rather inclined to what is called a fast -life; he used to frequent race meetings, and, I think, gambled a good -deal at times." -</p> -<p> -"What is his profession?" -</p> -<p> -"That would be difficult to tell; he has so many; he is so very -versatile. I believe he began life as an articled pupil in the -laboratory of a large brewery, but he soon left that and went on the -stage. He seems to have remained in 'the profession' for some years, -touring about this country and making occasional visits to America. The -life seemed to suit him and I believe he was decidedly successful as an -actor. But suddenly he left the stage and blossomed out in connection -with a bucket-shop in London." -</p> -<p> -"And what is he doing now?" -</p> -<p> -"At the inquest he described himself as a stockbroker, so I presume he -is still connected with the bucket-shop." -</p> -<p> -Thorndyke rose, and taking down from the reference shelves a list of -members of the Stock Exchange, turned over the leaves. -</p> -<p> -"Yes," he said, replacing the volume, "he must be an outside broker. His -name is not in the list of members of 'the House.' From what you tell -me, it is easy to understand that there should have been no great -intimacy between the two brothers, without assuming any kind of -ill-feeling. They simply had very little in common. Do you know of -anything more?" -</p> -<p> -"No. I have never heard of any actual quarrel or disagreement. My -impression that they did not get on very well may have been, I think, -due to the terms of the will, especially the first will. And they -certainly did not seek one another's society." -</p> -<p> -"That is not very conclusive," said Thorndyke. "As to the will, a -thrifty man is not usually much inclined to bequeath his savings to a -gentleman who may probably employ them in a merry little flutter on the -turf or the Stock Exchange. And then there was yourself; clearly a more -suitable subject for a legacy, as your life is all before you. But this -is mere speculation and the matter is not of much importance, as far as -we can see. And now, tell me what John Blackmore's relations were with -Mrs. Wilson. I gather that she left the bulk of her property to Jeffrey, -her younger brother. Is that so?" -</p> -<p> -"Yes. She left nothing to John. The fact is that they were hardly on -speaking terms. I believe John had treated her rather badly, or, at any -rate, she thought he had. Mr. Wilson, her late husband, dropped some -money over an investment in connection with the bucket-shop that I spoke -of, and I think she suspected John of having let him in. She may have -been mistaken, but you know what ladies are when they get an idea into -their heads." -</p> -<p> -"Did you know your aunt well?" -</p> -<p> -"No; very slightly. She lived down in Devonshire and saw very little of -any of us. She was a taciturn, strong-minded woman; quite unlike her -brothers. She seems to have resembled her father's family." -</p> -<p> -"You might give me her full name." -</p> -<p> -"Julia Elizabeth Wilson. Her husband's name was Edmund Wilson." -</p> -<p> -"Thank you. There is just one more point. What has happened to your -uncle's chambers in New Inn since his death?" -</p> -<p> -"They have remained shut up. As all his effects were left to me, I have -taken over the tenancy for the present to avoid having them disturbed. I -thought of keeping them for my own use, but I don't think I could live -in them after what I have seen." -</p> -<p> -"You have inspected them, then?" -</p> -<p> -"Yes; I have just looked through them. I went there on the day of the -inquest." -</p> -<p> -"Now tell me: as you looked through those rooms, what kind of impression -did they convey to you as to your uncle's habits and mode of life?" -</p> -<p> -Stephen smiled apologetically. "I am afraid," said he, "that they did -not convey any particular impression in that respect. I looked into the -sitting-room and saw all his old familiar household gods, and then I -went into the bedroom and saw the impression on the bed where his corpse -had lain; and that gave me such a sensation of horror that I came away -at once." -</p> -<p> -"But the appearance of the rooms must have conveyed something to your -mind," Thorndyke urged. -</p> -<p> -"I am afraid it did not. You see, I have not your analytical eye. But -perhaps you would like to look through them yourself? If you would, pray -do so. They are my chambers now." -</p> -<p> -"I think I should like to glance round them," Thorndyke replied. -</p> -<p> -"Very well," said Stephen. "I will give you my card now, and I will look -in at the lodge presently and tell the porter to hand you the key -whenever you like to look over the rooms." -</p> -<p> -He took a card from his case, and, having written a few lines on it, -handed it to Thorndyke. -</p> -<p> -"It is very good of you," he said, "to take so much trouble. Like Mr. -Marchmont, I have no expectation of any result from your efforts, but I -am very grateful to you, all the same, for going into the case so -thoroughly. I suppose you don't see any possibility of upsetting that -will—if I may ask the question?" -</p> -<p> -"At present," replied Thorndyke, "I do not. But until I have carefully -weighed every fact connected with the case—whether it seems to have any -bearing or not—I shall refrain from expressing, or even entertaining, -an opinion either way." -</p> -<p> -Stephen Blackmore now took his leave; and Thorndyke, having collected -the papers containing his notes, neatly punched a couple of holes in -their margins and inserted them into a small file, which he slipped into -his pocket. -</p> -<p> -"That," said he, "is the nucleus of the body of data on which our -investigations must be based; and I very much fear that it will not -receive any great additions. What do you think, Jervis?" -</p> -<p> -"The case looks about as hopeless as a case could look," I replied. -</p> -<p> -"That is what I think," said he; "and for that reason I am more than -ordinarily keen on making something of it. I have not much more hope -than Marchmont has; but I shall squeeze the case as dry as a bone before -I let go. What are you going to do? I have to attend a meeting of the -board of directors of the Griffin Life Office." -</p> -<p> -"Shall I walk down with you?" -</p> -<p> -"It is very good of you to offer, Jervis, but I think I will go alone. I -want to run over these notes and get the facts of the case arranged in -my mind. When I have done that, I shall be ready to pick up new matter. -Knowledge is of no use unless it is actually in your mind, so that it -can be produced at a moment's notice. So you had better get a book and -your pipe and spend a quiet hour by the fire while I assimilate the -miscellaneous mental feast that we have just enjoyed. And you might do a -little rumination yourself." -</p> -<p> -With this, Thorndyke took his departure; and I, adopting his advice, -drew my chair closer to the fire and filled my pipe. But I did not -discover any inclination to read. The curious history that I had just -heard, and Thorndyke's evident determination to elucidate it further, -disposed me to meditation. Moreover, as his subordinate, it was my -business to occupy myself with his affairs. Wherefore, having stirred -the fire and got my pipe well alight, I abandoned myself to the renewed -consideration of the facts relating to Jeffrey Blackmore's will. -</p> - -<p> </p> -<p> </p> -<a name="CH7"><!-- CH7 --></a> -<h2> - Chapter VII -</h2> - -<h3> -The Cuneiform Inscription -</h3> -<p> </p> -<p> -The surprise which Thorndyke's proceedings usually occasioned, -especially to lawyers, was principally due, I think, to my friend's -habit of viewing occurrences from an unusual standpoint. He did not look -at things quite as other men looked at them. He had no prejudices and he -knew no conventions. When other men were cocksure, Thorndyke was -doubtful. When other men despaired, he entertained hopes; and thus it -happened that he would often undertake cases that had been rejected -contemptuously by experienced lawyers, and, what is more, would bring -them to a successful issue. -</p> -<p> -Thus it had been in the only other case in which I had been personally -associated with him—the so-called "Red Thumb Mark" case. There he was -presented with an apparent impossibility; but he had given it careful -consideration. Then, from the category of the impossible he had brought -it to that of the possible; from the merely possible to the actually -probable; from the probable to the certain; and in the end had won the -case triumphantly. -</p> -<p> -Was it conceivable that he could make anything of the present case? He -had not declined it. He had certainly entertained it and was probably -thinking it over at this moment. Yet could anything be more impossible? -Here was the case of a man making his own will, probably writing it out -himself, bringing it voluntarily to a certain place and executing it in -the presence of competent witnesses. There was no suggestion of any -compulsion or even influence or persuasion. The testator was admittedly -sane and responsible; and if the will did not give effect to his -wishes—which, however, could not be proved—that was due to his own -carelessness in drafting the will and not to any unusual circumstances. -And the problem—which Thorndyke seemed to be considering—was how to -set aside that will. -</p> -<p> -I reviewed the statements that I had heard, but turn them about as I -would, I could get nothing out of them but confirmation of Mr. -Marchmont's estimate of the case. One fact that I had noted with some -curiosity I again considered; that was Thorndyke's evident desire to -inspect Jeffrey Blackmore's chambers. He had, it is true, shown no -eagerness, but I had seen at the time that the questions which he put to -Stephen were put, not with any expectation of eliciting information but -for the purpose of getting an opportunity to look over the rooms -himself. -</p> -<p> -I was still cogitating on the subject when my colleague returned, -followed by the watchful Polton with the tea-tray, and I attacked him -forthwith. -</p> -<p> -"Well, Thorndyke," I said, "I have been thinking about this Blackmore -case while you have been gadding about." -</p> -<p> -"And may I take it that the problem is solved?" -</p> -<p> -"No, I'm hanged if you may. I can make nothing of it." -</p> -<p> -"Then you are in much the same position as I am." -</p> -<p> -"But, if you can make nothing of it, why did you undertake it?" -</p> -<p> -"I only undertook to think about it," said Thorndyke. "I never reject a -case off-hand unless it is obviously fishy. It is surprising how -difficulties, and even impossibilities, dwindle if you look at them -attentively. My experience has taught me that the most unlikely case is, -at least, worth thinking over." -</p> -<p> -"By the way, why do you want to look over Jeffrey's chambers? What do -you expect to find there?" -</p> -<p> -"I have no expectations at all. I am simply looking for stray facts." -</p> -<p> -"And all those questions that you asked Stephen Blackmore; had you -nothing in your mind—no definite purpose?" -</p> -<p> -"No purpose beyond getting to know as much about the case as I can." -</p> -<p> -"But," I exclaimed, "do you mean that you are going to examine those -rooms without any definite object at all?" -</p> -<p> -"I wouldn't say that," replied Thorndyke. "This is a legal case. Let me -put an analogous medical case as being more within your present sphere. -Supposing that a man should consult you, say, about a progressive loss -of weight. He can give no explanation. He has no pain, no discomfort, no -symptoms of any kind; in short, he feels perfectly well in every -respect; <i>but</i> he is losing weight continuously. What would you do?" -</p> -<p> -"I should overhaul him thoroughly," I answered. -</p> -<p> -"Why? What would you expect to find?" -</p> -<p> -"I don't know that I should start by expecting to find anything in -particular. But I should overhaul him organ by organ and function by -function, and if I could find nothing abnormal I should have to give it -up." -</p> -<p> -"Exactly," said Thorndyke. "And that is just my position and my line of -action. Here is a case which is perfectly regular and straightforward -excepting in one respect. It has a single abnormal feature. And for that -abnormality there is nothing to account. -</p> -<p> -"Jeffrey Blackmore made a will. It was a well-drawn will and it -apparently gave full effect to his intentions. Then he revoked that will -and made another. No change had occurred in his circumstances or in his -intentions. The provisions of the new will were believed by him to be -identical with those of the old one. The new will differed from the old -one only in having a defect in the drafting from which the first will -was free, and of which he must have been unaware. Now why did he revoke -the first will and replace it with another which he believed to be -identical in its provisions? There is no answer to that question. It is -an abnormal feature in the case. There must be some explanation of that -abnormality and it is my business to discover it. But the facts in my -possession yield no such explanation. Therefore it is my purpose to -search for new facts which may give me a starting-point for an -investigation." -</p> -<p> -This exposition of Thorndyke's proposed conduct of the case, reasonable -as it was, did not impress me as very convincing. I found myself coming -back to Marchmont's position, that there was really nothing in dispute. -But other matters claimed our attention at the moment, and it was not -until after dinner that my colleague reverted to the subject. -</p> -<p> -"How should you like to take a turn round to New Inn this evening?" he -asked. -</p> -<p> -"I should have thought," said I, "that it would be better to go by -daylight. Those old chambers are not usually very well illuminated." -</p> -<p> -"That is well thought of," said Thorndyke. "We had better take a lamp -with us. Let us go up to the laboratory and get one from Polton." -</p> -<p> -"There is no need to do that," said I. "The pocket-lamp that you lent me -is in my overcoat pocket. I put it there to return it to you." -</p> -<p> -"Did you have occasion to use it?" he asked. -</p> -<p> -"Yes. I paid another visit to the mysterious house and carried out your -plan. I must tell you about it later." -</p> -<p> -"Do. I shall be keenly interested to hear all about your adventures. Is -there plenty of candle left in the lamp?" -</p> -<p> -"Oh yes. I only used it for about an hour." -</p> -<p> -"Then let us be off," said Thorndyke; and we accordingly set forth on -our quest; and, as we went, I reflected once more on the apparent -vagueness of our proceedings. Presently I reopened the subject with -Thorndyke. -</p> -<p> -"I can't imagine," said I, "that you have absolutely nothing in view. -That you are going to this place with no defined purpose whatever." -</p> -<p> -"I did not say exactly that," replied Thorndyke. "I said that I was not -going to look for any particular thing or fact. I am going in the hope -that I may observe something that may start a new train of speculation. -But that is not all. You know that an investigation follows a certain -logical course. It begins with the observation of the conspicuous facts. -We have done that. The facts were supplied by Marchmont. The next stage -is to propose to oneself one or more provisional explanations or -hypotheses. We have done that, too—or, at least I have, and I suppose -you have." -</p> -<p> -"I haven't," said I. "There is Jeffrey's will, but why he should have -made the change I cannot form the foggiest idea. But I should like to -hear your provisional theories on the subject." -</p> -<p> -"You won't hear them at present. They are mere wild conjectures. But to -resume: what do we do next?" -</p> -<p> -"Go to New Inn and rake over the deceased gentleman's apartments." -</p> -<p> -Thorndyke smilingly ignored my answer and continued— -</p> -<p> -"We examine each explanation in turn and see what follows from it; -whether it agrees with all the facts and leads to the discovery of new -ones, or, on the other hand, disagrees with some facts or leads us to an -absurdity. Let us take a simple example. -</p> -<p> -"Suppose we find scattered over a field a number of largish masses of -stone, which are entirely different in character from the rocks found in -the neighbourhood. The question arises, how did those stones get into -that field? Three explanations are proposed. One: that they are the -products of former volcanic action; two: that they were brought from a -distance by human agency; three: that they were carried thither from -some distant country by icebergs. Now each of those explanations -involves certain consequences. If the stones are volcanic, then they -were once in a state of fusion. But we find that they are unaltered -limestone and contain fossils. Then they are not volcanic. If they were -borne by icebergs, then they were once part of a glacier and some of -them will probably show the flat surfaces with parallel scratches which -are found on glacier-borne stones. We examine them and find the -characteristic scratched surfaces. Then they have probably been brought -to this place by icebergs. But this does not exclude human agency, for -they might have been brought by men to this place from some other where -the icebergs had deposited them. A further comparison with other facts -would be needed. -</p> -<p> -"So we proceed in cases like this present one. Of the facts that are -known to us we invent certain explanations. From each of those -explanations we deduce consequences; and if those consequences agree -with new facts, they confirm the explanation, whereas if they disagree -they tend to disprove it. But here we are at our destination." -</p> -<p> -We turned out of Wych Street into the arched passage leading into New -Inn, and, halting at the half-door of the lodge, perceived a stout, -purple-faced man crouching over the fire, coughing violently. He held up -his hand to intimate that he was fully occupied for the moment, and we -accordingly waited for his paroxysm to subside. At length he turned -towards us, wiping his eyes, and inquired our business. -</p> -<p> -"Mr. Stephen Blackmore," said Thorndyke, "has given me permission to -look over his chambers. He said that he would mention the matter to -you." -</p> -<p> -"So he has, sir," said the porter; "but he has just taken the key -himself to go to the chambers. If you walk across the Inn you'll find -him there; it's on the farther side; number thirty-one, second floor." -</p> -<p> -We made our way across to the house indicated, the ground floor of which -was occupied by a solicitor's offices and was distinguished by a -good-sized brass plate. Although it had now been dark some time there -was no light on the lower stairs, but we encountered on the first-floor -landing a man who had just lit the lamp there. Thorndyke halted to -address him. -</p> -<p> -"Can you tell me who occupies the chambers on the third floor?" -</p> -<p> -"The third floor has been empty about three months," was the reply. -</p> -<p> -"We are going up to look at the chambers on the second floor," said -Thorndyke. "Are they pretty quiet?" -</p> -<p> -"Quiet!" exclaimed the man. "Lord bless you the place is like a cemetery -for the deaf and dumb. There's the solicitors on the ground floor and -the architects on the first floor. They both clear out about six, and -when they're gone the house is as empty as a blown hegg. I don't wonder -poor Mr. Blackmore made away with his-self. Livin' up there all alone, -it must have been like Robinson Crusoe without no man Friday and not -even a blooming goat to talk to. Quiet! It's quiet enough, if that's -what you want. Wouldn't be no good to <i>me</i>." -</p> -<p> -With a contemptuous shake of the head, he turned and retired down the -next flight, and, as the echoes of his footsteps died away we resumed -our ascent. -</p> -<p> -"So it would appear," Thorndyke commented, "that when Jeffrey Blackmore -came home that last evening, the house was empty." -</p> -<p> -Arrived on the second-floor landing, we were confronted by a -solid-looking door on the lintel of which the deceased man's name was -painted in white lettering which still looked new and fresh. Thorndyke -knocked at the door, which was at once opened by Stephen Blackmore. -</p> -<p> -"I haven't wasted any time before taking advantage of your permission, -you see," my colleague said as we entered. -</p> -<p> -"No, indeed," said Stephen; "you are very prompt. I have been rather -wondering what kind of information you expect to gather from an -inspection of these rooms." -</p> -<p> -Thorndyke smiled genially, amused, no doubt, by the similarity of -Stephen's remarks to those of mine which he had so recently criticized. -</p> -<p> -"A man of science, Mr. Blackmore," he said, "expects nothing. He -collects facts and keeps an open mind. As to me, I am a mere legal -Autolycus, a snapper-up of unconsidered trifles of evidence. When I have -accumulated a few facts, I arrange them, compare them and think about -them. Sometimes the comparison yields new matter and sometimes it -doesn't; but in any case, believe me, it is a capital error to decide -beforehand what data are to be sought for." -</p> -<p> -"Yes, I suppose that is so," said Stephen; "though, to me, it almost -looks as if Mr. Marchmont was right; that there is nothing to -investigate." -</p> -<p> -"You should have thought of that before you consulted me," laughed -Thorndyke. "As it is, I am engaged to look into the case and I shall do -so; and, as I have said, I shall keep an open mind until I have all the -facts in my possession." -</p> -<p> -He glanced round the sitting-room, which we had now entered, and -continued: -</p> -<p> -"These are fine, dignified old rooms. It seems a sin to have covered up -all this oak panelling and that carved cornice and mantel with paint. -Think what it must have been like when the beautiful figured wood was -exposed." -</p> -<p> -"It would be very dark," Stephen observed. -</p> -<p> -"Yes," Thorndyke agreed, "and I suppose we care more for light and less -for beauty than our ancestors did. But now, tell me; looking round these -rooms, do they convey to you a similar impression to that which the old -rooms did? Have they the same general character?" -</p> -<p> -"Not quite, I think. Of course the rooms in Jermyn Street were in a -different kind of house, but beyond that, I seem to feel a certain -difference; which is rather odd, seeing that the furniture is the same. -But the old rooms were more cosy, more homelike. I find something rather -bare and cheerless, I was almost going to say squalid, in the look of -these chambers." -</p> -<p> -"That is rather what I should have expected," said Thorndyke. "The opium -habit alters a man's character profoundly; and, somehow, apart from the -mere furnishing, a room reflects in some subtle way, but very -distinctly, the personality of its occupant, especially when that -occupant lives a solitary life. Do you see any evidences of the -activities that used to occupy your uncle?" -</p> -<p> -"Not very much," replied Stephen. "But the place may not be quite as he -left it. I found one or two of his books on the table and put them back -in the shelves, but I found no manuscript or notes such as he used to -make. I noticed, too, that his ink-slab which he used to keep so -scrupulously clean is covered with dry smears and that the stick of ink -is all cracked at the end, as if he had not used it for months. It seems -to point to a great change in his habits." -</p> -<p> -"What used he to do with Chinese ink?" Thorndyke asked. -</p> -<p> -"He corresponded with some of his native friends in Japan, and he used -to write in the Japanese character even if they understood English. That -was what he chiefly used the Chinese ink for. But he also used to copy -the inscriptions from these things." Here Stephen lifted from the -mantelpiece what looked like a fossil Bath bun, but was actually a clay -tablet covered with minute indented writing. -</p> -<p> -"Your uncle could read the cuneiform character, then?" -</p> -<p> -"Yes; he was something of an expert. These tablets are, I believe, -leases and other legal documents from Eridu and other Babylonian cities. -He used to copy the inscriptions in the cuneiform writing and then -translate them into English. But I mustn't stay here any longer as I -have an engagement for this evening. I just dropped in to get these two -volumes—<i>Thornton's History of Babylonia</i>, which he once advised me to -read. Shall I give you the key? You'd better have it and leave it with -the porter as you go out." -</p> -<p> -He shook hands with us and we walked out with him to the landing and -stood watching him as he ran down the stairs. Glancing at Thorndyke by -the light of the gas lamp on the landing, I thought I detected in his -impassive face that almost imperceptible change of expression to which I -have already alluded as indicating pleasure or satisfaction. -</p> -<p> -"You are looking quite pleased with yourself," I remarked. -</p> -<p> -"I am not displeased," he replied calmly. "Autolycus has picked up a few -crumbs; very small ones, but still crumbs. No doubt his learned junior -has picked up a few likewise?" -</p> -<p> -I shook my head—and inwardly suspected it of being rather a thick head. -</p> -<p> -"I did not perceive anything in the least degree significant in what -Stephen was telling you," said I. "It was all very interesting, but it -did not seem to have any bearing on his uncle's will." -</p> -<p> -"I was not referring only to what Stephen has told us, although that -was, as you say, very interesting. While he was talking I was looking -about the room, and I have seen a very strange thing. Let me show it to -you." -</p> -<p> -He linked his arm in mine and, walking me back into the room, halted -opposite the fire-place. -</p> -<p> -"There," said he, "look at that. It is a most remarkable object." -</p> -<p> </p> -<a name="image-2"><!-- Image 2 --></a> -<center> -<img src="inscription.png" width="80%" -alt="cuneiform inscription"> -</center> -<center><b>The Inverted Inscription.</b></center> -<p> </p> -<p> -I followed the direction of his gaze and saw an oblong frame enclosing a -large photograph of an inscription in the weird and cabalistic -arrow-head character. I looked at it in silence for some seconds and -then, somewhat disappointed, remarked: -</p> -<p> -"I don't see anything very remarkable in it, under the circumstances. In -any ordinary room it would be, I admit; but Stephen has just told us -that his uncle was something of an expert in cuneiform writing." -</p> -<p> -"Exactly," said Thorndyke. "That is my point. That is what makes it so -remarkable." -</p> -<p> -"I don't follow you at all," said I. "That a man should hang upon his -wall an inscription that is legible to him does not seem to me at all -out of the way. It would be much more singular if he should hang up an -inscription that he could <i>not</i> read." -</p> -<p> -"No doubt," replied Thorndyke. "But you will agree with me that it would -be still more singular if a man should hang upon his wall an inscription -that he <i>could</i> read—and hang it upside down." -</p> -<p> -I stared at Thorndyke in amazement. -</p> -<p> -"Do you mean to tell me," I exclaimed, "that that photograph is really -upside down?" -</p> -<p> -"I do indeed," he replied. -</p> -<p> -"But how do you know? Have we here yet another Oriental scholar?" -</p> -<p> -Thorndyke chuckled. "Some fool," he replied, "has said that 'a little -knowledge is a dangerous thing.' Compared with much knowledge, it may -be; but it is a vast deal better than no knowledge. Here is a case in -point. I have read with very keen interest the wonderful history of the -decipherment of the cuneiform writing, and I happen to recollect one or -two of the main facts that seemed to me to be worth remembering. This -particular inscription is in the Persian cuneiform, a much more simple -and open form of the script than the Babylonian or Assyrian; in fact, I -suspect that this is the famous inscription from the gateway at -Persepolis—the first to be deciphered; which would account for its -presence here in a frame. Now this script consists, as you see, of two -kinds of characters; the small, solid, acutely pointed characters which -are known as wedges, and the larger, more obtuse characters, somewhat -like our government broad arrows, and called arrow-heads. The names are -rather unfortunate, as both forms are wedge-like and both resemble -arrow-heads. The script reads from left to right, like our own writing, -and unlike that of the Semitic peoples and the primitive Greeks; and the -rule for the placing of the characters is that all the 'wedges' point to -the right or downwards and the arrow-head forms are open towards the -right. But if you look at this photograph you will see that all the -wedges point upwards to the left and that the arrow-head characters are -open towards the left. Obviously the photograph is upside down." -</p> -<p> -"But," I exclaimed, "this is really most mysterious. What do you suppose -can be the explanation?" -</p> -<p> -"I think," replied Thorndyke, "that we may perhaps get a suggestion from -the back of the frame. Let us see." -</p> -<p> -He disengaged the frame from the two nails on which it hung, and, -turning it round, glanced at the back; which he then presented for my -inspection. A label on the backing paper bore the words, "J. Budge, -Frame-maker and Gilder, 16, Gt. Anne Street, W.C." -</p> -<p> -"Well?" I said, when I had read the label without gathering from it -anything fresh. -</p> -<p> -"The label, you observe, is the right way up as it hangs on the wall." -</p> -<p> -"So it is," I rejoined hastily, a little annoyed that I had not been -quicker to observe so obvious a fact. "I see your point. You mean that -the frame-maker hung the thing upside down and Jeffrey never noticed the -mistake?" -</p> -<p> -"That is a perfectly sound explanation," said Thorndyke. "But I think -there is something more. You will notice that the label is an old one; -it must have been on some years, to judge by its dingy appearance, -whereas the two mirror-plates look to me comparatively new. But we can -soon put that matter to the test, for the label was evidently stuck on -when the frame was new, and if the plates were screwed on at the same -time, the wood that they cover will be clean and new-looking." -</p> -<p> -He drew from his pocket a "combination" knife containing, among other -implements, a screw-driver, with which he carefully extracted the screws -from one of the little brass plates by which the frame had been -suspended from the nails. -</p> -<p> -"You see," he said, when he had removed the plate and carried the -photograph over to the gasjet, "the wood covered by the plate is as -dirty and time-stained as the rest of the frame. The plates have been -put on recently." -</p> -<p> -"And what are we to infer from that?" -</p> -<p> -"Well, since there are no other marks of plates or rings upon the -frame, we may safely infer that the photograph was never hung up until -it came to these rooms." -</p> -<p> -"Yes, I suppose we may. But what then? What inference does that lead -to?" -</p> -<p> -Thorndyke reflected for a few moments and I continued: -</p> -<p> -"It is evident that this photograph suggests more to you than it does to -me. I should like to hear your exposition of its bearing on the case, if -it has any." -</p> -<p> -"Whether or no it has any real bearing on the case," Thorndyke answered, -"it is impossible for me to say at this stage. I told you that I had -proposed to myself one or two hypotheses to account for and explain -Jeffrey Blackmore's will, and I may say that the curious misplacement of -this photograph fits more than one of them. I won't say more than that, -because I think it would be profitable to you to work at this case -independently. You have all the facts that I have and you shall have a -copy of my notes of Marchmont's statement of the case. With this -material you ought to be able to reach some conclusion. Of course -neither of us may be able to make anything of the case—it doesn't look -very hopeful at present—but whatever happens, we can compare notes -after the event and you will be the richer by so much experience of -actual investigation. But I will start you off with one hint, which is -this: that neither you nor Marchmont seem to appreciate in the least the -very extraordinary nature of the facts that he communicated to us." -</p> -<p> -"I thought Marchmont seemed pretty much alive to the fact that it was a -very queer will." -</p> -<p> -"So he did," agreed Thorndyke. "But that is not quite what I mean. The -whole set of circumstances, taken together and in relation to one -another, impressed me as most remarkable; and that is why I am giving so -much attention to what looks at first sight like such a very unpromising -case. Copy out my notes, Jervis, and examine the facts critically. I -think you will see what I mean. And now let us proceed." -</p> -<p> -He replaced the brass plate and having reinserted the screws, hung up -the frame, and proceeded to browse slowly round the room, stopping now -and again to inspect the Japanese colour-prints and framed photographs -of buildings and other objects of archaeological interest that formed -the only attempts at wall-decoration. To one of the former he drew my -attention. -</p> -<p> -"These things are of some value," he remarked. "Here is one by -Utamaro—that little circle with the mark over it is his signature—and -you notice that the paper is becoming spotted in places with mildew. The -fact is worth noting in more than one connection." -</p> -<p> -I accordingly made a mental note and the perambulation continued. -</p> -<p> -"You observe that Jeffrey used a gas-stove, instead of a coal fire, no -doubt to economize work, but perhaps for other reasons. Presumably he -cooked by gas, too; let us see." -</p> -<p> -We wandered into the little cupboard-like kitchen and glanced round. A -ring-burner on a shelf, a kettle, a frying-pan and a few pieces of -crockery were its sole appointments. Apparently the porter was correct -in his statement as to Jeffrey's habits. -</p> -<p> -Returning to the sitting-room, Thorndyke resumed his inspection, pulling -out the table drawers, peering inquisitively into cupboards and -bestowing a passing glance on each of the comparatively few objects that -the comfortless room contained. -</p> -<p> -"I have never seen a more characterless apartment," was his final -comment. "There is nothing that seems to suggest any kind of habitual -activity on the part of the occupant. Let us look at the bedroom." -</p> -<p> -We passed through into the chamber of tragic memories, and, when -Thorndyke had lit the gas, we stood awhile looking about us in silence. -It was a bare, comfortless room, dirty, neglected and squalid. The bed -appeared not to have been remade since the catastrophe, for an -indentation still marked the place where the corpse had lain, and even a -slight powdering of ash could still be seen on the shabby counterpane. -It looked to me a typical opium-smoker's bedroom. -</p> -<p> -"Well," Thorndyke remarked at length, "there is character enough -here—of a kind. Jeffrey Blackmore would seem to have been a man of few -needs. One could hardly imagine a bedroom in which less attention seemed -to have been given to the comfort of the occupant." -</p> -<p> -He looked about him keenly and continued: "The syringe and the rest of -the lethal appliances and material have been taken away, I see. -Probably the analyst did not return them. But there are the opium-pipe -and the jar and the ash-bowl, and I presume those are the clothes that -the undertakers removed from the body. Shall we look them over?" -</p> -<p> -He took up the clothes which lay, roughly folded, on a chair and held -them up, garment by garment. -</p> -<p> -"These are evidently the trousers," he remarked, spreading them out on -the bed. "Here is a little white spot on the middle of the thigh which -looks like a patch of small crystals from a drop of the solution. Just -light the lamp, Jervis, and let us examine it with a lens." -</p> -<p> -I lit the lamp, and when we had examined the spot minutely and -identified it as a mass of minute crystals, Thorndyke asked: -</p> -<p> -"What do you make of those creases? You see there is one on each leg." -</p> -<p> -"It looks as if the trousers had been turned up. But if they have been -they must have been turned up about seven inches. Poor Jeffrey couldn't -have had much regard for appearances, for they would have been right -above his socks. But perhaps the creases were made in undressing the -body." -</p> -<p> -"That is possible," said Thorndyke: "though I don't quite see how it -would have happened. I notice that his pockets seem to have been -emptied—no, wait; here is something in the waistcoat pocket." -</p> -<p> -He drew out a shabby, pigskin card-case and a stump of lead pencil, at -which latter he looked with what seemed to me much more interest than -was deserved by so commonplace an object. -</p> -<p> -"The cards, you observe," said he, "are printed from type, not from a -plate. I would note that fact. And tell me what you make of that." -</p> -<p> -He handed me the pencil, which I examined with concentrated attention, -helping myself even with the lamp and my pocket lens. But even with -these aids I failed to discover anything unusual in its appearance. -Thorndyke watched me with a mischievous smile, and, when I had finished, -inquired: -</p> -<p> -"Well; what is it?" -</p> -<p> -"Confound you!" I exclaimed. "It's a pencil. Any fool can see that, and -this particular fool can't see any more. It's a wretched stump of a -pencil, villainously cut to an abominably bad point. It is coloured dark -red on the outside and was stamped with some name that began with -C—O—Co-operative Stores, perhaps." -</p> -<p> -"Now, my dear Jervis," Thorndyke protested, "don't begin by confusing -speculation with fact. The letters which remain are C—O. Note that fact -and find out what pencils there are which have inscriptions beginning -with those letters. I am not going to help you, because you can easily -do this for yourself. And it will be good discipline even if the fact -turns out to mean nothing." -</p> -<p> -At this moment he stepped back suddenly, and, looking down at the floor, -said: -</p> -<p> -"Give me the lamp, Jervis, I've trodden on something that felt like -glass." -</p> -<p> -I brought the lamp to the place where he had been standing, close by -the bed, and we both knelt on the floor, throwing the light of the lamp -on the bare and dusty boards. Under the bed, just within reach of the -foot of a person standing close by, was a little patch of fragments of -glass. Thorndyke produced a piece of paper from his pocket and -delicately swept the little fragments on to it, remarking: -</p> -<p> -"By the look of things, I am not the first person who has trodden on -that object, whatever it is. Do you mind holding the lamp while I -inspect the remains?" -</p> -<p> -I took the lamp and held it over the paper while he examined the little -heap of glass through his lens. -</p> -<p> -"Well," I asked. "What have you found?" -</p> -<p> -"That is what I am asking myself," he replied. "As far as I can judge by -the appearance of these fragments, they appear to be portions of a small -watch-glass. I wish there were some larger pieces." -</p> -<p> -"Perhaps there are," said I. "Let us look about the floor under the -bed." -</p> -<p> -We resumed our groping about the dirty floor, throwing the light of the -lamp on one spot after another. Presently, as we moved the lamp about, -its light fell on a small glass bead, which I instantly picked up and -exhibited to Thorndyke. -</p> -<p> -"Is this of any interest to you?" I asked. -</p> -<p> -Thorndyke took the bead and examined it curiously. -</p> -<p> -"It is certainly," he said, "a very odd thing to find in the bedroom of -an old bachelor like Jeffrey, especially as we know that he employed no -woman to look after his rooms. Of course, it may be a relic of the last -tenant. Let us see if there are any more." -</p> -<p> -We renewed our search, crawling under the bed and throwing the light of -the lamp in all directions over the floor. The result was the discovery -of three more beads, one entire bugle and the crushed remains of -another, which had apparently been trodden on. All of these, including -the fragments of the bugle that had been crushed, Thorndyke placed -carefully on the paper, which he laid on the dressing-table the more -conveniently to examine our find. -</p> -<p> -"I am sorry," said he, "that there are no more fragments of the -watch-glass, or whatever it was. The broken pieces were evidently picked -up, with the exception of the one that I trod on, which was an isolated -fragment that had been overlooked. As to the beads, judging by their -number and the position in which we found some of them—that crushed -bugle, for instance—they must have been dropped during Jeffrey's -tenancy and probably quite recently." -</p> -<p> -"What sort of garment do you suppose they came from?" I asked. -</p> -<p> -"They may have been part of a beaded veil or the trimming of a dress, -but the grouping rather suggests to me a tag of bead fringe. The colour -is rather unusual." -</p> -<p> -"I thought they looked like black beads." -</p> -<p> -"So they do by this light, but I think that by daylight we shall find -them to be a dark, reddish-brown. You can see the colour now if you look -at the smaller fragments of the one that is crushed." -</p> -<p> -He handed me his lens, and, when I had verified his statement, he -produced from his pocket a small tin box with a closely-fitting lid in -which he deposited the paper, having first folded it up into a small -parcel. -</p> -<p> -"We will put the pencil in too," said he; and, as he returned the box to -his pocket he added: "you had better get one of these little boxes from -Polton. It is often useful to have a safe receptacle for small and -fragile articles." -</p> -<p> -He folded up and replaced the dead man's clothes as we had found them. -Then, observing a pair of shoes standing by the wall, he picked them up -and looked them over thoughtfully, paying special attention to the backs -of the soles and the fronts of the heels. -</p> -<p> -"I suppose we may take it," said he, "that these are the shoes that poor -Jeffrey wore on the night of his death. At any rate there seem to be no -others. He seems to have been a fairly clean walker. The streets were -shockingly dirty that day, as I remember most distinctly. Do you see any -slippers? I haven't noticed any." -</p> -<p> -He opened and peeped into a cupboard in which an overcoat surmounted by -a felt hat hung from a peg like an attenuated suicide; he looked in all -the corners and into the sitting-room, but no slippers were to be seen. -</p> -<p> -"Our friend seems to have had surprisingly little regard for comfort," -Thorndyke remarked. "Think of spending the winter evenings in damp boots -by a gas fire!" -</p> -<p> -"Perhaps the opium-pipe compensated," said I; "or he may have gone to -bed early." -</p> -<p> -"But he did not. The night porter used to see the light in his rooms at -one o'clock in the morning. In the sitting-room, too, you remember. But -he seems to have been in the habit of reading in bed—or perhaps -smoking—for here is a candlestick with the remains of a whole dynasty -of candles in it. As there is gas in the room, he couldn't have wanted -the candle to undress by. He used stearine candles, too; not the common -paraffin variety. I wonder why he went to that expense." -</p> -<p> -"Perhaps the smell of the paraffin candle spoiled the aroma of the -opium," I suggested; to which Thorndyke made no reply but continued his -inspection of the room, pulling out the drawer of the washstand—which -contained a single, worn-out nail-brush—and even picking up and -examining the dry and cracked cake of soap in the dish. -</p> -<p> -"He seems to have had a fair amount of clothing," said Thorndyke, who -was now going through the chest of drawers, "though, by the look of it, -he didn't change very often, and the shirts have a rather yellow and -faded appearance. I wonder how he managed about his washing. Why, here -are a couple of pairs of boots in the drawer with his clothes! And here -is his stock of candles. Quite a large box—though nearly empty now—of -stearine candles, six to the pound." -</p> -<p> -He closed the drawer and cast another inquiring look round the room. -</p> -<p> -"I think we have seen all now, Jervis," he said, "unless there is -anything more that you would like to look into?" -</p> -<p> -"No," I replied. "I have seen all that I wanted to see and more than I -am able to attach any meaning to. So we may as well go." -</p> -<p> -I blew out the lamp and put it in my overcoat pocket, and, when we had -turned out the gas in both rooms, we took our departure. -</p> -<p> -As we approached the lodge, we found our stout friend in the act of -retiring in favour of the night porter. Thorndyke handed him the key of -the chambers, and, after a few sympathetic inquiries, about his -health—which was obviously very indifferent—said: -</p> -<p> -"Let me see; you were one of the witnesses to Mr. Blackmore's will, I -think?" -</p> -<p> -"I was, sir," replied the porter. -</p> -<p> -"And I believe you read the document through before you witnessed the -signature?" -</p> -<p> -"I did, sir." -</p> -<p> -"Did you read it aloud?" -</p> -<p> -"Aloud, sir! Lor' bless you, no, sir! Why should I? The other witness -read it, and, of course, Mr. Blackmore knew what was in it, seeing that -it was in his own handwriting. What should I want to read it aloud for?" -</p> -<p> -"No, of course you wouldn't want to. By the way, I have been wondering -how Mr. Blackmore managed about his washing." -</p> -<p> -The porter evidently regarded this question with some disfavour, for he -replied only with an interrogative grunt. It was, in fact, rather an odd -question. -</p> -<p> -"Did you get it done for him," Thorndyke pursued. -</p> -<p> -"No, certainly not, sir. He got it done for himself. The laundry people -used to deliver the basket here at the lodge, and Mr. Blackmore used to -take it in with him when he happened to be passing." -</p> -<p> -"It was not delivered at his chambers, then?" -</p> -<p> -"No, sir. Mr. Blackmore was a very studious gentleman and he didn't like -to be disturbed. A studious gentleman would naturally not like to be -disturbed." -</p> -<p> -Thorndyke cordially agreed with these very proper sentiments and finally -wished the porter "good night." We passed out through the gateway into -Wych Street, and, turning our faces eastward towards the Temple, set -forth in silence, each thinking his own thoughts. What Thorndyke's were -I cannot tell, though I have no doubt that he was busily engaged in -piecing together all that he had seen and heard and considering its -possible application to the case in hand. -</p> -<p> -As to me, my mind was in a whirl of confusion. All this searching and -examining seemed to be the mere flogging of a dead horse. The will was -obviously a perfectly valid and regular will and there was an end of the -matter. At least, so it seemed to me. But clearly that was not -Thorndyke's view. His investigations were certainly not purposeless; -and, as I walked by his side trying to conceive some purpose in his -actions, I only became more and more mystified as I recalled them one -by one, and perhaps most of all by the cryptic questions that I had just -heard him address to the equally mystified porter. -</p> - -<p> </p> -<p> </p> -<a name="CH8"><!-- CH8 --></a> -<h2> - Chapter VIII -</h2> - -<h3> -The Track Chart -</h3> -<p> </p> -<p> -As Thorndyke and I arrived at the main gateway of the Temple and he -swung round into the narrow lane, it was suddenly borne in on me that I -had made no arrangements for the night. Events had followed one another -so continuously and each had been so engrossing that I had lost sight of -what I may call my domestic affairs. -</p> -<p> -"We seem to be heading for your chambers, Thorndyke," I ventured to -remark. "It is a little late to think of it, but I have not yet settled -where I am to put up to-night." -</p> -<p> -"My dear fellow," he replied, "you are going to put up in your own -bedroom which has been waiting in readiness for you ever since you left -it. Polton went up and inspected it as soon as you arrived. I take it -that you will consider my chambers yours until such time as you may join -the benedictine majority and set up a home for yourself." -</p> -<p> -"That is very handsome of you," said I. "You didn't mention that the -billet you offered was a resident appointment." -</p> -<p> -"Rooms and commons included," said Thorndyke; and when I protested that -I should at least contribute to the costs of living he impatiently -waved the suggestion away. We were still arguing the question when we -reached our chambers—as I will now call them—and a diversion was -occasioned by my taking the lamp from my pocket and placing it on the -table. -</p> -<p> -"Ah," my colleague remarked, "that is a little reminder. We will put it -on the mantelpiece for Polton to collect and you shall give me a full -account of your further adventures in the wilds of Kennington. That was -a very odd affair. I have often wondered how it ended." -</p> -<p> -He drew our two arm-chairs up to the fire, put on some more coal, placed -the tobacco jar on the table exactly equidistant from the two chairs, -and settled himself with the air of a man who is anticipating an -agreeable entertainment. -</p> -<p> -I filled my pipe, and, taking up the thread of the story where I had -broken off on the last occasion, began to outline my later experiences. -But he brought me up short. -</p> -<p> -"Don't be sketchy, Jervis. To be sketchy is to be vague. Detail, my -child, detail is the soul of induction. Let us have all the facts. We -can sort them out afterwards." -</p> -<p> -I began afresh in a vein of the extremest circumstantiality. With -deliberate malice I loaded a prolix narrative with every triviality that -a fairly retentive memory could rake out of the half-forgotten past. I -cudgelled my brains for irrelevant incidents. I described with the -minutest accuracy things that had not the faintest significance. I drew -a vivid picture of the carriage inside and out; I painted a lifelike -portrait of the horse, even going into particulars of the harness—which -I was surprised to find that I had noticed. I described the furniture of -the dining-room and the cobwebs that had hung from the ceiling; the -auction-ticket on the chest of drawers, the rickety table and the -melancholy chairs. I gave the number per minute of the patient's -respirations and the exact quantity of coffee consumed on each occasion, -with an exhaustive description of the cup from which it was taken; and I -left no personal details unconsidered, from the patient's finger-nails -to the roseate pimples on Mr. Weiss's nose. -</p> -<p> -But my tactics of studied prolixity were a complete failure. The attempt -to fatigue Thorndyke's brain with superabundant detail was like trying -to surfeit a pelican with whitebait. He consumed it all with calm -enjoyment and asked for more; and when, at last, I did really begin to -think that I had bored him a little, he staggered me by reading over his -notes and starting a brisk cross-examination to elicit fresh facts! And -the most surprising thing of all was that when I had finished I seemed -to know a great deal more about the case than I had ever known before. -</p> -<p> -"It was a very remarkable affair," he observed, when the -cross-examination was over—leaving me somewhat in the condition of a -cider-apple that has just been removed from a hydraulic press—"a very -suspicious affair with a highly unsatisfactory end. I am not sure that I -entirely agree with your police officer. Nor do I fancy that some of my -acquaintances at Scotland Yard would have agreed with him." -</p> -<p> -"Do you think I ought to have taken any further measures?" I asked -uneasily. -</p> -<p> -"No; I don't see how you could. You did all that was possible under the -circumstances. You gave information, which is all that a private -individual can do, especially if he is an overworked general -practitioner. But still, an actual crime is the affair of every good -citizen. I think we ought to take some action." -</p> -<p> -"You think there really was a crime, then?" -</p> -<p> -"What else can one think? What do you think about it yourself?" -</p> -<p> -"I don't like to think about it at all. The recollection of that -corpse-like figure in that gloomy bedroom has haunted me ever since I -left the house. What do you suppose has happened?" -</p> -<p> -Thorndyke did not answer for a few seconds. At length he said gravely: -</p> -<p> -"I am afraid, Jervis, that the answer to that question can be given in -one word." -</p> -<p> -"Murder?" I asked with a slight shudder. -</p> -<p> -He nodded, and we were both silent for a while. -</p> -<p> -"The probability," he resumed after a pause, "that Mr. Graves is alive -at this moment seems to me infinitesimal. There was evidently a -conspiracy to murder him, and the deliberate, persistent manner in which -that object was being pursued points to a very strong and definite -motive. Then the tactics adopted point to considerable forethought and -judgment. They are not the tactics of a fool or an ignoramus. We may -criticize the closed carriage as a tactical mistake, calculated to -arouse suspicion, but we have to weigh it against its alternative." -</p> -<p> -"What is that?" -</p> -<p> -"Well, consider the circumstances. Suppose Weiss had called you in in -the ordinary way. You would still have detected the use of poison. But -now you could have located your man and made inquiries about him in the -neighbourhood. You would probably have given the police a hint and they -would almost certainly have taken action, as they would have had the -means of identifying the parties. The result would have been fatal to -Weiss. The closed carriage invited suspicion, but it was a great -safeguard. Weiss's method's were not so unsound after all. He is a -cautious man, but cunning and very persistent. And he could be bold on -occasion. The use of the blinded carriage was a decidedly audacious -proceeding. I should put him down as a gambler of a very discreet, -courageous and resourceful type." -</p> -<p> -"Which all leads to the probability that he has pursued his scheme and -brought it to a successful issue." -</p> -<p> -"I am afraid it does. But—have you got your notes of the -compass-bearings?" -</p> -<p> -"The book is in my overcoat pocket with the board. I will fetch them." -</p> -<p> -I went into the office, where our coats hung, and brought back the -notebook with the little board to which it was still attached by the -rubber band. Thorndyke took them from me, and, opening the book, ran -his eye quickly down one page after another. Suddenly he glanced at the -clock. -</p> -<p> -"It is a little late to begin," said he, "but these notes look rather -alluring. I am inclined to plot them out at once. I fancy, from their -appearance, that they will enable us to locate the house without much -difficulty. But don't let me keep you up if you are tired. I can work -them out by myself." -</p> -<p> -"You won't do anything of the kind," I exclaimed. "I am as keen on -plotting them as you are, and, besides, I want to see how it is done. It -seems to be a rather useful accomplishment." -</p> -<p> -"It is," said Thorndyke. "In our work, the ability to make a rough but -reliable sketch survey is often of great value. Have you ever looked -over these notes?" -</p> -<p> -"No. I put the book away when I came in and have never looked at it -since." -</p> -<p> -"It is a quaint document. You seem to be rich in railway bridges in -those parts, and the route was certainly none of the most direct, as you -noticed at the time. However, we will plot it out and then we shall see -exactly what it looks like and whither it leads us." -</p> -<p> -He retired to the laboratory and presently returned with a T-square, a -military protractor, a pair of dividers and a large drawing-board on -which was pinned a sheet of cartridge paper. -</p> -<p> -"Now," said he, seating himself at the table with the board before him, -"as to the method. You started from a known position and you arrived at -a place the position of which is at present unknown. We shall fix the -position of that spot by applying two factors, the distance that you -travelled and the direction in which you were moving. The direction is -given by the compass; and, as the horse seems to have kept up a -remarkably even pace, we can take time as representing distance. You -seem to have been travelling at about eight miles an hour, that is, -roughly, a seventh of a mile in one minute. So if, on our chart, we take -one inch as representing one minute, we shall be working with a scale of -about seven inches to the mile." -</p> -<p> -"That doesn't sound very exact as to distance," I objected. -</p> -<p> -"It isn't. But that doesn't matter much. We have certain landmarks, such -as these railway arches that you have noted, by which the actual -distance can be settled after the route is plotted. You had better read -out the entries, and, opposite each, write a number for reference, so -that we need not confuse the chart by writing details on it. I shall -start near the middle of the board, as neither you nor I seem to have -the slightest notion what your general direction was." -</p> -<p> -I laid the open notebook before me and read out the first entry: -</p> -<p> -"'Eight fifty-eight. West by South. Start from home. Horse thirteen -hands.'" -</p> -<p> -"You turned round at once, I understand," said Thorndyke, "so we draw no -line in that direction. The next is—?" -</p> -<p> -"'Eight fifty-eight minutes, thirty seconds, East by North'; and the -next is 'Eight fifty-nine, North-east.'" -</p> -<p> -"Then you travelled east by north about a fifteenth of a mile and we -shall put down half an inch on the chart. Then you turned north-east. -How long did you go on?" -</p> -<p> -"Exactly a minute. The next entry is 'Nine. West north-west.'" -</p> -<p> -"Then you travelled about the seventh of a mile in a north-easterly -direction and we draw a line an inch long at an angle of forty-five -degrees to the right of the north and south line. From the end of that -we carry a line at an angle of fifty-six and a quarter degrees to the -left of the north and south line, and so on. The method is perfectly -simple, you see." -</p> -<p> -"Perfectly; I quite understand it now." -</p> -<p> -I went back to my chair and continued to read out the entries from the -notebook while Thorndyke laid off the lines of direction with the -protractor, taking out the distances with the dividers from a scale of -equal parts on the back of the instrument. As the work proceeded, I -noticed, from time to time, a smile of quiet amusement spread over my -colleague's keen, attentive face, and at each new reference to a railway -bridge he chuckled softly. -</p> -<p> -"What, again!" he laughed, as I recorded the passage of the fifth or -sixth bridge. "It's like a game of croquet. Go on. What is the next?" -</p> -<p> -I went on reading out the notes until I came to the final one: -</p> -<p> -"'Nine twenty-four. South-east. In covered way. Stop. Wooden gates -closed.'" -</p> -<p> -Thorndyke ruled off the last line, remarking: "Then your covered way is -on the south side of a street which bears north-east. So we complete our -chart. Just look at your route, Jervis." -</p> -<p> -He held up the board with a quizzical smile and I stared in astonishment -at the chart. The single line, which represented the route of the -carriage, zigzagged in the most amazing manner, turning, re-turning and -crossing itself repeatedly, evidently passing more than once down the -same thoroughfares and terminating at a comparatively short distance -from its commencement. -</p> -<p> -"Why!" I exclaimed, the "rascal must have lived quite near to -Stillbury's house!" -</p> -<p> -Thorndyke measured with the dividers the distance between the starting -and arriving points of the route and took it off from the scale. -</p> -<p> -"Five-eighths of a mile, roughly," he said. "You could have walked it in -less than ten minutes. And now let us get out the ordnance map and see -if we can give to each of those marvellously erratic lines 'a local -habitation and a name.'" -</p> -<p> -He spread the map out on the table and placed our chart by its side. -</p> -<p> -"I think," said he, "you started from Lower Kennington Lane?" -</p> -<p> -"Yes, from this point," I replied, indicating the spot with a pencil. -</p> -<p> -"Then," said Thorndyke, "if we swing the chart round twenty degrees to -correct the deviation of the compass, we can compare it with the -ordnance map." -</p> -<p> -He set off with the protractor an angle of twenty degrees from the -north and south line and turned the chart round to that extent. After -closely scrutinizing the map and the chart and comparing the one with -the other, he said: -</p> -<p> -"By mere inspection it seems fairly easy to identify the thoroughfares -that correspond to the lines of the chart. Take the part that is near -your destination. At nine twenty-one you passed under a bridge, going -westward. That would seem to be Glasshouse Street. Then you turned -south, apparently along the Albert Embankment, where you heard the tug's -whistle. Then you heard a passenger train start on your left; that would -be Vauxhall Station. Next you turned round due east and passed under a -large railway bridge, which suggests the bridge that carries the Station -over Upper Kennington Lane. If that is so, your house should be on the -south side of Upper Kennington Lane, some three hundred yards from the -bridge. But we may as well test our inferences by one or two -measurements." -</p> -<p> -"How can you do that if you don't know the exact scale of the chart?" -</p> -<p> -"I will show you," said Thorndyke. "We shall establish the true scale -and that will form part of the proof." -</p> -<p> -He rapidly constructed on the upper blank part of the paper, a -proportional diagram consisting of two intersecting lines with a single -cross-line. -</p> -<p> -"This long line," he explained, "is the distance from Stillbury's house -to the Vauxhall railway bridge as it appears on the chart; the shorter -cross-line is the same distance taken from the ordnance map. If our -inference is correct and the chart is reasonably accurate, all the other -distances will show a similar proportion. Let us try some of them. Take -the distance from Vauxhall bridge to the Glasshouse Street bridge." -</p> -<p> </p> -<a name="image-3"><!-- Image 3 --></a> -<center> -<img src="track.png" width="50%" -alt="The Track Chart, Showing the Route Followed by Weiss's Carriage."> -</center> -<center>The Track Chart, Showing the Route Followed by Weiss's Carriage.</center> -<center>A.—Starting-point in Lower Kennington Lane.</center> -<center>B.—Position of Mr. Weiss's house. The dotted lines connecting the -bridges indicate probable railway lines.</center> -<p> </p> -<p> -He made the two measurements carefully, and, as the point of the -dividers came down almost precisely in the correct place on the diagram, -he looked up at me. -</p> -<p> -"Considering the roughness of the method by which the chart was made, I -think that is pretty conclusive, though, if you look at the various -arches that you passed under and see how nearly they appear to follow -the position of the South-Western Railway line, you hardly need further -proof. But I will take a few more proportional measurements for the -satisfaction of proving the case by scientific methods before we proceed -to verify our conclusions by a visit to the spot." -</p> -<p> -He took off one or two more distances, and on comparing them with the -proportional distances on the ordnance map, found them in every case as -nearly correct as could be expected. -</p> -<p> -"Yes," said Thorndyke, laying down the dividers, "I think we have -narrowed down the locality of Mr. Weiss's house to a few yards in a -known street. We shall get further help from your note of nine -twenty-three thirty, when which records a patch of newly laid macadam -extending up to the house." -</p> -<p> -"That new macadam will be pretty well smoothed down by now," I objected. -</p> -<p> -"Not so very completely," answered Thorndyke. "It is only a little over -a month ago, and there has been very little wet weather since. It may be -smooth, but it will be easily distinguishable from the old." -</p> -<p> -"And do I understand that you propose to go and explore the -neighbourhood?" -</p> -<p> -"Undoubtedly I do. That is to say, I intend to convert the locality of -this house into a definite address; which, I think, will now be -perfectly easy, unless we should have the bad luck to find more than one -covered way. Even then, the difficulty would be trifling." -</p> -<p> -"And when you have ascertained where Mr. Weiss lives? What then?" -</p> -<p> -"That will depend on circumstances. I think we shall probably call at -Scotland Yard and have a little talk with our friend Mr. Superintendent -Miller; unless, for any reason, it seems better to look into the case -ourselves." -</p> -<p> -"When is this voyage of exploration to take place?" -</p> -<p> -Thorndyke considered this question, and, taking out his pocket-book, -glanced through his engagements. -</p> -<p> -"It seems to me," he said, "that to-morrow is a fairly free day. We -could take the morning without neglecting other business. I suggest that -we start immediately after breakfast. How will that suit my learned -friend?" -</p> -<p> -"My time is yours," I replied; "and if you choose to waste it on matters -that don't concern you, that's your affair." -</p> -<p> -"Then we will consider the arrangement to stand for to-morrow morning, -or rather, for this morning, as I see that it is past twelve." -</p> -<p> -With this Thorndyke gathered up the chart and instruments and we -separated for the night. -</p> - -<p> </p> -<p> </p> -<a name="CH9"><!-- CH9 --></a> -<h2> - Chapter IX -</h2> - -<h3> -The House of Mystery -</h3> -<p> </p> -<p> -Half-past nine on the following morning found us spinning along the -Albert Embankment in a hansom to the pleasant tinkle of the horse's -bell. Thorndyke appeared to be in high spirits, though the full -enjoyment of the matutinal pipe precluded fluent conversation. As a -precaution, he had put my notebook in his pocket before starting, and -once or twice he took it out and looked over its pages; but he made no -reference to the object of our quest, and the few remarks that he -uttered would have indicated that his thoughts were occupied with other -matters. -</p> -<p> -Arrived at Vauxhall Station, we alighted and forthwith made our way to -the bridge that spans Upper Kennington Lane near its junction with -Harleyford Road. -</p> -<p> -"Here is our starting point," said Thorndyke. "From this place to the -house is about three hundred yards—say four hundred and twenty -paces—and at about two hundred paces we ought to reach our patch of new -road-metal. Now, are you ready? If we keep step we shall average our -stride." -</p> -<p> -We started together at a good pace, stepping out with military -regularity and counting aloud as we went. As we told out the hundred and -ninety-fourth pace I observed Thorndyke nod towards the roadway a little -ahead, and, looking at it attentively as we approached, it was easy to -see by the regularity of surface and lighter colour, that it had -recently been re-metalled. -</p> -<p> -Having counted out the four hundred and twenty paces, we halted, and -Thorndyke turned to me with a smile of triumph. -</p> -<p> -"Not a bad estimate, Jervis," said he. "That will be your house if I am -not much mistaken. There is no other mews or private roadway in sight." -</p> -<p> -He pointed to a narrow turning some dozen yards ahead, apparently the -entrance to a mews or yard and closed by a pair of massive wooden gates. -</p> -<p> -"Yes," I answered, "there can be no doubt that this is the place; but, -by Jove!" I added, as we drew nearer, "the nest is empty! Do you see?" -</p> -<p> -I pointed to a bill that was stuck on the gate, bearing, as I could see -at this distance, the inscription "To Let." -</p> -<p> -"Here is a new and startling, if not altogether unexpected, -development," said Thorndyke, as we stood gazing at the bill; which set -forth that "these premises, including stabling and workshops," were "to -be let on lease or otherwise," and referred inquiries to Messrs. Ryebody -Brothers, house-agents and valuers, Upper Kennington Lane. "The question -is, should we make a few inquiries of the agent, or should we get the -keys and have a look at the inside of the house? I am inclined to do -both, and the latter first, if Messrs. Ryebody Brothers will trust us -with the keys." -</p> -<p> -We proceeded up the lane to the address given, and, entering the -office, Thorndyke made his request—somewhat to the surprise of the -clerk; for Thorndyke was not quite the kind of person whom one naturally -associates with stabling and workshops. However, there was no -difficulty, but as the clerk sorted out the keys from a bunch hanging -from a hook, he remarked: -</p> -<p> -"I expect you will find the place in a rather dirty and neglected -condition. The house has not been cleaned yet; it is just as it was left -when the brokers took away the furniture." -</p> -<p> -"Was the last tenant sold up, then?" Thorndyke asked. -</p> -<p> -"Oh, no. He had to leave rather unexpectedly to take up some business in -Germany." -</p> -<p> -"I hope he paid his rent," said Thorndyke. -</p> -<p> -"Oh, yes. Trust us for that. But I should say that Mr. Weiss—that was -his name—was a man of some means. He seemed to have plenty of money, -though he always paid in notes. I don't fancy he had a banking account -in this country. He hadn't been here more than about six or seven months -and I imagine he didn't know many people in England, as he paid us a -cash deposit in lieu of references when he first came." -</p> -<p> -"I think you said his name was Weiss. It wouldn't be H. Weiss by any -chance?" -</p> -<p> -"I believe it was. But I can soon tell you." He opened a drawer and -consulted what looked like a book of receipt forms. "Yes; H Weiss. Do -you know him, sir?" -</p> -<p> -"I knew a Mr. H. Weiss some years ago. He came from Bremen, I -remember." -</p> -<p> -"This Mr. Weiss has gone back to Hamburg," the clerk observed. -</p> -<p> -"Ah," said Thorndyke, "then it would seem not to be the same. My -acquaintance was a fair man with a beard and a decidedly red nose and he -wore spectacles." -</p> -<p> -"That's the man. You've described him exactly," said the clerk, who was -apparently rather easily satisfied in the matter of description. -</p> -<p> -"Dear me," said Thorndyke; "what a small world it is. Do you happen to -have a note of his address in Hamburg?" -</p> -<p> -"I haven't," the clerk replied. "You see we've done with him, having got -the rent, though the house is not actually surrendered yet. Mr Weiss's -housekeeper still has the front-door key. She doesn't start for Hamburg -for a week or so, and meanwhile she keeps the key so that she can call -every day and see if there are any letters." -</p> -<p> -"Indeed," said Thorndyke. "I wonder if he still has the same -housekeeper." -</p> -<p> -"This lady is a German," replied the clerk, "with a regular jaw-twisting -name. Sounded like Shallybang." -</p> -<p> -"Schallibaum. That is the lady. A fair woman with hardly any eyebrows -and a pronounced cast in the left eye." -</p> -<p> -"Now that's very curious, sir," said the clerk. "It's the same name, and -this is a fair woman with remarkably thin eyebrows, I remember, now that -you mention it. But it can't be the same person. I have only seen her a -few times and then only just for a minute or so; but I'm quite certain -she had no cast in her eye. So, you see, sir, she can't be the same -person. You can dye your hair or you can wear a wig or you can paint -your face; but a squint is a squint. There's no faking a swivel eye." -</p> -<p> -Thorndyke laughed softly. "I suppose not; unless, perhaps, some one -might invent an adjustable glass eye. Are these the keys?" -</p> -<p> -"Yes, sir. The large one belongs to the wicket in the front gate. The -other is the latch-key belonging to the side door. Mrs. Shallybang has -the key of the front door." -</p> -<p> -"Thank you," said Thorndyke. He took the keys, to which a wooden label -was attached, and we made our way back towards the house of mystery, -discussing the clerk's statements as we went. -</p> -<p> -"A very communicable young gentleman, that," Thorndyke remarked. "He -seemed quite pleased to relieve the monotony of office work with a -little conversation. And I am sure I was very delighted to indulge him." -</p> -<p> -"He hadn't much to tell, all the same," said I. -</p> -<p> -Thorndyke looked at me in surprise. "I don't know what you would have, -Jervis, unless you expect casual strangers to present you with a -ready-made body of evidence, fully classified, with all the inferences -and implications stated. It seemed to me that he was a highly -instructive young man." -</p> -<p> -"What did you learn from him?" I asked. -</p> -<p> -"Oh, come, Jervis," he protested; "is that a fair question, under our -present arrangement? However, I will mention a few points. We learn that -about six or seven months ago, Mr. H. Weiss dropped from the clouds into -Kennington Lane and that he has now ascended from Kennington Lane into -the clouds. That is a useful piece of information. Then we learn that -Mrs. Schallibaum has remained in England; which might be of little -importance if it were not for a very interesting corollary that it -suggests." -</p> -<p> -"What is that?" -</p> -<p> -"I must leave you to consider the facts at your leisure; but you will -have noticed the ostensible reason for her remaining behind. She is -engaged in puttying up the one gaping joint in their armour. One of them -has been indiscreet enough to give this address to some -correspondent—probably a foreign correspondent. Now, as they obviously -wish to leave no tracks, they cannot give their new address to the Post -Office to have their letters forwarded, and, on the other hand, a letter -left in the box might establish such a connection as would enable them -to be traced. Moreover, the letter might be of a kind that they would -not wish to fall into the wrong hands. They would not have given this -address excepting under some peculiar circumstances." -</p> -<p> -"No, I should think not, if they took this house for the express purpose -of committing a crime in it." -</p> -<p> -"Exactly. And then there is one other fact that you may have gathered -from our young friend's remarks." -</p> -<p> -"What is that?" -</p> -<p> -"That a controllable squint is a very valuable asset to a person who -wishes to avoid identification." -</p> -<p> -"Yes, I did note that. The fellow seemed to think that it was absolutely -conclusive." -</p> -<p> -"And so would most people; especially in the case of a squint of that -kind. We can all squint towards our noses, but no normal person can turn -his eyes away from one another. My impression is that the presence or -absence, as the case might be, of a divergent squint would be accepted -as absolute disproof of identity. But here we are." -</p> -<p> -He inserted the key into the wicket of the large gate, and, when we had -stepped through into the covered way, he locked it from the inside. -</p> -<p> -"Why have you locked us in?" I asked, seeing that the wicket had a -latch. -</p> -<p> -"Because," he replied, "if we now hear any one on the premises we shall -know who it is. Only one person besides ourselves has a key." -</p> -<p> -His reply startled me somewhat. I stopped and looked at him. -</p> -<p> -"That is a quaint situation, Thorndyke. I hadn't thought of it. Why she -may actually come to the house while we are here; in fact, she may be in -the house at this moment." -</p> -<p> -"I hope not," said he. "We don't particularly want Mr. Weiss to be put -on his guard, for I take it, he is a pretty wide-awake gentleman under -any circumstances. If she does come, we had better keep out of sight. I -think we will look over the house first. That is of the most interest to -us. If the lady does happen to come while we are here, she may stay to -show us over the place and keep an eye on us. So we will leave the -stables to the last." -</p> -<p> -We walked down the entry to the side door at which I had been admitted -by Mrs. Schallibaum on the occasion of my previous visits. Thorndyke -inserted the latch-key, and, as soon as we were inside, shut the door -and walked quickly through into the hall, whither I followed him. He -made straight for the front door, where, having slipped up the catch of -the lock, he began very attentively to examine the letter-box. It was a -somewhat massive wooden box, fitted with a lock of good quality and -furnished with a wire grille through which one could inspect the -interior. -</p> -<p> -"We are in luck, Jervis," Thorndyke remarked. "Our visit has been most -happily timed. There is a letter in the box." -</p> -<p> -"Well," I said, "we can't get it out; and if we could, it would be -hardly justifiable." -</p> -<p> -"I don't know," he replied, "that I am prepared to assent off-hand to -either of those propositions; but I would rather not tamper with another -person's letter, even if that person should happen to be a murderer. -Perhaps we can get the information we want from the outside of the -envelope." -</p> -<p> -He produced from his pocket a little electric lamp fitted with a -bull's-eye, and, pressing the button, threw a beam of light in through -the grille. The letter was lying on the bottom of the box face upwards, -so that the address could easily be read. -</p> -<p> -"Herrn Dr. H. Weiss," Thorndyke read aloud. "German stamp, postmark -apparently Darmstadt. You notice that the 'Herrn Dr.' is printed and the -rest written. What do you make of that?" -</p> -<p> -"I don't quite know. Do you think he is really a medical man?" -</p> -<p> -"Perhaps we had better finish our investigation, in case we are -disturbed, and discuss the bearings of the facts afterwards. The name of -the sender may be on the flap of the envelope. If it is not, I shall -pick the lock and take out the letter. Have you got a probe about you?" -</p> -<p> -"Yes; by force of habit I am still carrying my pocket case." -</p> -<p> -I took the little case from my pocket and extracting from it a jointed -probe of thickish silver wire, screwed the two halves together and -handed the completed instrument to Thorndyke; who passed the slender rod -through the grille and adroitly turned the letter over. -</p> -<p> -"Ha!" he exclaimed with deep satisfaction, as the light fell on the -reverse of the envelope, "we are saved from the necessity of theft—or -rather, unauthorized borrowing—'Johann Schnitzler, Darmstadt.' That is -all that we actually want. The German police can do the rest if -necessary." -</p> -<p> -He handed me back my probe, pocketed his lamp, released the catch of the -lock on the door, and turned away along the dark, musty-smelling hall. -</p> -<p> -"Do you happen to know the name of Johann Schnitzler?" he asked. -</p> -<p> -I replied that I had no recollection of ever having heard the name -before. -</p> -<p> -"Neither have I," said he; "but I think we may form a pretty shrewd -guess as to his avocation. As you saw, the words 'Herrn Dr.' were -printed on the envelope, leaving the rest of the address to be written -by hand. The plain inference is that he is a person who habitually -addresses letters to medical men, and as the style of the envelope and -the lettering—which is printed, not embossed—is commercial, we may -assume that he is engaged in some sort of trade. Now, what is a likely -trade?" -</p> -<p> -"He might be an instrument maker or a drug manufacturer; more probably -the latter, as there is an extensive drug and chemical industry in -Germany, and as Mr. Weiss seemed to have more use for drugs than -instruments." -</p> -<p> -"Yes, I think you are right; but we will look him up when we get home. -And now we had better take a glance at the bedroom; that is, if you can -remember which room it was." -</p> -<p> -"It was on the first floor," said I, "and the door by which I entered -was just at the head of the stairs." -</p> -<p> -We ascended the two flights, and, as we reached the landing, I halted. -</p> -<p> -"This was the door," I said, and was about to turn the handle when -Thorndyke caught me by the arm. -</p> -<p> -"One moment, Jervis," said he. "What do you make of this?" -</p> -<p> -He pointed to a spot near the bottom of the door where, on close -inspection, four good-sized screw-holes were distinguishable. They had -been neatly stopped with putty and covered with knotting, and were so -nearly the colour of the grained and varnished woodwork as to be hardly -visible. -</p> -<p> -"Evidently," I answered, "there has been a bolt there, though it seems a -queer place to fix one." -</p> -<p> -"Not at all," replied Thorndyke. "If you look up you will see that there -was another at the top of the door, and, as the lock is in the middle, -they must have been highly effective. But there are one or two other -points that strike one. First, you will notice that the bolts have been -fixed on quite recently, for the paint that they covered is of the same -grimy tint as that on the rest of the door. Next, they have been taken -off, which, seeing that they could hardly have been worth the trouble of -removal, seems to suggest that the person who fixed them considered that -their presence might appear remarkable, while the screw-holes, which -have been so skilfully and carefully stopped, would be less conspicuous. -</p> -<p> -"Then, they are on the outside of the door—an unusual situation for -bedroom bolts—and were of considerable size. They were long and thick." -</p> -<p> -"I can see, by the position of the screw-holes, that they were long; but -how do you arrive at their thickness?" -</p> -<p> -"By the size of the counter-holes in the jamb of the door. These holes -have been very carefully filled with wooden plugs covered with knotting; -but you can make out their diameter, which is that of the bolts, and -which is decidedly out of proportion for an ordinary bedroom door. Let -me show you a light." -</p> -<p> -He flashed his lamp into the dark corner, and I was able to see -distinctly the portentously large holes into which the bolts had fitted, -and also to note the remarkable neatness with which they had been -plugged. -</p> -<p> -"There was a second door, I remember," said I. "Let us see if that was -guarded in a similar manner." -</p> -<p> -We strode through the empty room, awakening dismal echoes as we trod the -bare boards, and flung open the other door. At top and bottom, similar -groups of screw-holes showed that this also had been made secure, and -that these bolts had been of the same very substantial character as the -others. -</p> -<p> -Thorndyke turned away from the door with a slight frown. -</p> -<p> -"If we had any doubts," said he, "as to what has been going on in this -house, these traces of massive fastenings would be almost enough to -settle them." -</p> -<p> -"They might have been there before Weiss came," I suggested. "He only -came about seven months ago and there is no date on the screw-holes." -</p> -<p> -"That is quite true. But when, with their recent fixture, you couple the -facts that they have been removed, that very careful measures have been -taken to obliterate the traces of their presence, and that they would -have been indispensable for the commission of the crime that we are -almost certain was being committed here, it looks like an excess of -caution to seek other explanations." -</p> -<p> -"But," I objected, "if the man, Graves, was really imprisoned, could not -he have smashed the window and called for help?" -</p> -<p> -"The window looks out on the yard, as you see; but I expect it was -secured too." -</p> -<p> -He drew the massive, old-fashioned shutters out of their recess and -closed them. -</p> -<p> -"Yes, here we are." He pointed to four groups of screw-holes at the -corners of the shutters, and, once more producing his lamp, narrowly -examined the insides of the recesses into which the shutters folded. -</p> -<p> -"The nature of the fastening is quite evident," said he. "An iron bar -passed right across at the top and bottom and was secured by a staple -and padlock. You can see the mark the bar made in the recess when the -shutters were folded. When these bars were fixed and padlocked and the -bolts were shot, this room was as secure, for a prisoner unprovided with -tools, as a cell in Newgate." -</p> -<p> -We looked at one another for awhile without speaking; and I fancy that -if Mr. H. Weiss could have seen our faces he might have thought it -desirable to seek some retreat even more remote than Hamburg. -</p> -<p> -"It was a diabolical affair, Jervis," Thorndyke said at length, in an -ominously quiet and even gentle tone. "A sordid, callous, cold-blooded -crime of a type that is to me utterly unforgivable and incapable of -extenuation. Of course, it may have failed. Mr. Graves may even now be -alive. I shall make it my very especial business to ascertain whether he -is or not. And if he is not, I shall take it to myself as a sacred duty -to lay my hand on the man who has compassed his death." -</p> -<p> -I looked at Thorndyke with something akin to awe. In the quiet -unemotional tone of his voice, in his unruffled manner and the stony -calm of his face, there was something much more impressive, more -fateful, than there could have been in the fiercest threats or the most -passionate denunciations. I felt that in those softly spoken words he -had pronounced the doom of the fugitive villain. -</p> -<p> -He turned away from the window and glanced round the empty room. It -seemed that our discovery of the fastenings had exhausted the -information that it had to offer. -</p> -<p> -"It is a thousand pities," I remarked, "that we were unable to look -round before they moved out the furniture. We might have found some clue -to the scoundrel's identity." -</p> -<p> -"Yes," replied Thorndyke; "there isn't much information to be gathered -here, I am afraid. I see they have swept up the small litter from the -floor and poked it under the grate. We will turn that over, as there -seems to be nothing else, and then look at the other rooms." -</p> -<p> -He raked out the little heap of rubbish with his stick and spread it out -on the hearth. It certainly looked unpromising enough, being just such a -rubbish heap as may be swept up in any untidy room during a move. But -Thorndyke went through it systematically, examining each item -attentively, even to the local tradesmen's bills and empty paper bags, -before laying them aside. Another rake of his stick scattered the bulky -masses of crumpled paper and brought into view an object which he picked -up with some eagerness. It was a portion of a pair of spectacles, which -had apparently been trodden on, for the side-bar was twisted and bent -and the glass was shattered into fragments. -</p> -<p> -"This ought to give us a hint," said he. "It will probably have belonged -either to Weiss or Graves, as Mrs. Schallibaum apparently did not wear -glasses. Let us see if we can find the remainder." -</p> -<p> -We both groped carefully with our sticks amongst the rubbish, spreading -it out on the hearth and removing the numerous pieces of crumpled paper. -Our search was rewarded by the discovery of the second eye-piece of the -spectacles, of which the glass was badly cracked but less shattered than -the other. I also picked up two tiny sticks at which Thorndyke looked -with deep interest before laying them on the mantelshelf. -</p> -<p> -"We will consider them presently," said he. "Let us finish with the -spectacles first. You see that the left eye-glass is a concave -cylindrical lens of some sort. We can make out that much from the -fragments that remain, and we can measure the curvature when we get them -home, although that will be easier if we can collect some more fragments -and stick them together. The right eye is plain glass; that is quite -evident. Then these will have belonged to your patient, Jervis. You said -that the tremulous iris was in the right eye, I think?" -</p> -<p> -"Yes," I replied. "These will be his spectacles, without doubt." -</p> -<p> -"They are peculiar frames," he continued. "If they were made in this -country, we might be able to discover the maker. But we must collect as -many fragments of glass as we can." -</p> -<p> -Once more we searched amongst the rubbish and succeeded, eventually, in -recovering some seven or eight small fragments of the broken -spectacle-glasses, which Thorndyke laid on the mantelshelf beside the -little sticks. -</p> -<p> -"By the way, Thorndyke," I said, taking up the latter to examine them -afresh, "what are these things? Can you make anything of them?" -</p> -<p> -He looked at them thoughtfully for a few moments and then replied: -</p> -<p> -"I don't think I will tell you what they are. You should find that out -for yourself, and it will be well worth your while to do so. They are -rather suggestive objects under the circumstances. But notice their -peculiarities carefully. Both are portions of some smooth, stout reed. -There is a long, thin stick—about six inches long—and a thicker piece -only three inches in length. The longer piece has a little scrap of red -paper stuck on at the end; apparently a portion of a label of some kind -with an ornamental border. The other end of the stick has been broken -off. The shorter, stouter stick has had its central cavity artificially -enlarged so that it fits over the other to form a cap or sheath. Make a -careful note of those facts and try to think what they probably mean; -what would be the most likely use for an object of this kind. When you -have ascertained that, you will have learned something new about this -case. And now, to resume our investigations. Here is a very suggestive -thing." He picked up a small, wide-mouthed bottle and, holding it up for -my inspection, continued: "Observe the fly sticking to the inside, and -the name on the label, 'Fox, Russell Street, Covent Garden.'" -</p> -<p> -"I don't know Mr. Fox." -</p> -<p> -"Then I will inform you that he is a dealer in the materials for -'make-up,' theatrical or otherwise, and will leave you to consider the -bearing of this bottle on our present investigation. There doesn't seem -to be anything else of interest in this El Dorado excepting that screw, -which you notice is about the size of those with which the bolts were -fastened on the doors. I don't think it is worth while to unstop any of -the holes to try it; we should learn nothing fresh." -</p> -<p> -He rose, and, having kicked the discarded rubbish back under the grate, -gathered up his gleanings from the mantelpiece, carefully bestowing the -spectacles and the fragments of glass in the tin box that he appeared -always to carry in his pocket, and wrapping the larger objects in his -handkerchief. -</p> -<p> -"A poor collection," was his comment, as he returned the box and -handkerchief to his pocket, "and yet not so poor as I had feared. -Perhaps, if we question them closely enough, these unconsidered trifles -may be made to tell us something worth learning after all. Shall we go -into the other room?" -</p> -<p> -We passed out on to the landing and into the front room, where, guided -by experience, we made straight for the fire-place. But the little heap -of rubbish there contained nothing that even Thorndyke's inquisitive eye -could view with interest. We wandered disconsolately round the room, -peering into the empty cupboards and scanning the floor and the corners -by the skirting, without discovering a single object or relic of the -late occupants. In the course of my perambulations I halted by the -window and was looking down into the street when Thorndyke called to me -sharply: -</p> -<p> -"Come away from the window, Jervis! Have you forgotten that Mrs. -Schallibaum may be in the neighbourhood at this moment?" -</p> -<p> -As a matter of fact I had entirely forgotten the matter, nor did it now -strike me as anything but the remotest of possibilities. I replied to -that effect. -</p> -<p> -"I don't agree with you," Thorndyke rejoined. "We have heard that she -comes here to look for letters. Probably she comes every day, or even -oftener. There is a good deal at stake, remember, and they cannot feel -quite as secure as they would wish. Weiss must have seen what view you -took of the case and must have had some uneasy moments thinking of what -you might do. In fact, we may take it that the fear of you drove them -out of the neighbourhood, and that they are mighty anxious to get that -letter and cut the last link that binds them to this house." -</p> -<p> -"I suppose that is so," I agreed; "and if the lady should happen to pass -this way and should see me at the window and recognize me, she would -certainly smell a rat." -</p> -<p> -"A rat!" exclaimed Thorndyke. "She would smell a whole pack of foxes, -and Mr. H. Weiss would be more on his guard than ever. Let us have a -look at the other rooms; there is nothing here." -</p> -<p> -We went up to the next floor and found traces of recent occupation in -one room only. The garrets had evidently been unused, and the kitchen -and ground-floor rooms offered nothing that appeared to Thorndyke worth -noting. Then we went out by the side door and down the covered way into -the yard at the back. The workshops were fastened with rusty padlocks -that looked as if they had not been disturbed for months. The stables -were empty and had been tentatively cleaned out, the coach-house was -vacant, and presented no traces of recent use excepting a half-bald -spoke-brush. We returned up the covered way and I was about to close the -side door, which Thorndyke had left ajar, when he stopped me. -</p> -<p> -"We'll have another look at the hall before we go," said he; and, -walking softly before me, he made his way to the front door, where, -producing his lamp, he threw a beam of light into the letter-box. -</p> -<p> -"Any more letters?" I asked. -</p> -<p> -"Any more!" he repeated. "Look for yourself." -</p> -<p> -I stooped and peered through the grille into the lighted interior; and -then I uttered an exclamation. -</p> -<p> -The box was empty. -</p> -<p> -Thorndyke regarded me with a grim smile. "We have been caught on the -hop, Jervis, I suspect," said he. -</p> -<p> -"It is queer," I replied. "I didn't hear any sound of the opening or -closing of the door; did you?" -</p> -<p> -"No; I didn't hear any sound; which makes me suspect that she did. She -would have heard our voices and she is probably keeping a sharp look-out -at this very moment. I wonder if she saw you at the window. But whether -she did or not, we must go very warily. Neither of us must return to the -Temple direct, and we had better separate when we have returned the keys -and I will watch you out of sight and see if anyone is following you. -What are you going to do?" -</p> -<p> -"If you don't want me, I shall run over to Kensington and drop in to -lunch at the Hornbys'. I said I would call as soon as I had an hour or -so free." -</p> -<p> -"Very well. Do so; and keep a look-out in case you are followed. I have -to go down to Guildford this afternoon. Under the circumstances, I shall -not go back home, but send Polton a telegram and take a train at -Vauxhall and change at some small station where I can watch the -platform. Be as careful as you can. Remember that what you have to -avoid is being followed to any place where you are known, and, above -all, revealing your connection with number Five A, King's Bench Walk." -</p> -<p> -Having thus considered our immediate movements, we emerged together from -the wicket, and locking it behind us, walked quickly to the -house-agents', where an opportune office-boy received the keys without -remark. As we came out of the office, I halted irresolutely and we both -looked up and down the lane. -</p> -<p> -"There is no suspicious looking person in sight at present," Thorndyke -said, and then asked: "Which way do you think of going?" -</p> -<p> -"It seems to me," I replied, "that my best plan would be to take a cab -or an omnibus so as to get out of the neighbourhood as quickly as -possible. If I go through Ravensden Street into Kennington Park Road, I -can pick up an omnibus that will take me to the Mansion House, where I -can change for Kensington. I shall go on the top so that I can keep a -look-out for any other omnibus or cab that may be following." -</p> -<p> -"Yes," said Thorndyke, "that seems a good plan. I will walk with you and -see that you get a fair start." -</p> -<p> -We walked briskly along the lane and through Ravensden Street to the -Kennington Park Road. An omnibus was approaching from the south at a -steady jog-trot and we halted at the corner to wait for it. Several -people passed us in different directions, but none seemed to take any -particular notice of us, though we observed them rather narrowly, -especially the women. Then the omnibus crawled up. I sprang on the -foot-board and ascended to the roof, where I seated myself and surveyed -the prospect to the rear. No one else got on the omnibus—which had not -stopped—and no cab or other passenger vehicle was in sight. I continued -to watch Thorndyke as he stood sentinel at the corner, and noted that no -one appeared to be making any effort to overtake the omnibus. Presently -my colleague waved his hand to me and turned back towards Vauxhall, and -I, having satisfied myself once more that no pursuing cab or hurrying -foot-passenger was in sight, decided that our precautions had been -unnecessary and settled myself in a rather more comfortable position. -</p> - -<p> </p> -<p> </p> -<a name="CH10"><!-- CH10 --></a> -<h2> - Chapter X -</h2> - -<h3> -The Hunter Hunted -</h3> -<p> </p> -<p> -The omnibus of those days was a leisurely vehicle. Its ordinary pace was -a rather sluggish trot, and in a thickly populated thoroughfare its -speed was further reduced by frequent stoppages. Bearing these facts in -mind, I gave an occasional backward glance as we jogged northward, -though my attention soon began to wander from the rather remote -possibility of pursuit to the incidents of our late exploration. -</p> -<p> -It had not been difficult to see that Thorndyke was very well pleased -with the results of our search, but excepting the letter—which -undoubtedly opened up a channel for further inquiry and possible -identification—I could not perceive that any of the traces that we had -found justified his satisfaction. There were the spectacles, for -instance. They were almost certainly the pair worn by Mr. Graves. But -what then? It was exceedingly improbable that we should be able to -discover the maker of them, and if we were, it was still more improbable -that he would be able to give us any information that would help us. -Spectacle-makers are not usually on confidential terms with their -customers. -</p> -<p> -As to the other objects, I could make nothing of them. The little sticks -of reed evidently had some use that was known to Thorndyke and -furnished, by inference, some kind of information about Weiss, Graves, -or Mrs. Schallibaum. But I had never seen anything like them before and -they conveyed nothing whatever to me. Then the bottle that had seemed so -significant to Thorndyke was to me quite uninforming. It did, indeed, -suggest that some member of the household might be connected with the -stage, but it gave no hint as to which one. Certainly that person was -not Mr. Weiss, whose appearance was as remote from that of an actor as -could well be imagined. At any rate, the bottle and its label gave me no -more useful hint than it might be worth while to call on Mr. Fox and -make inquiries; and something told me very emphatically that this was -not what it had conveyed to Thorndyke. -</p> -<p> -These reflections occupied me until the omnibus, having rumbled over -London Bridge and up King William Street, joined the converging streams -of traffic at the Mansion House. Here I got down and changed to an -omnibus bound for Kensington; on which I travelled westward pleasantly -enough, looking down into the teeming streets and whiling away the time -by meditating upon the very agreeable afternoon that I promised myself, -and considering how far my new arrangement with Thorndyke would justify -me in entering into certain domestic engagements of a highly interesting -kind. -</p> -<p> -What might have happened under other circumstances it is impossible to -tell and useless to speculate; the fact is that my journey ended in a -disappointment. I arrived, all agog, at the familiar house in Endsley -Gardens only to be told by a sympathetic housemaid that the family was -out; that Mrs. Hornby had gone into the country and would not be home -until night, and—which mattered a good deal more to me—that her niece, -Miss Juliet Gibson, had accompanied her. -</p> -<p> -Now a man who drops into lunch without announcing his intention or -previously ascertaining those of his friends has no right to quarrel -with fate if he finds an empty house. Thus philosophically I reflected -as I turned away from the house in profound discontent, demanding of the -universe in general why Mrs. Hornby need have perversely chosen my first -free day to go gadding into the country, and above all, why she must -needs spirit away the fair Juliet. This was the crowning misfortune (for -I could have endured the absence of the elder lady with commendable -fortitude), and since I could not immediately return to the Temple it -left me a mere waif and stray for the time being. -</p> -<p> -Instinct—of the kind that manifests itself especially about one -o'clock in the afternoon—impelled me in the direction of Brompton Road, -and finally landed me at a table in a large restaurant apparently -adjusted to the needs of ladies who had come from a distance to engage -in the feminine sport of shopping. Here, while waiting for my lunch, I -sat idly scanning the morning paper and wondering what I should do with -the rest of the day; and presently it chanced that my eye caught the -announcement of a matinée at the theatre in Sloane Square. It was quite -a long time since I had been at a theatre, and, as the play—light -comedy—seemed likely to satisfy my not very critical taste, I decided -to devote the afternoon to reviving my acquaintance with the drama. -Accordingly as soon as my lunch was finished, I walked down the Brompton -Road, stepped on to an omnibus, and was duly deposited at the door of -the theatre. A couple of minutes later I found myself occupying an -excellent seat in the second row of the pit, oblivious alike of my -recent disappointment and of Thorndyke's words of warning. -</p> -<p> -I am not an enthusiastic play-goer. To dramatic performances I am -disposed to assign nothing further than the modest function of -furnishing entertainment. I do not go to a theatre to be instructed or -to have my moral outlook elevated. But, by way of compensation, I am not -difficult to please. To a simple play, adjusted to my primitive taste, I -can bring a certain bucolic appreciation that enables me to extract from -the performance the maximum of enjoyment; and when, on this occasion, -the final curtain fell and the audience rose, I rescued my hat from its -insecure resting-place and turned to go with the feeling that I had -spent a highly agreeable afternoon. -</p> -<p> -Emerging from the theatre, borne on the outgoing stream, I presently -found myself opposite the door of a tea-shop. Instinct—the five o'clock -instinct this time—guided me in; for we are creatures of habit, -especially of the tea habit. The unoccupied table to which I drifted was -in a shady corner not very far from the pay-desk; and here I had been -seated less than a minute when a lady passed me on her way to the -farther table. The glimpse that I caught of her as she approached—it -was but a glimpse, since she passed behind me—showed that she was -dressed in black, that she wore a beaded veil and hat, and in addition -to the glass of milk and the bun that she carried, she was encumbered by -an umbrella and a small basket, apparently containing some kind of -needlework. I must confess that I gave her very little attention at the -time, being occupied in anxious speculation as to how long it would be -before the fact of my presence would impinge on the consciousness of the -waitress. -</p> -<p> -The exact time by the clock on the wall was three minutes and a quarter, -at the expiration of which an anaemic young woman sauntered up to the -table and bestowed on me a glance of sullen interrogation, as if mutely -demanding what the devil I wanted. I humbly requested that I might be -provided with a pot of tea; whereupon she turned on her heel (which was -a good deal worn down on the offside) and reported my conduct to a lady -behind a marble-topped counter. -</p> -<p> -It seemed that the counter lady took a lenient view of the case, for in -less than four minutes the waitress returned and gloomily deposited on -the table before me a tea-pot, a milk-jug, a cup and saucer, a jug of -hot water, and a small pool of milk. Then she once more departed in -dudgeon. -</p> -<p> -I had just given the tea in the pot a preliminary stir and was about to -pour out the first cup when I felt some one bump lightly against my -chair and heard something rattle on the floor. I turned quickly and -perceived the lady, whom I had seen enter, stooping just behind my -chair. It seemed that having finished her frugal meal she was on her way -out when she had dropped the little basket that I had noticed hanging -from her wrist; which basket had promptly disgorged its entire contents -on the floor. -</p> -<p> -Now every one must have noticed the demon of agility that seems to enter -into an inanimate object when it is dropped, and the apparently -intelligent malice with which it discovers, and rolls into, the most -inaccessible places. Here was a case in point. This particular basket -had contained materials for Oriental bead-work; and no sooner had it -reached the floor than each item of its contents appeared to become -possessed of a separate and particular devil impelling it to travel at -headlong speed to some remote and unapproachable corner as distant as -possible from its fellows. -</p> -<p> -As the only man—and almost the only person—near, the duty of -salvage-agent manifestly devolved upon me; and down I went, accordingly, -on my hands and knees, regardless of a nearly new pair of trousers, to -grope under tables, chairs and settles in reach of the scattered -treasure. A ball of the thick thread or twine I recovered from a dark -and dirty corner after a brief interview with the sharp corner of a -settle, and a multitude of the large beads with which this infernal -industry is carried on I gathered from all parts of the compass, coming -forth at length (quadrupedally) with a double handful of the -treasure-trove and a very lively appreciation of the resistant qualities -of a cast-iron table-stand when applied to the human cranium. -</p> -<p> -The owner of the lost and found property was greatly distressed by the -accident and the trouble it had caused me; in fact she was quite -needlessly agitated about it. The hand which held the basket into which -I poured the rescued trash trembled visibly, and the brief glance that I -bestowed on her as she murmured her thanks and apologies—with a very -slight foreign accent—showed me that she was excessively pale. That -much I could see plainly in spite of the rather dim light in this part -of the shop and the beaded veil that covered her face; and I could also -see that she was a rather remarkable looking woman, with a great mass of -harsh, black hair and very broad black eyebrows that nearly met above -her nose and contrasted strikingly with the dead white of her skin. But, -of course, I did not look at her intently. Having returned her property -and received her acknowledgments, I resumed my seat and left her to go -on her way. -</p> -<p> -I had once more grasped the handle of the tea-pot when I made a rather -curious discovery. At the bottom of the tea-cup lay a single lump of -sugar. To the majority of persons it would have meant nothing. They -would have assumed that they had dropped it in and forgotten it and -would have proceeded to pour out the tea. But it happened that, at this -time, I did not take sugar in my tea; whence it followed that the lump -had not been put in by me. Assuming, therefore, that it had been -carelessly dropped in by the waitress, I turned it out on the table, -filled the cup, added the milk, and took a tentative draught to test the -temperature. -</p> -<p> -The cup was yet at my lips when I chanced to look into the mirror that -faced my table. Of course it reflected the part of the shop that was -behind me, including the cashier's desk; at which the owner of the -basket now stood paying for her refreshment. Between her and me was a -gas chandelier which cast its light on my back but full on her face; and -her veil notwithstanding, I could see that she was looking at me -steadily; was, in fact, watching me intently and with a very curious -expression—an expression of expectancy mingled with alarm. But this was -not all. As I returned her intent look—which I could do unobserved, -since my face, reflected in the mirror, was in deep shadow—I suddenly -perceived that that steady gaze engaged her right eye only; the other -eye was looking sharply towards her left shoulder. In short, she had a -divergent squint of the left eye. -</p> -<p> -I put down my cup with a thrill of amazement and a sudden surging up of -suspicion and alarm. An instant's reflection reminded me that when she -had spoken to me a few moments before, both her eyes had looked into -mine without the slightest trace of a squint. My thoughts flew back to -the lump of sugar, to the unguarded milk-jug and the draught of tea that -I had already swallowed; and, hardly knowing what I intended, I started -to my feet and turned to confront her. But as I rose, she snatched up -her change and darted from the shop. Through the glass door, I saw her -spring on to the foot-board of a passing hansom and give the driver some -direction. I saw the man whip up his horse, and, by the time I reached -the door, the cab was moving off swiftly towards Sloane Street. -</p> -<p> -I stood irresolute. I had not paid and could not run out of the shop -without making a fuss, and my hat and stick were still on the rail -opposite my seat. The woman ought to be followed, but I had no fancy for -the task. If the tea that I had swallowed was innocuous, no harm was -done and I was rid of my pursuer. So far as I was concerned, the -incident was closed. I went back to my seat, and picking up the lump of -sugar which still lay on the table where I had dropped it, put it -carefully in my pocket. But my appetite for tea was satisfied for the -present. Moreover it was hardly advisable to stay in the shop lest some -fresh spy should come to see how I fared. Accordingly I obtained my -check, handed it in at the cashier's desk and took my departure. -</p> -<p> -All this time, it will be observed, I had been taking it for granted -that the lady in black had followed me from Kensington to this shop; -that, in fact, she was none other than Mrs. Schallibaum. And, indeed, -the circumstances had rendered the conclusion inevitable. In the very -instant when I had perceived the displacement of the left eye, complete -recognition had come upon me. When I had stood facing the woman, the -brief glance at her face had conveyed to me something dimly reminiscent -of which I had been but half conscious and had instantly forgotten. But -the sight of that characteristic squint had at once revived and -explained it. That the woman was Mrs. Schallibaum I now felt no doubt -whatever. -</p> -<p> -Nevertheless, the whole affair was profoundly mysterious. As to the -change in the woman's appearance, there was little in that. The coarse, -black hair might be her own, dyed, or it might be a wig. The eyebrows -were made-up; it was a simple enough proceeding and made still more -simple by the beaded veil. But how did she come to be there at all? How -did she happen to be made-up in this fashion at this particular time? -And, above all, how came she to be provided with a lump of what I had -little doubt was poisoned sugar? -</p> -<p> -I turned over the events of the day, and the more I considered them the -less comprehensible they appeared. No one had followed the omnibus -either on foot or in a vehicle, as far as I could see; and I had kept a -careful look-out, not only at starting but for some considerable time -after. Yet, all the time, Mrs. Schallibaum must have been following. -But how? If she had known that I was intending to travel by the omnibus -she might have gone to meet it and entered before I did. But she could -not have known: and moreover she did not meet the omnibus, for we -watched its approach from some considerable distance. I considered -whether she might not have been concealed in the house and overheard me -mention my destination to Thorndyke. But this failed to explain the -mystery, since I had mentioned no address beyond "Kensington." I had, -indeed, mentioned the name of Mrs. Hornby, but the supposition that my -friends might be known by name to Mrs. Schallibaum, or even that she -might have looked the name up in the directory, presented a probability -too remote to be worth entertaining. -</p> -<p> -But, if I reached no satisfactory conclusion, my cogitations had one -useful effect; they occupied my mind to the exclusion of that -unfortunate draught of tea. Not that I had been seriously uneasy after -the first shock. The quantity that I had swallowed was not large—the -tea being hotter than I cared for—and I remembered that, when I had -thrown out the lump of sugar, I had turned the cup upside down on the -table; so there could have been nothing solid left in it. And the lump -of sugar was in itself reassuring, for it certainly would not have been -used in conjunction with any less conspicuous but more incriminating -form of poison. That lump of sugar was now in my pocket, reserved for -careful examination at my leisure; and I reflected with a faint grin -that it would be a little disconcerting if it should turn out to -contain nothing but sugar after all. -</p> -<p> -On leaving the tea-shop, I walked up Sloane Street with the intention of -doing what I ought to have done earlier in the day. I was going to make -perfectly sure that no spy was dogging my footsteps. But for my -ridiculous confidence I could have done so quite easily before going to -Endsley Gardens; and now, made wiser by a startling experience, I -proceeded with systematic care. It was still broad daylight—for the -lamps in the tea-shop had been rendered necessary only by the faulty -construction of the premises and the dullness of the afternoon—and in -an open space I could see far enough for complete safety. Arriving at -the top of Sloane Street, I crossed Knightsbridge, and, entering Hyde -Park, struck out towards the Serpentine. Passing along the eastern -shore, I entered one of the long paths that lead towards the Marble Arch -and strode along it at such a pace as would make it necessary for any -pursuer to hurry in order to keep me in sight. Half-way across the great -stretch of turf, I halted for a few moments and noted the few people who -were coming in my direction. Then I turned sharply to the left and -headed straight for the Victoria Gate, but again, half-way, I turned off -among a clump of trees, and, standing behind the trunk of one of them, -took a fresh survey of the people who were moving along the paths. All -were at a considerable distance and none appeared to be coming my way. -</p> -<p> -I now moved cautiously from one tree to another and passed through the -wooded region to the south, crossed the Serpentine bridge at a rapid -walk and hurrying along the south shore left the Park by Apsley House. -From hence I walked at the same rapid pace along Piccadilly, insinuating -myself among the crowd with the skill born of long acquaintance with the -London streets, crossed amidst the seething traffic at the Circus, -darted up Windmill Street and began to zigzag amongst the narrow streets -and courts of Soho. Crossing the Seven Dials and Drury Lane I passed -through the multitudinous back-streets and alleys that then filled the -area south of Lincoln's Inn, came out by Newcastle Street, Holywell -Street and Half-Moon Alley into the Strand, which I crossed immediately, -ultimately entering the Temple by Devereux Court. -</p> -<p> -Even then I did not relax my precautions. From one court to another I -passed quickly, loitering in those dark entries and unexpected passages -that are known to so few but the regular Templars, and coming out into -the open only at the last where the wide passage of King's Bench Walk -admits of no evasion. Half-way up the stairs, I stood for some time in -the shadow, watching the approaches from the staircase window; and when, -at length, I felt satisfied that I had taken every precaution that was -possible, I inserted my key and let myself into our chambers. -</p> -<p> -Thorndyke had already arrived, and, as I entered, he rose to greet me -with an expression of evident relief. -</p> -<p> -"I am glad to see you, Jervis," he said. "I have been rather anxious -about you." -</p> -<p> -"Why?" I asked. -</p> -<p> -"For several reasons. One is that you are the sole danger that threatens -these people—as far as they know. Another is that we made a most -ridiculous mistake. We overlooked a fact that ought to have struck us -instantly. But how have you fared?" -</p> -<p> -"Better than I deserved. That good lady stuck to me like a burr—at -least I believe she did." -</p> -<p> -"I have no doubt she did. We have been caught napping finely, Jervis." -</p> -<p> -"How?" -</p> -<p> -"We'll go into that presently. Let us hear about your adventures first." -</p> -<p> -I gave him a full account of my movements from the time when we parted -to that of my arrival home, omitting no incident that I was able to -remember and, as far as I could, reconstituting my exceedingly devious -homeward route. -</p> -<p> -"Your retreat was masterly," he remarked with a broad smile. "I should -think that it would have utterly defeated any pursuer; and the only pity -is that it was probably wasted on the desert air. Your pursuer had by -that time become a fugitive. But you were wise to take these -precautions, for, of course, Weiss might have followed you." -</p> -<p> -"But I thought he was in Hamburg?" -</p> -<p> -"Did you? You are a very confiding young gentleman, for a budding -medical jurist. Of course we don't know that he is not; but the fact -that he has given Hamburg as his present whereabouts establishes a -strong presumption that he is somewhere else. I only hope that he has -not located you, and, from what you tell me of your later methods, I -fancy that you would have shaken him off even if he had started to -follow you from the tea-shop." -</p> -<p> -"I hope so too. But how did that woman manage to stick to me in that -way? What was the mistake we made?" -</p> -<p> -Thorndyke laughed grimly. "It was a perfectly asinine mistake, Jervis. -You started up Kennington Park Road on a leisurely, jog-trotting -omnibus, and neither you nor I remembered what there is underneath -Kennington Park Road." -</p> -<p> -"Underneath!" I exclaimed, completely puzzled for the moment. Then, -suddenly realizing what he meant, "Of course!" I exclaimed. "Idiot that -I am! You mean the electric railway?" -</p> -<p> -"Yes. That explains everything. Mrs. Schallibaum must have watched us -from some shop and quietly followed us up the lane. There were a good -many women about and several were walking in our direction. There was -nothing to distinguish her from the others unless you had recognized -her, which you would hardly have been able to do if she had worn a veil -and kept at a fair distance. At least I think not." -</p> -<p> -"No," I agreed, "I certainly should not. I had only seen her in a -half-dark room. In outdoor clothes and with a veil, I should never have -been able to identify her without very close inspection. Besides there -was the disguise or make-up." -</p> -<p> -"Not at that time. She would hardly come disguised to her own house, -for it might have led to her being challenged and asked who she was. I -think we may take it that there was no actual disguise, although she -would probably wear a shady hat and a veil; which would have prevented -either of us from picking her out from the other women in the street." -</p> -<p> -"And what do you think happened next?" -</p> -<p> -"I think that she simply walked past us—probably on the other side of -the road—as we stood waiting for the omnibus, and turned up Kennington -Park Road. She probably guessed that we were waiting for the omnibus and -walked up the road in the direction in which it was going. Presently the -omnibus would pass her, and there were you in full view on top keeping a -vigilant look-out in the wrong direction. Then she would quicken her -pace a little and in a minute or two would arrive at the Kennington -Station of the South London Railway. In a minute or two more she would -be in one of the electric trains whirling along under the street on -which your omnibus was crawling. She would get out at the Borough -Station, or she might take a more risky chance and go on to the -Monument; but in any case she would wait for your omnibus, hail it and -get inside. I suppose you took up some passengers on the way?" -</p> -<p> -"Oh dear, yes. We were stopping every two or three minutes to take up or -set down passengers; and most of them were women." -</p> -<p> -"Very well; then we may take it that when you arrived at the Mansion -House, Mrs. Schallibaum was one of your inside passengers. It was a -rather quaint situation, I think." -</p> -<p> -"Yes, confound her! What a couple of noodles she must have thought us!" -</p> -<p> -"No doubt. And that is the one consoling feature in the case. She will -have taken us for a pair of absolute greenhorns. But to continue. Of -course she travelled in your omnibus to Kensington—you ought to have -gone inside on both occasions, so that you could see every one who -entered and examine the inside passengers; she will have followed you to -Endsley Gardens and probably noted the house you went to. Thence she -will have followed you to the restaurant and may even have lunched -there." -</p> -<p> -"It is quite possible," said I. "There were two rooms and they were -filled principally with women." -</p> -<p> -"Then she will have followed you to Sloane Street, and, as you persisted -in riding outside, she could easily take an inside place in your -omnibus. As to the theatre, she must have taken it as a veritable gift -of the gods; an arrangement made by you for her special convenience." -</p> -<p> -"Why?" -</p> -<p> -"My dear fellow! consider. She had only to follow you in and see you -safely into your seat and there you were, left till called for. She -could then go home, make up for her part; draw out a plan of action, -with the help, perhaps, of Mr. Weiss, provide herself with the necessary -means and appliances and, at the appointed time, call and collect you." -</p> -<p> -"That is assuming a good deal," I objected. "It is assuming, for -instance, that she lives within a moderate distance of Sloane Square. -Otherwise it would have been impossible." -</p> -<p> -"Exactly. That is why I assume it. You don't suppose that she goes about -habitually with lumps of prepared sugar in her pocket. And if not, then -she must have got that lump from somewhere. Then the beads suggest a -carefully prepared plan, and, as I said just now, she can hardly have -been made-up when she met us in Kennington Lane. From all of which it -seems likely that her present abode is not very far from Sloane Square." -</p> -<p> -"At any rate," said I, "it was taking a considerable risk. I might have -left the theatre before she came back." -</p> -<p> -"Yes," Thorndyke agreed. "But it is like a woman to take chances. A man -would probably have stuck to you when once he had got you off your -guard. But she was ready to take chances. She chanced the railway, and -it came off; she chanced your remaining in the theatre, and that came -off too. She calculated on the probability of your getting tea when you -came out, and she hit it off again. And then she took one chance too -many; she assumed that you probably took sugar in your tea, and she was -wrong." -</p> -<p> -"We are taking it for granted that the sugar was prepared," I remarked. -</p> -<p> -"Yes. Our explanation is entirely hypothetical and may be entirely -wrong. But it all hangs together, and if we find any poisonous matter in -the sugar, it will be reasonable to assume that we are right. The sugar -is the Experimentum Crucis. If you will hand it over to me, we will go -up to the laboratory and make a preliminary test or two." -</p> -<p> -I took the lump of sugar from my pocket and gave it to him, and he -carried it to the gas-burner, by the light of which he examined it with -a lens. -</p> -<p> -"I don't see any foreign crystals on the surface," said he; "but we had -better make a solution and go to work systematically. If it contains any -poison we may assume that it will be some alkaloid, though I will test -for arsenic too. But a man of Weiss's type would almost certainly use an -alkaloid, on account of its smaller bulk and more ready solubility. You -ought not to have carried this loose in your pocket. For legal purposes -that would seriously interfere with its value as evidence. Bodies that -are suspected of containing poison should be carefully isolated and -preserved from contact with anything that might lead to doubt in the -analysis. It doesn't matter much to us, as this analysis is only for our -own information and we can satisfy ourselves as to the state of your -pocket. But bear the rule in mind another time." -</p> -<p> -We now ascended to the laboratory, where Thorndyke proceeded at once to -dissolve the lump of sugar in a measured quantity of distilled water by -the aid of gentle heat. -</p> -<p> -"Before we add any acid," said he, "or introduce any fresh matter, we -will adopt the simple preliminary measure of tasting the solution. The -sugar is a disturbing factor, but some of the alkaloids and most -mineral poisons excepting arsenic have a very characteristic taste." -</p> -<p> -He dipped a glass rod in the warm solution and applied it gingerly to -his tongue. -</p> -<p> -"Ha!" he exclaimed, as he carefully wiped his mouth with his -handkerchief, "simple methods are often very valuable. There isn't much -doubt as to what is in that sugar. Let me recommend my learned brother -to try the flavour. But be careful. A little of this will go a long -way." -</p> -<p> -He took a fresh rod from the rack, and, dipping it in the solution, -handed it to me. I cautiously applied it to the tip of my tongue and was -immediately aware of a peculiar tingling sensation accompanied by a -feeling of numbness. -</p> -<p> -"Well," said Thorndyke; "what is it?" -</p> -<p> -"Aconite," I replied without hesitation. -</p> -<p> -"Yes," he agreed; "aconite it is, or more probably aconitine. And that, -I think, gives us all the information we want. We need not trouble now -to make a complete analysis, though I shall have a quantitative -examination made later. You note the intensity of the taste and you see -what the strength of the solution is. Evidently that lump of sugar -contained a very large dose of the poison. If the sugar had been -dissolved in your tea, the quantity that you drank would have contained -enough aconitine to lay you out within a few minutes; which would -account for Mrs. Schallibaum's anxiety to get clear of the premises. She -saw you drink from the cup, but I imagine she had not seen you turn the -sugar out." -</p> -<p> -"No, I should say not, to judge by her expression. She looked -terrified. She is not as hardened as her rascally companion." -</p> -<p> -"Which is fortunate for you, Jervis. If she had not been in such a -fluster, she would have waited until you had poured out your tea, which -was what she probably meant to do, or have dropped the sugar into the -milk-jug. In either case you would have got a poisonous dose before you -noticed anything amiss." -</p> -<p> -"They are a pretty pair, Thorndyke," I exclaimed. "A human life seems to -be no more to them than the life of a fly or a beetle." -</p> -<p> -"No; that is so. They are typical poisoners of the worst kind; of the -intelligent, cautious, resourceful kind. They are a standing menace to -society. As long as they are at large, human lives are in danger, and it -is our business to see that they do not remain at large a moment longer -than is unavoidable. And that brings us to another point. You had better -keep indoors for the next few days." -</p> -<p> -"Oh, nonsense," I protested. "I can take care of myself." -</p> -<p> -"I won't dispute that," said Thorndyke, "although I might. But the -matter is of vital importance and we can't be too careful. Yours is the -only evidence that could convict these people. They know that and will -stick at nothing to get rid of you—for by this time they will almost -certainly have ascertained that the tea-shop plan has failed. Now your -life is of some value to you and to another person whom I could mention; -but apart from that, you are the indispensable instrument for ridding -society of these dangerous vermin. Moreover, if you were seen abroad and -connected with these chambers, they would get the information that their -case was really being investigated in a businesslike manner. If Weiss -has not already left the country he would do so immediately, and if he -has, Mrs. Schallibaum would join him at once, and we might never be able -to lay hands on them. You must stay indoors, out of sight, and you had -better write to Miss Gibson and ask her to warn the servants to give no -information about you to anyone." -</p> -<p> -"And how long," I asked, "am I to be held on parole?" -</p> -<p> -"Not long, I think. We have a very promising start. If I have any luck, -I shall be able to collect all the evidence I want in about a week. But -there is an element of chance in some of it which prevents me from -giving a date. And it is just possible that I may have started on a -false track. But that I shall be able to tell you better in a day or -two." -</p> -<p> -"And I suppose," I said gloomily, "I shall be out of the hunt -altogether?" -</p> -<p> -"Not at all," he replied. "You have got the Blackmore case to attend to. -I shall hand you over all the documents and get you to make an orderly -digest of the evidence. You will then have all the facts and can work -out the case for yourself. Also I shall ask you to help Polton in some -little operations which are designed to throw light into dark places and -which you will find both entertaining and instructive." -</p> -<p> -"Supposing Mrs. Hornby should propose to call and take tea with us in -the gardens?" I suggested. -</p> -<p> -"And bring Miss Gibson with her?" Thorndyke added dryly. "No, Jervis, it -would never do. You must make that quite clear to her. It is more -probable than not that Mrs. Schallibaum made a careful note of the house -in Endsley Gardens, and as that would be the one place actually known to -her, she and Weiss—if he is in England—would almost certainly keep a -watch on it. If they should succeed in connecting that house with these -chambers, a few inquiries would show them the exact state of the case. -No; we must keep them in the dark if we possibly can. We have shown too -much of our hand already. It is hard on you, but it cannot be helped." -</p> -<p> -"Oh, don't think I am complaining," I exclaimed. "If it is a matter of -business, I am as keen as you are. I thought at first that you were -merely considering the safety of my vile body. When shall I start on my -job?" -</p> -<p> -"To-morrow morning. I shall give you my notes on the Blackmore case and -the copies of the will and the depositions, from which you had better -draw up a digest of the evidence with remarks as to the conclusions that -it suggests. Then there are our gleanings from New Inn to be looked over -and considered; and with regard to this case, we have the fragments of a -pair of spectacles which had better be put together into a rather more -intelligible form in case we have to produce them in evidence. That will -keep you occupied for a day or two, together with some work -appertaining to other cases. And now let us dismiss professional topics. -You have not dined and neither have I, but I dare say Polton has made -arrangements for some sort of meal. We will go down and see." -</p> -<p> -We descended to the lower floor, where Thorndyke's anticipations were -justified by a neatly laid table to which Polton was giving the -finishing touches. -</p> - -<p> </p> -<p> </p> -<a name="CH11"><!-- CH11 --></a> -<h2> - Chapter XI -</h2> - -<h3> -The Blackmore Case Reviewed -</h3> -<p> </p> -<p> -One of the conditions of medical practice is the capability of -transferring one's attention at a moment's notice from one set of -circumstances to another equally important but entirely unrelated. At -each visit on his round, the practitioner finds himself concerned with a -particular, self-contained group of phenomena which he must consider at -the moment with the utmost concentration, but which he must instantly -dismiss from his mind as he moves on to the next case. It is a difficult -habit to acquire; for an important, distressing or obscure case is apt -to take possession of the consciousness and hinder the exercise of -attention that succeeding cases demand; but experience shows the faculty -to be indispensable, and the practitioner learns in time to forget -everything but the patient with whose condition he is occupied at the -moment. -</p> -<p> -My first morning's work on the Blackmore case showed me that the same -faculty is demanded in legal practice; and it also showed me that I had -yet to acquire it. For, as I looked over the depositions and the copy of -the will, memories of the mysterious house in Kennington Lane -continually intruded into my reflections, and the figure of Mrs. -Schallibaum, white-faced, terrified, expectant, haunted me continually. -</p> -<p> -In truth, my interest in the Blackmore case was little more than -academic, whereas in the Kennington case I was one of the parties and -was personally concerned. To me, John Blackmore was but a name, Jeffrey -but a shadowy figure to which I could assign no definite personality, -and Stephen himself but a casual stranger. Mr. Graves, on the other -hand, was a real person. I had seen him amidst the tragic circumstances -that had probably heralded his death, and had brought away with me, not -only a lively recollection of him, but a feeling of profound pity and -concern as to his fate. The villain Weiss, too, and the terrible woman -who aided, abetted and, perhaps, even directed him, lived in my memory -as vivid and dreadful realities. Although I had uttered no hint to -Thorndyke, I lamented inwardly that I had not been given some work—if -there was any to do—connected with this case, in which I was so deeply -interested, rather than with the dry, purely legal and utterly -bewildering case of Jeffrey Blackmore's will. -</p> -<p> -Nevertheless, I stuck loyally to my task. I read through the depositions -and the will—without getting a single glimmer of fresh light on the -case—and I made a careful digest of all the facts. I compared my -digest with Thorndyke's notes—of which I also made a copy—and found -that, brief as they were, they contained several matters that I had -overlooked. I also drew up a brief account of our visit to New Inn, with -a list of the objects that we had observed or collected. And then I -addressed myself to the second part of my task, the statement of my -conclusions from the facts set forth. -</p> -<p> -It was only when I came to make the attempt that I realized how -completely I was at sea. In spite of Thorndyke's recommendation to study -Marchmont's statement as it was summarized in those notes which I had -copied, and of his hint that I should find in that statement something -highly significant, I was borne irresistibly to one conclusion, and one -only—and the wrong one at that, as I suspected: that Jeffrey -Blackmore's will was a perfectly regular, sound and valid document. -</p> -<p> -I tried to attack the validity of the will from various directions, and -failed every time. As to its genuineness, that was obviously not in -question. There seemed to me only two conceivable respects in which any -objection could be raised, viz. the competency of Jeffrey to execute a -will and the possibility of undue influence having been brought to bear -on him. -</p> -<p> -With reference to the first, there was the undoubted fact that Jeffrey -was addicted to the opium habit, and this might, under some -circumstances, interfere with a testator's competency to make a will. -But had any such circumstances existed in this case? Had the drug habit -produced such mental changes in the deceased as would destroy or weaken -his judgment? There was not a particle of evidence in favour of any such -belief. Up to the very end he had managed his own affairs, and, if his -habits of life had undergone a change, they were still the habits of a -perfectly sane and responsible man. -</p> -<p> -The question of undue influence was more difficult. If it applied to any -person in particular, that person could be none other than John -Blackmore. Now it was an undoubted fact that, of all Jeffrey's -acquaintance, his brother John was the only one who knew that he was in -residence at New Inn. Moreover John had visited him there more than -once. It was therefore possible that influence might have been brought -to bear on the deceased. But there was no evidence that it had. The fact -that the deceased man's only brother should be the one person who knew -where he was living was not a remarkable one, and it had been -satisfactorily explained by the necessity of Jeffrey's finding a -reference on applying for the chambers. And against the theory of undue -influence was the fact that the testator had voluntarily brought his -will to the lodge and executed it in the presence of entirely -disinterested witnesses. -</p> -<p> -In the end I had to give up the problem in despair, and, abandoning the -documents, turned my attention to the facts elicited by our visit to New -Inn. -</p> -<p> -What had we learned from our exploration? It was clear that Thorndyke -had picked up some facts that had appeared to him important. But -important in what respect? The only possible issue that could be raised -was the validity or otherwise of Jeffrey Blackmore's will; and since the -validity of that will was supported by positive evidence of the most -incontestable kind, it seemed that nothing that we had observed could -have any real bearing on the case at all. -</p> -<p> -But this, of course, could not be. Thorndyke was no dreamer nor was he -addicted to wild speculation. If the facts observed by us seemed to him -to be relevant to the case, I was prepared to assume that they were -relevant, although I could not see their connection with it. And, on -this assumption, I proceeded to examine them afresh. -</p> -<p> -Now, whatever Thorndyke might have observed on his own account, I had -brought away from the dead man's chambers only a single fact; and a very -extraordinary fact it was. The cuneiform inscription was upside down. -That was the sum of the evidence that I had collected; and the question -was, What did it prove? To Thorndyke it conveyed some deep significance. -What could that significance be? -</p> -<p> -The inverted position was not a mere temporary accident, as it might -have been if the frame had been stood on a shelf or support. It was hung -on the wall, and the plates screwed on the frame showed that its -position was permanent and that it had never hung in any other. That it -could have been hung up by Jeffrey himself was clearly inconceivable. -But allowing that it had been fixed in its present position by some -workman when the new tenant moved in, the fact remained that there it -had hung, presumably for months, and that Jeffrey Blackmore, with his -expert knowledge of the cuneiform character, had never noticed that it -was upside down; or, if he had noticed it, that he had never taken the -trouble to have it altered. -</p> -<p> -What could this mean? If he had noticed the error but had not troubled -to correct it, that would point to a very singular state of mind, an -inertness and indifference remarkable even in an opium-smoker. But -assuming such a state of mind, I could not see that it had any bearing -on the will, excepting that it was rather inconsistent with the tendency -to make fussy and needless alterations which the testator had actually -shown. On the other hand, if he had not noticed the inverted position of -the photograph he must have been nearly blind or quite idiotic; for the -photograph was over two feet long and the characters large enough to be -read easily by a person of ordinary eyesight at a distance of forty or -fifty feet. Now he obviously was not in a state of dementia, whereas his -eyesight was admittedly bad; and it seemed to me that the only -conclusion deducible from the photograph was that it furnished a measure -of the badness of the deceased man's vision—that it proved him to have -been verging on total blindness. -</p> -<p> -But there was nothing startling new in this. He had, himself, declared -that he was fast losing his sight. And again, what was the bearing of -his partial blindness on the will? A totally blind man cannot draw up -his will at all. But if he has eyesight sufficient to enable him to -write out and sign a will, mere defective vision will not lead him to -muddle the provisions. Yet something of this kind seemed to be in -Thorndyke's mind, for now I recalled the question that he had put to the -porter: "When you read the will over in Mr. Blackmore's presence, did -you read it aloud?" That question could have but one significance. It -implied a doubt as to whether the testator was fully aware of the exact -nature of the document that he was signing. Yet, if he was able to write -and sign it, surely he was able also to read it through, to say nothing -of the fact that, unless he was demented, he must have remembered what -he had written. -</p> -<p> -Thus, once more, my reasoning only led me into a blind alley at the end -of which was the will, regular and valid and fulfilling all the -requirements that the law imposed. Once again I had to confess myself -beaten and in full agreement with Mr. Marchmont that "there was no -case"; that "there was nothing in dispute." Nevertheless, I carefully -fixed in the pocket file that Thorndyke had given me the copy that I had -made of his notes, together with the notes on our visit to New Inn, and -the few and unsatisfactory conclusions at which I had arrived; and this -brought me to the end of my first morning in my new capacity. -</p> -<p> -"And how," Thorndyke asked as we sat at lunch, "has my learned friend -progressed? Does he propose that we advise Mr. Marchmont to enter a -caveat?" -</p> -<p> -"I've read all the documents and boiled all the evidence down to a stiff -jelly; and I am in a worse fog than ever." -</p> -<p> -"There seems to be a slight mixture of metaphors in my learned friend's -remarks. But never mind the fog, Jervis. There is a certain virtue in -fog. It serves, like a picture frame, to surround the essential with a -neutral zone that separates it from the irrelevant." -</p> -<p> -"That is a very profound observation, Thorndyke," I remarked ironically. -</p> -<p> -"I was just thinking so myself," he rejoined. -</p> -<p> -"And if you could contrive to explain what it means—" -</p> -<p> -"Oh, but that is unreasonable. When one throws off a subtly philosophic -obiter dictum one looks to the discerning critic to supply the meaning. -By the way, I am going to introduce you to the gentle art of photography -this afternoon. I am getting the loan of all the cheques that were drawn -by Jeffrey Blackmore during his residence at New Inn—there are only -twenty-three of them, all told—and I am going to photograph them." -</p> -<p> -"I shouldn't have thought the bank people would have let them go out of -their possession." -</p> -<p> -"They are not going to. One of the partners, a Mr. Britton, is bringing -them here himself and will be present while the photographs are being -taken; so they will not go out of his custody. But, all the same, it is -a great concession, and I should not have obtained it but for the fact -that I have done a good deal of work for the bank and that Mr. Britton -is more or less a personal friend." -</p> -<p> -"By the way, how comes it that the cheques are at the bank? Why were -they not returned to Jeffrey with the pass-book in the usual way?" -</p> -<p> -"I understand from Britton," replied Thorndyke, "that all Jeffrey's -cheques were retained by the bank at his request. When he was travelling -he used to leave his investment securities and other valuable documents -in his bankers' custody, and, as he has never applied to have them -returned, the bankers still have them and are retaining them until the -will is proved, when they will, of course, hand over everything to the -executors." -</p> -<p> -"What is the object of photographing these cheques?" I asked. -</p> -<p> -"There are several objects. First, since a good photograph is -practically as good as the original, when we have the photographs we -practically have the cheques for reference. Then, since a photograph can -be duplicated indefinitely, it is possible to perform experiments on it -which involve its destruction; which would, of course, be impossible in -the case of original cheques." -</p> -<p> -"But the ultimate object, I mean. What are you going to prove?" -</p> -<p> -"You are incorrigible, Jervis," he exclaimed. "How should I know what I -am going to prove? This is an investigation. If I knew the result -beforehand, I shouldn't want to perform the experiment." -</p> -<p> -He looked at his watch, and, as we rose from the table, he said: -</p> -<p> -"If we have finished, we had better go up to the laboratory and see that -the apparatus is ready. Mr. Britton is a busy man, and, as he is doing -us a great service, we mustn't keep him waiting when he comes." -</p> -<p> -We ascended to the laboratory, where Polton was already busy inspecting -the massively built copying camera which—with the long, steel guides on -which the easel or copy-holder travelled—took up the whole length of -the room on the side opposite to that occupied by the chemical bench. As -I was to be inducted into the photographic art, I looked at it with more -attention than I had ever done before. -</p> -<p> -"We've made some improvements since you were here last, sir," said -Polton, who was delicately lubricating the steel guides. "We've fitted -these steel runners instead of the blackleaded wooden ones that we used -to have. And we've made two scales instead of one. Hallo! That's the -downstairs bell. Shall I go sir?" -</p> -<p> -"Perhaps you'd better," said Thorndyke. "It may not be Mr. Britton, and -I don't want to be caught and delayed just now." -</p> -<p> -However, it was Mr. Britton; a breezy alert-looking middle-aged man, who -came in escorted by Polton and shook our hands cordially, having been -previously warned of my presence. He carried a small but solid hand-bag, -to which he clung tenaciously up to the very moment when its contents -were required for use. -</p> -<p> -"So that is the camera," said he, running an inquisitive eye over the -instrument. "Very fine one, too; I am a bit of a photographer myself. -What is that graduation on the side-bar?" -</p> -<p> -"Those are the scales," replied Thorndyke, "that shows the degree of -magnification or reduction. The pointer is fixed to the easel and -travels with it, of course, showing the exact size of the photograph. -When the pointer is opposite 0 the photograph will be identical in size -with the object photographed; when it points to, say, × 6, the -photograph will be six times as long as the object, or magnified -thirty-six times superficially, whereas if the pointer is at ÷ 6, the -photograph will be a sixth of the length of the object, or one -thirty-sixth superficial." -</p> -<p> -"Why are there two scales?" Mr. Britton asked. -</p> -<p> -"There is a separate scale for each of the two lenses that we -principally use. For great magnification or reduction a lens of -comparatively short focus must be used, but, as a long-focus lens gives -a more perfect image, we use one of very long focus—thirty-six -inches—for copying the same size or for slight magnification or -reduction." -</p> -<p> -"Are you going to magnify these cheques?" Mr. Britton asked. -</p> -<p> -"Not in the first place," replied Thorndyke. "For convenience and speed -I am going to photograph them half-size, so that six cheques will go on -one whole plate. Afterwards we can enlarge from the negatives as much as -we like. But we should probably enlarge only the signatures in any -case." -</p> -<p> -The precious bag was now opened and the twenty-three cheques brought out -and laid on the bench in a consecutive series in the order of their -dates. They were then fixed by tapes—to avoid making pin-holes in -them—in batches of six to small drawing boards, each batch being so -arranged that the signatures were towards the middle. The first board -was clamped to the easel, the latter was slid along its guides until -the pointer stood at ÷ 2 on the long-focus scale and Thorndyke proceeded -to focus the camera with the aid of a little microscope that Polton had -made for the purpose. When Mr. Britton and I had inspected the -exquisitely sharp image on the focusing-screen through the microscope, -Polton introduced the plate and made the first exposure, carrying the -dark-slide off to develop the plate while the next batch of cheques was -being fixed in position. -</p> -<p> -In his photographic technique, as in everything else, Polton followed as -closely as he could the methods of his principal and instructor; methods -characterized by that unhurried precision that leads to perfect -accomplishment. When the first negative was brought forth, dripping, -from the dark-room, it was without spot or stain, scratch or pin-hole; -uniform in colour and of exactly the required density. The six cheques -shown on it—ridiculously small in appearance, though only reduced to -half-length—looked as clear and sharp as fine etchings; though, to be -sure, my opportunity for examining them was rather limited, for Polton -was uncommonly careful to keep the wet plate out of reach and so safe -from injury. -</p> -<p> -"Well," said Mr. Britton, when, at the end of the séance, he returned -his treasures to the bag, "you have now got twenty-three of our cheques, -to all intents and purposes. I hope you are not going to make any -unlawful use of them—must tell our cashiers to keep a bright look-out; -and"—here he lowered his voice impressively and addressed himself to -me and Polton—"you understand that this is a private matter between Dr. -Thorndyke and me. Of course, as Mr. Blackmore is dead, there is no -reason why his cheques should not be photographed for legal purposes; -but we don't want it talked about; nor, I think, does Dr. Thorndyke." -</p> -<p> -"Certainly not," Thorndyke agreed emphatically; "but you need not be -uneasy, Mr. Britton. We are very uncommunicative people in this -establishment." -</p> -<p> -As my colleague and I escorted our visitor down the stairs, he returned -to the subject of the cheques. -</p> -<p> -"I don't understand what you want them for," he remarked. "There is no -question turning on signatures in the case of Blackmore deceased, is -there?" -</p> -<p> -"I should say not," Thorndyke replied rather evasively. -</p> -<p> -"I should say very decidedly not," said Mr. Britton, "if I understood -Marchmont aright. And, even if there were, let me tell you, these -signatures that you have got wouldn't help you. I have looked them over -very closely—and I have seen a few signatures in my time, you know. -Marchmont asked me to glance over them as a matter of form, but I don't -believe in matters of form; I examined them very carefully. There is an -appreciable amount of variation; a very appreciable amount. <i>But</i> under -the variation one can trace the personal character (which is what -matters); the subtle, indescribable quality that makes it recognizable -to the expert eye as Jeffrey Blackmore's writing. You understand me. -There is such a quality, which remains when the coarser characteristics -vary; just as a man may grow old, or fat, or bald, or may take to drink, -and become quite changed; and yet, through it all, he preserves a -certain something which makes him recognizable as a member of a -particular family. Well, I find that quality in all those signatures, -and so will you, if you have had enough experience of handwriting. I -thought it best to mention it in case you might be giving yourself -unnecessary trouble." -</p> -<p> -"It is very good of you," said Thorndyke, "and I need not say that the -information is of great value, coming from such a highly expert source. -As a matter of fact, your hint will be of great value to me." -</p> -<p> -He shook hands with Mr. Britton, and, as the latter disappeared down the -stairs, he turned into the sitting-room and remarked: -</p> -<p> -"There is a very weighty and significant observation, Jervis. I advise -you to consider it attentively in all its bearings." -</p> -<p> -"You mean the fact that these signatures are undoubtedly genuine?" -</p> -<p> -"I meant, rather, the very interesting general truth that is contained -in Britton's statement; that physiognomy is not a mere matter of facial -character. A man carries his personal trademark, not in his face only, -but in his nervous system and muscles—giving rise to characteristic -movements and gait; in his larynx—producing an individual voice; and -even in his mouth, as shown by individual peculiarities of speech and -accent. And the individual nervous system, by means of these -characteristic movements, transfers its peculiarities to inanimate -objects that are the products of such movements; as we see in pictures, -in carving, in musical execution and in handwriting. No one has ever -painted quite like Reynolds or Romney; no one has ever played exactly -like Liszt or Paganini; the pictures or the sounds produced by them, -were, so to speak, an extension of the physiognomy of the artist. And so -with handwriting. A particular specimen is the product of a particular -set of motor centres in an individual brain." -</p> -<p> -"These are very interesting considerations, Thorndyke," I remarked; "but -I don't quite see their present application. Do you mean them to bear in -any special way on the Blackmore case?" -</p> -<p> -"I think they do bear on it very directly. I thought so while Mr. -Britton was making his very illuminating remarks." -</p> -<p> -"I don't see how. In fact I cannot see why you are going into the -question of the signatures at all. The signature on the will is -admittedly genuine, and that seems to me to dispose of the whole -affair." -</p> -<p> -"My dear Jervis," said he, "you and Marchmont are allowing yourselves to -be obsessed by a particular fact—a very striking and weighty fact, I -will admit, but still, only an isolated fact. Jeffrey Blackmore executed -his will in a regular manner, complying with all the necessary -formalities and conditions. In the face of that single circumstance you -and Marchmont would 'chuck up the sponge,' as the old pugilists -expressed it. Now that is a great mistake. You should never allow -yourself to be bullied and browbeaten by a single fact." -</p> -<p> -"But, my dear Thorndyke!" I protested, "this fact seems to be final. It -covers all possibilities—-unless you can suggest any other that would -cancel it." -</p> -<p> -"I could suggest a dozen," he replied. "Let us take an instance. -Supposing Jeffrey executed this will for a wager; that he immediately -revoked it and made a fresh will, that he placed the latter in the -custody of some person and that that person has suppressed it." -</p> -<p> -"Surely you do not make this suggestion seriously!" I exclaimed. -</p> -<p> -"Certainly I do not," he replied with a smile. "I merely give it as an -instance to show that your final and absolute fact is really only -conditional on there being no other fact that cancels it." -</p> -<p> -"Do you think he might have made a third will?" -</p> -<p> -"It is obviously possible. A man who makes two wills may make three or -more; but I may say that I see no present reason for assuming the -existence of another will. What I want to impress on you is the -necessity of considering all the facts instead of bumping heavily -against the most conspicuous one and forgetting all the rest. By the -way, here is a little problem for you. What was the object of which -these are the parts?" -</p> -<p> -He pushed across the table a little cardboard box, having first removed -the lid. In it were a number of very small pieces of broken glass, some -of which had been cemented together by their edges. -</p> -<p> -"These, I suppose," said I, looking with considerable curiosity at the -little collection, "are the pieces of glass that we picked up in poor -Blackmore's bedroom?" -</p> -<p> -"Yes. You see that Polton has been endeavouring to reconstitute the -object, whatever it was; but he has not been very successful, for the -fragments were too small and irregular and the collection too -incomplete. However, here is a specimen, built up of six small pieces, -which exhibits the general character of the object fairly well." -</p> -<p> -He picked out the little irregularly shaped object and handed it to me; -and I could not but admire the neatness with which Polton had joined the -tiny fragments together. -</p> -<p> -I took the little "restoration," and, holding it up before my eyes, -moved it to and fro as I looked through it at the window. -</p> -<p> -"It was not a lens," I pronounced eventually. -</p> -<p> -"No," Thorndyke agreed, "it was not a lens." -</p> -<p> -"And so cannot have been a spectacle-glass. But the surface was -curved—one side convex and the other concave—and the little piece that -remains of the original edge seems to have been ground to fit a bezel or -frame. I should say that these are portions of a watch-glass." -</p> -<p> -"That is Polton's opinion," said Thorndyke, "and I think you are both -wrong." -</p> -<p> -"What do you say to the glass of a miniature or locket?" -</p> -<p> -"That is rather more probable, but it is not my view." -</p> -<p> -"What do you think it is?" I asked. But Thorndyke was not to be drawn. -</p> -<p> -"I am submitting the problem for solution by my learned friend," he -replied with an exasperating smile, and then added: "I don't say that -you and Polton are wrong; only that I don't agree with you. Perhaps you -had better make a note of the properties of this object, and consider it -at your leisure when you are ruminating on the other data referring to -the Blackmore case." -</p> -<p> -"My ruminations," I said, "always lead me back to the same point." -</p> -<p> -"But you mustn't let them," he replied. "Shuffle your data about. Invent -hypotheses. Never mind if they seem rather wild. Don't put them aside on -that account. Take the first hypothesis that you can invent and test it -thoroughly with your facts. You will probably have to reject it, but you -will be certain to have learned something new. Then try again with a -fresh one. You remember what I told you of my methods when I began this -branch of practice and had plenty of time on my hands?" -</p> -<p> -"I am not sure that I do." -</p> -<p> -"Well, I used to occupy my leisure in constructing imaginary cases, -mostly criminal, for the purpose of study and for the acquirement of -experience. For instance, I would devise an ingenious fraud and would -plan it in detail, taking every precaution that I could think of against -failure or detection, considering, and elaborately providing for, every -imaginable contingency. For the time being, my entire attention was -concentrated on it, making it as perfect and secure and undetectable as -I could with the knowledge and ingenuity at my command. I behaved -exactly as if I were proposing actually to carry it out, and my life or -liberty depended on its success—excepting that I made full notes of -every detail of the scheme. Then when my plans were as complete as I -could make them, and I could think of no way in which to improve them, I -changed sides and considered the case from the standpoint of detection. -I analysed the case, I picked out its inherent and unavoidable -weaknesses, and, especially, I noted the respects in which a fraudulent -proceeding of a particular kind differed from the <i>bona fide</i> proceeding -that it simulated. The exercise was invaluable to me. I acquired as much -experience from those imaginary cases as I should from real ones, and in -addition, I learned a method which is the one that I practise to this -day." -</p> -<p> -"Do you mean that you still invent imaginary cases as mental exercises?" -</p> -<p> -"No; I mean that, when I have a problem of any intricacy, I invent a -case which fits the facts and the assumed motives of one of the parties. -Then I work at that case until I find whether it leads to elucidation or -to some fundamental disagreement. In the latter case I reject it and -begin the process over again." -</p> -<p> -"Doesn't that method sometimes involve a good deal of wasted time and -energy?" I asked. -</p> -<p> -"No; because each time that you fail to establish a given case, you -exclude a particular explanation of the facts and narrow down the field -of inquiry. By repeating the process, you are bound, in the end, to -arrive at an imaginary case which fits all the facts. Then your -imaginary case is the real case and the problem is solved. Let me -recommend you to give the method a trial." -</p> -<p> -I promised to do so, though with no very lively expectations as to the -result, and with this, the subject was allowed, for the present, to -drop. -</p> - -<p> </p> -<p> </p> -<a name="CH12"><!-- CH12 --></a> -<h2> - Chapter XII -</h2> - -<h3> -The Portrait -</h3> -<p> </p> -<p> -The state of mind which Thorndyke had advised me to cultivate was one -that did not come easily. However much I endeavoured to shuffle the -facts of the Blackmore case, there was one which inevitably turned up on -the top of the pack. The circumstances surrounding the execution of -Jeffrey Blackmore's will intruded into all my cogitations on the subject -with hopeless persistency. That scene in the porter's lodge was to me -what King Charles's head was to poor Mr. Dick. In the midst of my -praiseworthy efforts to construct some intelligible scheme of the case, -it would make its appearance and reduce my mind to instant chaos. -</p> -<p> -For the next few days, Thorndyke was very much occupied with one or two -civil cases, which kept him in court during the whole of the sitting; -and when he came home, he seemed indisposed to talk on professional -topics. Meanwhile, Polton worked steadily at the photographs of the -signatures, and, with a view to gaining experience, I assisted him and -watched his methods. -</p> -<p> -In the present case, the signatures were enlarged from their original -dimensions—rather less than an inch and a half in length—to a length -of four and a half inches; which rendered all the little peculiarities -of the handwriting surprisingly distinct and conspicuous. Each signature -was eventually mounted on a slip of card bearing a number and the date -of the cheque from which it was taken, so that it was possible to place -any two signatures together for comparison. I looked over the whole -series and very carefully compared those which showed any differences, -but without discovering anything more than might have been expected in -view of Mr. Britton's statement. There were some trifling variations, -but they were all very much alike, and no one could doubt, on looking at -them, that they were all written by the same hand. -</p> -<p> -As this, however, was apparently not in dispute, it furnished no new -information. Thorndyke's object—for I felt certain that he had -something definite in his mind—must be to test something apart from the -genuineness of the signatures. But what could that something be? I dared -not ask him, for questions of that kind were anathema, so there was -nothing for it but to lie low and see what he would do with the -photographs. -</p> -<p> -The whole series was finished on the fourth morning after my adventure -at Sloane Square, and the pack of cards was duly delivered by Polton -when he brought in the breakfast tray. Thorndyke took up the pack -somewhat with the air of a whist player, and, as he ran through them, I -noticed that the number had increased from twenty-three to twenty-four. -</p> -<p> -"The additional one," Thorndyke explained, "is the signature to the -first will, which was in Marchmont's possession. I have added it to the -collection as it carries us back to an earlier date. The signature of -the second will presumably resembles those of the cheques drawn about -the same date. But that is not material, or, if it should become so, we -could claim to examine the second will." -</p> -<p> -He laid the cards out on the table in the order of their dates and -slowly ran his eye down the series. I watched him closely and ventured -presently to ask: -</p> -<p> -"Do you agree with Mr. Britton as to the general identity of character -in the whole set of signatures?" -</p> -<p> -"Yes," he replied. "I should certainly have put them down as being all -the signatures of one person. The variations are very slight. The later -signatures are a little stiffer, a little more shaky and indistinct, and -the B's and k's are both appreciably different from those in the earlier -ones. But there is another fact which emerges when the whole series is -seen together, and it is so striking and significant a fact, that I am -astonished at its not having been remarked on by Mr. Britton." -</p> -<p> -"Indeed!" said I, stooping to examine the photographs with fresh -interest; "what is that?" -</p> -<p> -"It is a very simple fact and very obvious, but yet, as I have said, -very significant. Look carefully at number one, which is the signature -of the first will, dated three years ago, and compare it with number -three, dated the eighteenth of September last year." -</p> -<p> -"They look to me identical," said I, after a careful comparison. -</p> -<p> -"So they do to me," said Thorndyke. "Neither of them shows the change -that occurred later. But if you look at number two, dated the sixteenth -of September, you will see that it is in the later style. So is number -four, dated the twenty-third of September; but numbers five and six, -both at the beginning of October, are in the earlier style, like the -signature of the will. Thereafter all the signatures are in the new -style; but, if you compare number two, dated the sixteenth of September -with number twenty-four, dated the fourteenth of March of this year—the -day of Jeffrey's death—you see that they exhibit no difference. Both -are in the 'later style,' but the last shows no greater change than the -first. Don't you consider these facts very striking and significant?" -</p> -<p> -I reflected a few moments, trying to make out the deep significance to -which Thorndyke was directing my attention—and not succeeding very -triumphantly. -</p> -<p> -"You mean," I said, "that the occasional reversions to the earlier form -convey some material suggestion?" -</p> -<p> -"Yes; but more than that. What we learn from an inspection of this -series is this: that there was a change in the character of the -signature; a very slight change, but quite recognizable. Now that change -was not gradual or insidious nor was it progressive. It occurred at a -certain definite time. At first there were one or two reversions to the -earlier form, but after number six the new style continued to the end; -and you notice that it continued without any increase in the change and -without any variation. There are no intermediate forms. Some of the -signatures are in the 'old style' and some in the 'new,' but there are -none that are half and half. So that, to repeat: We have here two types -of signature, very much alike, but distinguishable. They alternate, but -do not merge into one another to produce intermediate forms. The change -occurs abruptly, but shows no tendency to increase as time goes on; it -is not a progressive change. What do you make of that, Jervis?" -</p> -<p> -"It is very remarkable," I said, poring over the cards to verify -Thorndyke's statements. "I don't quite know what to make of it. If the -circumstances admitted of the idea of forgery, one would suspect the -genuineness of some of the signatures. But they don't—at any rate, in -the case of the later will, to say nothing of Mr. Britton's opinion on -the signatures." -</p> -<p> -"Still," said Thorndyke, "there must be some explanation of the change -in the character of the signatures, and that explanation cannot be the -failing eyesight of the writer; for that is a gradually progressive and -continuous condition, whereas the change in the writing is abrupt and -intermittent." -</p> -<p> -I considered Thorndyke's remark for a few moments; and then a -light—though not a very brilliant one—seemed to break on me. -</p> -<p> -"I think I see what you are driving at," said I. "You mean that the -change in the writing must be associated with some new condition -affecting the writer, and that that condition existed intermittently?" -</p> -<p> -Thorndyke nodded approvingly, and I continued: -</p> -<p> -"The only intermittent condition that we know of is the effect of opium. -So that we might consider the clearer signatures to have been made when -Jeffrey was in his normal state, and the less distinct ones after a bout -of opium-smoking." -</p> -<p> -"That is perfectly sound reasoning," said Thorndyke. "What further -conclusion does it lead to?" -</p> -<p> -"It suggests that the opium habit had been only recently acquired, since -the change was noticed only about the time he went to live at New Inn; -and, since the change in the writing is at first intermittent and then -continuous, we may infer that the opium-smoking was at first occasional -and later became a a confirmed habit." -</p> -<p> -"Quite a reasonable conclusion and very clearly stated," said Thorndyke. -"I don't say that I entirely agree with you, or that you have exhausted -the information that these signatures offer. But you have started in the -right direction." -</p> -<p> -"I may be on the right road," I said gloomily; "but I am stuck fast in -one place and I see no chance of getting any farther." -</p> -<p> -"But you have a quantity of data," said Thorndyke. "You have all the -facts that I had to start with, from which I constructed the hypothesis -that I am now busily engaged in verifying. I have a few more data now, -for 'as money makes money' so knowledge begets knowledge, and I put my -original capital out to interest. Shall we tabulate the facts that are -in our joint possession and see what they suggest?" -</p> -<p> -I grasped eagerly at the offer, though I had conned over my notes again -and again. -</p> -<p> -Thorndyke produced a slip of paper from a drawer, and, uncapping his -fountain-pen, proceeded to write down the leading facts, reading each -aloud as soon as it was written. -</p> -<p> -"1. The second will was unnecessary since it contained no new matter, -expressed no new intentions and met no new conditions, and the first -will was quite clear and efficient. -</p> -<p> -"2. The evident intention of the testator was to leave the bulk of his -property to Stephen Blackmore. -</p> -<p> -"3. The second will did not, under existing circumstances, give effect -to this intention, whereas the first will did. -</p> -<p> -"4. The signature of the second will differs slightly from that of the -first, and also from what had hitherto been the testator's ordinary -signature. -</p> -<p> -"And now we come to a very curious group of dates, which I will advise -you to consider with great attention. -</p> -<p> -"5. Mrs. Wilson made her will at the beginning of September last year, -without acquainting Jeffrey Blackmore, who seems to have been unaware of -the existence of this will. -</p> -<p> -"6. His own second will was dated the twelfth of November of last year. -</p> -<p> -"7. Mrs. Wilson died of cancer on the twelfth of March this present -year. -</p> -<p> -"8. Jeffrey Blackmore was last seen alive on the fourteenth of March. -</p> -<p> -"9. His body was discovered on the fifteenth of March. -</p> -<p> -"10. The change in the character of his signature began about September -last year and became permanent after the middle of October. -</p> -<p> -"You will find that collection of facts repay careful study, Jervis, -especially when considered in relation to the further data: -</p> -<p> -"11. That we found in Blackmore's chambers a framed inscription of large -size, hung upside down, together with what appeared to be the remains of -a watch-glass and a box of stearine candles and some other objects." -</p> -<p> -He passed the paper to me and I pored over it intently, focusing my -attention on the various items with all the power of my will. But, -struggle as I would, no general conclusion could be made to emerge from -the mass of apparently disconnected facts. -</p> -<p> -"Well?" Thorndyke said presently, after watching with grave interest my -unavailing efforts; "what do you make of it?" -</p> -<p> -"Nothing!" I exclaimed desperately, slapping the paper down on the -table. "Of course, I can see that there are some queer coincidences. But -how do they bear on the case? I understand that you want to upset this -will; which we know to have been signed without compulsion or even -suggestion in the presence of two respectable men, who have sworn to the -identity of the document. That is your object, I believe?" -</p> -<p> -"Certainly it is." -</p> -<p> -"Then I am hanged if I see how you are going to do it. Not, I should -say, by offering a group of vague coincidences that would muddle any -brain but your own." -</p> -<p> -Thorndyke chuckled softly but pursued the subject no farther. -</p> -<p> -"Put that paper in your file with your other notes," he said, "and think -it over at your leisure. And now I want a little help from you. Have you -a good memory for faces?" -</p> -<p> -"Fairly good, I think. Why?" -</p> -<p> -"Because I have a photograph of a man whom I think you may have met. -Just look at it and tell me if you remember the face." -</p> -<p> -He drew a cabinet size photograph from an envelope that had come by the -morning's post and handed it to me. -</p> -<p> -"I have certainly seen this face somewhere," said I, taking the portrait -over to the window to examine it more thoroughly, "but I can't, at the -moment, remember where." -</p> -<p> -"Try," said Thorndyke. "If you have seen the face before, you should be -able to recall the person." -</p> -<p> -I looked intently at the photograph, and the more I looked, the more -familiar did the face appear. Suddenly the identity of the man flashed -into my mind and I exclaimed in astonishment: -</p> -<p> -"It can't be that poor creature at Kennington, Mr. Graves?" -</p> -<p> -"I think it can," replied Thorndyke, "and I think it is. But could you -swear to the identity in a court of law?" -</p> -<p> -"It is my firm conviction that the photograph is that of Mr. Graves. I -would swear to that." -</p> -<p> -"No man ought to swear to more," said Thorndyke. "Identification is -always a matter of opinion or belief. The man who will swear -unconditionally to identity from memory only is a man whose evidence -should be discredited. I think your sworn testimony would be -sufficient." -</p> -<p> -It is needless to say that the production of this photograph filled me -with amazement and curiosity as to how Thorndyke had obtained it. But, -as he replaced it impassively in its envelope without volunteering any -explanation, I felt that I could not question him directly. -Nevertheless, I ventured to approach the subject in an indirect manner. -</p> -<p> -"Did you get any information from those Darmstadt people?" I asked. -</p> -<p> -"Schnitzler? Yes. I learned, through the medium of an official -acquaintance, that Dr. H. Weiss was a stranger to them; that they knew -nothing about him excepting that he had ordered from them, and been -supplied with, a hundred grammes of pure hydrochlorate of morphine." -</p> -<p> -"All at once?" -</p> -<p> -"No. In separate parcels of twenty-five grammes each." -</p> -<p> -"Is that all you know about Weiss?" -</p> -<p> -"It is all that I actually know; but it is not all that I suspect—on -very substantial grounds. By the way, what did you think of the -coachman?" -</p> -<p> -"I don't know that I thought very much about him. Why?" -</p> -<p> -"You never suspected that he and Weiss were one and the same person?" -</p> -<p> -"No. How could they be? They weren't in the least alike. And one was a -Scotchman and the other a German. But perhaps you know that they were -the same?" -</p> -<p> -"I only know what you have told me. But considering that you never saw -them together, that the coachman was never available for messages or -assistance when Weiss was with you; that Weiss always made his -appearance some time after you arrived, and disappeared some time before -you left; it has seemed to me that they might have been the same -person." -</p> -<p> -"I should say it was impossible. They were so very different in -appearance. But supposing that they were the same; would the fact be of -any importance?" -</p> -<p> -"It would mean that we could save ourselves the trouble of looking for -the coachman. And it would suggest some inferences, which will occur to -you if you think the matter over. But being only a speculative opinion, -at present, it would not be safe to infer very much from it." -</p> -<p> -"You have rather taken me by surprise," I remarked. "It seems that you -have been working at this Kennington case, and working pretty actively I -imagine, whereas I supposed that your entire attention was taken up by -the Blackmore affair." -</p> -<p> -"It doesn't do," he replied, "to allow one's entire attention to be -taken up by any one case. I have half a dozen others—minor cases, -mostly—to which I am attending at this moment. Did you think I was -proposing to keep you under lock and key indefinitely?" -</p> -<p> -"Well, no. But I thought the Kennington case would have to wait its -turn. And I had no idea that you were in possession of enough facts to -enable you to get any farther with it." -</p> -<p> -"But you knew all the very striking facts of the case, and you saw the -further evidence that we extracted from the empty house." -</p> -<p> -"Do you mean those things that we picked out from the rubbish under the -grate?" -</p> -<p> -"Yes. You saw those curious little pieces of reed and the pair of -spectacles. They are lying in the top drawer of that cabinet at this -moment, and I should recommend you to have another look at them. To me -they are most instructive. The pieces of reed offered an extremely -valuable suggestion, and the spectacles enabled me to test that -suggestion and turn it into actual information." -</p> -<p> -"Unfortunately," said I, "the pieces of reed convey nothing to me. I -don't know what they are or of what they have formed a part." -</p> -<p> -"I think," he replied, "that if you examine them with due consideration, -you will find their use pretty obvious. Have a good look at them and the -spectacles too. Think over all that you know of that mysterious group of -people who lived in that house, and see if you cannot form some coherent -theory of their actions. Think, also, if we have not some information in -our possession by which we might be able to identify some of them, and -infer the identity of the others. You will have a quiet day, as I shall -not be home until the evening; set yourself this task. I assure you that -you have the material for identifying—or rather for testing the -identity of—at least one of those persons. Go over your material -systematically, and let me know in the evening what further -investigations you would propose." -</p> -<p> -"Very well," said I. "It shall be done according to your word. I will -addle my brain afresh with the affair of Mr. Weiss and his patient, and -let the Blackmore case rip." -</p> -<p> -"There is no need to do that. You have a whole day before you. An hour's -really close consideration of the Kennington case ought to show you what -your next move should be, and then you could devote yourself to the -consideration of Jeffrey Blackmore's will." -</p> -<p> -With this final piece of advice, Thorndyke collected the papers for his -day's work, and, having deposited them in his brief bag, took his -departure, leaving me to my meditations. -</p> - -<p> </p> -<p> </p> -<a name="CH13"><!-- CH13 --></a> -<h2> - Chapter XIII -</h2> - -<h3> -The Statement of Samuel Wilkins -</h3> -<p> </p> -<p> -As soon as I was alone, I commenced my investigations with a rather -desperate hope of eliciting some startling and unsuspected facts. I -opened the drawer and taking from it the two pieces of reed and the -shattered remains of the spectacles, laid them on the table. The repairs -that Thorndyke had contemplated in the case of the spectacles, had not -been made. Apparently they had not been necessary. The battered wreck -that lay before me, just as we had found it, had evidently furnished the -necessary information; for, since Thorndyke was in possession of a -portrait of Mr. Graves, it was clear that he had succeeded in -identifying him so far as to get into communication with some one who -had known him intimately. -</p> -<p> -The circumstance should have been encouraging. But somehow it was not. -What was possible to Thorndyke was, theoretically, possible to me—or to -anyone else. But the possibility did not realize itself in practice. -There was the personal equation. Thorndyke's brain was not an ordinary -brain. Facts of which his mind instantly perceived the relation remained -to other people unconnected and without meaning. His powers of -observation and rapid inference were almost incredible, as I had noticed -again and again, and always with undiminished wonder. He seemed to take -in everything at a single glance and in an instant to appreciate the -meaning of everything that he had seen. -</p> -<p> -Here was a case in point. I had myself seen all that he had seen, and, -indeed, much more; for I had looked on the very people and witnessed -their actions, whereas he had never set eyes on any of them. I had -examined the little handful of rubbish that he had gathered up so -carefully, and would have flung it back under the grate without a qualm. -Not a glimmer of light had I perceived in the cloud of mystery, nor even -a hint of the direction in which to seek enlightenment. And yet -Thorndyke had, in some incomprehensible manner, contrived to piece -together facts that I had probably not even observed, and that so -completely that he had already, in these few days, narrowed down the -field of inquiry to quite a small area. -</p> -<p> -From these reflections I returned to the objects on the table. The -spectacles, as things of which I had some expert knowledge, were not so -profound a mystery to me. A pair of spectacles might easily afford good -evidence for identification; that I perceived clearly enough. Not a -ready-made pair, picked up casually at a shop, but a pair constructed by -a skilled optician to remedy a particular defect of vision and to fit a -particular face. And such were the spectacles before me. The build of -the frames was peculiar; the existence of a cylindrical lens—which I -could easily make out from the remaining fragments—showed that one -glass had been cut to a prescribed shape and almost certainly ground to -a particular formula, and also that the distance between centres must -have been carefully secured. Hence these spectacles had an individual -character. But it was manifestly impossible to inquire of all the -spectacle-makers in Europe—for the glasses were not necessarily made in -England. As confirmation the spectacles might be valuable; as a -starting-point they were of no use at all. -</p> -<p> -From the spectacles I turned to the pieces of reed. These were what had -given Thorndyke his start. Would they give me a leading hint too? I -looked at them and wondered what it was that they had told Thorndyke. -The little fragment of the red paper label had a dark-brown or thin -black border ornamented with a fret-pattern, and on it I detected a -couple of tiny points of gold like the dust from leaf-gilding. But I -learned nothing from that. Then the shorter piece of reed was -artificially hollowed to fit on the longer piece. Apparently it formed a -protective sheath or cap. But what did it protect? Presumably a point or -edge of some kind. Could this be a pocket-knife of any sort, such as a -small stencil-knife? No; the material was too fragile for a -knife-handle. It could not be an etching-needle for the same reason; and -it was not a surgical appliance—at least it was not like any surgical -instrument that was known to me. -</p> -<p> -I turned it over and over and cudgelled my brains; and then I had a -brilliant idea. Was it a reed pen of which the point had been broken -off? I knew that reed pens were still in use by draughtsmen of -decorative leanings with an affection for the "fat line." Could any of -our friends be draughtsmen? This seemed the most probable solution of -the difficulty, and the more I thought about it the more likely it -seemed. Draughtsmen usually sign their work intelligibly, and even when -they use a device instead of a signature their identity is easily -traceable. Could it be that Mr. Graves, for instance, was an -illustrator, and that Thorndyke had established his identity by looking -through the works of all the well-known thick-line draughtsmen? -</p> -<p> -This problem occupied me for the rest of the day. My explanation did not -seem quite to fit Thorndyke's description of his methods; but I could -think of no other. I turned it over during my solitary lunch; I -meditated on it with the aid of several pipes in the afternoon; and -having refreshed my brain with a cup of tea, I went forth to walk in the -Temple gardens—which I was permitted to do without breaking my -parole—to think it out afresh. -</p> -<p> -The result was disappointing. I was basing my reasoning on the -assumption that the pieces of reed were parts of a particular appliance, -appertaining to a particular craft; whereas they might be the remains of -something quite different, appertaining to a totally different craft or -to no craft at all. And in no case did they point to any known -individual or indicate any but the vaguest kind of search. After pacing -the pleasant walks for upwards of two hours, I at length turned back -towards our chambers, where I arrived as the lamp-lighter was just -finishing his round. -</p> -<p> -My fruitless speculations had left me somewhat irritable. The lighted -windows that I had noticed as I approached had given me the impression -that Thorndyke had returned. I had intended to press him for a little -further information. When, therefore, I let myself into our chambers and -found, instead of my colleague, a total stranger—and only a back view -at that—I was disappointed and annoyed. -</p> -<p> -The stranger was seated by the table, reading a large document that -looked like a lease. He made no movement when I entered, but when I -crossed the room and wished him "Good evening," he half rose and bowed -silently. It was then that I first saw his face, and a mighty start he -gave me. For one moment I actually thought he was Mr. Weiss, so close -was the resemblance, but immediately I perceived that he was a much -smaller man. -</p> -<p> -I sat down nearly opposite and stole an occasional furtive glance at -him. The resemblance to Weiss was really remarkable. The same flaxen -hair, the same ragged beard and a similar red nose, with the patches of -<i>acne rosacea</i> spreading to the adjacent cheeks. He wore spectacles, -too, through which he took a quick glance at me now and again, returning -immediately to his document. -</p> -<p> -After some moments of rather embarrassing silence, I ventured to remark -that it was a mild evening; to which he assented with a sort of Scotch -"Hm—hm" and nodded slowly. Then came another interval of silence, -during which I speculated on the possibility of his being a relative of -Mr. Weiss and wondered what the deuce he was doing in our chambers. -</p> -<p> -"Have you an appointment with Dr. Thorndyke?" I asked, at length. -</p> -<p> -He bowed solemnly, and by way of reply—in the affirmative, as I -assumed—emitted another "hm—hm." -</p> -<p> -I looked at him sharply, a little nettled by his lack of manners; -whereupon he opened out the lease so that it screened his face, and as I -glanced at the back of the document, I was astonished to observe that it -was shaking rapidly. -</p> -<p> -The fellow was actually laughing! What he found in my simple question to -cause him so much amusement I was totally unable to imagine. But there -it was. The tremulous movements of the document left me in no possible -doubt that he was for some reason convulsed with laughter. -</p> -<p> -It was extremely mysterious. Also, it was rather embarrassing. I took -out my pocket file and began to look over my notes. Then the document -was lowered and I was able to get another look at the stranger's face. -He was really extraordinarily like Weiss. The shaggy eyebrows, throwing -the eye-sockets into shadow, gave him, in conjunction with the -spectacles, the same owlish, solemn expression that I had noticed in my -Kennington acquaintance; and which, by the way, was singularly out of -character with the frivolous behaviour that I had just witnessed. -</p> -<p> -From time to time as I looked at him, he caught my eye and instantly -averted his own, turning rather red. Apparently he was a shy, nervous -man, which might account for his giggling; for I have noticed that shy -or nervous people have a habit of smiling inopportunely and even -giggling when embarrassed by meeting an over-steady eye. And it seemed -my own eye had this disconcerting quality, for even as I looked at him, -the document suddenly went up again and began to shake violently. -</p> -<p> -I stood it for a minute or two, but, finding the situation intolerably -embarrassing, I rose, and brusquely excusing myself, went up to the -laboratory to look for Polton and inquire at what time Thorndyke was -expected home. To my surprise, however, on entering, I discovered -Thorndyke himself just finishing the mounting of a microscopical -specimen. -</p> -<p> -"Did you know that there is some one below waiting to see you?" I asked. -</p> -<p> -"Is it anyone you know?" he inquired. -</p> -<p> -"No," I answered. "It is a red-nosed, sniggering fool in spectacles. He -has got a lease or a deed or some other sort of document which he has -been using to play a sort of idiotic game of Peep-Bo! I couldn't stand -him, so I came up here." -</p> -<p> -Thorndyke laughed heartily at my description of his client. -</p> -<p> -"What are you laughing at?" I asked sourly; at which he laughed yet more -heartily and added to the aggravation by wiping his eyes. -</p> -<p> -"Our friend seems to have put you out," he remarked. -</p> -<p> -"He put me out literally. If I had stayed much longer I should have -punched his head." -</p> -<p> -"In that case," said Thorndyke, "I am glad you didn't stay. But come -down and let me introduce you." -</p> -<p> -"No, thank you. I've had enough of him for the present." -</p> -<p> -"But I have a very special reason for wishing to introduce you. I think -you will get some information from him that will interest you very much; -and you needn't quarrel with a man for being of a cheerful disposition." -</p> -<p> -"Cheerful be hanged!" I exclaimed. "I don't call a man cheerful because -he behaves like a gibbering idiot." -</p> -<p> -To this Thorndyke made no reply but a broad and appreciative smile, and -we descended to the lower floor. As we entered the room, the stranger -rose, and, glancing in an embarrassed way from one of us to the other, -suddenly broke out into an undeniable snigger. I looked at him sternly, -and Thorndyke, quite unmoved by his indecorous behaviour, said in a -grave voice: -</p> -<p> -"Let me introduce you, Jervis; though I think you have met this -gentleman before." -</p> -<p> -"I think not," I said stiffly. -</p> -<p> -"Oh yes, you have, sir," interposed the stranger; and, as he spoke, I -started; for the voice was uncommonly like the familiar voice of Polton. -</p> -<p> -I looked at the speaker with sudden suspicion. And now I could see that -the flaxen hair was a wig; that the beard had a decidedly artificial -look, and that the eyes that beamed through the spectacles were -remarkably like the eyes of our factotum. But the blotchy face, the -bulbous nose and the shaggy, overhanging eyebrows were alien features -that I could not reconcile with the personality of our refined and -aristocratic-looking little assistant. -</p> -<p> -"Is this a practical joke?" I asked. -</p> -<p> -"No," replied Thorndyke; "it is a demonstration. When we were talking -this morning it appeared to me that you did not realize the extent to -which it is possible to conceal identity under suitable conditions of -light. So I arranged, with Polton's rather reluctant assistance, to give -you ocular evidence. The conditions are not favourable—which makes the -demonstration more convincing. This is a very well-lighted room and -Polton is a very poor actor; in spite of which it has been possible for -you to sit opposite him for several minutes and look at him, I have no -doubt, very attentively, without discovering his identity. If the room -had been lighted only with a candle, and Polton had been equal to the -task of supporting his make-up with an appropriate voice and manner, the -deception would have been perfect." -</p> -<p> -"I can see that he has a wig on, quite plainly," said I. -</p> -<p> -"Yes; but you would not in a dimly lighted room. On the other hand, if -Polton were to walk down Fleet Street at mid-day in this condition, the -make-up would be conspicuously evident to any moderately observant -passer-by. The secret of making up consists in a careful adjustment to -the conditions of light and distance in which the make-up is to be seen. -That in use on the stage would look ridiculous in an ordinary room; that -which would serve in an artificially lighted room would look ridiculous -out of doors by daylight." -</p> -<p> -"Is any effective make-up possible out of doors in ordinary daylight?" I -asked. -</p> -<p> -"Oh, yes," replied Thorndyke. "But it must be on a totally different -scale from that of the stage. A wig, and especially a beard or -moustache, must be joined up at the edges with hair actually stuck on -the skin with transparent cement and carefully trimmed with scissors. -The same applies to eyebrows; and alterations in the colour of the skin -must be carried out much more subtly. Polton's nose has been built up -with a small covering of toupée-paste, the pimples on the cheeks -produced with little particles of the same material; and the general -tinting has been done with grease-paint with a very light scumble of -powder colour to take off some of the shine. This would be possible in -outdoor make-up, but it would have to be done with the greatest care and -delicacy; in fact, with what the art-critics call 'reticence.' A very -little make-up is sufficient and too much is fatal. You would be -surprised to see how little paste is required to alter the shape of the -nose and the entire character of the face." -</p> -<p> -At this moment there came a loud knock at the door; a single, solid dab -of the knocker which Polton seemed to recognize, for he ejaculated: -</p> -<p> -"Good lord, sir! That'll be Wilkins, the cabman! I'd forgotten all -about him. Whatever's to be done?" -</p> -<p> -He stared at us in ludicrous horror for a moment or two, and then, -snatching off his wig, beard and spectacles, poked them into a cupboard. -But his appearance was now too much even for Thorndyke—who hastily got -behind him—for he had now resumed his ordinary personality—but with a -very material difference. -</p> -<p> -"Oh, it's nothing to laugh at, sir," he exclaimed indignantly as I -crammed my handkerchief into my mouth. "Somebody's got to let him in, or -he'll go away." -</p> -<p> -"Yes; and that won't do," said Thorndyke. "But don't worry, Polton. You -can step into the office. I'll open the door." -</p> -<p> -Polton's presence of mind, however, seemed to have entirely forsaken -him, for he only hovered irresolutely in the wake of his principal. As -the door opened, a thick and husky voice inquired: -</p> -<p> -"Gent of the name of Polton live here?" -</p> -<p> -"Yes, quite right," said Thorndyke. "Come in. Your name is Wilkins, I -think?" -</p> -<p> -"That's me, sir," said the voice; and in response to Thorndyke's -invitation, a typical "growler" cabman of the old school, complete even -to imbricated cape and dangling badge, stalked into the room, and -glancing round with a mixture of embarrassment and defiance, suddenly -fixed on Polton's nose a look of devouring curiosity. -</p> -<p> -"Here you are, then," Polton remarked nervously. -</p> -<p> -"Yus," replied the cabman in a slightly hostile tone. "Here I am. What -am I wanted to do? And where's this here Mr. Polton?" -</p> -<p> -"I am Mr. Polton," replied our abashed assistant. -</p> -<p> -"Well, it's the other Mr. Polton what I want," said the cabman, with his -eyes still riveted on the olfactory prominence. -</p> -<p> -"There isn't any other Mr. Polton," our subordinate replied irritably. -"I am the—er—person who spoke to you in the shelter." -</p> -<p> -"Are you though?" said the manifestly incredulous cabby. "I shouldn't -have thought it; but you ought to know. What do you want me to do?" -</p> -<p> -"We want you," said Thorndyke, "to answer one or two questions. And the -first one is, Are you a teetotaller?" -</p> -<p> -The question being illustrated by the production of a decanter, the -cabman's dignity relaxed somewhat. -</p> -<p> -"I ain't bigoted," said he. -</p> -<p> -"Then sit down and mix yourself a glass of grog. Soda or plain water?" -</p> -<p> -"May as well have all the extries," replied the cabman, sitting down and -grasping the decanter with the air of a man who means business. "Per'aps -you wouldn't mind squirtin' out the soda, sir, bein' more used to it." -</p> -<p> -While these preliminaries were being arranged, Polton silently slipped -out of the room, and when our visitor had fortified himself with a gulp -of the uncommonly stiff mixture, the examination began. -</p> -<p> -"Your name, I think, is Wilkins?" said Thorndyke. -</p> -<p> -"That's me, sir. Samuel Wilkins is my name." -</p> -<p> -"And your occupation?" -</p> -<p> -"Is a very tryin' one and not paid for as it deserves. I drives a cab, -sir; a four-wheeled cab is what I drives; and a very poor job it is." -</p> -<p> -"Do you happen to remember a very foggy day about a month ago?" -</p> -<p> -"Do I not, sir! A regler sneezer that was! Wednesday, the fourteenth of -March. I remember the date because my benefit society came down on me -for arrears that morning." -</p> -<p> -"Will you tell us what happened to you between six and seven in the -evening of that day?" -</p> -<p> -"I will, sir," replied the cabman, emptying his tumbler by way of -bracing himself up for the effort. "A little before six I was waiting on -the arrival side of the Great Northern Station, King's Cross, when I see -a gentleman and a lady coming out. The gentleman he looks up and down -and then he sees me and walks up to the cab and opens the door and helps -the lady in. Then he says to me: 'Do you know New Inn?' he says. That's -what he says to me what was born and brought up in White Horse Alley, -Drury Lane. -</p> -<p> -"'Get inside,' says I. -</p> -<p> -"'Well,' says he, 'you drive in through the gate in Wych Street,' he -says, as if he expected me to go in by Houghton Street and down the -steps, 'and then,' he says, 'you drive nearly to the end and you'll see -a house with a large brass plate at the corner of the doorway. That's -where we want to be set down,' he says, and with that he nips in and -pulls up the windows and off we goes. -</p> -<p> -"It took us a full half-hour to get to New Inn through the fog, for I -had to get down and lead the horse part of the way. As I drove in under -the archway, I saw it was half-past six by the clock in the porter's -lodge. I drove down nearly to the end of the inn and drew up opposite a -house where there was a big brass plate by the doorway. It was number -thirty-one. Then the gent crawls out and hands me five bob—two -'arf-crowns—and then he helps the lady out, and away they waddles to -the doorway and I see them start up the stairs very slow—regler -Pilgrim's Progress. And that was the last I see of 'em." -</p> -<p> -Thorndyke wrote down the cabman's statement verbatim together with his -own questions, and then asked: -</p> -<p> -"Can you give us any description of the gentleman?" -</p> -<p> -"The gent," said Wilkins, was a very respectable-looking gent, though he -did look as if he'd had a drop of something short, and small blame to -him on a day like that. But he was all there, and he knew what was the -proper fare for a foggy evening, which is more than some of 'em do. He -was a elderly gent, about sixty, and he wore spectacles, but he didn't -seem to be able to see much through 'em. He was a funny 'un to look at; -as round in the back as a turtle and he walked with his head stuck -forward like a goose." -</p> -<p> -"What made you think he had been drinking?" -</p> -<p> -"Well, he wasn't as steady as he might have been on his pins. But he -wasn't drunk, you know. Only a bit wobbly on the plates." -</p> -<p> -"And the lady; what was she like?" -</p> -<p> -"I couldn't see much of her because her head was wrapped up in a sort of -woollen veil. But I should say she wasn't a chicken. Might have been -about the same age as the gent, but I couldn't swear to that. She seemed -a trifle rickety on the pins too; in fact they were a rum-looking -couple. I watched 'em tottering across the pavement and up the stairs, -hanging on to each other, him peering through his blinkers and she -trying to see through her veil, and I thought it was a jolly good job -they'd got a nice sound cab and a steady driver to bring 'em safe home." -</p> -<p> -"How was the lady dressed?" -</p> -<p> -"Can't rightly say, not being a hexpert. Her head was done up in this -here veil like a pudden in a cloth and she had a small hat on. She had a -dark brown mantle with a fringe of beads round it and a black dress; and -I noticed when she got into the cab at the station that one of her -stockings looked like the bellows of a concertina. That's all I can tell -you." -</p> -<p> -Thorndyke wrote down the last answer, and, having read the entire -statement aloud, handed the pen to our visitor. -</p> -<p> -"If that is all correct," he said, "I will ask you to sign your name at -the bottom." -</p> -<p> -"Do you want me to swear a affidavy that it's all true?" asked Wilkins. -</p> -<p> -"No, thank you," replied Thorndyke. "We may have to call you to give -evidence in court, and then you'll be sworn; and you'll also be paid for -your attendance. For the present I want you to keep your own counsel and -say nothing to anybody about having been here. We have to make some -other inquiries and we don't want the affair talked about." -</p> -<p> -"I see, sir," said Wilkins, as he laboriously traced his signature at -the foot of the statement; "you don't want the other parties for to ogle -your lay. All right, sir; you can depend on me. I'm fly, I am." -</p> -<p> -"Thank you, Wilkins," said Thorndyke. "And now what are we to give you -for your trouble in coming here?" -</p> -<p> -"I'll leave the fare to you, sir. You know what the information's worth; -but I should think 'arf a thick-un wouldn't hurt you." -</p> -<p> -Thorndyke laid on the table a couple of sovereigns, at the sight of -which the cabman's eyes glistened. -</p> -<p> -"We have your address, Wilkins," said he. "If we want you as a witness -we shall let you know, and if not, there will be another two pounds for -you at the end of a fortnight, provided you have not let this little -interview leak out." -</p> -<p> -Wilkins gathered up the spoils gleefully. "You can trust me, sir," said -he, "for to keep my mouth shut. I knows which side my bread's buttered. -Good night, gentlemen all." -</p> -<p> -With this comprehensive salute he moved towards the door and let -himself out. -</p> -<p> -"Well, Jervis; what do you think of it?" Thorndyke asked, as the -cabman's footsteps faded away in a creaky diminuendo. -</p> -<p> -"I don't know what to think. This woman is a new factor in the case and -I don't know how to place her." -</p> -<p> -"Not entirely new," said Thorndyke. "You have not forgotten those beads -that we found in Jeffrey's bedroom, have you?" -</p> -<p> -"No, I had not forgotten them, but I did not see that they told us much -excepting that some woman had apparently been in his bedroom at some -time." -</p> -<p> -"That, I think, is all that they did tell us. But now they tell us that -a particular woman was in his bedroom at a particular time, which is a -good deal more significant." -</p> -<p> -"Yes. It almost looks as if she must have been there when he made away -with himself." -</p> -<p> -"It does, very much." -</p> -<p> -"By the way, you were right about the colours of those beads, and also -about the way they were used." -</p> -<p> -"As to their use, that was a mere guess; but it has turned out to be -correct. It was well that we found the beads, for, small as is the -amount of information they give, it is still enough to carry us a stage -further." -</p> -<p> -"How so?" -</p> -<p> -"I mean that the cabman's evidence tells us only that this woman entered -the house. The beads tell us that she was in the bedroom; which, as you -say, seems to connect her to some extent with Jeffrey's death. Not -necessarily, of course. It is only a suggestion; but a rather strong -suggestion under the peculiar circumstances." -</p> -<p> -"Even so," said I, "this new fact seems to me so far from clearing up -the mystery, only to add to it a fresh element of still deeper mystery. -The porter's evidence at the inquest could leave no doubt that Jeffrey -contemplated suicide, and his preparations pointedly suggest this -particular night as the time selected by him for doing away with -himself. Is not that so?" -</p> -<p> -"Certainly. The porter's evidence was very clear on that point." -</p> -<p> -"Then I don't see where this woman comes in. It is obvious that her -presence at the inn, and especially in the bedroom, on this occasion and -in these strange, secret circumstances, has a rather sinister look; but -yet I do not see in what way she could have been connected with the -tragedy. Perhaps, after all, she has nothing to do with it. You remember -that Jeffrey went to the lodge about eight o'clock, to pay his rent, and -chatted for some time with the porter. That looks as if the lady had -already left." -</p> -<p> -"Yes," said Thorndyke. "But, on the other hand, Jeffrey's remarks to the -porter with reference to the cab do not quite agree with the account -that we have just heard from Wilkins. Which suggests—as does Wilkins's -account generally—some secrecy as to the lady's visit to his chambers." -</p> -<p> -"Do you know who the woman was?" I asked. -</p> -<p> -"No, I don't know," he replied. "I have a rather strong suspicion that I -can identify her, but I am waiting for some further facts." -</p> -<p> -"Is your suspicion founded on some new matter that you have discovered, -or is it deducible from facts that are known to me?" -</p> -<p> -"I think," he replied, "that you know practically all that I know, -although I have, in one instance, turned a very strong suspicion into a -certainty by further inquiries. But I think you ought to be able to form -some idea as to who this lady probably was." -</p> -<p> -"But no woman has been mentioned in the case at all." -</p> -<p> -"No; but I think you should be able to give this lady a name, -notwithstanding." -</p> -<p> -"Should I? Then I begin to suspect that I am not cut out for -medico-legal practice, for I don't see the faintest glimmer of a -suggestion." -</p> -<p> -Thorndyke smiled benevolently. "Don't be discouraged, Jervis," said he. -"I expect that when you first began to go round the wards, you doubted -whether you were cut out for medical practice. I did. For special work -one needs special knowledge and an acquired faculty for making use of -it. What does a second year's student make of a small thoracic aneurysm? -He knows the anatomy of the chest; he begins to know the normal heart -sounds and areas of dullness; but he cannot yet fit his various items of -knowledge together. Then comes the experienced physician and perhaps -makes a complete diagnosis without any examination at all, merely from -hearing the patient speak or cough. He has the same facts as the -student, but he has acquired the faculty of instantly connecting an -abnormality of function with its correleated anatomical change. It is a -matter of experience. And, with your previous training, you will soon -acquire the faculty. Try to observe everything. Let nothing escape you. -And try constantly to find some connection between facts and events that -seem to be unconnected. That is my advice to you; and with that we will -put away the Blackmore case for the present and consider our day's work -at an end." -</p> - -<p> </p> -<p> </p> -<a name="CH14"><!-- CH14 --></a> -<h2> - Chapter XIV -</h2> - -<h3> -Thorndyke Lays the Mine -</h3> -<p> </p> -<p> -The information supplied by Mr. Samuel Wilkins, so far from dispelling -the cloud of mystery that hung over the Blackmore case, only enveloped -it in deeper obscurity, so far as I was concerned. The new problem that -Thorndyke offered for solution was a tougher one than any of the others. -He proposed that I should identify and give a name to this mysterious -woman. But how could I? No woman, excepting Mrs. Wilson, had been -mentioned in connection with the case. This new <i>dramatis persona</i> had -appeared suddenly from nowhere and straightway vanished without leaving -a trace, excepting the two or three beads that we had picked up in -Jeffrey's room. -</p> -<p> -Nor was it in the least clear what part, if any, she had played in the -tragedy. The facts still pointed as plainly to suicide as before her -appearance. Jeffrey's repeated hints as to his intentions, and the very -significant preparations that he had made, were enough to negative any -idea of foul play. And yet the woman's presence in the chambers at that -time, the secret manner of her arrival and her precautions against -recognition, strongly suggested some kind of complicity in the dreadful -event that followed. -</p> -<p> -But what complicity is possible in the case of suicide? The woman might -have furnished him with the syringe and the poison, but it would not -have been necessary for her to go to his chambers for that purpose. -Vague ideas of persuasion and hypnotic suggestion floated through my -brain; but the explanations did not fit the case and the hypnotic -suggestion of crime is not very convincing to the medical mind. Then I -thought of blackmail in connection with some disgraceful secret; but -though this was a more hopeful suggestion, it was not very probable, -considering Jeffrey's age and character. -</p> -<p> -And all these speculations failed to throw the faintest light on the -main question: "Who was this woman?" -</p> -<p> -A couple of days passed, during which Thorndyke made no further -reference to the case. He was, most of the time, away from home, though -how he was engaged I had no idea. What was rather more unusual was that -Polton seemed to have deserted the laboratory and taken to outdoor -pursuits. I assumed that he had seized the opportunity of leaving me in -charge, and I dimly surmised that he was acting as Thorndyke's private -inquiry agent, as he seemed to have done in the case of Samuel Wilkins. -</p> -<p> -On the evening of the second day Thorndyke came home in obviously good -spirits, and his first proceedings aroused my expectant curiosity. He -went to a cupboard and brought forth a box of Trichinopoly cheroots. Now -the Trichinopoly cheroot was Thorndyke's one dissipation, to be enjoyed -only on rare and specially festive occasions; which, in practice, meant -those occasions on which he had scored some important point or solved -some unusually tough problem. Wherefore I watched him with lively -interest. -</p> -<p> -"It's a pity that the 'Trichy' is such a poisonous beast," he remarked, -taking up one of the cheroots and sniffing at it delicately. "There is -no other cigar like it, to a really abandoned smoker." He laid the cigar -back in the box and continued: "I think I shall treat myself to one -after dinner to celebrate the occasion." -</p> -<p> -"What occasion?" I asked. -</p> -<p> -"The completion of the Blackmore case. I am just going to write to -Marchmont advising him to enter a caveat." -</p> -<p> -"Do you mean to say that you have discovered a flaw in the will, after -all?" -</p> -<p> -"A flaw!" he exclaimed. "My dear Jervis, that second will is a forgery." -</p> -<p> -I stared at him in amazement; for his assertion sounded like nothing -more or less than arrant nonsense. -</p> -<p> -"But the thing is impossible, Thorndyke," I said. "Not only did the -witnesses recognize their own signatures and the painter's greasy -finger-marks, but they had both read the will and remembered its -contents." -</p> -<p> -"Yes; that is the interesting feature in the case. It is a very pretty -problem. I shall give you a last chance to solve it. To-morrow evening -we shall have to give a full explanation, so you have another -twenty-four hours in which to think it over. And, meanwhile, I am going -to take you to my club to dine. I think we shall be pretty safe there -from Mrs. Schallibaum." -</p> -<p> -He sat down and wrote a letter, which was apparently quite a short one, -and having addressed and stamped it, prepared to go out. -</p> -<p> -"Come," said he, "let us away to 'the gay and festive scenes and halls -of dazzling light.' We will lay the mine in the Fleet Street pillar box. -I should like to be in Marchmont's office when it explodes." -</p> -<p> -"I expect, for that matter," said I, "that the explosion will be felt -pretty distinctly in these chambers." -</p> -<p> -"I expect so, too," replied Thorndyke; "and that reminds me that I shall -be out all day to-morrow, so, if Marchmont calls, you must do all that -you can to persuade him to come round after dinner and bring Stephen -Blackmore, if possible. I am anxious to have Stephen here, as he will be -able to give us some further information and confirm certain matters of -fact." -</p> -<p> -I promised to exercise my utmost powers of persuasion on Mr. Marchmont -which I should certainly have done on my own account, being now on the -very tiptoe of curiosity to hear Thorndyke's explanation of the -unthinkable conclusion at which he had arrived—and the subject dropped -completely; nor could I, during the rest of the evening, induce my -colleague to reopen it even in the most indirect or allusive manner. -</p> -<p> -Our explanations in respect of Mr. Marchmont were fully realized; for, -on the following morning, within an hour of Thorndyke's departure from -our chambers, the knocker was plied with more than usual emphasis, and, -on my opening the door, I discovered the solicitor in company with a -somewhat older gentleman. Mr. Marchmont appeared somewhat out of humour, -while his companion was obviously in a state of extreme irritation. -</p> -<p> -"How d'you do, Dr. Jervis?" said Marchmont as he entered at my -invitation. "Your friend, I suppose, is not in just now?" -</p> -<p> -"No; and he will not be returning until the evening." -</p> -<p> -"Hm; I'm sorry. We wished to see him rather particularly. This is my -partner, Mr. Winwood." -</p> -<p> -The latter gentleman bowed stiffly and Marchmont continued: -</p> -<p> -"We have had a letter from Dr. Thorndyke, and it is, I may say, a rather -curious letter; in fact, a very singular letter indeed." -</p> -<p> -"It is the letter of a madman!" growled Mr. Winwood. -</p> -<p> -"No, no, Winwood; nothing of the kind. Control yourself, I beg you. But -really, the letter is rather incomprehensible. It relates to the will of -the late Jeffrey Blackmore—you know the main facts of the case; and we -cannot reconcile it with those facts." -</p> -<p> -"This is the letter," exclaimed Mr. Winwood, dragging the document from -his wallet and slapping it down on the table. "If you are acquainted -with the case, sir, just read that, and let us hear what <i>you</i> think." -</p> -<p> -I took up the letter and read aloud: -</p> -<blockquote> -<p> -"JEFFREY BLACKMORE, DECD. -</p> -<p> -"DEAR MR. MARCHMONT,— -</p> -<p> -"I have gone into this case with great care and have now no doubt that -the second will is a forgery. Criminal proceedings will, I think, be -inevitable, but meanwhile it would be wise to enter a caveat. -</p> -<p> -"If you could look in at my chambers to-morrow evening we could talk the -case over; and I should be glad if you could bring Mr. Stephen -Blackmore; whose personal knowledge of the events and the parties -concerned would be of great assistance in clearing up obscure details. -</p> -<p> -"I am, -</p> -<p> -"Yours sincerely, -</p> -<p> -"JOHN EVELYN THORNDYKE -</p> -<p> -"C.F. MARCHMONT, ESQ." -</p> -</blockquote> -<p> -"Well!" exclaimed Mr. Winwood, glaring ferociously at me, "what do you -think of the learned counsel's opinion?" -</p> -<p> -"I knew that Thorndyke was writing to you to this effect," I replied, -"but I must frankly confess that I can make nothing of it. Have you -acted on his advice?" -</p> -<p> -"Certainly not!" shouted the irascible lawyer. "Do you suppose that we -wish to make ourselves the laughing-stock of the courts? The thing is -impossible—ridiculously impossible!" -</p> -<p> -"It can't be that, you know," I said, a little stiffly, for I was -somewhat nettled by Mr. Winwood's manner, "or Thorndyke would not have -written this letter. The conclusion looks as impossible to me as it does -to you; but I have complete confidence in Thorndyke. If he says that the -will is a forgery, I have no doubt that it is a forgery." -</p> -<p> -"But how the deuce can it be?" roared Winwood. "You know the -circumstances under which the will was executed." -</p> -<p> -"Yes; but so does Thorndyke. And he is not a man who overlooks important -facts. It is useless to argue with me. I am in a complete fog about the -case myself. You had better come in this evening and talk it over with -him as he suggests." -</p> -<p> -"It is very inconvenient," grumbled Mr. Winwood. "We shall have to dine -in town." -</p> -<p> -"Yes," said Marchmont, "but it is the only thing to be done. As Dr. -Jervis says, we must take it that Thorndyke has something solid to base -his opinion on. He doesn't make elementary mistakes. And, of course, if -what he says is correct, Mr. Stephen's position is totally changed." -</p> -<p> -"Bah!" exclaimed Winwood, "he has found a mare's nest, I tell you. -Still, I agree that the explanation should be worth hearing." -</p> -<p> -"You mustn't mind Winwood," said Marchmont, in an apologetic undertone; -"he's a peppery old fellow with a rough tongue, but he doesn't mean any -harm." Which statement Winwood assented to—or dissented from; for it -was impossible to say which—by a prolonged growl. -</p> -<p> -"We shall expect you then," I said, "about eight to-night, and you will -try to bring Mr. Stephen with you?" -</p> -<p> -"Yes," replied Marchmont; "I think we can promise that he shall come -with us. I have sent him a telegram asking him to attend." -</p> -<p> -With this the two lawyers took their departure, leaving me to meditate -upon my colleague's astonishing statement; which I did, considerably to -the prejudice of other employment. That Thorndyke would be able to -justify the opinion that he had given, I had no doubt whatever; but yet -there was no denying that his proposition was what Mr. Dick Swiveller -would call "a staggerer." -</p> -<p> -When Thorndyke returned, I informed him of the visit of our two friends, -and acquainted him with the sentiments that they had expressed; whereat -he smiled with quiet amusement. -</p> -<p> -"I thought," he remarked, "that letter would bring Marchmont to our door -before long. As to Winwood, I have never met him, but I gather that he -is one of those people whom you 'mustn't mind.' In a general way, I -object to people who tacitly claim exemption from the ordinary rules of -conduct that are held to be binding on their fellows. But, as he -promises to give us what the variety artists call 'an extra turn,' we -will make the best of him and give him a run for his money." -</p> -<p> -Here Thorndyke smiled mischievously—I understood the meaning of that -smile later in the evening—and asked: "What do you think of the affair -yourself?" -</p> -<p> -"I have given it up," I answered. "To my paralysed brain, the Blackmore -case is like an endless algebraical problem propounded by an insane -mathematician." -</p> -<p> -Thorndyke laughed at my comparison, which I flatter myself was a rather -apt one. -</p> -<p> -"Come and dine," said he, "and let us crack a bottle, that our hearts -may not turn to water under the frown of the disdainful Winwood. I think -the old 'Bell' in Holborn will meet our present requirements better than -the club. There is something jovial and roystering about an ancient -tavern; but we must keep a sharp lookout for Mrs. Schallibaum." -</p> -<p> -Thereupon we set forth; and, after a week's close imprisonment, I once -more looked upon the friendly London streets, the cheerfully lighted -shop windows and the multitudes of companionable strangers who moved -unceasingly along the pavements. -</p> - -<p> </p> -<p> </p> -<a name="CH15"><!-- CH15 --></a> -<h2> - Chapter XV -</h2> - -<h3> -Thorndyke Explodes the Mine -</h3> -<p> </p> -<p> -We had not been back in our chambers more than a few minutes when the -little brass knocker on the inner door rattled out its summons. -Thorndyke himself opened the door, and, finding our three expected -visitors on the threshold, he admitted them and closed the "oak." -</p> -<p> -"We have accepted your invitation, you see," said Marchmont, whose -manner was now a little flurried and uneasy. "This is my partner, Mr. -Winwood; you haven't met before, I think. Well, we thought we should -like to hear some further particulars from you, as we could not quite -understand your letter." -</p> -<p> -"My conclusion, I suppose," said Thorndyke, "was a little unexpected?" -</p> -<p> -"It was more than that, sir," exclaimed Winwood. "It was absolutely -irreconcilable either with the facts of the case or with common physical -possibilities." -</p> -<p> -"At the first glance," Thorndyke agreed, "it would probably have that -appearance." -</p> -<p> -"It has that appearance still to me." said Winwood, growing suddenly red -and wrathful, "and I may say that I speak as a solicitor who was -practising in the law when you were an infant in arms. You tell us, sir, -that this will is a forgery; this will, which was executed in broad -daylight in the presence of two unimpeachable witnesses who have sworn, -not only to their signatures and the contents of the document, but to -their very finger-marks on the paper. Are those finger-marks forgeries, -too? Have you examined and tested them?" -</p> -<p> -"I have not," replied Thorndyke. "The fact is they are of no interest to -me, as I am not disputing the witnesses' signatures." -</p> -<p> -At this, Mr. Winwood fairly danced with irritation. -</p> -<p> -"Marchmont!" he exclaimed fiercely, "you know this good gentleman, I -believe. Tell me, is he addicted to practical jokes?" -</p> -<p> -"Now, my dear Winwood," groaned Marchmont, "I pray you—I beg you to -control yourself. No doubt—" -</p> -<p> -"But confound it!" roared Winwood, "you have, yourself, heard him say -that the will is a forgery, but that he doesn't dispute the signatures; -which," concluded Winwood, banging his fist down on the table, "is -damned nonsense." -</p> -<p> -"May I suggest," interposed Stephen Blackmore, "that we came here to -receive Dr. Thorndyke's explanation of his letter. Perhaps it would be -better to postpone any comments until we have heard it." -</p> -<p> -"Undoubtedly, undoubtedly," said Marchmont. "Let me entreat you, -Winwood, to listen patiently and refrain from interruption until we have -heard our learned friend's exposition of the case." -</p> -<p> -"Oh, very well," Winwood replied sulkily; "I'll say no more." -</p> -<p> -He sank into a chair with the manner of a man who shuts himself up and -turns the key; and so remained—excepting when the internal pressure -approached bursting-point—throughout the subsequent proceedings, -silent, stony and impassive, like a seated statue of Obstinacy. -</p> -<p> -"I take it," said Marchmont, "that you have some new facts that are not -in our possession?" -</p> -<p> -"Yes," replied Thorndyke; "we have some new facts, and we have made some -new use of the old ones. But how shall I lay the case before you? Shall -I state my theory of the sequence of events and furnish the verification -afterwards? Or shall I retrace the actual course of my investigations -and give you the facts in the order in which I obtained them myself, -with the inferences from them?" -</p> -<p> -"I almost think," said Mr. Marchmont, "that it would be better if you -would put us in possession of the new facts. Then, if the conclusions -that follow from them are not sufficiently obvious, we could hear the -argument. What do you say, Winwood?" -</p> -<p> -Mr. Winwood roused himself for an instant, barked out the one word -"Facts," and shut himself up again with a snap. -</p> -<p> -"You would like to have the new facts by themselves?" said Thorndyke. -</p> -<p> -"If you please. The facts only, in the first place, at any rate." -</p> -<p> -"Very well," said Thorndyke; and here I caught his eye with a -mischievous twinkle in it that I understood perfectly; for I had most of -the facts myself and realized how much these two lawyers were likely to -extract from them. Winwood was going to "have a run for his money," as -Thorndyke had promised. -</p> -<p> -My colleague, having placed on the table by his side a small cardboard -box and the sheets of notes from his file, glanced quickly at Mr. -Winwood and began: -</p> -<p> -"The first important new facts came into my possession on the day on -which you introduced the case to me. In the evening, after you left, I -availed myself of Mr. Stephen's kind invitation to look over his uncle's -chambers in New Inn. I wished to do so in order to ascertain, if -possible, what had been the habits of the deceased during his residence -there. When I arrived with Dr. Jervis, Mr. Stephen was in the chambers, -and I learned from him that his uncle was an Oriental scholar of some -position and that he had a very thorough acquaintance with the cuneiform -writing. Now, while I was talking with Mr. Stephen I made a very curious -discovery. On the wall over the fire-place hung a large framed -photograph of an ancient Persian inscription in the cuneiform character; -and that photograph was upside down." -</p> -<p> -"Upside down!" exclaimed Stephen. "But that is really very odd." -</p> -<p> -"Very odd indeed," agreed Thorndyke, "and very suggestive. The way in -which it came to be inverted is pretty obvious and also rather -suggestive. The photograph had evidently been in the frame some years -but had apparently never been hung up before." -</p> -<p> -"It had not," said Stephen, "though I don't know how you arrived at the -fact. It used to stand on the mantelpiece in his old rooms in Jermyn -Street." -</p> -<p> -"Well," continued Thorndyke, "the frame-maker had pasted his label on -the back of the frame, and as this label hung the right way up, it -appeared as if the person who fixed the photograph on the wall had -adopted it as a guide." -</p> -<p> -"It is very extraordinary," said Stephen. "I should have thought the -person who hung it would have asked Uncle Jeffrey which was the right -way up; and I can't imagine how on earth it could have hung all those -months without his noticing it. He must have been practically blind." -</p> -<p> -Here Marchmont, who had been thinking hard, with knitted brows, suddenly -brightened up. -</p> -<p> -"I see your point," said he. "You mean that if Jeffrey was as blind as -that, it would have been possible for some person to substitute a false -will, which he might sign without noticing the substitution." -</p> -<p> -"That wouldn't make the will a forgery," growled Winwood. "If Jeffrey -signed it, it was Jeffrey's will. You could contest it if you could -prove the fraud. But he said: 'This is my will,' and the two witnesses -read it and have identified it." -</p> -<p> -"Did they read it aloud?" asked Stephen. -</p> -<p> -"No, they did not," replied Thorndyke. -</p> -<p> -"Can you prove substitution?" asked Marchmont. -</p> -<p> -"I haven't asserted it," answered Thorndyke, "My position is that the -will is a forgery." -</p> -<p> -"But it is not," said Winwood. -</p> -<p> -"We won't argue it now," said Thorndyke. "I ask you to note the fact -that the inscription was upside down. I also observed on the walls of -the chambers some valuable Japanese colour-prints on which were recent -damp-spots. I noted that the sitting-room had a gas-stove and that the -kitchen contained practically no stores or remains of food and hardly -any traces of even the simplest cooking. In the bedroom I found a large -box that had contained a considerable stock of hard stearine candles, -six to the pound, and that was now nearly empty. I examined the clothing -of the deceased. On the soles of the boots I observed dried mud, which -was unlike that on my own and Jervis's boots, from the gravelly square -of the inn. I noted a crease on each leg of the deceased man's trousers -as if they had been turned up half-way to the knee; and in the waistcoat -pocket I found the stump of a 'Contango' pencil. On the floor of the -bedroom, I found a portion of an oval glass somewhat like that of a -watch or locket, but ground at the edge to a double bevel. Dr. Jervis -and I also found one or two beads and a bugle, all of dark brown glass." -</p> -<p> -Here Thorndyke paused, and Marchmont, who had been gazing at him with -growing amazement, said nervously: -</p> -<p> -"Er—yes. Very interesting. These observations of yours—er—are—" -</p> -<p> -"Are all the observations that I made at New Inn." -</p> -<p> -The two lawyers looked at one another and Stephen Blackmore stared -fixedly at a spot on the hearth-rug. Then Mr. Winwood's face contorted -itself into a sour, lopsided smile. -</p> -<p> -"You might have observed a good many other things, sir," said he, "if -you had looked. If you had examined the doors, you would have noted that -they had hinges and were covered with paint; and, if you had looked up -the chimney you might have noted that it was black inside." -</p> -<p> -"Now, now, Winwood," protested Marchmont in an agony of uneasiness as to -what his partner might say next, "I must really beg you—er—to refrain -from—what Mr. Winwood means, Dr. Thorndyke, is that—er—we do not -quite perceive the relevancy of these—ah—observations of yours." -</p> -<p> -"Probably not," said Thorndyke, "but you will perceive their relevancy -later. For the present, I will ask you to note the facts and bear them -in mind, so that you may be able to follow the argument when we come to -that. -</p> -<p> -"The next set of data I acquired on the same evening, when Dr. Jervis -gave me a detailed account of a very strange adventure that befell him. -I need not burden you with all the details, but I will give you the -substance of his story." -</p> -<p> -He then proceeded to recount the incidents connected with my visits to -Mr. Graves, dwelling on the personal peculiarities of the parties -concerned and especially of the patient, and not even forgetting the -very singular spectacles worn by Mr. Weiss. He also explained briefly -the construction of the chart, presenting the latter for the inspection -of his hearers. To this recital our three visitors listened in utter -bewilderment, as, indeed did I also; for I could not conceive in what -way my adventures could possibly be related to the affairs of the late -Mr. Blackmore. This was manifestly the view taken by Mr. Marchmont, for, -during a pause in which the chart was handed to him, he remarked -somewhat stiffly: -</p> -<p> -"I am assuming, Dr. Thorndyke, that the curious story you are telling us -has some relevance to the matter in which we are interested." -</p> -<p> -"You are quite correct in your assumption," replied Thorndyke. "The -story is very relevant indeed, as you will presently be convinced." -</p> -<p> -"Thank you," said Marchmont, sinking back once more into his chair with -a sigh of resignation. -</p> -<p> -"A few days ago," pursued Thorndyke, "Dr. Jervis and I located, with the -aid of this chart, the house to which he had been called. We found that -the late tenant had left somewhat hurriedly and that the house was to -let; and, as no other kind of investigation was possible, we obtained -the keys and made an exploration of the premises." -</p> -<p> -Here he gave a brief account of our visit and the conditions that we -observed, and was proceeding to furnish a list of the articles that we -had found under the grate, when Mr. Winwood started from his chair. -</p> -<p> -"Really, sir!" he exclaimed, "this is too much! Have I come here, at -great personal inconvenience, to hear you read the inventory of a -dust-heap?" -</p> -<p> -Thorndyke smiled benevolently and caught my eye, once more, with a gleam -of amusement. -</p> -<p> -"Sit down, Mr. Winwood," he said quietly. "You came here to learn the -facts of the case, and I am giving them to you. Please don't interrupt -needlessly and waste time." -</p> -<p> -Winwood stared at him ferociously for several seconds; then, somewhat -disconcerted by the unruffled calm of his manner, he uttered a snort of -defiance, sat down heavily and shut himself up again. -</p> -<p> -"We will now," Thorndyke continued, with unmoved serenity, "consider -these relics in more detail, and we will begin with this pair of -spectacles. They belonged to a person who was near-sighted and -astigmatic in the left eye and almost certainly blind in the right. Such -a description agrees entirely with Dr. Jervis's account of the sick -man." -</p> -<p> -He paused for the moment, and then, as no one made any comment, -proceeded: -</p> -<p> -"We next come to these little pieces of reed, which you, Mr. Stephen, -will probably recognize as the remains of a Japanese brush, such as is -used for writing in Chinese ink or for making small drawings." -</p> -<p> -Again he paused, as though expecting some remark from his listeners; but -no one spoke, and he continued: -</p> -<p> -"Then there is this bottle with the theatrical wig-maker's label on it, -which once contained cement such as is used for fixing on false beards, -moustaches or eyebrows." -</p> -<p> -He paused once more and looked round expectantly at his audience, none -of whom, however, volunteered any remark. -</p> -<p> -"Do none of these objects that I have described and shown you, seem to -have any significance for us?" he asked, in a tone of some surprise. -</p> -<p> -"They convey nothing to me," said Mr. Marchmont, glancing at his -partner, who shook his head like a restive horse. -</p> -<p> -"Nor to you, Mr. Stephen?" -</p> -<p> -"No," replied Stephen. "Under the existing circumstances they convey no -reasonable suggestion to me." -</p> -<p> -Thorndyke hesitated as if he were half inclined to say something more; -then, with a slight shrug, he turned over his notes and resumed: -</p> -<p> -"The next group of new facts is concerned with the signatures of the -recent cheques. We have photographed them and placed them together for -the purpose of comparison and analysis." -</p> -<p> -"I am not prepared to question the signatures." said Winwood. "We have -had a highly expert opinion, which would override ours in a court of law -even if we differed from it; which I think we do not." -</p> -<p> -"Yes," said Marchmont; "that is so. I think we must accept the -signatures, especially as that of the will has been proved, beyond any -question" to be authentic." -</p> -<p> -"Very well," agreed Thorndyke; "we will pass over the signatures. Then -we have some further evidence in regard to the spectacles, which serves -to verify our conclusions respecting them." -</p> -<p> -"Perhaps," said Marchmont, "we might pass over that, too, as we do not -seem to have reached any conclusions." -</p> -<p> -"As you please," said Thorndyke. "It is important, but we can reserve it -for verification. The next item will interest you more, I think. It is -the signed and witnessed statement of Samuel Wilkins, the driver of the -cab in which the deceased came home to the inn on the evening of his -death." -</p> -<p> -My colleague was right. An actual document, signed by a tangible -witness, who could be put in the box and sworn, brought both lawyers to -a state of attention; and when Thorndyke read out the cabman's evidence, -their attention soon quickened into undisguised astonishment. -</p> -<p> -"But this is a most mysterious affair," exclaimed Marchmont. "Who could -this woman have been, and what could she have been doing in Jeffrey's -chambers at this time? Can you throw any light on it, Mr. Stephen?" -</p> -<p> -"No, indeed I can't," replied Stephen. "It is a complete mystery to me. -My uncle Jeffrey was a confirmed old bachelor, and, although he did not -dislike women, he was far from partial to their society, wrapped up as -he was in his favourite studies. To the best of my belief, he had not a -single female friend. He was not on intimate terms even with his sister, -Mrs. Wilson." -</p> -<p> -"Very remarkable," mused Marchmont; "most remarkable. But, perhaps, you -can tell us, Dr. Thorndyke, who this woman was?" -</p> -<p> -"I think," replied Thorndyke, "that the next item of evidence will -enable you to form an opinion for yourselves. I only obtained it -yesterday, and, as it made my case quite complete, I wrote off to you -immediately. It is the statement of Joseph Ridley, another cabman, and -unfortunately, a rather dull, unobservant fellow, unlike Wilkins. He has -not much to tell us, but what little he has is highly instructive. Here -is the statement, signed by the deponent and witnessed by me: -</p> -<p> -"'My name is Joseph Ridley. I am the driver of a four-wheeled cab. On -the fourteenth of March, the day of the great fog, I was waiting at -Vauxhall Station, where I had just set down a fare. About five o'clock a -lady came and told me to drive over to Upper Kennington Lane to take up -a passenger. She was a middle-sized woman. I could not tell what her age -was, or what she was like, because her head was wrapped up in a sort of -knitted, woollen veil to keep out the fog. I did not notice how she was -dressed. She got into the cab and I led the horse over to Upper -Kennington Lane and a little way up the lane, until the lady tapped at -the front window for me to stop. -</p> -<p> -"'She got out of the cab and told me to wait. Then she went away and -disappeared in the fog. Presently a lady and gentleman came from the -direction in which she had gone. The lady looked like the same lady, but -I won't answer to that. Her head was wrapped up in the same kind of veil -or shawl, and I noticed that she had on a dark coloured mantle with -bead fringe on it. -</p> -<p> -"'The gentleman was clean shaved and wore spectacles, and he stooped a -good deal. I can't say whether his sight was good or bad. He helped the -lady into the cab and told me to drive to the Great Northern Station, -King's Cross. Then he got in himself and I drove off. I got to the -station about a quarter to six and the lady and gentleman got out. The -gentleman paid my fare and they both went into the station. I did not -notice anything unusual about either of them. Directly after they had -gone, I got a fresh fare and drove away.' -</p> -<p> -"That," Thorndyke concluded, "is Joseph Ridley's statement; and I think -it will enable you to give a meaning to the other facts that I have -offered for your consideration." -</p> -<p> -"I am not so sure about that," said Marchmont. "It is all exceedingly -mysterious. Your suggestion is, of course, that the woman who came to -New Inn in the cab was Mrs. Schallibaum!" -</p> -<p> -"Not at all," replied Thorndyke. "My suggestion is that the woman was -Jeffrey Blackmore." -</p> -<p> -There was deathly silence for a few moments. We were all absolutely -thunderstruck, and sat gaping at Thorndyke in speechless-astonishment. -Then—Mr. Winwood fairly bounced out of his chair. -</p> -<p> -"But—my—good—sir!" he screeched. "Jeffrey Blackmore was with her at -the time!" -</p> -<p> -"Naturally," replied Thorndyke, "my suggestion implies that the person -who was with her was not Jeffrey Blackmore." -</p> -<p> -"But he was!" bawled Winwood. "The porter saw him!" -</p> -<p> -"The porter saw a person whom he believed to be Jeffrey Blackmore. I -suggest that the porter's belief was erroneous." -</p> -<p> -"Well," snapped Winwood, "perhaps you can prove that it was. I don't see -how you are going to; but perhaps you can." -</p> -<p> -He subsided once more into his chair and glared defiantly at Thorndyke. -</p> -<p> -"You seemed," said Stephen, "to suggest some connection between the sick -man, Graves, and my uncle. I noted it at the time, but put it aside as -impossible. Was I right. Did you mean to suggest any connection?" -</p> -<p> -"I suggest something more than a connection. I suggest identity. My -position is that the sick man, Graves, was your uncle." -</p> -<p> -"From Dr. Jervis's description," said Stephen, "this man must have been -very like my uncle. Both were blind in the right eye and had very poor -vision with the left; and my uncle certainly used brushes of the kind -that you have shown us, when writing in the Japanese character, for I -have watched him and admired his skill; but—" -</p> -<p> -"But," said Marchmont, "there is the insuperable objection that, at the -very time when this man was lying sick in Kennington Lane, Mr. Jeffrey -was living at New Inn." -</p> -<p> -"What evidence is there of that?" asked Thorndyke. -</p> -<p> -"Evidence!" Marchmont exclaimed impatiently. "Why, my dear sir—" -</p> -<p> -He paused suddenly, and, leaning forward, regarded Thorndyke with a new -and rather startled expression. -</p> -<p> -"You mean to suggest—" he began. -</p> -<p> -"I suggest that Jeffrey Blackmore never lived at New Inn at all." -</p> -<p> -For the moment, Marchmont seemed absolutely paralysed by astonishment. -</p> -<p> -"This is an amazing proposition!" he exclaimed, at length. "Yet the -thing is certainly not impossible, for, now that you recall the fact, I -realize that no one who had known him previously—excepting his brother, -John—ever saw him at the inn. The question of identity was never -raised." -</p> -<p> -"Excepting," said Mr. Winwood, "in regard to the body; which was -certainly that of Jeffrey Blackmore." -</p> -<p> -"Yes, yes. Of course," said Marchmont. "I had forgotten that for the -moment. The body was identified beyond doubt. You don't dispute the -identity of the body, do you?" -</p> -<p> -"Certainly not," replied Thorndyke. -</p> -<p> -Here Mr. Winwood grasped his hair with both hands and stuck his elbows -on his knees, while Marchmont drew forth a large handkerchief and mopped -his forehead. Stephen Blackmore looked from one to the other -expectantly, and finally said: -</p> -<p> -"If I might make a suggestion, it would be that, as Dr. Thorndyke has -shown us the pieces now of the puzzle, he should be so kind as to put -them together for our information." -</p> -<p> -"Yes," agreed Marchmont, "that will be the best plan. Let us have the -argument, Doctor, and any additional evidence that you possess." -</p> -<p> -"The argument," said Thorndyke, "will be a rather long one, as the data -are so numerous, and there are some points in verification on which I -shall have to dwell in some detail. We will have some coffee to clear -our brains, and then I will bespeak your patience for what may seem like -a rather prolix demonstration." -</p> - -<p> </p> -<p> </p> -<a name="CH16"><!-- CH16 --></a> -<h2> - Chapter XVI -</h2> - -<h3> -An Exposition and a Tragedy -</h3> -<p> </p> -<p> -"You may have wondered," Thorndyke commenced, when he had poured out the -coffee and handed round the cups, "what induced me to undertake the -minute investigation of so apparently simple and straightforward a case. -Perhaps I had better explain that first and let you see what was the -real starting-point of the inquiry. -</p> -<p> -"When you, Mr. Marchmont and Mr. Stephen, introduced the case to me, I -made a very brief précis of the facts as you presented them, and of -these there were one or two which immediately attracted my attention. In -the first place, there was the will. It was a very strange will. It was -perfectly unnecessary. It contained no new matter; it expressed no -changed intentions; it met no new circumstances, as known to the -testator. In short it was not really a new will at all, but merely a -repetition of the first one, drafted in different and less suitable -language. It differed only in introducing a certain ambiguity from which -the original was free. It created the possibility that, in certain -circumstances, not known to or anticipated by the testator, John -Blackmore might become the principal beneficiary, contrary to the -obvious wishes of the testator. -</p> -<p> -"The next point that impressed me was the manner of Mrs. Wilson's death. -She died of cancer. Now people do not die suddenly and unexpectedly of -cancer. This terrible disease stands almost alone in that it marks out -its victim months in advance. A person who has an incurable cancer is a -person whose death may be predicted with certainty and its date fixed -within comparatively narrow limits. -</p> -<p> -"And now observe the remarkable series of coincidences that are brought -into light when we consider this peculiarity of the disease. Mrs. Wilson -died on the twelfth of March of this present year. Mr. Jeffrey's second -will was signed on the twelfth of November of last year; at a time, that -is to say, when the existence of cancer must have been known to Mrs. -Wilson's doctor, and might have been known to any of her relatives who -chose to inquire after her. -</p> -<p> -"Then you will observe that the remarkable change in Mr. Jeffrey's -habits coincides in the most singular way with the same events. The -cancer must have been detectable as early as September of last year; -about the time, in fact, at which Mrs. Wilson made her will. Mr. Jeffrey -went to the inn at the beginning of October. From that time his habits -were totally changed, and I can demonstrate to you that a change—not a -gradual, but an abrupt change—took place in the character of his -signature. -</p> -<p> -"In short, the whole of this peculiar set of circumstances—the change -in Jeffrey's habits, the change in his signature, and the execution of -his strange will—came into existence about the time when Mrs. Wilson -was first known to be suffering from cancer. -</p> -<p> -"This struck me as a very suggestive fact. -</p> -<p> -"Then there is the extraordinarily opportune date of Mr. Jeffrey's -death. Mrs. Wilson died on the twelfth of March. Mr. Jeffrey was found -dead on the fifteenth of March, having apparently died on the -fourteenth, on which day he was seen alive. If he had died only three -days sooner, he would have predeceased Mrs. Wilson, and her property -would never have devolved on him at all; while, if he had lived only a -day or two longer, he would have learned of her death and would -certainly have made a new will or codicil in his nephew's favour. -</p> -<p> -"Circumstances, therefore, conspired in the most singular manner in -favour of John Blackmore. -</p> -<p> -"But there is yet another coincidence. Jeffrey's body was found, by the -merest chance, the day after his death. But it might have remained -undiscovered for weeks, or even months; and if it had, it would have -been impossible to fix the date of his death. Then Mrs. Wilson's next -of kin would certainly have contested John Blackmore's claim—and -probably with success—on the ground that Jeffrey died before Mrs. -Wilson. But all this uncertainty is provided for by the circumstance -that Mr. Jeffrey paid his rent personally—and prematurely—to the -porter on the fourteenth of March, thus establishing beyond question the -fact that he was alive on that date; and yet further, in case the -porter's memory should be untrustworthy or his statement doubted, -Jeffrey furnished a signed and dated document—the cheque—which could -be produced in a court to furnish incontestable proof of survival. -</p> -<p> -"To sum up this part of the evidence. Here was a will which enabled John -Blackmore to inherit the fortune of a man who, almost certainly, had no -intention of bequeathing it to him. The wording of that will seemed to -be adjusted to the peculiarities of Mrs. Wilson's disease; and the death -of the testator occurred under a peculiar set of circumstances which -seemed to be exactly adjusted to the wording of the will. Or, to put it -in another way: the wording of the will and the time, the manner and the -circumstances of the testator's death, all seemed to be precisely -adjusted to the fact that the approximate date of Mrs. Wilson's death -was known some months before it occurred. -</p> -<p> -"Now you must admit that this compound group of coincidences, all -conspiring to a single end—the enrichment of John Blackmore—has a very -singular appearance. Coincidences are common enough in real life; but -we cannot accept too many at a time. My feeling was that there were too -many in this case and that I could not accept them without searching -inquiry." -</p> -<p> -Thorndyke paused, and Mr. Marchmont, who had listened with close -attention, nodded, as he glanced at his silent partner. -</p> -<p> -"You have stated the case with remarkable clearness," he said; "and I am -free to confess that some of the points that you have raised had escaped -my notice." -</p> -<p> -"My first idea," Thorndyke resumed, "was that John Blackmore, taking -advantage of the mental enfeeblement produced by the opium habit, had -dictated this will to Jeffrey, It was then that I sought permission to -inspect Jeffrey's chambers; to learn what I could about him and to see -for myself whether they presented the dirty and disorderly appearance -characteristic of the regular opium-smoker's den. But when, during a -walk into the City, I thought over the case, it seemed to me that this -explanation hardly met the facts. Then I endeavoured to think of some -other explanation; and looking over my notes I observed two points that -seemed worth considering. One was that neither of the witnesses to the -will was really acquainted with Jeffrey Blackmore; both being strangers -who had accepted his identity on his own statement. The other was that -no one who had previously known him, with the single exception of his -brother John, had ever seen Jeffrey at the inn. -</p> -<p> -"What was the import of these two facts? Probably they had none. But -still they suggested the desirability of considering the question: Was -the person who signed the will really Jeffrey Blackmore? The contrary -supposition—that some one had personated Jeffrey and forged his -signature to a false will—seemed wildly improbable, especially in view -of the identification of the body; but it involved no actual -impossibility; and it offered a complete explanation of the, otherwise -inexplicable, coincidences that I have mentioned. -</p> -<p> -"I did not, however, for a moment, think that this was the true -explanation, but I resolved to bear it in mind, to test it when the -opportunity arose, and consider it by the light of any fresh facts that -I might acquire. -</p> -<p> -"The new facts came sooner than I had expected. That same evening I went -with Dr. Jervis to New Inn and found Mr. Stephen in the chambers. By him -I was informed that Jeffrey was a learned Orientalist, with a quite -expert knowledge of the cuneiform writing; and even as he was telling me -this, I looked over his shoulder and saw a cuneiform inscription hanging -on the wall upside down. -</p> -<p> -"Now, of this there could be only one reasonable explanation. -Disregarding the fact that no one would screw the suspension plates on a -frame without ascertaining which was the right way up, and assuming it -to be hung up inverted, it was impossible that the misplacement could -have been overlooked by Jeffrey. He was not blind, though his sight was -defective. The frame was thirty inches long and the individual -characters nearly an inch in length—about the size of the D 18 letters -of Snellen's test-types, which can be read by a person of ordinary sight -at a distance of fifty-five feet. There was, I repeat, only one -reasonable explanation; which was that the person who had inhabited -those chambers was not Jeffrey Blackmore. -</p> -<p> -"This conclusion received considerable support from a fact which I -observed later, but mention in this place. On examining the soles of the -shoes taken from the dead man's feet, I found only the ordinary mud of -the streets. There was no trace of the peculiar gravelly mud that -adhered to my own boots and Jervis's, and which came from the square of -the inn. Yet the porter distinctly stated that the deceased, after -paying the rent, walked back towards his chambers across the square; the -mud of which should, therefore, have been conspicuous on his shoes. -</p> -<p> -"Thus, in a moment, a wildly speculative hypothesis had assumed a high -degree of probability. -</p> -<p> -"When Mr. Stephen was gone, Jervis and I looked over the chambers -thoroughly; and then another curious fact came to light. On the wall -were a number of fine Japanese colour-prints, all of which showed recent -damp-spots. Now, apart from the consideration that Jeffrey, who had been -at the trouble and expense of collecting these valuable prints, would -hardly have allowed them to rot on his walls, there arose the question: -How came they to be damp? There was a gas stove in the room, and a gas -stove has at least the virtue of preserving a dry atmosphere. It was -winter weather, when the stove would naturally be pretty constantly -alight. How came the walls to be so damp? The answer seemed to be that -the stove had not been constantly alight, but had been lighted only -occasionally. This suggestion was borne out by a further examination of -the rooms. In the kitchen there were practically no stores and hardly -any arrangements even for simple bachelor cooking; the bedroom offered -the same suggestion; the soap in the wash-stand was shrivelled and -cracked; there was no cast-off linen, and the shirts in the drawers, -though clean, had the peculiar yellowish, faded appearance that linen -acquires when long out of use. In short, the rooms had the appearance of -not having been lived in at all, but only visited at intervals. -</p> -<p> -"Against this view, however, was the statement of the night porter that -he had often seen a light in Jeffrey's sitting-room at one o'clock in -the morning, with the apparent implication that it was then turned out. -Now a light may be left in an empty room, but its extinction implies the -presence of some person to extinguish it; unless some automatic device -be adopted for putting it out at a given time. Such a device—the alarm -movement of a clock, for instance, with a suitable attachment—is a -simple enough matter, but my search of the rooms failed to discover -anything of the kind. However, when looking over the drawers in the -bedroom, I came upon a large box that had held a considerable quantity -of hard stearine candles. There were only a few left, but a flat -candlestick with numerous wick-ends in its socket accounted for the -remainder. -</p> -<p> -"These candles seemed to dispose of the difficulty. They were not -necessary for ordinary lighting, since gas was laid on in all three -rooms. For what purpose, then, were they used, and in such considerable -quantities? I subsequently obtained some of the same brand—Price's -stearine candles, six to the pound—and experimented with them. Each -candle was seven and a quarter inches in length, not counting the cone -at the top, and I found that they burned in still air at the rate of a -fraction over one inch in an hour. We may say that one of these candles -would burn in still air a little over six hours. It would thus be -possible for the person who inhabited these rooms to go away at seven -o'clock in the evening and leave a light which would burn until past one -in the morning and then extinguish itself. This, of course, was only -surmise, but it destroyed the significance of the night porter's -statement. -</p> -<p> -"But, if the person who inhabited these chambers was not Jeffrey, who -was he? -</p> -<p> -"The answer to that question seemed plain enough. There was only one -person who had a strong motive for perpetrating a fraud of this kind, -and there was only one person to whom it was possible. If this person -was not Jeffrey, he must have been very like Jeffrey; sufficiently like -for the body of the one to be mistaken for the body of the other. For -the production of Jeffrey's body was an essential part of the plan and -must have been contemplated from the first. But the only person who -fulfills the conditions is John Blackmore. -</p> -<p> -"We have learned from Mr. Stephen that John and Jeffrey, though very -different in appearance in later years, were much alike as young men. -But when two brothers who are much alike as young men, become unlike in -later life, we shall find that the unlikeness is produced by superficial -differences and that the essential likeness remains. Thus, in the -present case, Jeffrey was clean shaved, had bad eyesight, wore -spectacles and stooped as he walked; John wore a beard and moustache, -had good eyesight, did not wear spectacles and had a brisk gait and -upright carriage. But supposing John to shave off his beard and -moustache, to put on spectacles and to stoop in his walk, these -conspicuous but superficial differences would vanish and the original -likeness reappear. -</p> -<p> -"There is another consideration. John had been an actor and was an actor -of some experience. Now, any person can, with some care and practice, -make up a disguise; the great difficulty is to support that disguise by -a suitable manner and voice. But to an experienced actor this difficulty -does not exist. To him, personation is easy; and, moreover, an actor is -precisely the person to whom the idea of disguise and impersonation -would occur. -</p> -<p> -"There is a small item bearing on this point, so small as to be hardly -worth calling evidence, but just worth noting. In the pocket of the -waistcoat taken from the body of Jeffrey I found the stump of a -'Contango' pencil; a pencil that is sold for the use of stock dealers -and brokers. Now John was an outside broker and might very probably have -used such a pencil, whereas Jeffrey had no connection with the stock -markets and there is no reason why he should have possessed a pencil of -this kind. But the fact is merely suggestive; it has no evidential -value. -</p> -<p> -"A more important inference is to be drawn from the collected -signatures. I have remarked that the change in the signature occurred -abruptly, with one or two alterations of manner, last September, and -that there are two distinct forms with no intermediate varieties. This -is, in itself, remarkable and suspicious. But a remark made by Mr. -Britton furnishes a really valuable piece of evidence on the point we -are now considering. He admitted that the character of the signature had -undergone a change, but observed that the change did not affect the -individual or personal character of the writing. This is very important; -for handwriting is, as it were, an extension of the personality of the -writer. And just as a man to some extent snares his personality with his -near blood-relations in the form of family resemblances, so his -handwriting often shows a subtle likeness to that of his near relatives. -You must have noticed, as I have, how commonly the handwriting of one -brother resembles that of another, and in just this peculiar and subtle -way. The inference, then, from Mr. Britton's statement is, that if the -signature of the will was forged, it was probably forged by a relative -of the deceased. But the only relative in question is his brother John. -</p> -<p> -"All the facts, therefore, pointed to John Blackmore as the person who -occupied these chambers, and I accordingly adopted that view as a -working hypothesis." -</p> -<p> -"But this was all pure speculation," objected Mr. Winwood. -</p> -<p> -"Not speculation," said Thorndyke. "Hypothesis. It was ordinary -inductive reasoning such as we employ in scientific research. I started -with the purely tentative hypothesis that the person who signed the will -was not Jeffrey Blackmore. I assumed this; and I may say that I did not -believe it at the time, but merely adopted it as a proposition that was -worth testing. I accordingly tested it, 'Yes?' or 'No?' with each new -fact; but as each new fact said 'Yes,' and no fact said definitely 'No,' -its probability increased rapidly by a sort of geometrical progression. -The probabilities multiplied into one another. It is a perfectly sound -method, for one knows that if a hypothesis be true, it will lead one, -sooner or later, to a crucial fact by which its truth can be -demonstrated. -</p> -<p> -"To resume our argument. We have now set up the proposition that John -Blackmore was the tenant of New Inn and that he was personating Jeffrey. -Let us reason from this and see what it leads to. -</p> -<p> -"If the tenant of New Inn was John, then Jeffrey must be elsewhere, -since his concealment at the inn was clearly impossible. But he could -not have been far away, for he had to be producible at short notice -whenever the death of Mrs. Wilson should make the production of his -body necessary. But if he was producible, his person must have been in -the possession or control of John. He could not have been at large, for -that would have involved the danger of his being seen and recognized. He -could not have been in any institution or place where he would be in -contact with strangers. Then he must be in some sort of confinement. But -it is difficult to keep an adult in confinement in an ordinary house. -Such a proceeding would involve great risk of discovery and the use of -violence which would leave traces on the body, to be observed and -commented on at the inquest. What alternative method could be suggested? -</p> -<p> -"The most obvious method is that of keeping the prisoner in such a state -of debility as would confine him to his bed. But such debility could be -produced by only starvation, unsuitable food, or chronic poisoning. Of -these alternatives, poisoning is much more exact, more calculable in its -effect and more under control. The probabilities, then, were in favour -of chronic poisoning. -</p> -<p> -"Having reached this stage, I recalled a singular case which Jervis had -mentioned to me and which seemed to illustrate this method. On our -return home I asked him for further particulars, and he then gave me a -very detailed description of the patient and the circumstances. The -upshot was rather startling. I had looked on his case as merely -illustrative, and wished to study it for the sake of the suggestions -that it might offer. But when I had heard his account, I began to -suspect that there was something more than mere parallelism of method. -It began to look as if his patient, Mr. Graves, might actually be -Jeffrey Blackmore. -</p> -<p> -"The coincidences were remarkable. The general appearance of the patient -tallied completely with Mr. Stephen's description of his uncle Jeffrey. -The patient had a tremulous iris in his right eye and had clearly -suffered from dislocation of the crystalline lens. But from Mr. -Stephen's account of his uncle's sudden loss of sight in the right eye -after a fall, I judged that Jeffrey had also suffered from dislocation -of the lens and therefore had a tremulous iris in the right eye. The -patient, Graves, evidently had defective vision in his left eye, as -proved by the marks made behind his ears by the hooked side-bars of his -spectacles; for it is only on spectacles that are intended for constant -use that we find hooked side-bars. But Jeffrey had defective vision in -his left eye and wore spectacles constantly. Lastly, the patient Graves -was suffering from chronic morphine poisoning, and morphine was found in -the body of Jeffrey. -</p> -<p> -"Once more, it appeared to me that there were too many coincidences. -</p> -<p> -"The question as to whether Graves and Jeffrey were identical admitted -of fairly easy disproof; for if Graves was still alive, he could not be -Jeffrey. It was an important question and I resolved to test it without -delay. That night, Jervis and I plotted out the chart, and on the -following morning we located the house. But it was empty and to let. -The birds had flown, and we failed to discover whither they had gone. -</p> -<p> -"However, we entered the house and explored. I have told you about the -massive bolts and fastenings that we found on the bedroom doors and -window, showing that the room had been used as a prison. I have told you -of the objects that we picked out of the dust-heap under the grate. Of -the obvious suggestion offered by the Japanese brush and the bottle of -'spirit gum' or cement, I need not speak now; but I must trouble you -with some details concerning the broken spectacles. For here we had come -upon the crucial fact to which, as I have said, all sound inductive -reasoning brings one sooner or later. -</p> -<p> -"The spectacles were of a rather peculiar pattern. The frames were of -the type invented by Mr. Stopford of Moorfields and known by his name. -The right eye-piece was fitted with plain glass, as is usual in the case -of a blind, or useless, eye. It was very much shattered, but its -character was obvious. The glass of the left eye was much thicker and -fortunately less damaged, so that I was able accurately to test its -refraction. -</p> -<p> -"When I reached home, I laid the pieces of the spectacles together, -measured the frames very carefully, tested the left eye-glass, and wrote -down a full description such as would have been given by the surgeon to -the spectacle-maker. Here it is, and I will ask you to note it -carefully. -</p> -<p> -"'Spectacles for constant use. Steel frame, Stopford's pattern, curl -sides, broad bridge with gold lining. Distance between centres, 6.2 -centimetres; extreme length of side-bars, 13.3 centimetres. -</p> -<p> -"'Right eye plain glass. -</p> -<table summary="eyeglass prescription"> -<tr> -<td>"'Left eye </td> -<td>-<u>5.75 D. spherical </u></td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td> </td> -<td>-3.25 D. cylindrical, axis 35°.'</td> -</tr> -</table> -<p> -"The spectacles, you see, were of a very distinctive character and -seemed to offer a good chance of identification. Stopford's frames are, -I believe, made by only one firm of opticians in London, Parry & Cuxton -of Regent Street. I therefore wrote to Mr. Cuxton, who knows me, asking -him if he had supplied spectacles to the late Jeffrey Blackmore, -Esq.—here is a copy of my letter—and if so, whether he would mind -letting me have a full description of them, together with the name of -the oculist who prescribed them. -</p> -<p> -"He replied in this letter, which is pinned to the copy of mine, that, -about four years ago, he supplied a pair of glasses to Mr. Jeffrey -Blackmore, and described them thus: 'The spectacles were for constant -use and had steel frames of Stopford's pattern with curl sides, the -length of the side-bars including the curled ends being 13.3 cm. The -bridge was broad with a gold lining-plate, shaped as shown by the -enclosed tracing from the diagram on the prescription. Distance between -centres 6.2 cm. -</p> -<p> -"'Right eye plain glass. -</p> -<table summary="eyeglass prescription"> -<tr> -<td>"'Left eye </td> -<td>-<u>5.75 D. spherical </u></td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td> </td> -<td>-3.25 D. cylindrical, axis 35°.'</td> -</tr> -</table> -<p> -"'The spectacles were prescribed by Mr. Hindley of Wimpole Street.' -</p> -<p> -"You see that Mr. Cuxton's description is identical with mine. However, -for further confirmation, I wrote to Mr. Hindley, asking certain -questions, to which he replied thus: -</p> -<p> -"'You are quite right. Mr. Jeffrey Blackmore had a tremulous iris in his -right eye (which was practically blind), due to dislocation of the lens. -The pupils were rather large; certainly not contracted.' -</p> -<p> -"Here, then, we have three important facts. One is that the spectacles -found by us at Kennington Lane were undoubtedly Jeffrey's; for it is as -unlikely that there exists another pair of spectacles exactly identical -with those as that there exists another face exactly like Jeffrey's -face. The second fact is that the description of Jeffrey tallies -completely with that of the sick man, Graves, as given by Dr. Jervis; -and the third is that when Jeffrey was seen by Mr. Hindley, there was no -sign of his being addicted to the taking of morphine. The first and -second facts, you will agree, constitute complete identification." -</p> -<p> -"Yes," said Marchmont; "I think we must admit the identification as -being quite conclusive, though the evidence is of a kind that is more -striking to the medical than to the legal mind." -</p> -<p> -"You will not have that complaint to make against the next item of -evidence," said Thorndyke. "It is after the lawyer's own heart, as you -shall hear. A few days ago I wrote to Mr. Stephen asking him if he -possessed a recent photograph of his uncle Jeffrey. He had one, and he -sent it to me by return. This portrait I showed to Dr. Jervis and asked -him if he had ever seen the person it represented. After examining it -attentively, without any hint whatever from me, he identified it as the -portrait of the sick man, Graves." -</p> -<p> -"Indeed!" exclaimed Marchmont. "This is most important. Are you prepared -to swear to the identity, Dr. Jervis?" -</p> -<p> -"I have not the slightest doubt," I replied, "that the portrait is that -of Mr. Graves." -</p> -<p> -"Excellent!" said Marchmont, rubbing his hands gleefully; "this will be -much more convincing to a jury. Pray go on, Dr. Thorndyke." -</p> -<p> -"That," said Thorndyke, "completes the first part of my investigation. -We had now reached a definite, demonstrable fact; and that fact, as you -see, disposed at once of the main question—the genuineness of the will. -For if the man at Kennington Lane was Jeffrey Blackmore, then the man at -New Inn was not. But it was the latter who had signed the will. -Therefore the will was not signed by Jeffrey Blackmore; that is to say, -it was a forgery. The case was complete for the purposes of the civil -proceedings; the rest of my investigations had reference to the criminal -prosecution that was inevitable. Shall I proceed, or is your interest -confined to the will?" -</p> -<p> -"Hang the will!" exclaimed Stephen. "I want to hear how you propose to -lay hands on the villain who murdered poor old uncle Jeffrey—for I -suppose he did murder him?" -</p> -<p> -"I think there is no doubt of it," replied Thorndyke. -</p> -<p> -"Then," said Marchmont, "we will hear the rest of the argument, if you -please." -</p> -<p> -"Very well," said Thorndyke. "As the evidence stands, we have proved -that Jeffrey Blackmore was a prisoner in the house in Kennington Lane -and that some one was personating him at New Inn. That some one, we have -seen, was, in all probability, John Blackmore. We now have to consider -the man Weiss. Who was he? and can we connect him in any way with New -Inn? -</p> -<p> -"We may note in passing that Weiss and the coachman were apparently one -and the same person. They were never seen together. When Weiss was -present, the coachman was not available even for so urgent a service as -the obtaining of an antidote to the poison. Weiss always appeared some -time after Jervis's arrival and disappeared some time before his -departure, in each case sufficiently long to allow of a change of -disguise. But we need not labour the point, as it is not of primary -importance. -</p> -<p> -"To return to Weiss. He was clearly heavily disguised, as we see by his -unwillingness to show himself even by the light of a candle. But there -is an item of positive evidence on this point which is important from -having other bearings. It is furnished by the spectacles worn by Weiss, -of which you have heard Jervis's description. These spectacles had very -peculiar optical properties. When you looked <i>through</i> them they had the -properties of plain glass; when you looked <i>at</i> them they had the -appearance of lenses. But only one kind of glass possesses these -properties; namely, that which, like an ordinary watch-glass, has -curved, parallel surfaces. But for what purpose could a person wear -'watch-glass' spectacles? Clearly, not to assist his vision. The only -alternative is disguise. -</p> -<p> -"The properties of these spectacles introduce a very curious and -interesting feature into the case. To the majority of persons, the -wearing of spectacles for the purpose of disguise or personation, seems -a perfectly simple and easy proceeding. But, to a person of normal -eyesight, it is nothing of the kind. For, if he wears spectacles suited -for long sight he cannot see distinctly through them at all; while, if -he wears concave, or near sight, glasses, the effort to see through them -produces such strain and fatigue that his eyes become disabled -altogether. On the stage the difficulty is met by using spectacles of -plain window-glass, but in real life this would hardly do; the -'property' spectacles would be detected at once and give rise to -suspicion. -</p> -<p> -"The personator is therefore in this dilemma: if he wears actual -spectacles, he cannot see through them; if he wears sham spectacles of -plain glass, his disguise will probably be detected. There is only one -way out of the difficulty, and that not a very satisfactory one; but Mr. -Weiss seems to have adopted it in lieu of a better. It is that of using -watch-glass spectacles such as I have described. -</p> -<p> -"Now, what do we learn from these very peculiar glasses? In the first -place they confirm our opinion that Weiss was wearing a disguise. But, -for use in a room so very dimly lighted, the ordinary stage spectacles -would have answered quite well. The second inference is, then, that -these spectacles were prepared to be worn under more trying conditions -of light—out of doors, for instance. The third inference is that Weiss -was a man with normal eyesight; for otherwise he could have worn real -spectacles suited to the state of his vision. -</p> -<p> -"These are inferences by the way, to which we may return. But these -glasses furnish a much more important suggestion. On the floor of the -bedroom at New Inn I found some fragments of glass which had been -trodden on. By joining one or two of them together, we have been able to -make out the general character of the object of which they formed parts. -My assistant—who was formerly a watch-maker—judged that object to be -the thin crystal glass of a lady's watch, and this, I think, was -Jervis's opinion. But the small part which remains of the original edge -furnishes proof in two respects that this was not a watch-glass. In the -first place, on taking a careful tracing of this piece of the edge, I -found that its curve was part of an ellipse; but watch-glasses, -nowadays, are invariably circular. In the second place, watch-glasses -are ground on the edge to a single bevel to snap into the bezel or -frame; but the edge of this object was ground to a double bevel, like -the edge of a spectacle-glass, which fits into a groove in the frame and -is held by the side-bar screw. The inevitable inference was that this -was a spectacle-glass. But, if so, it was part of a pair of spectacles -identical in properties with those worn by Mr. Weiss. -</p> -<p> -"The importance of this conclusion emerges when we consider the -exceptional character of Mr. Weiss's spectacles. They were not merely -peculiar or remarkable; they were probably unique. It is exceedingly -likely that there is not in the entire world another similar pair of -spectacles. Whence the finding of these fragments of glass in the -bedroom establishes a considerable probability that Mr. Weiss was, at -some time, in the chambers at New Inn. -</p> -<p> -"And now let us gather up the threads of this part of the argument. We -are inquiring into the identity of the man Weiss. Who was he? -</p> -<p> -"In the first place, we find him committing a secret crime from which -John Blackmore alone will benefit. This suggests the <i>prima-facie</i> -probability that he was John Blackmore. -</p> -<p> -"Then we find that he was a man of normal eyesight who was wearing -spectacles for the purpose of disguise. But the tenant of New Inn, whom -we have seen to be, almost certainly, John Blackmore—and whom we will, -for the present, assume to have been John Blackmore—was a man with -normal eyesight who wore spectacles for disguise. -</p> -<p> -"John Blackmore did not reside at New Inn, but at some place within -easy reach of it. But Weiss resided at a place within easy reach of New -Inn. -</p> -<p> -"John Blackmore must have had possession and control of the person of -Jeffrey. But Weiss had possession and control of the person of Jeffrey. -</p> -<p> -"Weiss wore spectacles of a certain peculiar and probably unique -character. But portions of such spectacles were found in the chambers at -New Inn. -</p> -<p> -"The overwhelming probability, therefore, is that Weiss and the tenant -of New Inn were one and the same person; and that that person was John -Blackmore." -</p> -<p> -"That," said Mr. Winwood, "is a very plausible argument. But, you -observe, sir, that it contains an undistributed middle term." -</p> -<p> -Thorndyke smiled genially. I think he forgave Winwood everything for -that remark. -</p> -<p> -"You are quite right, sir," he said. "It does. And, for that reason, the -demonstration is not absolute. But we must not forget, what logicians -seem occasionally to overlook: that the 'undistributed middle,' while it -interferes with absolute proof, may be quite consistent with a degree of -probability that approaches very near to certainty. Both the Bertillon -system and the English fingerprint system involve a process of reasoning -in which the middle term is undistributed. But the great probabilities -are accepted in practice as equivalent to certainties." -</p> -<p> -Mr. Winwood grunted a grudging assent, and Thorndyke resumed: -</p> -<p> -"We have now furnished fairly conclusive evidence on three heads: we -have proved that the sick man, Graves, was Jeffrey Blackmore; that the -tenant of New Inn was John Blackmore; and that the man Weiss was also -John Blackmore. We now have to prove that John and Jeffrey were together -in the chambers at New Inn on the night of Jeffrey's death. -</p> -<p> -"We know that two persons, and two persons only, came from Kennington -Lane to New Inn. But one of those persons was the tenant of New -Inn—that is, John Blackmore. Who was the other? Jeffrey is known by us -to have been at Kennington Lane. His body was found on the following -morning in the room at New Inn. No third person is known to have come -from Kennington Lane; no third person is known to have arrived at New -Inn. The inference, by exclusion, is that the second person—the -woman—was Jeffrey. -</p> -<p> -"Again; Jeffrey had to be brought from Kennington to the inn by John. -But John was personating Jeffrey and was made up to resemble him very -closely. If Jeffrey were undisguised the two men would be almost exactly -alike; which would be very noticeable in any case and suspicious after -the death of one of them. Therefore Jeffrey would have to be disguised -in some way; and what disguise could be simpler and more effective than -the one that I suggest was used? -</p> -<p> -"Again; it was unavoidable that some one—the cabman—should know that -Jeffrey was not alone when he came to the inn that night. If the fact -had leaked out and it had become known that a man had accompanied him to -his chambers, some suspicion might have arisen, and that suspicion would -have pointed to John, who was directly interested in his brother's -death. But if it had transpired that Jeffrey was accompanied by a woman, -there would have been less suspicion, and that suspicion would not have -pointed to John Blackmore. -</p> -<p> -"Thus all the general probabilities are in favour of the hypothesis that -this woman was Jeffrey Blackmore. There is, however, an item of positive -evidence that strongly supports this view. When I examined the clothing -of the deceased, I found on the trousers a horizontal crease on each leg -as if the trousers had been turned up half-way to the knees. This -appearance is quite understandable if we suppose that the trousers were -worn under a skirt and were turned up so that they should not be -accidentally seen. Otherwise it is quite incomprehensible." -</p> -<p> -"Is it not rather strange," said Marchmont, "that Jeffrey should have -allowed himself to be dressed up in this remarkable manner?" -</p> -<p> -"I think not," replied Thorndyke. "There is no reason to suppose that he -knew how he was dressed. You have heard Jervis's description of his -condition; that of a mere automaton. You know that without his -spectacles he was practically blind, and that he could not have worn -them since we found them at the house in Kennington Lane. Probably his -head was wrapped up in the veil, and the skirt and mantle put on -afterwards; but, in any case, his condition rendered him practically -devoid of will power. That is all the evidence I have to prove that the -unknown woman was Jeffrey. It is not conclusive but it is convincing -enough for our purpose, seeing that the case against John Blackmore does -not depend upon it." -</p> -<p> -"Your case against him is on the charge of murder, I presume?" said -Stephen. -</p> -<p> -"Undoubtedly. And you will notice that the statements made by the -supposed Jeffrey to the porter, hinting at suicide, are now important -evidence. By the light of what we know, the announcement of intended -suicide becomes the announcement of intended murder. It conclusively -disproves what it was intended to prove; that Jeffrey died by his own -hand." -</p> -<p> -"Yes, I see that," said Stephen, and then after a pause he asked: "Did -you identify Mrs. Schallibaum? You have told us nothing about her." -</p> -<p> -"I have considered her as being outside the case as far as I am -concerned," replied Thorndyke. "She was an accessory; my business was -with the principal. But, of course, she will be swept up in the net. The -evidence that convicts John Blackmore will convict her. I have not -troubled about her identity. If John Blackmore is married, she is -probably his wife. Do you happen to know if he is married?" -</p> -<p> -"Yes; but Mrs. John Blackmore is not much like Mrs. Schallibaum, -excepting that she has a cast in the left eye. She is a dark woman with -very heavy eyebrows." -</p> -<p> -"That is to say that she differs from Mrs. Schallibaum in those -peculiarities that can be artificially changed and resembles her in the -one feature that is unchangeable. Do you know if her Christian name -happens to be Pauline?" -</p> -<p> -"Yes, it is. She was a Miss Pauline Hagenbeck, a member of an American -theatrical company. What made you ask?" -</p> -<p> -"The name which Jervis heard poor Jeffrey struggling to pronounce seemed -to me to resemble Pauline more than any other name." -</p> -<p> -"There is one little point that strikes me," said Marchmont. "Is it not -rather remarkable that the porter should have noticed no difference -between the body of Jeffrey and the living man whom he knew by sight, -and who must, after all, have been distinctly different in appearance?" -</p> -<p> -"I am glad you raised that question," Thorndyke replied, "for that very -difficulty presented itself to me at the beginning of the case. But on -thinking it over, I decided that it was an imaginary difficulty, -assuming, as we do, that there was a good deal of resemblance between -the two men. Put yourself in the porter's place and follow his mental -processes. He is informed that a dead man is lying on the bed in Mr. -Blackmore's rooms. Naturally, he assumes that the dead man is Mr. -Blackmore—who, by the way, had hinted at suicide only the night before. -With this idea he enters the chambers and sees a man a good deal like -Mr. Blackmore and wearing Mr. Blackmore's clothes, lying on Mr. -Blackmore's bed. The idea that the body could be that of some other -person has never entered his mind. If he notes any difference of -appearance he will put that down to the effects of death; for every one -knows that a man dead looks somewhat different from the same man alive. -I take it as evidence of great acuteness on the part of John Blackmore -that he should have calculated so cleverly, not only the mental process -of the porter, but the erroneous reasoning which every one would base on -the porter's conclusions. For, since the body was actually Jeffrey's, -and was identified by the porter as that of his tenant, it has been -assumed by every one that no question was possible as to the identity of -Jeffrey Blackmore and the tenant of New Inn." -</p> -<p> -There was a brief silence, and then Marchmont asked: -</p> -<p> -"May we take it that we have now heard all the evidence?" -</p> -<p> -"Yes," replied Thorndyke. "That is my case." -</p> -<p> -"Have you given information to the police?" Stephen asked eagerly. -</p> -<p> -"Yes. As soon as I had obtained the statement of the cabman, Ridley, and -felt that I had enough evidence to secure a conviction, I called at -Scotland Yard and had an interview with the Assistant Commissioner. The -case is in the hands of Superintendent Miller of the Criminal -Investigation Department, a most acute and energetic officer. I have -been expecting to hear that the warrant has been executed, for Mr. -Miller is usually very punctilious in keeping me informed of the -progress of the cases to which I introduce him. We shall hear to-morrow, -no doubt." -</p> -<p> -"And, for the present," said Marchmont, "the case seems to have passed -out of our hands." -</p> -<p> -"I shall enter a caveat, all the same," said Mr. Winwood. -</p> -<p> -"That doesn't seem very necessary," Marchmont objected. "The evidence -that we have heard is amply sufficient to ensure a conviction and there -will be plenty more when the police go into the case. And a conviction -on the charges of forgery and murder would, of course, invalidate the -second will." -</p> -<p> -"I shall enter a caveat, all the same," repeated Mr. Winwood. -</p> -<p> -As the two partners showed a disposition to become heated over this -question, Thorndyke suggested that they might discuss it at leisure by -the light of subsequent events. Acting on this hint—for it was now -close upon midnight—our visitors prepared to depart; and were, in fact, -just making their way towards the door when the bell rang. Thorndyke -flung open the door, and, as he recognized his visitor, greeted him with -evident satisfaction. -</p> -<p> -"Ha! Mr. Miller; we were just speaking of you. These gentlemen are Mr. -Stephen Blackmore and his solicitors, Mr. Marchmont and Mr. Winwood. You -know Dr. Jervis, I think." -</p> -<p> -The officer bowed to our friends and remarked: -</p> -<p> -"I am just in time, it seems. A few minutes more and I should have -missed these gentlemen. I don't know what you'll think of my news." -</p> -<p> -"You haven't let that villain escape, I hope," Stephen exclaimed. -</p> -<p> -"Well," said the Superintendent, "he is out of my hands and yours too; -and so is the woman. Perhaps I had better tell you what has happened." -</p> -<p> -"If you would be so kind," said Thorndyke, motioning the officer to a -chair. -</p> -<p> -The superintendent seated himself with the manner of a man who has had a -long and strenuous day, and forthwith began his story. -</p> -<p> -"As soon as we had your information, we procured a warrant for the -arrest of both parties, and then I went straight to their flat with -Inspector Badger and a sergeant. There we learned from the attendant -that they were away from home and were not expected back until to-day -about noon. We kept a watch on the premises, and this morning, about the -time appointed, a man and a woman, answering to the description, arrived -at the flat. We followed them in and saw them enter the lift, and we -were going to get into the lift too, when the man pulled the rope, and -away they went. There was nothing for us to do but run up the stairs, -which we did as fast as we could race; but they got to their landing -first, and we were only just in time to see them nip in and shut the -door. However, it seemed that we had them safe enough, for there was no -dropping out of the windows at that height; so we sent the sergeant to -get a locksmith to pick the lock or force the door, while we kept on -ringing the bell. -</p> -<p> -"About three minutes after the sergeant left, I happened to look out of -the landing window and saw a hansom pull up opposite the flats. I put my -head out of the window, and, hang me if I didn't see our two friends -getting into the cab. It seems that there was a small lift inside the -flat communicating with the kitchen, and they had slipped down it one at -a time. -</p> -<p> -"Well, of course, we raced down the stairs like acrobats, but by the -time we got to the bottom the cab was off with a fine start. We ran out -into Victoria Street, and there we could see it half-way down the street -and going like a chariot race. We managed to pick up another hansom and -told the cabby to keep the other one in sight, and away we went like the -very deuce; along Victoria Street and Broad Sanctuary, across Parliament -Square, over Westminster Bridge and along York Road; we kept the other -beggar in sight, but we couldn't gain an inch on him. Then we turned -into Waterloo Station, and, as we were driving up the slope we met -another hansom coming down; and when the cabby kissed his hand and -smiled at us, we guessed that he was the sportsman we had been -following. -</p> -<p> -"But there was no time to ask questions. It is an awkward station with a -lot of different exits, and it looked a good deal as if our quarry had -got away. However, I took a chance. I remembered that the Southampton -express was due to start about this time, and I took a short cut across -the lines and made for the platform that it starts from. Just as Badger -and I got to the end, about thirty yards from the rear of the train, we -saw a man and a woman running in front of us. Then the guard blew his -whistle and the train began to move. The man and the woman managed to -scramble into one of the rear compartments and Badger and I raced up the -platform like mad. A porter tried to head us off, but Badger capsized -him and we both sprinted harder than ever, and just hopped on the -foot-board of the guard's van as the train began to get up speed. The -guard couldn't risk putting us off, so he had to let us into his van, -which suited us exactly, as we could watch the train on both sides from -the look-out. And we did watch, I can tell you; for our friend in front -had seen us. His head was out of the window as we climbed on to the -foot-board. -</p> -<p> -"However, nothing happened until we stopped at Southampton West. There, -I need not say, we lost no time in hopping out, for we naturally -expected our friends to make a rush for the exit. But they didn't. -Badger watched the platform, and I kept a look-out to see that they -didn't slip away across the line from the off-side. But still there was -no sign of them. Then I walked up the train to the compartment which I -had seen them enter. And there they were, apparently fast asleep in the -corner by the off-side window, the man leaning back with his mouth open -and the woman resting against him with her head on his shoulder. She -gave me quite a turn when I went in to look at them, for she had her -eyes half-closed and seemed to be looking round at me with a most -horrible expression; but I found afterwards that the peculiar appearance -of looking round was due to the cast in her eye." -</p> -<p> -"They were dead, I suppose?" said Thorndyke. -</p> -<p> -"Yes, sir. Stone dead; and I found these on the floor of the carriage." -</p> -<p> -He held up two tiny yellow glass tubes, each labelled "Hypodermic -tabloids. Aconitine Nitrate gr. 1/640." -</p> -<p> -"Ha!" exclaimed Thorndyke, "this fellow was well up in alkaloidal -poisons, it seems; and they appear to have gone about prepared for -emergencies. These tubes each contained twenty tabloids, a thirty-second -of a grain altogether, so we may assume that about twelve times the -medicinal dose was swallowed. Death must have occurred in a few minutes, -and a merciful death too." -</p> -<p> -"A more merciful death than they deserved," exclaimed Stephen, "when one -thinks of the misery and suffering that they inflicted on poor old uncle -Jeffrey. I would sooner have had them hanged." -</p> -<p> -"It's better as it is, sir," said Miller. "There is no need, now, to -raise any questions in detail at the inquest. The publicity of a trial -for murder would have been very unpleasant for you. I wish Dr. Jervis -had given the tip to me instead of to that confounded, -over-cautious—but there, I mustn't run down my brother officers: and -it's easy to be wise after the event. -</p> -<p> -"Good night, gentlemen. I suppose this accident disposes of your -business as far as the will is concerned?" -</p> -<p> -"I suppose it does," agreed Mr. Winwood. "But I shall enter a caveat, -all the same." -</p> -<p> </p> -<center> -THE END -</center> -<p> </p> - - - - - - - -<pre> - - - - - -End of Project Gutenberg's The Mystery of 31 New Inn, by R. Austin Freeman - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MYSTERY OF 31 NEW INN *** - -***** This file should be named 12187-h.htm or 12187-h.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - https://www.gutenberg.org/1/2/1/8/12187/ - -Produced by Steven desJardins and Distributed Proofreaders - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions -will be renamed. - -Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no -one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation -(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without -permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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Austin Freeman - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org - - -Title: The Mystery of 31 New Inn - -Author: R. Austin Freeman - -Release Date: April 28, 2004 [EBook #12187] -Last updated: February 3, 2011 -Last updated: November 25, 1012 - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ASCII - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MYSTERY OF 31 NEW INN *** - - - - -Produced by Steven desJardins and Distributed Proofreaders - - - - - -THE MYSTERY OF 31 NEW INN - -BY R. AUSTIN FREEMAN - -Author of "The Red Thumb Mark," -"The Eye of Osiris," etc. - - - - -TO MY FRIEND - -BERNARD E. BISHOP - - - - -Preface - - -Commenting upon one of my earlier novels, in respect of which I had -claimed to have been careful to adhere to common probabilities and to -have made use only of really practicable methods of investigation, a -critic remarked that this was of no consequence whatever, so long as the -story was amusing. - -Few people, I imagine, will agree with him. To most readers, and -certainly to the kind of reader for whom an author is willing to take -trouble, complete realism in respect of incidents and methods is an -essential factor in maintaining the interest of a detective story. Hence -it may be worth while to mention that Thorndyke's method of producing -the track chart, described in Chapters II and III, has been actually -used in practice. It is a modification of one devised by me many years -ago when I was crossing Ashanti to the city of Bontuku, the whereabouts -of which in the far interior was then only vaguely known. My -instructions were to fix the positions of all towns, villages, rivers -and mountains as accurately as possible; but finding ordinary methods of -surveying impracticable in the dense forest which covers the whole -region, I adopted this simple and apparently rude method, checking the -distances whenever possible by astronomical observation. - -The resulting route-map was surprisingly accurate, as shown by the -agreement of the outward and homeward tracks, It was published by the -Royal Geographical Society, and incorporated in the map of this region -compiled by the Intelligence Branch of the War Office, and it formed the -basis of the map which accompanied my volume of <i>Travels in Ashanti and -Jaman</i>. So that Thorndyke's plan must be taken as quite a practicable -one. - -New Inn, the background of this story, and one of the last surviving -inns of Chancery, has recently passed away after upwards of four -centuries of newness. Even now, however, a few of the old, dismantled -houses (including perhaps, the mysterious 31) may be seen from the -Strand peeping over the iron roof of the skating rink which has -displaced the picturesque hall, the pension-room and the garden. The -postern gate, too, in Houghton Street still remains, though the arch is -bricked up inside. Passing it lately, I made the rough sketch which -appears on next page, and which shows all that is left of this pleasant -old London backwater. - -R. A. F. - -GRAVESEND - - - - -[Illustration: New Inn] - - - - -Contents - - -CHAPTER. - - I THE MYSTERIOUS PATIENT - II THORNDYKE DEVISES A SCHEME - III "A CHIEL'S AMANG YE TAKIN' NOTES" - IV THE OFFICIAL VIEW - V JEFFREY BLACKMORE'S WILL - VI JEFFREY BLACKMORE, DECEASED - VII THE CUNEIFORM INSCRIPTION -VIII THE TRACK CHART - IX THE HOUSE OF MYSTERY - X THE HUNTER HUNTED - XI THE BLACKMORE CASE REVIEWED - XII THE PORTRAIT -XIII THE STATEMENT OF SAMUEL WILKINS - XIV THORNDYKE LAYS THE MINE - XV THORNDYKE EXPLODES THE MINE - XVI AN EXPOSITION AND A TRAGEDY - - - - -Chapter I - -The Mysterious Patient - - -As I look back through the years of my association with John Thorndyke, -I am able to recall a wealth of adventures and strange experiences such -as falls to the lot of very few men who pass their lives within hearing -of Big Ben. Many of these experiences I have already placed on record; -but it now occurs to me that I have hitherto left unrecorded one that -is, perhaps, the most astonishing and incredible of the whole series; an -adventure, too, that has for me the added interest that it inaugurated -my permanent association with my learned and talented friend, and marked -the close of a rather unhappy and unprosperous period of my life. - -Memory, retracing the journey through the passing years to the -starting-point of those strange events, lands me in a shabby little -ground-floor room in a house near the Walworth end of Lower Kennington -Lane. A couple of framed diplomas on the wall, a card of Snellen's -test-types and a stethoscope lying on the writing-table, proclaim it a -doctor's consulting-room; and my own position in the round-backed chair -at the said table, proclaims me the practitioner in charge. - -It was nearly nine o'clock. The noisy little clock on the mantelpiece -announced the fact, and, by its frantic ticking, seemed as anxious as I -to get the consultation hours over. I glanced wistfully at my -mud-splashed boots and wondered if I might yet venture to assume the -slippers that peeped coyly from under the shabby sofa. I even allowed my -thoughts to wander to the pipe that reposed in my coat pocket. Another -minute and I could turn down the surgery gas and shut the outer door. -The fussy little clock gave a sort of preliminary cough or hiccup, as if -it should say: "Ahem! ladies and gentlemen, I am about to strike." And -at that moment, the bottle-boy opened the door and, thrusting in his -head, uttered the one word: "Gentleman." - -Extreme economy of words is apt to result in ambiguity. But I -understood. In Kennington Lane, the race of mere men and women appeared -to be extinct. They were all gentlemen--unless they were ladies or -children--even as the Liberian army was said to consist entirely of -generals. Sweeps, labourers, milkmen, costermongers--all were -impartially invested by the democratic bottle-boy with the rank and -title of <i>armigeri</i>. The present nobleman appeared to favour the -aristocratic recreation of driving a cab or job-master's carriage, and, -as he entered the room, he touched his hat, closed the door somewhat -carefully, and then, without remark, handed me a note which bore the -superscription "Dr. Stillbury." - -"You understand," I said, as I prepared to open the envelope, "that I -am not Dr. Stillbury. He is away at present and I am looking after his -patients." - -"It doesn't signify," the man replied. "You'll do as well." - -On this, I opened the envelope and read the note, which was quite brief, -and, at first sight, in no way remarkable. - -"DEAR SIR," it ran, "Would you kindly come and see a friend of mine who -is staying with me? The bearer of this will give you further particulars -and convey you to the house. Yours truly, H. WEISS." - -There was no address on the paper and no date, and the writer was -unknown to me. - -"This note," I said, "refers to some further particulars. What are -they?" - -The messenger passed his hand over his hair with a gesture of -embarrassment. "It's a ridicklus affair," he said, with a contemptuous -laugh. "If I had been Mr. Weiss, I wouldn't have had nothing to do with -it. The sick gentleman, Mr. Graves, is one of them people what can't -abear doctors. He's been ailing now for a week or two, but nothing would -induce him to see a doctor. Mr. Weiss did everything he could to -persuade him, but it was no go. He wouldn't. However, it seems Mr. Weiss -threatened to send for a medical man on his own account, because, you -see, he was getting a bit nervous; and then Mr. Graves gave way. But -only on one condition. He said the doctor was to come from a distance -and was not to be told who he was or where he lived or anything about -him; and he made Mr. Weiss promise to keep to that condition before he'd -let him send. So Mr. Weiss promised, and, of course, he's got to keep -his word." - -"But," I said, with a smile, "you've just told me his name--if his name -really is Graves." - -"You can form your own opinion on that," said the coachman. - -"And," I added, "as to not being told where he lives, I can see that for -myself. I'm not blind, you know." - -"We'll take the risk of what you see," the man replied. "The question -is, will you take the job on?" - -Yes; that was the question, and I considered it for some time before -replying. We medical men are pretty familiar with the kind of person who -"can't abear doctors," and we like to have as little to do with him as -possible. He is a thankless and unsatisfactory patient. Intercourse with -him is unpleasant, he gives a great deal of trouble and responds badly -to treatment. If this had been my own practice, I should have declined -the case off-hand. But it was not my practice. I was only a deputy. I -could not lightly refuse work which would yield a profit to my -principal, unpleasant though it might be. - -As I turned the matter over in my mind, I half unconsciously scrutinized -my visitor--somewhat to his embarrassment--and I liked his appearance -as little as I liked his mission. He kept his station near the door, -where the light was dim--for the illumination was concentrated on the -table and the patient's chair--but I could see that he had a somewhat -sly, unprepossessing face and a greasy, red moustache that seemed out of -character with his rather perfunctory livery; though this was mere -prejudice. He wore a wig, too--not that there was anything discreditable -in that--and the thumb-nail of the hand that held his hat bore -disfiguring traces of some injury--which, again, though unsightly, in no -wise reflected on his moral character. Lastly, he watched me keenly with -a mixture of anxiety and sly complacency that I found distinctly -unpleasant. In a general way, he impressed me disagreeably. I did not -like the look of him at all; but nevertheless I decided to undertake the -case. - -"I suppose," I answered, at length, "it is no affair of mine who the -patient is or where he lives. But how do you propose to manage the -business? Am I to be led to the house blindfolded, like the visitor to -the bandit's cave?" - -The man grinned slightly and looked very decidedly relieved. - -"No, sir," he answered; "we ain't going to blindfold you. I've got a -carriage outside. I don't think you'll see much out of that." - -"Very well," I rejoined, opening the door to let him out, "I'll be with -you in a minute. I suppose you can't give me any idea as to what is the -matter with the patient?" - -"No, sir, I can't," he replied; and he went out to see to the carriage. - -I slipped into a bag an assortment of emergency drugs and a few -diagnostic instruments, turned down the gas and passed out through the -surgery. The carriage was standing at the kerb, guarded by the coachman -and watched with deep interest by the bottle-boy. I viewed it with -mingled curiosity and disfavour. It was a kind of large brougham, such -as is used by some commercial travellers, the usual glass windows being -replaced by wooden shutters intended to conceal the piles of -sample-boxes, and the doors capable of being locked from outside with a -railway key. - -As I emerged from the house, the coachman unlocked the door and held it -open. - -"How long will the journey take?" I asked, pausing with my foot on the -step. - -The coachman considered a moment or two and replied: - -"It took me, I should say, nigh upon half an hour to get here." - -This was pleasant hearing. A half an hour each way and a half an hour at -the patient's house. At that rate it would be half-past ten before I was -home again, and then it was quite probable that I should find some other -untimely messenger waiting on the doorstep. With a muttered anathema on -the unknown Mr. Graves and the unrestful life of a locum tenens, I -stepped into the uninviting vehicle. Instantly the coachman slammed the -door and turned the key, leaving me in total darkness. - -One comfort was left to me; my pipe was in my pocket. I made shift to -load it in the dark, and, having lit it with a wax match, took the -opportunity to inspect the interior of my prison. It was a shabby -affair. The moth-eaten state of the blue cloth cushions seemed to -suggest that it had been long out of regular use; the oil-cloth -floor-covering was worn into holes; ordinary internal fittings there -were none. But the appearances suggested that the crazy vehicle had been -prepared with considerable forethought for its present use. The inside -handles of the doors had apparently been removed; the wooden shutters -were permanently fixed in their places; and a paper label, stuck on the -transom below each window, had a suspicious appearance of having been -put there to cover the painted name and address of the job-master or -livery-stable keeper who had originally owned the carriage. - -These observations gave me abundant food for reflection. This Mr. Weiss -must be an excessively conscientious man if he had considered that his -promise to Mr. Graves committed him to such extraordinary precautions. -Evidently no mere following of the letter of the law was enough to -satisfy his sensitive conscience. Unless he had reasons for sharing Mr. -Graves's unreasonable desire for secrecy--for one could not suppose that -these measures of concealment had been taken by the patient himself. - -The further suggestions that evolved themselves from this consideration -were a little disquieting. Whither was I being carried and for what -purpose? The idea that I was bound for some den of thieves where I -might be robbed and possibly murdered, I dismissed with a smile. Thieves -do not make elaborately concerted plans to rob poor devils like me. -Poverty has its compensations in that respect. But there were other -possibilities. Imagination backed by experience had no difficulty in -conjuring up a number of situations in which a medical man might be -called upon, with or without coercion, either to witness or actively to -participate in the commission of some unlawful act. - -Reflections of this kind occupied me pretty actively if not very -agreeably during this strange journey. And the monotony was relieved, -too, by other distractions. I was, for example, greatly interested to -notice how, when one sense is in abeyance, the other senses rouse into a -compensating intensity of perception. I sat smoking my pipe in darkness -which was absolute save for the dim glow from the smouldering tobacco in -the bowl, and seemed to be cut off from all knowledge of the world -without. But yet I was not. The vibrations of the carriage, with its -hard springs and iron-tired wheels, registered accurately and plainly -the character of the roadway. The harsh rattle of granite setts, the -soft bumpiness of macadam, the smooth rumble of wood-pavement, the -jarring and swerving of crossed tram-lines; all were easily recognizable -and together sketched the general features of the neighbourhood through -which I was passing. And the sense of hearing filled in the details. Now -the hoot of a tug's whistle told of proximity to the river. A sudden -and brief hollow reverberation announced the passage under a railway -arch (which, by the way, happened several times during the journey); -and, when I heard the familiar whistle of a railway-guard followed by -the quick snorts of a skidding locomotive, I had as clear a picture of a -heavy passenger-train moving out of a station as if I had seen it in -broad daylight. - -I had just finished my pipe and knocked out the ashes on the heel of my -boot, when the carriage slowed down and entered a covered way--as I -could tell by the hollow echoes. Then I distinguished the clang of heavy -wooden gates closed behind me, and a moment or two later the carriage -door was unlocked and opened. I stepped out blinking into a covered -passage paved with cobbles and apparently leading down to a mews; but it -was all in darkness, and I had no time to make any detailed -observations, as the carriage had drawn up opposite a side door which -was open and in which stood a woman holding a lighted candle. - -"Is that the doctor?" she asked, speaking with a rather pronounced -German accent and shading the candle with her hand as she peered at me. - -I answered in the affirmative, and she then exclaimed: - -"I am glad you have come. Mr. Weiss will be so relieved. Come in, -please." - -I followed her across a dark passage into a dark room, where she set the -candle down on a chest of drawers and turned to depart. At the door, -however, she paused and looked back. - -"It is not a very nice room to ask you into," she said. "We are very -untidy just now, but you must excuse us. We have had so much anxiety -about poor Mr. Graves." - -"He has been ill some time, then?" - -"Yes. Some little time. At intervals, you know. Sometimes better, -sometimes not so well." - -As she spoke, she gradually backed out into the passage but did not go -away at once. I accordingly pursued my inquiries. - -"He has not been seen by any doctor, has he?" - -"No," she answered, "he has always refused to see a doctor. That has -been a great trouble to us. Mr. Weiss has been very anxious about him. -He will be so glad to hear that you have come. I had better go and tell -him. Perhaps you will kindly sit down until he is able to come to you," -and with this she departed on her mission. - -It struck me as a little odd that, considering his anxiety and the -apparent urgency of the case, Mr. Weiss should not have been waiting to -receive me. And when several minutes elapsed without his appearing, the -oddness of the circumstance impressed me still more. Having no desire, -after the journey in the carriage, to sit down, I whiled away the time -by an inspection of the room. And a very curious room it was; bare, -dirty, neglected and, apparently, unused. A faded carpet had been flung -untidily on the floor. A small, shabby table stood in the middle of the -room; and beyond this, three horsehair-covered chairs and a chest of -drawers formed the entire set of furniture. No pictures hung on the -mouldy walls, no curtains covered the shuttered windows, and the dark -drapery of cobwebs that hung from the ceiling to commemorate a long and -illustrious dynasty of spiders hinted at months of neglect and disuse. - -The chest of drawers--an incongruous article of furniture for what -seemed to be a dining-room--as being the nearest and best lighted object -received most of my attention. It was a fine old chest of nearly black -mahogany, very battered and in the last stage of decay, but originally a -piece of some pretensions. Regretful of its fallen estate, I looked it -over with some interest and had just observed on its lower corner a -little label bearing the printed inscription "Lot 201" when I heard -footsteps descending the stairs. A moment later the door opened and a -shadowy figure appeared standing close by the threshold. - -"Good evening, doctor," said the stranger, in a deep, quiet voice and -with a distinct, though not strong, German accent. "I must apologize for -keeping you waiting." - -I acknowledged the apology somewhat stiffly and asked: "You are Mr. -Weiss, I presume?" - -"Yes, I am Mr. Weiss. It is very good of you to come so far and so late -at night and to make no objection to the absurd conditions that my poor -friend has imposed." - -"Not at all," I replied. "It is my business to go when and where I am -wanted, and it is not my business to inquire into the private affairs of -my patients." - -"That is very true, sir," he agreed cordially, "and I am much obliged -to you for taking that very proper view of the case. I pointed that out -to my friend, but he is not a very reasonable man. He is very secretive -and rather suspicious by nature." - -"So I inferred. And as to his condition; is he seriously ill?" - -"Ah," said Mr. Weiss, "that is what I want you to tell me. I am very -much puzzled about him." - -"But what is the nature of his illness? What does he complain of?" - -"He makes very few complaints of any kind although he is obviously ill. -But the fact is that he is hardly ever more than half awake. He lies in -a kind of dreamy stupor from morning to night." - -This struck me as excessively strange and by no means in agreement with -the patient's energetic refusal to see a doctor. - -"But," I asked, "does he never rouse completely?" - -"Oh, yes," Mr. Weiss answered quickly; "he rouses from time to time and -is then quite rational, and, as you may have gathered, rather obstinate. -That is the peculiar and puzzling feature in the case; this alternation -between a state of stupor and an almost normal and healthy condition. -But perhaps you had better see him and judge for yourself. He had a -rather severe attack just now. Follow me, please. The stairs are rather -dark." - -The stairs were very dark, and I noticed that they were without any -covering of carpet, or even oil-cloth, so that our footsteps resounded -dismally as if we were in an empty house. I stumbled up after my guide, -feeling my way by the hand-rail, and on the first floor followed him -into a room similar in size to the one below and very barely furnished, -though less squalid than the other. A single candle at the farther end -threw its feeble light on a figure in the bed, leaving the rest of the -room in a dim twilight. - -As Mr. Weiss tiptoed into the chamber, a woman--the one who had spoken -to me below--rose from a chair by the bedside and quietly left the room -by a second door. My conductor halted, and looking fixedly at the figure -in the bed, called out: - -"Philip! Philip! Here is the doctor come to see you." - -He paused for a moment or two, and, receiving no answer, said: "He seems -to be dozing as usual. Will you go and see what you can make of him?" - -I stepped forward to the bedside, leaving Mr. Weiss at the end of the -room near the door by which we had entered, where he remained, slowly -and noiselessly pacing backwards and forwards in the semi-obscurity. By -the light of the candle I saw an elderly man with good features and a -refined, intelligent and even attractive face, but dreadfully emaciated, -bloodless and sallow. He lay quite motionless except for the scarcely -perceptible rise and fall of his chest; his eyes were nearly closed, his -features relaxed, and, though he was not actually asleep, he seemed to -be in a dreamy, somnolent, lethargic state, as if under the influence of -some narcotic. - -I watched him for a minute or so, timing his slow breathing by my -watch, and then suddenly and sharply addressed him by name; but the only -response was a slight lifting of the eyelids, which, after a brief, -drowsy glance at me, slowly subsided to their former position. - -I now proceeded to make a physical examination. First, I felt his pulse, -grasping his wrist with intentional brusqueness in the hope of rousing -him from his stupor. The beats were slow, feeble and slightly irregular, -giving clear evidence, if any were needed, of his generally lowered -vitality. I listened carefully to his heart, the sounds of which were -very distinct through the thin walls of his emaciated chest, but found -nothing abnormal beyond the feebleness and uncertainty of its action. -Then I turned my attention to his eyes, which I examined closely with -the aid of the candle and my ophthalmoscope lens, raising the lids -somewhat roughly so as to expose the whole of the irises. He submitted -without resistance to my rather ungentle handling of these sensitive -structures, and showed no signs of discomfort even when I brought the -candle-flame to within a couple of inches of his eyes. - -But this extraordinary tolerance of light was easily explained by closer -examination; for the pupils were contracted to such an extreme degree -that only the very minutest point of black was visible at the centre of -the grey iris. Nor was this the only abnormal peculiarity of the sick -man's eyes. As he lay on his back, the right iris sagged down slightly -towards its centre, showing a distinctly concave surface; and, when I -contrived to produce a slight but quick movement of the eyeball, a -perceptible undulatory movement could be detected. The patient had, in -fact, what is known as a tremulous iris, a condition that is seen in -cases where the crystalline lens has been extracted for the cure of -cataract, or where it has become accidentally displaced, leaving the -iris unsupported. In the present case, the complete condition of the -iris made it clear that the ordinary extraction operation had not been -performed, nor was I able, on the closest inspection with the aid of my -lens, to find any trace of the less common "needle operation." The -inference was that the patient had suffered from the accident known as -"dislocation of the lens"; and this led to the further inference that he -was almost or completely blind in the right eye. - -This conclusion was, indeed, to some extent negatived by a deep -indentation on the bridge of the nose, evidently produced by spectacles, -and by marks which I looked for and found behind the ears, corresponding -to the hooks or "curl sides" of the glasses. For those spectacles which -are fitted with curl sides to hook over the ears are usually intended to -be worn habitually, and this agreed with the indentation on the nose; -which was deeper than would have been accounted for by the merely -occasional use of spectacles for reading. But if only one eye was -useful, a single eye-glass would have answered the purpose; not that -there was any weight in this objection, for a single eye-glass worn -constantly would be much less convenient than a pair of hook-sided -spectacles. - -As to the nature of the patient's illness, only one opinion seemed -possible. It was a clear and typical case of opium or morphine -poisoning. To this conclusion all his symptoms seemed to point with -absolute certainty. The coated tongue, which he protruded slowly and -tremulously in response to a command bawled in his ear; his yellow skin -and ghastly expression; his contracted pupils and the stupor from which -he could hardly be roused by the roughest handling and which yet did not -amount to actual insensibility; all these formed a distinct and coherent -group of symptoms, not only pointing plainly to the nature of the drug, -but also suggesting a very formidable dose. - -But this conclusion in its turn raised a very awkward and difficult -question. If a large--a poisonous--dose of the drug had been taken, how, -and by whom had that dose been administered? The closest scrutiny of -the patient's arms and legs failed to reveal a single mark such as would -be made by a hypodermic needle. This man was clearly no common -morphinomaniac; and in the absence of the usual sprinkling of -needlemarks, there was nothing to show or suggest whether the drug had -been taken voluntarily by the patient himself or administered by someone -else. - -And then there remained the possibility that I might, after all, be -mistaken in my diagnosis. I felt pretty confident. But the wise man -always holds a doubt in reserve. And, in the present case, having regard -to the obviously serious condition of the patient, such a doubt was -eminently disturbing. Indeed, as I pocketed my stethoscope and took a -last look at the motionless, silent figure, I realized that my position -was one of extraordinary difficulty and perplexity. On the one hand my -suspicions--aroused, naturally enough, by the very unusual circumstances -that surrounded my visit--inclined me to extreme reticence; while, on -the other, it was evidently my duty to give any information that might -prove serviceable to the patient. - -As I turned away from the bed Mr. Weiss stopped his slow pacing to and -fro and faced me. The feeble light of the candle now fell on him, and I -saw him distinctly for the first time. He did not impress me favourably. -He was a thick-set, round-shouldered man, a typical fair German with -tow-coloured hair, greased and brushed down smoothly, a large, ragged, -sandy beard and coarse, sketchy features. His nose was large and thick -with a bulbous end, and inclined to a reddish purple, a tint which -extended to the adjacent parts of his face as if the colour had run. His -eyebrows were large and beetling, overhanging deep-set eyes, and he wore -a pair of spectacles which gave him a somewhat owlish expression. His -exterior was unprepossessing, and I was in a state of mind that rendered -me easily receptive of an unfavourable impression. - -"Well," he said, "what do you make of him?" I hesitated, still perplexed -by the conflicting necessities of caution and frankness, but at length -replied: - -"I think rather badly of him, Mr. Weiss. He is in a very low state." - -"Yes, I can see that. But have you come to any decision as to the nature -of his illness?" - -There was a tone of anxiety and suppressed eagerness in the question -which, while it was natural enough in the circumstances, by no means -allayed my suspicions, but rather influenced me on the side of caution. - -"I cannot give a very definite opinion at present," I replied guardedly. -"The symptoms are rather obscure and might very well indicate several -different conditions. They might be due to congestion of the brain, and, -if no other explanation were possible, I should incline to that view. -The alternative is some narcotic poison, such as opium or morphia." - -"But that is quite impossible. There is no such drug in the house, and -as he never leaves his room now, he could not get any from outside." - -"What about the servants?" I asked. - -"There are no servants excepting my housekeeper, and she is absolutely -trustworthy." - -"He might have some store of the drug that you are not aware of. Is he -left alone much?" - -"Very seldom indeed. I spend as much time with him as I can, and when I -am not able to be in the room, Mrs Schallibaum, my housekeeper, sits -with him." - -"Is he often as drowsy as he is now?" - -"Oh, very often; in fact, I should say that is his usual condition. He -rouses up now and again, and then he is quite lucid and natural for, -perhaps, an hour or so; but presently he becomes drowsy again and doses -off, and remains asleep, or half asleep, for hours on end. Do you know -of any disease that takes people in that way?" - -"No," I answered. "The symptoms are not exactly like those of any -disease that is known to me. But they are much very like those of opium -poisoning." - -"But, my dear sir," Mr. Weiss retorted impatiently, "since it is clearly -impossible that it can be opium poisoning, it must be something else. -Now, what else can it be? You were speaking of congestion of the brain." - -"Yes. But the objection to that is the very complete recovery that seems -to take place in the intervals." - -"I would not say very complete," said Mr. Weiss. "The recovery is rather -comparative. He is lucid and fairly natural in his manner, but he is -still dull and lethargic. He does not, for instance, show any desire to -go out, or even to leave his room." - -I pondered uncomfortably on these rather contradictory statements. -Clearly Mr. Weiss did not mean to entertain the theory of opium -poisoning; which was natural enough if he had no knowledge of the drug -having been used. But still-- - -"I suppose," said Mr. Weiss, "you have experience of sleeping sickness?" - -The suggestion startled me. I had not. Very few people had. At that time -practically nothing was known about the disease. It was a mere -pathological curiosity, almost unheard of excepting by a few -practitioners in remote parts of Africa, and hardly referred to in the -text-books. Its connection with the trypanosome-bearing insects was as -yet unsuspected, and, to me, its symptoms were absolutely unknown. - -"No, I have not," I replied. "The disease is nothing more than a name to -me. But why do you ask? Has Mr. Graves been abroad?" - -"Yes. He has been travelling for the last three or four years, and I -know that he spent some time recently in West Africa, where this disease -occurs. In fact, it was from him that I first heard about it." - -This was a new fact. It shook my confidence in my diagnosis very -considerably, and inclined me to reconsider my suspicions. If Mr. Weiss -was lying to me, he now had me at a decided disadvantage. - -"What do you think?" he asked. "Is it possible that this can be sleeping -sickness?" - -"I should not like to say that it is impossible," I replied. "The -disease is practically unknown to me. I have never practised out of -England and have had no occasion to study it. Until I have looked the -subject up, I should not be in a position to give an opinion. Of course, -if I could see Mr. Graves in one of what we may call his 'lucid -intervals' I should be able to form a better idea. Do you think that -could be managed?" - -"It might. I see the importance of it and will certainly do my best; but -he is a difficult man; a very difficult man. I sincerely hope it is not -sleeping sickness." - -"Why?" - -"Because--as I understood from him--that disease is invariably fatal, -sooner or later. There seem to be no cure. Do you think you will be able -to decide when you see him again?" - -"I hope so," I replied. "I shall look up the authorities and see exactly -what the symptoms are--that is, so far as they are known; but my -impression is that there is very little information available." - -"And in the meantime?" - -"We will give him some medicine and attend to his general condition, and -you had better let me see him again as soon as possible." I was about to -say that the effect of the medicine itself might throw some light on the -patient's condition, but, as I proposed to treat him for morphine -poisoning, I thought it wiser to keep this item of information to -myself. Accordingly, I confined myself to a few general directions as to -the care of the patient, to which Mr. Weiss listened attentively. "And," -I concluded, "we must not lose sight of the opium question. You had -better search the room carefully and keep a close watch on the patient, -especially during his intervals of wakefulness." - -"Very well, doctor," Mr. Weiss replied, "I will do all that you tell me -and I will send for you again as soon as possible, if you do not object -to poor Graves's ridiculous conditions. And now, if you will allow me to -pay your fee, I will go and order the carriage while you are writing the -prescription." - -"There is no need for a prescription," I said. "I will make up some -medicine and give it to the coachman." - -Mr. Weiss seemed inclined to demur to this arrangement, but I had my own -reasons for insisting on it. Modern prescriptions are not difficult to -read, and I did not wish Mr. Weiss to know what treatment the patient -was having. - -As soon as I was left alone, I returned to the bedside and once more -looked down at the impassive figure. And as I looked, my suspicions -revived. It was very like morphine poisoning; and, if it was morphine, -it was no common, medicinal dose that had been given. I opened my bag -and took out my hypodermic case from which I extracted a little tube of -atropine tabloids. Shaking out into my hand a couple of the tiny discs, -I drew down the patient's under-lip and slipped the little tablets under -his tongue. Then I quickly replaced the tube and dropped the case into -my bag; and I had hardly done so when the door opened softly and the -housekeeper entered the room. - -"How do you find Mr. Graves?" she asked in what I thought a very -unnecessarily low tone, considering the patient's lethargic state. - -"He seems to be very ill," I answered. - -"So!" she rejoined, and added: "I am sorry to hear that. We have been -anxious about him." - -She seated herself on the chair by the bedside, and, shading the candle -from the patient's face--and her own, too--produced from a bag that hung -from her waist a half-finished stocking and began to knit silently and -with the skill characteristic of the German housewife. I looked at her -attentively (though she was so much in the shadow that I could see her -but indistinctly) and somehow her appearance prepossessed me as little -as did that of the other members of the household. Yet she was not an -ill-looking woman. She had an excellent figure, and the air of a person -of good social position; her features were good enough and her -colouring, although a little unusual, was not unpleasant. Like Mr. -Weiss, she had very fair hair, greased, parted in the middle and brushed -down as smoothly as the painted hair of a Dutch doll. She appeared to -have no eyebrows at all--owing, no doubt, to the light colour of the -hair--and the doll-like character was emphasized by her eyes, which were -either brown or dark grey, I could not see which. A further peculiarity -consisted in a "habit spasm," such as one often sees in nervous -children; a periodical quick jerk of the head, as if a cap-string or -dangling lock were being shaken off the cheek. Her age I judged to be -about thirty-five. - -The carriage, which one might have expected to be waiting, seemed to -take some time in getting ready. I sat, with growing impatience, -listening to the sick man's soft breathing and the click of the -housekeeper's knitting-needles. I wanted to get home, not only for my -own sake; the patient's condition made it highly desirable that the -remedies should be given as quickly as possible. But the minutes dragged -on, and I was on the point of expostulating when a bell rang on the -landing. - -"The carriage is ready," said Mrs. Schallibaum. "Let me light you down -the stairs." - -She rose, and, taking the candle, preceded me to the head of the stairs, -where she stood holding the light over the baluster-rail as I descended -and crossed the passage to the open side door. The carriage was drawn up -in the covered way as I could see by the faint glimmer of the distant -candle; which also enabled me dimly to discern the coachman standing -close by in the shadow. I looked round, rather expecting to see Mr. -Weiss, but, as he made no appearance, I entered the carriage. The door -was immediately banged to and locked, and I then heard the heavy bolts -of the gates withdrawn and the loud creaking of hinges. The carriage -moved out slowly and stopped; the gates slammed to behind me; I felt the -lurch as the coachman climbed to his seat and we started forward. - -My reflections during the return journey were the reverse of agreeable. -I could not rid myself of the conviction that I was being involved in -some very suspicious proceedings. It was possible, of course, that this -feeling was due to the strange secrecy that surrounded my connection -with this case; that, had I made my visit under ordinary conditions, I -might have found in the patient's symptoms nothing to excite suspicion -or alarm. It might be so, but that consideration did not comfort me. - -Then, my diagnosis might be wrong. It might be that this was, in -reality, a case of some brain affection accompanied by compression, such -as slow haemorrhage, abscess, tumour or simple congestion. These cases -were very difficult at times. But the appearances in this one did not -consistently agree with the symptoms accompanying any of these -conditions. As to sleeping sickness, it was, perhaps a more hopeful -suggestion, but I could not decide for or against it until I had more -knowledge; and against this view was the weighty fact that the symptoms -did exactly agree with the theory of morphine poisoning. - -But even so, there was no conclusive evidence of any criminal act. The -patient might be a confirmed opium-eater, and the symptoms heightened by -deliberate deception. The cunning of these unfortunates is proverbial -and is only equalled by their secretiveness and mendacity. It would be -quite possible for this man to feign profound stupor so long as he was -watched, and then, when left alone for a few minutes, to nip out of bed -and help himself from some secret store of the drug. This would be quite -in character with his objection to seeing a doctor and his desire for -secrecy. But still, I did not believe it to be the true explanation. In -spite of all the various alternative possibilities, my suspicions came -back to Mr. Weiss and the strange, taciturn woman, and refused to budge. - -For all the circumstances of the case were suspicious. The elaborate -preparations implied by the state of the carriage in which I was -travelling; the make-shift appearance of the house; the absence of -ordinary domestic servants, although a coachman was kept; the evident -desire of Mr. Weiss and the woman to avoid thorough inspection of their -persons; and, above all, the fact that the former had told me a -deliberate lie. For he had lied, beyond all doubt. His statement as to -the almost continuous stupor was absolutely irreconcilable with his -other statement as to the patient's wilfulness and obstinacy and even -more irreconcilable with the deep and comparatively fresh marks of the -spectacles on the patient's nose. That man had certainly worn spectacles -within twenty-four hours, which he would hardly have done if he had been -in a state bordering on coma. - -My reflections were interrupted by the stopping of the carriage. The -door was unlocked and thrown open, and I emerged from my dark and stuffy -prison opposite my own house. - -"I will let you have the medicine in a minute or two," I said to the -coachman; and, as I let myself in with my latch-key, my mind came back -swiftly from the general circumstances of the case to the very critical -condition of the patient. Already I was regretting that I had not taken -more energetic measures to rouse him and restore his flagging vitality; -for it would be a terrible thing if he should take a turn for the worse -and die before the coachman returned with the remedies. Spurred on by -this alarming thought, I made up the medicines quickly and carried the -hastily wrapped bottles out to the man, whom I found standing by the -horse's head. - -"Get back as quickly as you can," I said, "and tell Mr. Weiss to lose no -time in giving the patient the draught in the small bottle. The -directions are on the labels." - -The coachman took the packages from me without reply, climbed to his -seat, touched the horse with his whip and drove off at a rapid pace -towards Newington Butts. - -The little clock in the consulting-room showed that it was close on -eleven; time for a tired G.P. to be thinking of bed. But I was not -sleepy. Over my frugal supper I found myself taking up anew the thread -of my meditations, and afterwards, as I smoked my last pipe by the -expiring surgery fire, the strange and sinister features of the case -continued to obtrude themselves on my notice. I looked up Stillbury's -little reference library for information on the subject of sleeping -sickness, but learned no more than that it was "a rare and obscure -disease of which very little was known at present." I read up morphine -poisoning and was only further confirmed in the belief that my diagnosis -was correct; which would have been more satisfactory if the -circumstances had been different. - -For the interest of the case was not merely academic. I was in a -position of great difficulty and responsibility and had to decide on a -course of action. What ought I to do? Should I maintain the professional -secrecy to which I was tacitly committed, or ought I to convey a hint to -the police? - -Suddenly, and with a singular feeling of relief, I bethought myself of -my old friend and fellow-student, John Thorndyke, now an eminent -authority on Medical Jurisprudence. I had been associated with him -temporarily in one case as his assistant, and had then been deeply -impressed by his versatile learning, his acuteness and his marvellous -resourcefulness. Thorndyke was a barrister in extensive practice, and so -would be able to tell me at once what was my duty from a legal point of -view; and, as he was also a doctor of medicine, he would understand the -exigencies of medical practice. If I could find time to call at the -Temple and lay the case before him, all my doubts and difficulties would -be resolved. - -Anxiously, I opened my visiting-list to see what kind of day's work was -in store for me on the morrow. It was not a heavy day, even allowing for -one or two extra calls in the morning, but yet I was doubtful whether it -would allow of my going so far from my district, until my eye caught, -near the foot of the page, the name of Burton. Now Mr. Burton lived in -one of the old houses on the east side of Bouverie Street, less than -five minutes' walk from Thorndyke's chambers in King's Bench Walk; and -he was, moreover, a "chronic" who could safely be left for the last. -When I had done with Mr. Burton I could look in on my friend with a very -good chance of catching him on his return from the hospital. I could -allow myself time for quite a long chat with him, and, by taking a -hansom, still get back in good time for the evening's work. - -This was a great comfort. At the prospect of sharing my responsibilities -with a friend on whose judgment I could so entirely rely, my -embarrassments seemed to drop from me in a moment. Having entered the -engagement in my visiting-list, I rose, in greatly improved spirits, and -knocked out my pipe just as the little clock banged out impatiently the -hour of midnight. - - - - -Chapter II - -Thorndyke Devises a Scheme - - -As I entered the Temple by the Tudor Street gate the aspect of the place -smote my senses with an air of agreeable familiarity. Here had I spent -many a delightful hour when working with Thorndyke at the remarkable -Hornby case, which the newspapers had called "The Case of the Red Thumb -Mark"; and here had I met the romance of my life, the story whereof is -told elsewhere. The place was thus endeared to me by pleasant -recollections of a happy past, and its associations suggested hopes of -happiness yet to come and in the not too far distant future. - -My brisk tattoo on the little brass knocker brought to the door no less -a person than Thorndyke himself; and the warmth of his greeting made me -at once proud and ashamed. For I had not only been an absentee; I had -been a very poor correspondent. - -"The prodigal has returned, Polton," he exclaimed, looking into the -room. "Here is Dr. Jervis." - -I followed him into the room and found Polton--his confidential servant, -laboratory assistant, artificer and general "familiar"--setting out the -tea-tray on a small table. The little man shook hands cordially with me, -and his face crinkled up into the sort of smile that one might expect to -see on a benevolent walnut. - -"We've often talked about you, sir," said he. "The doctor was wondering -only yesterday when you were coming back to us." - -As I was not "coming back to them" quite in the sense intended I felt a -little guilty, but reserved my confidences for Thorndyke's ear and -replied in polite generalities. Then Polton fetched the tea-pot from the -laboratory, made up the fire and departed, and Thorndyke and I subsided, -as of old, into our respective arm-chairs. - -"And whence do you spring from in this unexpected fashion?" my colleague -asked. "You look as if you had been making professional visits." - -"I have. The base of operations is in Lower Kennington Lane." - -"Ah! Then you are 'back once more on the old trail'?" - -"Yes," I answered, with a laugh, "'the old trail, the long trail, the -trail that is always new.'" - -"And leads nowhere," Thorndyke added grimly. - -I laughed again; not very heartily, for there was an uncomfortable -element of truth in my friend's remark, to which my own experience bore -only too complete testimony. The medical practitioner whose lack of -means forces him to subsist by taking temporary charge of other men's -practices is apt to find that the passing years bring him little but -grey hairs and a wealth of disagreeable experience. - -"You will have to drop it, Jervis; you will, indeed," Thorndyke resumed -after a pause. "This casual employment is preposterous for a man of your -class and professional attainments. Besides, are you not engaged to be -married and to a most charming girl?" - -"Yes, I know. I have been a fool. But I will really amend my ways. If -necessary, I will pocket my pride and let Juliet advance the money to -buy a practice." - -"That," said Thorndyke, "is a very proper resolution. Pride and reserve -between people who are going to be husband and wife, is an absurdity. -But why buy a practice? Have you forgotten my proposal?" - -"I should be an ungrateful brute if I had." - -"Very well. I repeat it now. Come to me as my junior, read for the Bar -and work with me, and, with your abilities, you will have a chance of -something like a career. I want you, Jervis," he added, earnestly. "I -must have a junior, with my increasing practice, and you are the junior -I want. We are old and tried friends; we have worked together; we like -and trust one another, and you are the best man for the job that I know. -Come; I am not going to take a refusal. This is an ultimatum." - -"And what is the alternative?" I asked with a smile at his eagerness. - -"There isn't any. You are going to say yes." - -"I believe I am," I answered, not without emotion; "and I am more -rejoiced at your offer and more grateful than I can tell you. But we -must leave the final arrangements for our next meeting--in a week or so, -I hope--for I have to be back in an hour, and I want to consult you on -a matter of some importance." - -"Very well," said Thorndyke; "we will leave the formal agreement for -consideration at our next meeting. What is it that you want my opinion -on?" - -"The fact is," I said, "I am in a rather awkward dilemma, and I want you -to tell me what you think I ought to do." - -Thorndyke paused in the act of refilling my cup and glanced at me with -unmistakable anxiety. - -"Nothing of an unpleasant nature, I hope," said he. - -"No, no; nothing of that kind," I answered with a smile as I interpreted -the euphemism; for "something unpleasant," in the case of a young and -reasonably presentable medical man is ordinarily the equivalent of -trouble with the female of his species. "It is nothing that concerns me -personally at all," I continued; "it is a question of professional -responsibility. But I had better give you an account of the affair in a -complete narrative, as I know that you like to have your data in a -regular and consecutive order." - -Thereupon I proceeded to relate the history of my visit to the -mysterious Mr. Graves, not omitting any single circumstance or detail -that I could recollect. - -Thorndyke listened from the very beginning of my story with the closest -attention. His face was the most impassive that I have ever seen; -ordinarily as inscrutable as a bronze mask; but to me, who knew him -intimately, there was a certain something--a change of colour, perhaps, -or an additional sparkle of the eye--that told me when his curious -passion for investigation was fully aroused. And now, as I told him of -that weird journey and the strange, secret house to which it had brought -me, I could see that it offered a problem after his very heart. During -the whole of my narration he sat as motionless as a statue, evidently -committing the whole story to memory, detail by detail; and even when I -had finished he remained for an appreciable time without moving or -speaking. - -At length he looked up at me. "This is a very extraordinary affair, -Jervis," he said. - -"Very," I agreed; "and the question that is agitating me is, what is to -be done?" - -"Yes," he said, meditatively, "that is the question; and an uncommonly -difficult question it is. It really involves the settlement of the -antecedent question: What is it that is happening at that house?" - -"What do you think is happening at that house?" I asked. - -"We must go slow, Jervis," he replied. "We must carefully separate the -legal tissues from the medical, and avoid confusing what we know with -what we suspect. Now, with reference to the medical aspects of the case. -The first question that confronts us is that of sleeping sickness, or -negro-lethargy as it is sometimes called; and here we are in a -difficulty. We have not enough knowledge. Neither of us, I take it, has -ever seen a case, and the extant descriptions are inadequate. From what -I know of the disease, its symptoms agree with those in your case in -respect of the alleged moroseness and in the gradually increasing -periods of lethargy alternating with periods of apparent recovery. On -the other hand, the disease is said to be confined to negroes; but that -probably means only that negroes alone have hitherto been exposed to the -conditions that produce it. A more important fact is that, as far as I -know, extreme contraction of the pupils is not a symptom of sleeping -sickness. To sum up, the probabilities are against sleeping sickness, -but with our insufficient knowledge, we cannot definitely exclude it." - -"You think that it may really be sleeping sickness?" - -"No; personally I do not entertain that theory for a moment. But I am -considering the evidence apart from our opinions on the subject. We have -to accept it as a conceivable hypothesis that it may be sleeping -sickness because we cannot positively prove that it is not. That is all. -But when we come to the hypothesis of morphine poisoning, the case is -different. The symptoms agree with those of morphine poisoning in every -respect. There is no exception or disagreement whatever. The common -sense of the matter is therefore that we adopt morphine poisoning as our -working diagnosis; which is what you seem to have done." - -"Yes. For purposes of treatment." - -"Exactly. For medical purposes you adopted the more probable view and -dismissed the less probable. That was the reasonable thing to do. But -for legal purposes you must entertain both possibilities; for the -hypothesis of poisoning involves serious legal issues, whereas the -hypothesis of disease involves no legal issues at all." - -"That doesn't sound very helpful," I remarked. - -"It indicates the necessity for caution," he retorted. - -"Yes, I see that. But what is your own opinion of the case?" - -"Well," he said, "let us consider the facts in order. Here is a man who, -we assume, is under the influence of a poisonous dose of morphine. The -question is, did he take that dose himself or was it administered to him -by some other person? If he took it himself, with what object did he -take it? The history that was given to you seems completely to exclude -the idea of suicide. But the patient's condition seems equally to -exclude the idea of morphinomania. Your opium-eater does not reduce -himself to a state of coma. He usually keeps well within the limits of -the tolerance that has been established. The conclusion that emerges is, -I think, that the drug was administered by some other person; and the -most likely person seems to be Mr. Weiss." - -"Isn't morphine a very unusual poison?" - -"Very; and most inconvenient except in a single, fatal dose, by reason -of the rapidity with which tolerance of the drug is established. But we -must not forget that slow morphine poisoning might be eminently -suitable in certain cases. The manner in which it enfeebles the will, -confuses the judgment and debilitates the body might make it very useful -to a poisoner whose aim was to get some instrument or document executed, -such as a will, deed or assignment. And death could be produced -afterwards by other means. You see the important bearing of this?" - -"You mean in respect of a death certificate?" - -"Yes. Suppose Mr. Weiss to have given a large dose of morphine. He then -sends for you and throws out a suggestion of sleeping sickness. If you -accept the suggestion he is pretty safe. He can repeat the process until -he kills his victim and then get a certificate from you which will cover -the murder. It was quite an ingenious scheme--which, by the way, is -characteristic of intricate crimes; your subtle criminal often plans his -crime like a genius, but he generally executes it like a fool--as this -man seems to have done, if we are not doing him an injustice." - -"How has he acted like a fool?" - -"In several respects. In the first place, he should have chosen his -doctor. A good, brisk, confident man who 'knows his own mind' is the -sort of person who would have suited him; a man who would have jumped at -a diagnosis and stuck to it; or else an ignorant weakling of alcoholic -tendencies. It was shockingly bad luck to run against a cautious -scientific practitioner like my learned friend. Then, of course, all -this secrecy was sheer tomfoolery, exactly calculated to put a careful -man on his guard; as it has actually done. If Mr. Weiss is really a -criminal, he has mismanaged his affairs badly." - -"And you apparently think that he is a criminal?" - -"I suspect him deeply. But I should like to ask you one or two questions -about him. You say he spoke with a German accent. What command of -English had he? Was his vocabulary good? Did he use any German idioms?" - -"No. I should say that his English was perfect, and I noticed that his -phrases were quite well chosen even for an Englishman." - -"Did he seem to you 'made up' in any way; disguised, I mean?" - -"I couldn't say. The light was so very feeble." - -"You couldn't see the colour of his eyes, for instance?" - -"No. I think they were grey, but I couldn't be sure." - -"And as to the coachman. He wore a wig, you said. Could you see the -colour of his eyes? Or any peculiarity by which you could recognize -him?" - -"He had a malformed thumb-nail on his right hand. That is all I can say -about him." - -"He didn't strike you as resembling Weiss in any way; in voice or -features?" - -"Not at all; and he spoke, as I told you, with a distinct Scotch -accent." - -"The reason I ask is that if Weiss is attempting to poison this man, the -coachman is almost certain to be a confederate and might be a relative. -You had better examine him closely if you get another chance." - -"I will. And that brings me back to the question, What am I to do? Ought -I to report the case to the police?" - -"I am inclined to think not. You have hardly enough facts. Of course, if -Mr. Weiss has administered poison 'unlawfully and maliciously' he has -committed a felony, and is liable under the Consolidation Acts of 1861 -to ten years' penal servitude. But I do not see how you could swear an -information. You don't know that he administered the poison--if poison -has really been administered--and you cannot give any reliable name or -any address whatever. Then there is the question of sleeping sickness. -You reject it for medical purposes, but you could not swear, in a court -of law, that this is not a case of sleeping sickness." - -"No," I admitted, "I could not." - -"Then I think the police would decline to move in the matter, and you -might find that you had raised a scandal in Dr. Stillbury's practice to -no purpose." - -"So you think I had better do nothing in the matter?" - -"For the present. It is, of course, a medical man's duty to assist -justice in any way that is possible. But a doctor is not a detective; he -should not go out of his way to assume police functions. He should keep -his eyes and ears open, and, though, in general, he should keep his own -counsel, it is his duty to note very carefully anything that seems to -him likely to bear on any important legal issues. It is not his -business officiously to initiate criminal inquiries, but it is -emphatically his business to be ready, if called upon, to assist justice -with information that his special knowledge and opportunities have -rendered accessible to him. You see the bearing of this?" - -"You mean that I should note down what I have seen and heard and say -nothing about it until I am asked." - -"Yes; if nothing further happens. But if you should be sent for again, I -think it is your duty to make further observations with a view, if -necessary, to informing the police. It may be, for instance, of vital -importance to identify the house, and it is your duty to secure the -means of doing so." - -"But, my dear Thorndyke," I expostulated, "I have told you how I was -conveyed to the house. Now, will you kindly explain to me how a man, -boxed up in a pitch-dark carriage, is going to identify any place to -which he may be carried?" - -"The problem doesn't appear to me to present any serious difficulties," -he replied. - -"Doesn't it?" said I. "To me it looks like a pretty solid impossibility. -But what do you suggest? Should I break out of the house and run away up -the street? Or should I bore a hole through the shutter of the carriage -and peep out?" - -Thorndyke smiled indulgently. "The methods proposed by my learned friend -display a certain crudity inappropriate to the character of a man of -science; to say nothing of the disadvantage of letting the enemy into -our counsels. No, no, Jervis; we can do something better than that. -Just excuse me for a minute while I run up to the laboratory." - -He hurried away to Polton's sanctum on the upper floor, leaving me to -speculate on the method by which he proposed that a man should be -enabled, as Sam Weller would express it, "to see through a flight of -stairs and a deal door"; or, what was equally opaque, the wooden -shutters of a closed carriage. - -"Now," he said, when he returned a couple of minutes later with a small, -paper-covered notebook in his hand, "I have set Polton to work on a -little appliance that will, I think, solve our difficulty, and I will -show you how I propose that you should make your observations. First of -all, we have to rule the pages of this book into columns." - -He sat down at the table and began methodically to rule the pages each -into three columns, two quite narrow and one broad. The process occupied -some time, during which I sat and watched with impatient curiosity the -unhurried, precise movements of Thorndyke's pencil, all agog to hear the -promised explanation. He was just finishing the last page when there -came a gentle tap at the door, and Polton entered with a satisfied smile -on his dry, shrewd-looking face and a small board in his hand. - -"Will this do, sir?" he asked. - -As he spoke he handed the little board to Thorndyke, who looked at it -and passed it to me. - -"The very thing, Polton," my friend replied. "Where did you find it? -It's of no use for you to pretend that you've made it in about two -minutes and a half." - -Polton smiled one of his queer crinkly smiles, and remarking that "it -didn't take much making," departed much gratified by the compliment. - -"What a wonderful old fellow that is, Jervis," Thorndyke observed as his -factotum retired. "He took in the idea instantly and seems to have -produced the finished article by magic, as the conjurers bring forth -rabbits and bowls of goldfish at a moment's notice. I suppose you see -what your <i>modus operandi</i> is to be?" - -I had gathered a clue from the little appliance--a plate of white -fret-wood about seven inches by five, to one corner of which a -pocket-compass had been fixed with shellac--but was not quite clear as -to the details of the method. - -"You can read a compass pretty quickly, I think?" Thorndyke said. - -"Of course I can. Used we not to sail a yacht together when we were -students?" - -"To be sure we did; and we will again before we die. And now as to your -method of locating this house. Here is a pocket reading-lamp which you -can hook on the carriage lining. This notebook can be fixed to the board -with an india-rubber band--thus. You observe that the thoughtful Polton -has stuck a piece of thread on the glass of the compass to serve as a -lubber's line. This is how you will proceed. As soon as you are locked -in the carriage, light your lamp--better have a book with you in case -the light is noticed--take out your watch and put the board on your -knee, keeping its long side exactly in a line with the axis of the -carriage. Then enter in one narrow column of your notebook the time, in -the other the direction shown by the compass, and in the broad column -any particulars, including the number of steps the horse makes in a -minute. Like this." - -He took a loose sheet of paper and made one or two sample entries on it -in pencil, thus-- - - "9.40. S.E. Start from home. - 9.41 S.W. Granite setts. - 9.43. S.W. Wood pavement. Hoofs 104. - 9.47. W. by S Granite crossing. Macadam-- - -and so on. Note every change of direction, with the time; and whenever -you hear or feel anything from outside, note it, with the time and -direction; and don't forget to note any variations in the horse's pace. -You follow the process?" - -"Perfectly. But do you think the method is accurate enough to fix the -position of a house? Remember, this is only a pocket-compass with no -dial, and it will jump frightfully. And the mode of estimating distance -is very rough." - -"That is all perfectly true," Thorndyke answered. "But you are -overlooking certain important facts. The track-chart that you will -produce can be checked by other data. The house, for instance, has a -covered way by which you could identify it if you knew approximately -where to look for it. Then you must remember that your carriage is not -travelling over a featureless plain. It is passing through streets which -have a determined position and direction and which are accurately -represented on the ordnance map. I think, Jervis, that, in spite of the -apparent roughness of the method, if you make your observations -carefully, we shall have no trouble in narrowing down the inquiry to a -quite small area. If we get the chance, that is to say." - -"Yes, if we do. I am doubtful whether Mr. Weiss will require my services -again, but I sincerely hope he will. It would be rare sport to locate -his secret burrow, all unsuspected. But now I must really be off." - -"Good-bye, then," said Thorndyke, slipping a well-sharpened pencil -through the rubber band that fixed the notebook to the board. "Let me -know how the adventure progresses--if it progresses at all--and -remember, I hold your promise to come and see me again quite soon in any -case." - -He handed me the board and the lamp, and, when I had slipped them into -my pocket, we shook hands and I hurried away, a little uneasy at having -left my charge so long. - - - - -Chapter III - -"A Chiel's Amang Ye Takin' Notes" - - -The attitude of the suspicious man tends to generate in others the kind -of conduct that seems to justify his suspicions. In most of us there -lurks a certain strain of mischief which trustfulness disarms but -distrust encourages. The inexperienced kitten which approaches us -confidingly with arched back and upright tail, soliciting caresses, -generally receives the gentle treatment that it expects; whereas the -worldly-wise tom-cat, who, in response to friendly advances, scampers -away and grins at us suspiciously from the fancied security of an -adjacent wall, impels us to accelerate his retreat with a well-directed -clod. - -Now the proceedings of Mr. H. Weiss resembled those of the tom-cat -aforesaid and invited an analogous reply. To a responsible professional -man his extraordinary precautions were at once an affront and a -challenge. Apart from graver considerations, I found myself dwelling -with unholy pleasure on the prospect of locating the secret hiding-place -from which he seemed to grin at me with such complacent defiance; and I -lost no time and spared no trouble in preparing myself for the -adventure. The very hansom which bore me from the Temple to Kennington -Lane was utilized for a preliminary test of Thorndyke's little -apparatus. During the whole of that brief journey I watched the compass -closely, noted the feel and sound of the road-material and timed the -trotting of the horse. And the result was quite encouraging. It is true -that the compass-needle oscillated wildly to the vibration of the cab, -but still its oscillations took place around a definite point which was -the average direction, and it was evident to me that the data it -furnished were very fairly reliable. I felt very little doubt, after the -preliminary trial, as to my being able to produce a moderately -intelligible track-chart if only I should get an opportunity to exercise -my skill. - -But it looked as if I should not. Mr. Weiss's promise to send for me -again soon was not fulfilled. Three days passed and still he made no -sign. I began to fear that I had been too outspoken; that the shuttered -carriage had gone forth to seek some more confiding and easy-going -practitioner, and that our elaborate preparations had been made in vain. -When the fourth day drew towards a close and still no summons had come, -I was disposed reluctantly to write the case off as a lost opportunity. - -And at that moment, in the midst of my regrets, the bottle-boy thrust an -uncomely head in at the door. His voice was coarse, his accent was -hideous, and his grammatical construction beneath contempt; but I -forgave him all when I gathered the import of his message. - -"Mr. Weiss's carriage is waiting, and he says will you come as quickly -as you can because he's took very bad to-night." - -I sprang from my chair and hastily collected the necessaries for the -journey. The little board and the lamp I put in my overcoat pocket; I -overhauled the emergency bag and added to its usual contents a bottle of -permanganate of potassium which I thought I might require. Then I tucked -the evening paper under my arm and went out. - -The coachman, who was standing at the horse's head as I emerged, touched -his hat and came forward to open the door. - -"I have fortified myself for the long drive, you see," I remarked, -exhibiting the newspaper as I stepped into the carriage. - -"But you can't read in the dark," said he. - -"No, but I have provided myself with a lamp," I replied, producing it -and striking a match. - -He watched me as I lit the lamp and hooked it on the back cushion, and -observed: - -"I suppose you found it rather a dull ride last time. It's a longish -way. They might have fitted the carriage with an inside lamp. But we -shall have to make it a quicker passage to-night. Governor says Mr. -Graves is uncommon bad." - -With this he slammed the door and locked it. I drew the board from my -pocket, laid it on my knee, glanced at my watch, and, as the coachman -climbed to his seat, I made the first entry in the little book. - -"8.58. W. by S. Start from home. Horse 13 hands." - -The first move of the carriage on starting was to turn round as if -heading for Newington Butts, and the second entry accordingly read: - -"8.58.30. E. by N." - -But this direction was not maintained long. Very soon we turned south -and then west and then south again. I sat with my eyes riveted on the -compass, following with some difficulty its rapid changes. The needle -swung to and fro incessantly but always within a definite arc, the -centre of which was the true direction. But this direction varied from -minute to minute in the most astonishing manner. West, south, east, -north, the carriage turned, "boxing" the compass until I lost all count -of direction. It was an amazing performance. Considering that the man -was driving against time on a mission of life and death urgency, his -carelessness as to direction was astounding. The tortuousness of the -route must have made the journey twice as long as it need have been -with a little more careful selection. At least so it appeared to me, -though, naturally, I was not in a position to offer an authoritative -criticism. - -As far as I could judge, we followed the same route as before. Once I -heard a tug's whistle and knew that we were near the river, and we -passed the railway station, apparently at the same time as on the -previous occasion, for I heard a passenger train start and assumed that -it was the same train. We crossed quite a number of thoroughfares with -tram-lines--I had no idea there were so many--and it was a revelation to -me to find how numerous the railway arches were in this part of London -and how continually the nature of the road-metal varied. - -It was by no means a dull journey this time. The incessant changes of -direction and variations in the character of the road kept me most -uncommonly busy; for I had hardly time to scribble down one entry before -the compass-needle would swing round sharply, showing that we had once -more turned a corner; and I was quite taken by surprise when the -carriage slowed down and turned into the covered way. Very hastily I -scribbled down the final entry ("9.24. S.E. In covered way"), and having -closed the book and slipped it and the board into my pocket, had just -opened out the newspaper when the carriage door was unlocked and opened, -whereupon I unhooked and blew out the lamp and pocketed that too, -reflecting that it might be useful later. - -As on the last occasion, Mrs. Schallibaum stood in the open doorway with -a lighted candle. But she was a good deal less self-possessed this time. -In fact she looked rather wild and terrified. Even by the candle-light -I could see that she was very pale and she seemed unable to keep still. -As she gave me the few necessary words of explanation, she fidgeted -incessantly and her hands and feet were in constant movement. - -"You had better come up with me at once," she said. "Mr. Graves is much -worse to-night. We will wait not for Mr. Weiss." - -Without waiting for a reply she quickly ascended the stairs and I -followed. The room was in much the same condition as before. But the -patient was not. As soon as I entered the room, a soft, rhythmical -gurgle from the bed gave me a very clear warning of danger. I stepped -forward quickly and looked down at the prostrate figure, and the warning -gathered emphasis. The sick man's ghastly face was yet more ghastly; his -eyes were more sunken, his skin more livid; "his nose was as sharp as a -pen," and if he did not "babble of green fields" it was because he -seemed to be beyond even that. If it had been a case of disease, I -should have said at once that he was dying. He had all the appearance of -a man <i>in articulo mortis</i>. Even as it was, feeling convinced that the -case was one of morphine poisoning, I was far from confident that I -should be able to draw him back from the extreme edge of vitality on -which he trembled so insecurely. - -"He is very ill? He is dying?" - -It was Mrs. Schallibaum's voice; very low, but eager and intense. I -turned, with my finger on the patient's wrist, and looked into the face -of the most thoroughly scared woman I have ever seen. She made no -attempt now to avoid the light, but looked me squarely in the face, and -I noticed, half-unconsciously, that her eyes were brown and had a -curious strained expression. - -"Yes," I answered, "he is very ill. He is in great danger." - -She still stared at me fixedly for some seconds. And then a very odd -thing occurred. Suddenly she squinted--squinted horribly; not with the -familiar convergent squint which burlesque artists imitate, but with -external or divergent squint of extreme near sight or unequal vision. -The effect was quite startling. One moment both her eyes were looking -straight into mine; the next, one of them rolled round until it looked -out of the uttermost corner, leaving the other gazing steadily forward. - -She was evidently conscious of the change, for she turned her head away -quickly and reddened somewhat. But it was no time for thoughts of -personal appearance. - -"You can save him, doctor! You will not let him die! He must not be -allowed to die!" - -She spoke with as much passion as if he had been the dearest friend that -she had in the world, which I suspected was far from being the case. But -her manifest terror had its uses. - -"If anything is to be done to save him," I said, "it must be done -quickly. I will give him some medicine at once, and meanwhile you must -make some strong coffee." - -"Coffee!" she exclaimed. "But we have none in the house. Will not tea -do, if I make it very strong?" - -"No, it will not. I must have coffee; and I must have it quickly." - -"Then I suppose I must go and get some. But it is late. The shops will -be shut. And I don't like leaving Mr. Graves." - -"Can't you send the coachman?" I asked. - -She shook her head impatiently. "No, that is no use. I must wait until -Mr. Weiss comes." - -"That won't do," I said, sharply. "He will slip through our fingers -while you are waiting. You must go and get that coffee at once and bring -it to me as soon as it is ready. And I want a tumbler and some water." - -She brought me a water-bottle and glass from the wash-stand and then, -with a groan of despair, hurried from the room. - -I lost no time in applying the remedies that I had to hand. Shaking out -into the tumbler a few crystals of potassium permanganate, I filled it -up with water and approached the patient. His stupor was profound. I -shook him as roughly as was safe in his depressed condition, but -elicited no resistance or responsive movement. As it seemed very -doubtful whether he was capable of swallowing, I dared not take the risk -of pouring the liquid into his mouth for fear of suffocating him. A -stomach-tube would have solved the difficulty, but, of course, I had not -one with me. I had, however, a mouth-speculum which also acted as a gag, -and, having propped the patient's mouth open with this, I hastily -slipped off one of the rubber tubes from my stethoscope and inserted -into one end of it a vulcanite ear-speculum to serve as a funnel. Then, -introducing the other end of the tube into the gullet as far as its -length would permit, I cautiously poured a small quantity of the -permanganate solution into the extemporized funnel. To my great relief a -movement of the throat showed that the swallowing reflex still existed, -and, thus encouraged, I poured down the tube as much of the fluid as I -thought it wise to administer at one time. - -The dose of permanganate that I had given was enough to neutralize any -reasonable quantity of the poison that might yet remain in the stomach. -I had next to deal with that portion of the drug which had already been -absorbed and was exercising its poisonous effects. Taking my hypodermic -case from my bag, I prepared in the syringe a full dose of atropine -sulphate, which I injected forthwith into the unconscious man's arm. And -that was all that I could do, so far as remedies were concerned, until -the coffee arrived. - -I cleaned and put away the syringe, washed the tube, and then, returning -to the bedside, endeavoured to rouse the patient from his profound -lethargy. But great care was necessary. A little injudicious roughness -of handling, and that thready, flickering pulse might stop for ever; and -yet it was almost certain that if he were not speedily aroused, his -stupor would gradually deepen until it shaded off imperceptibly into -death. I went to work very cautiously, moving his limbs about, flicking -his face and chest with the corner of a wet towel, tickling the soles -of his feet, and otherwise applying stimuli that were strong without -being violent. - -So occupied was I with my efforts to resuscitate my mysterious patient -that I did not notice the opening of the door, and it was with something -of a start that, happening to glance round, I perceived at the farther -end of the room the shadowy figure of a man relieved by two spots of -light reflected from his spectacles. How long he had been watching me I -cannot say, but, when he saw that I had observed him, he came -forward--though not very far--and I saw that he was Mr. Weiss. - -"I am afraid," he said, "that you do not find my friend so well -to-night?" - -"So well!" I exclaimed. "I don't find him well at all. I am exceedingly -anxious about him." - -"You don't--er--anticipate anything of a--er--anything serious, I hope?" - -"There is no need to anticipate," said I. "It is already about as -serious as it can be. I think he might die at any moment." - -"Good God!" he gasped. "You horrify me!" - -He was not exaggerating. In his agitation, he stepped forward into the -lighter part of the room, and I could see that his face was pale to -ghastliness--except his nose and the adjacent red patches on his cheeks, -which stood out in grotesquely hideous contrast. Presently, however, he -recovered a little and said: - -"I really think--at least I hope--that you take an unnecessarily serious -view of his condition. He has been like this before, you know." - -I felt pretty certain that he had not, but there was no use in -discussing the question. I therefore replied, as I continued my efforts -to rouse the patient: - -"That may or may not be. But in any case there comes a last time; and it -may have come now." - -"I hope not," he said; "although I understand that these cases always -end fatally sooner or later." - -"What cases?" I asked. - -"I was referring to sleeping sickness; but perhaps you have formed some -other opinion as to the nature of this dreadful complaint." - -I hesitated for a moment, and he continued: "As to your suggestion that -his symptoms might be due to drugs, I think we may consider that as -disposed of. He has been watched, practically without cessation since -you came last, and, moreover, I have myself turned out the room and -examined the bed and have not found a trace of any drug. Have you gone -into the question of sleeping sickness?" - -I looked at the man narrowly before answering, and distrusted him more -than ever. But this was no time for reticence. My concern was with the -patient and his present needs. After all, I was, as Thorndyke had said, -a doctor, not a detective, and the circumstances called for -straightforward speech and action on my part. - -"I have considered that question," I said, "and have come to a perfectly -definite conclusion. His symptoms are not those of sleeping sickness. -They are in my opinion undoubtedly due to morphine poisoning." - -"But my dear sir!" he exclaimed, "the thing is impossible! Haven't I -just told you that he has been watched continuously?" - -"I can only judge by the appearances that I find," I answered; and, -seeing that he was about to offer fresh objections, I continued: "Don't -let us waste precious time in discussion, or Mr. Graves may be dead -before we have reached a conclusion. If you will hurry them up about the -coffee that I asked for some time ago, I will take the other necessary -measures, and perhaps we may manage to pull him round." - -The rather brutal decision of my manner evidently daunted him. It must -have been plain to him that I was not prepared to accept any explanation -of the unconscious man's condition other than that of morphine -poisoning; whence the inference was pretty plain that the alternatives -were recovery or an inquest. Replying stiffly that I "must do as I -thought best," he hurried from the room, leaving me to continue my -efforts without further interruption. - -For some time these efforts seemed to make no impression. The man lay as -still and impassive as a corpse excepting for the slow, shallow and -rather irregular breathing with its ominous accompanying rattle. But -presently, by imperceptible degrees, signs of returning life began to -make their appearance. A sharp slap on the cheek with the wet towel -produced a sensible flicker of the eyelids; a similar slap on the chest -was followed by a slight gasp. A pencil, drawn over the sole of the -foot, occasioned a visible shrinking movement, and, on looking once -more at the eyes, I detected a slight change that told me that the -atropine was beginning to take effect. - -This was very encouraging, and, so far, quite satisfactory, though it -would have been premature to rejoice. I kept the patient carefully -covered and maintained the process of gentle irritation, moving his -limbs and shoulders, brushing his hair and generally bombarding his -deadened senses with small but repeated stimuli. And under this -treatment, the improvement continued so far that on my bawling a -question into his ear he actually opened his eyes for an instant, though -in another moment, the lids had sunk back into their former position. - -Soon after this, Mr. Weiss re-entered the room, followed by Mrs. -Schallibaum, who carried a small tray, on which were a jug of coffee, a -jug of milk, a cup and saucer and a sugar basin. - -"How do you find him now?" Mr. Weiss asked anxiously. - -"I am glad to say that there is a distinct improvement," I replied. "But -we must persevere. He is by no means out of the wood yet." - -I examined the coffee, which looked black and strong and had a very -reassuring smell, and, pouring out half a cupful, approached the bed. - -"Now, Mr. Graves," I shouted, "we want you to drink some of this." - -The flaccid eyelids lifted for an instant but there was no other -response. I gently opened the unresisting mouth and ladled in a couple -of spoonfuls of coffee, which were immediately swallowed; whereupon I -repeated the proceeding and continued at short intervals until the cup -was empty. The effect of the new remedy soon became apparent. He began -to mumble and mutter obscurely in response to the questions that I -bellowed at him, and once or twice he opened his eyes and looked -dreamily into my face. Then I sat him up and made him drink some coffee -from the cup, and, all the time, kept up a running fire of questions, -which made up in volume of sound for what they lacked of relevancy. - -Of these proceedings Mr. Weiss and his housekeeper were highly -interested spectators, and the former, contrary to his usual practice, -came quite close up to the bed, to get a better view. - -"It is really a most remarkable thing," he said, "but it almost looks as -if you were right, after all. He is certainly much better. But tell me, -would this treatment produce a similar improvement if the symptoms were -due to disease?" - -"No," I answered, "it certainly would not." - -"Then that seems to settle it. But it is a most mysterious affair. Can -you suggest any way in which he can have concealed a store of the drug?" - -I stood up and looked him straight in the face; it was the first chance -I had had of inspecting him by any but the feeblest light, and I looked -at him very attentively. Now, it is a curious fact--though one that most -persons must have observed--that there sometimes occurs a considerable -interval between the reception of a visual impression and its complete -transfer to the consciousness. A thing may be seen, as it were, -unconsciously, and the impression consigned, apparently, to instant -oblivion; and yet the picture may be subsequently revived by memory with -such completeness that its details can be studied as though the object -were still actually visible. - -Something of this kind must have happened to me now. Preoccupied as I -was, by the condition of the patient, the professional habit of rapid -and close observation caused me to direct a searching glance at the man -before me. It was only a brief glance--for Mr. Weiss, perhaps -embarrassed by my keen regard of him, almost immediately withdrew into -the shadow--and my attention seemed principally to be occupied by the -odd contrast between the pallor of his face and the redness of his nose -and by the peculiar stiff, bristly character of his eyebrows. But there -was another fact, and a very curious one, that was observed by me -subconsciously and instantly forgotten, to be revived later when I -reflected on the events of the night. It was this: - -As Mr. Weiss stood, with his head slightly turned, I was able to look -through one glass of his spectacles at the wall beyond. On the wall was -a framed print; and the edge of the frame, seen through the -spectacle-glass, appeared quite unaltered and free from distortion, -magnification or reduction, as if seen through plain window-glass; and -yet the reflections of the candle-flame in the spectacles showed the -flame upside down, proving conclusively that the glasses were concave on -one surface at least. The strange phenomenon was visible only for a -moment or two, and as it passed out of my sight it passed also out of my -mind. - -"No," I said, replying to the last question; "I can think of no way in -which he could have effectually hidden a store of morphine. Judging by -the symptoms, he has taken a large dose, and, if he has been in the -habit of consuming large quantities, his stock would be pretty bulky. I -can offer no suggestion whatever." - -"I suppose you consider him quite out of danger now?" - -"Oh, not at all. I think we can pull him round if we persevere, but he -must not be allowed to sink back into a state of coma. We must keep him -on the move until the effects of the drug have really passed off. If you -will put him into his dressing-gown we will walk him up and down the -room for a while." - -"But is that safe?" Mr. Weiss asked anxiously. - -"Quite safe," I answered. "I will watch his pulse carefully. The danger -is in the possibility, or rather certainty, of a relapse if he is not -kept moving." - -With obvious unwillingness and disapproval, Mr. Weiss produced a -dressing-gown and together we invested the patient in it. Then we -dragged him, very limp, but not entirely unresisting, out of bed and -stood him on his feet. He opened his eyes and blinked owlishly first at -one and then at the other of us, and mumbled a few unintelligible words -of protest; regardless of which, we thrust his feet into slippers and -endeavoured to make him walk. At first he seemed unable to stand, and we -had to support him by his arms as we urged him forward; but presently -his trailing legs began to make definite walking movements, and, after -one or two turns up and down the room, he was not only able partly to -support his weight, but showed evidence of reviving consciousness in -more energetic protests. - -At this point Mr. Weiss astonished me by transferring the arm that he -held to the housekeeper. - -"If you will excuse me, doctor," said he, "I will go now and attend to -some rather important business that I have had to leave unfinished. Mrs. -Schallibaum will be able to give you all the assistance that you -require, and will order the carriage when you think it safe to leave the -patient. In case I should not see you again I will say 'good night.' I -hope you won't think me very unceremonious." - -He shook hands with me and went out of the room, leaving me, as I have -said, profoundly astonished that he should consider any business of more -moment than the condition of his friend, whose life, even now, was but -hanging by a thread. However, it was really no concern of mine. I could -do without him, and the resuscitation of this unfortunate half-dead man -gave me occupation enough to engross my whole attention. - -The melancholy progress up and down the room re-commenced, and with it -the mumbled protests from the patient. As we walked, and especially as -we turned, I caught frequent glimpses of the housekeeper's face. But it -was nearly always in profile. She appeared to avoid looking me in the -face, though she did so once or twice; and on each of these occasions -her eyes were directed at me in a normal manner without any sign of a -squint. Nevertheless, I had the impression that when her face was turned -away from me she squinted. The "swivel eye"--the left--was towards me as -she held the patient's right arm, and it was almost continuously turned -in my direction, whereas I felt convinced that she was really looking -straight before her, though, of course, her right eye was invisible to -me. It struck me, even at the time, as an odd affair, but I was too much -concerned about my charge to give it much consideration. - -Meanwhile the patient continued to revive apace. And the more he -revived, the more energetically did he protest against this wearisome -perambulation. But he was evidently a polite gentleman, for, muddled as -his faculties were, he managed to clothe his objections in courteous and -even gracious forms of speech singularly out of agreement with the -character that Mr. Weiss had given him. - -"I thangyou," he mumbled thickly. "Ver' good take s'much trouble. Think -I will lie down now." He looked wistfully at the bed, but I wheeled him -about and marched him once more down the room. He submitted -unresistingly, but as we again approached the bed he reopened the -matter. - -"S'quite s'fficient, thang you. Gebback to bed now. Much 'bliged frall -your kindness"--here I turned him round--"no, really; m'feeling rather -tired. Sh'like to lie down now, f'you'd be s'good." - -"You must walk about a little longer, Mr. Graves," I said. "It would be -very bad for you to go to sleep again." - -He looked at me with a curious, dull surprise, and reflected awhile as -if in some perplexity. Then he looked at me again and said: - -"Thing, sir, you are mistake--mistaken me--mist--" - -Here Mrs. Schallibaum interrupted sharply: - -"The doctor thinks it's good for you to walk about. You've been sleeping -too much. He doesn't want you to sleep any more just now." - -"Don't wanter sleep; wanter lie down," said the patient. - -"But you mustn't lie down for a little while. You must walk about for a -few minutes more. And you'd better not talk. Just walk up and down." - -"There's no harm in his talking," said I; "in fact it's good for him. It -will help to keep him awake." - -"I should think it would tire him," said Mrs. Schallibaum; "and it -worries me to hear him asking to lie down when we can't let him." - -She spoke sharply and in an unnecessarily high tone so that the patient -could not fail to hear. Apparently he took in the very broad hint -contained in the concluding sentence, for he trudged wearily and -unsteadily up and down the room for some time without speaking, though -he continued to look at me from time to time as if something in my -appearance puzzled him exceedingly. At length his intolerable longing -for repose overcame his politeness and he returned to the attack. - -"Surely v' walked enough now. Feeling very tired. Am really. Would you -be s'kind 's t'let me lie down few minutes?" - -"Don't you think he might lie down for a little while?" Mrs. Schallibaum -asked. - -I felt his pulse, and decided that he was really becoming fatigued, and -that it would be wiser not to overdo the exercise while he was so weak. -Accordingly, I consented to his returning to bed, and turned him round -in that direction; whereupon he tottered gleefully towards his -resting-place like a tired horse heading for its stable. - -As soon as he was tucked in, I gave him a full cup of coffee, which he -drank with some avidity as if thirsty. Then I sat down by the bedside, -and, with a view to keeping him awake, began once more to ply him with -questions. - -"Does your head ache, Mr. Graves?" I asked. - -"The doctor says 'does your head ache?'" Mrs. Schallibaum squalled, so -loudly that the patient started perceptibly. - -"I heard him, m'dear girl," he answered with a faint smile. "Not deaf -you know. Yes. Head aches a good deal. But I thing this gennleman -mistakes--" - -"He says you are to keep awake. You mustn't go to sleep again, and you -are not to close your eyes." - -"All ri' Pol'n. Keep'm open," and he proceeded forthwith to shut them -with an air of infinite peacefulness. I grasped his hand and shook it -gently, on which he opened his eyes and looked at me sleepily. The -housekeeper stroked his head, keeping her face half-turned from me--as -she had done almost constantly, to conceal the squinting eye, as I -assumed--and said: - -"Need we keep you any longer, doctor? It is getting very late and you -have a long way to go." - -I looked doubtfully at the patient. I was loath to leave him, -distrusting these people as I did. But I had my work to do on the -morrow, with, perhaps, a night call or two in the interval, and the -endurance even of a general practitioner has its limits. - -"I think I heard the carriage some time ago," Mrs. Schallibaum added. - -I rose hesitatingly and looked at my watch. It had turned half-past -eleven. - -"You understand," I said in a low voice, "that the danger is not over? -If he is left now he will fall asleep, and in all human probability will -never wake. You clearly understand that?" - -"Yes, quite clearly. I promise you he shall not be allowed to fall -asleep again." - -As she spoke, she looked me full in the face for a few moments, and I -noted that her eyes had a perfectly normal appearance, without any trace -whatever of a squint. - -"Very well," I said. "On that understanding I will go now; and I shall -hope to find our friend quite recovered at my next visit." - -I turned to the patient, who was already dozing, and shook his hand -heartily. - -"Good-bye, Mr. Graves!" I said. "I am sorry to have to disturb your -repose so much; but you must keep awake, you know. Won't do to go to -sleep." - -"Ver' well," he replied drowsily. "Sorry t' give you all this trouble. -L' keep awake. But I think you're mistak'n--" - -"He says it's very important that you shouldn't go to sleep, and that I -am to see that you don't. Do you understand?" - -"Yes, I un'stan'. But why does this gennlem'n--?" - -"Now it's of no use for you to ask a lot of questions," Mrs. Schallibaum -said playfully; "we'll talk to you to-morrow. Good night, doctor. I'll -light you down the stairs, but I won't come down with you, or the -patient will be falling asleep again." - -Taking this definite dismissal, I retired, followed by a dreamily -surprised glance from the sick man. The housekeeper held the candle over -the balusters until I reached the bottom of the stairs, when I perceived -through the open door along the passage a glimmer of light from the -carriage lamps. The coachman was standing just outside, faintly -illuminated by the very dim lamplight, and as I stepped into the -carriage he remarked in his Scotch dialect that I "seemed to have been -makin' a nicht of it." He did not wait for any reply--none being in fact -needed--but shut the door and locked it. - -I lit my little pocket-lamp and hung it on the back cushion. I even drew -the board and notebook from my pocket. But it seemed rather unnecessary -to take a fresh set of notes, and, to tell the truth, I rather shirked -the labour, tired as I was after my late exertions; besides, I wanted -to think over the events of the evening, while they were fresh in my -memory. Accordingly I put away the notebook, filled and lighted my pipe, -and settled myself to review the incidents attending my second visit to -this rather uncanny house. - -Considered in leisurely retrospect, that visit offered quite a number of -problems that called for elucidation. There was the patient's condition, -for instance. Any doubt as to the cause of his symptoms was set at rest -by the effect of the antidotes. Mr. Graves was certainly under the -influence of morphine, and the only doubtful question was how he had -become so. That he had taken the poison himself was incredible. No -morphinomaniac would take such a knock-down dose. It was practically -certain that the poison had been administered by someone else, and, on -Mr. Weiss's own showing, there was no one but himself and the -housekeeper who could have administered it. And to this conclusion all -the other very queer circumstances pointed. - -What were these circumstances? They were, as I have said, numerous, -though many of them seemed trivial. To begin with, Mr. Weiss's habit of -appearing some time after my arrival and disappearing some time before -my departure was decidedly odd. But still more odd was his sudden -departure this evening on what looked like a mere pretext. That -departure coincided in time with the sick man's recovery of the power of -speech. Could it be that Mr. Weiss was afraid that the half-conscious -man might say something compromising to him in my presence? It looked -rather like it. And yet he had gone away and left me with the patient -and the housekeeper. - -But when I came to think about it I remembered that Mrs. Schallibaum had -shown some anxiety to prevent the patient from talking. She had -interrupted him more than once, and had on two occasions broken in when -he seemed to be about to ask me some question. I was "mistaken" about -something. What was that something that he wanted to tell me? - -It had struck me as singular that there should be no coffee in the -house, but a sufficiency of tea. Germans are not usually tea-drinkers -and they do take coffee. But perhaps there was nothing in this. Rather -more remarkable was the invisibility of the coachman. Why could he not -be sent to fetch the coffee, and why did not he, rather than the -housekeeper, come to take the place of Mr. Weiss when the latter had to -go away. - -There were other points, too. I recalled the word that sounded like -"Pol'n," which Mr. Graves had used in speaking to the housekeeper. -Apparently it was a Christian name of some kind; but why did Mr. Graves -call the woman by her Christian name when Mr. Weiss addressed her -formally as Mrs. Schallibaum? And, as to the woman herself: what was the -meaning of that curious disappearing squint? Physically it presented no -mystery. The woman had an ordinary divergent squint, and, like many -people, who suffer from this displacement, could, by a strong muscular -effort, bring the eyes temporarily into their normal parallel position. -I had detected the displacement when she had tried to maintain the -effort too long, and the muscular control had given way. But why had she -done it? Was it only feminine vanity--mere sensitiveness respecting a -slight personal disfigurement? It might be so; or there might be some -further motive. It was impossible to say. - -Turning this question over, I suddenly remembered the peculiarity of Mr. -Weiss's spectacles. And here I met with a real poser. I had certainly -seen through those spectacles as clearly as if they had been plain -window-glass; and they had certainly given an inverted reflection of the -candle-flame like that thrown from the surface of a concave lens. Now -they obviously could not be both flat and concave; but yet they had the -properties peculiar to both flatness and concavity. And there was a -further difficulty. If I could see objects unaltered through them, so -could Mr. Weiss. But the function of spectacles is to alter the -appearances of objects, by magnification, reduction or compensating -distortion. If they leave the appearances unchanged they are useless. I -could make nothing of it. After puzzling over it for quite a long time, -I had to give it up; which I did the less unwillingly inasmuch as the -construction of Mr. Weiss's spectacles had no apparent bearing on the -case. - -On arriving home, I looked anxiously at the message-book, and was -relieved to find that there were no further visits to be made. Having -made up a mixture for Mr. Graves and handed it to the coachman, I raked -the ashes of the surgery fire together and sat down to smoke a final -pipe while I reflected once more on the singular and suspicious case in -which I had become involved. But fatigue soon put an end to my -meditations; and having come to the conclusion that the circumstances -demanded a further consultation with Thorndyke, I turned down the gas to -a microscopic blue spark and betook myself to bed. - - - - -Chapter IV - -The Official View - - -I rose on the following morning still possessed by the determination to -make some oportunity during the day to call on Thorndyke and take his -advice on the now urgent question as to what I was to do. I use the word -"urgent" advisedly; for the incidents of the preceding evening had left -me with the firm conviction that poison was being administered for some -purpose to my mysterious patient, and that no time must be lost if his -life was to be saved. Last night he had escaped only by the narrowest -margin--assuming him to be still alive--and it was only my unexpectedly -firm attitude that had compelled Mr. Weiss to agree to restorative -measures. - -That I should be sent for again I had not the slightest expectation. If -what I so strongly suspected was true, Weiss would call in some other -doctor, in the hope of better luck, and it was imperative that he -should be stopped before it was too late. This was my view, but I meant -to have Thorndyke's opinion, and act under his direction, but - - - "The best laid plans of mice and men - Gang aft agley." - -When I came downstairs and took a preliminary glance at the rough -memorandum-book, kept by the bottle-boy, or, in his absence, by the -housemaid, I stood aghast. The morning's entries looked already like a -sample page of the Post Office directory. The new calls alone were more -than equal to an ordinary day's work, and the routine visits remained to -be added. Gloomily wondering whether the Black Death had made a sudden -reappearance in England, I hurried to the dining-room and made a hasty -breakfast, interrupted at intervals by the apparition of the bottle-boy -to announce new messages. - -The first two or three visits solved the mystery. An epidemic of -influenza had descended on the neighbourhood, and I was getting not only -our own normal work but a certain amount of overflow from other -practices. Further, it appeared that a strike in the building trade had -been followed immediately by a widespread failure of health among the -bricklayers who were members of a certain benefit club; which accounted -for the remarkable suddenness of the outbreak. - -Of course, my contemplated visit to Thorndyke was out of the question. I -should have to act on my own responsibility. But in the hurry and rush -and anxiety of the work--for some of the cases were severe and even -critical--I had no opportunity to consider any course of action, nor -time to carry it out. Even with the aid of a hansom which I chartered, -as Stillbury kept no carriage, I had not finished my last visit until -near on midnight, and was then so spent with fatigue that I fell asleep -over my postponed supper. - -As the next day opened with a further increase of work, I sent a -telegram to Dr. Stillbury at Hastings, whither he had gone, like a wise -man, to recruit after a slight illness. I asked for authority to engage -an assistant, but the reply informed me that Stillbury himself was on -his way to town; and to my relief, when I dropped in at the surgery for -a cup of tea, I found him rubbing his hands over the open day-book. - -"It's an ill wind that blows nobody good," he remarked cheerfully as we -shook hands. "This will pay the expenses of my holiday, including you. -By the way, you are not anxious to be off, I suppose?" - -As a matter of fact, I was; for I had decided to accept Thorndyke's -offer, and was now eager to take up my duties with him. But it would -have been shabby to leave Stillbury to battle alone with this rush of -work or to seek the services of a strange assistant. - -"I should like to get off as soon as you can spare me," I replied, "but -I'm not going to leave you in the lurch." - -"That's a good fellow," said Stillbury. "I knew you wouldn't. Let us -have some tea and divide up the work. Anything of interest going?" - -There were one or two unusual cases on the list, and, as we marked off -our respective patients, I gave him the histories in brief synopsis. And -then I opened the subject of my mysterious experiences at the house of -Mr. Weiss. - -"There's another affair that I want to tell you about; rather an -unpleasant business." - -"Oh, dear!" exclaimed Stillbury. He put down his cup and regarded me -with quite painful anxiety. - -"It looks to me like an undoubted case of criminal poisoning," I -continued. - -Stillbury's face cleared instantly. "Oh, I'm glad it's nothing more than -that," he said with an air of relief. "I was afraid, it was some -confounded woman. There's always that danger, you know, when a locum is -young and happens--if I may say so, Jervis--to be a good-looking fellow. -Let us hear about this case." - -I gave him a condensed narrative of my connection with the mysterious -patient, omitting any reference to Thorndyke, and passing lightly over -my efforts to fix the position of the house, and wound up with the -remark that the facts ought certainly to be communicated to the police. - -"Yes," he admitted reluctantly, "I suppose you're right. Deuced -unpleasant though. Police cases don't do a practice any good. They waste -a lot of time, too; keep you hanging about to give evidence. Still, you -are quite right. We can't stand by and see the poor devil poisoned -without making some effort. But I don't believe the police will do -anything in the matter." - -"Don't you really?" - -"No, I don't. They like to have things pretty well cut and dried before -they act. A prosecution is an expensive affair, so they don't care to -prosecute unless they are fairly sure of a conviction. If they fail they -get hauled over the coals." - -"But don't you think they would get a conviction in this case?" - -"Not on your evidence, Jervis. They might pick up something fresh, but, -if they didn't they would fail. You haven't got enough hard-baked facts -to upset a capable defence. Still, that isn't our affair. You want to -put the responsibility on the police and I entirely agree with you." - -"There ought not to be any delay," said I. - -"There needn't be. I shall look in on Mrs. Wackford and you have to see -the Rummel children; we shall pass the station on our way. Why shouldn't -we drop in and see the inspector or superintendent?" - -The suggestion met my views exactly. As soon as we had finished tea, we -set forth, and in about ten minutes found ourselves in the bare and -forbidding office attached to the station. - -The presiding officer descended from a high stool, and, carefully laying -down his pen, shook hands cordially. - -"And what can I do for you gentlemen?" he asked, with an affable smile. - -Stillbury proceeded to open our business. - -"My friend here, Dr. Jervis, who has very kindly been looking after my -work for a week or two, has had a most remarkable experience, and he -wants to tell you about it." - -"Something in my line of business?" the officer inquired. - -"That," said I, "is for you to judge. I think it is, but you may think -otherwise"; and hereupon, without further preamble, I plunged into the -history of the case, giving him a condensed statement similar to that -which I had already made to Stillbury. - -He listened with close attention, jotting down from time to time a brief -note on a sheet of paper; and, when I had finished, he wrote out in a -black-covered notebook a short precis of my statement. - -"I have written down here," he said, "the substance of what you have -told me. I will read the deposition over to you, and, if it is correct, -I will ask you to sign it." - -He did so, and, when I had signed the document, I asked him what was -likely to be done in the matter. - -"I am afraid," he replied, "that we can't take any active measures. You -have put us on our guard and we shall keep our eyes open. But I think -that is all we can do, unless we hear something further." - -"But," I exclaimed, "don't you think that it is a very suspicious -affair?" - -"I do," he replied. "A very fishy business indeed, and you were quite -right to come and tell us about it." - -"It seems a pity not to take some measures," I said. "While you are -waiting to hear something further, they may give the poor wretch a fresh -dose and kill him." - -"In which case we should hear something further, unless some fool of a -doctor were to give a death certificate." - -"But that is very unsatisfactory. The man ought not to be allowed to -die." - -"I quite agree with you, sir. But we've no evidence that he is going to -die. His friends sent for you, and you treated him skilfully and left -him in a fair way to recovery. That's all that we really know about it. -Yes, I know," the officer continued as I made signs of disagreement, -"you think that a crime is possibly going to be committed and that we -ought to prevent it. But you overrate our powers. We can only act on -evidence that a crime has actually been committed or is actually being -attempted. Now we have no such evidence. Look at your statement, and -tell me what you can swear to." - -"I think I could swear that Mr. Graves had taken a poisonous dose of -morphine." - -"And who gave him that poisonous dose?" - -"I very strongly suspect--" - -"That's no good, sir," interrupted the officer. "Suspicion isn't -evidence. We should want you to swear an information and give us enough -facts to make out a <i>prima facie</i> case against some definite person. And -you couldn't do it. Your information amounts to this: that a certain -person has taken a poisonous dose of morphine and apparently recovered. -That's all. You can't swear that the names given to you are real names, -and you can't give us any address or even any locality." - -"I took some compass bearings in the carriage," I said. "You could -locate the house, I think, without much difficulty." - -The officer smiled faintly and fixed an abstracted gaze on the clock. - -"<i>You</i> could, sir," he replied. "I have no doubt whatever that <i>you</i> -could. <i>I</i> couldn't. But, in any case, we haven't enough to go upon. If -you learn anything fresh, I hope you will let me know; and I am very -much obliged to you for taking so much trouble in the matter. Good -evening sir. Good evening, Dr. Stillbury." - -He shook hands with us both genially, and, accepting perforce this very -polite but unmistakable dismissal, we took our departure. - -Outside the station, Stillbury heaved a comfortable sigh. He was -evidently relieved to find that no upheavals were to take place in his -domain. - -"I thought that would be their attitude," he said, "and they are quite -right, you know. The function of law is to prevent crime, it is true; -but prophylaxis in the sense in which we understand it is not possible -in legal practice." - -I assented without enthusiasm. It was disappointing to find that no -precautionary measures were to be taken. However, I had done all that I -could in the matter. No further responsibility lay upon me, and, as it -was practically certain that I had seen and heard the last of Mr. Graves -and his mysterious household, I dismissed the case from my mind. At the -next corner Stillbury and I parted to go our respective ways; and my -attention was soon transferred from the romance of crime to the -realities of epidemic influenza. - -The plethora of work in Dr. Stillbury's practice continued longer than I -had bargained for. Day after day went by and still found me tramping the -dingy streets of Kennington or scrambling up and down narrow stairways; -turning in at night dead tired, or turning out half awake to the hideous -jangle of the night bell. - -It was very provoking. For months I had resisted Thorndyke's persuasion -to give up general practice and join him. Not from lack of inclination, -but from a deep suspicion that he was thinking of my wants rather than -his own; that his was a charitable rather than a business proposal. Now -that I knew this not to be the case, I was impatient to join him; and, -as I trudged through the dreary thoroughfares of this superannuated -suburb, with its once rustic villas and its faded gardens, my thoughts -would turn enviously to the quiet dignity of the Temple and my friend's -chambers in King's Bench Walk. - -The closed carriage appeared no more; nor did any whisper either of good -or evil reach me in connection with the mysterious house from which it -had come. Mr. Graves had apparently gone out of my life for ever. - -But if he had gone out of my life, he had not gone out of my memory. -Often, as I walked my rounds, would the picture of that dimly-lit room -rise unbidden. Often would I find myself looking once more into that -ghastly face, so worn, so wasted and haggard, and yet so far from -repellent. All the incidents of that last night would reconstitute -themselves with a vividness that showed the intensity of the impression -that they had made at the time. I would have gladly forgotten the whole -affair, for every incident of it was fraught with discomfort. But it -clung to my memory; it haunted me; and ever as it returned it bore with -it the disquieting questions: Was Mr. Graves still alive? And, if he was -not, was there really nothing which could have been done to save him? - -Nearly a month passed before the practice began to show signs of -returning to its normal condition. Then the daily lists became more and -more contracted and the day's work proportionately shorter. And thus the -term of my servitude came to an end. One evening, as we were writing up -the day-book, Stillbury remarked: - -"I almost think, Jervis, I could manage by myself now. I know you are -only staying on for my sake." - -"I am staying on to finish my engagement, but I shan't be sorry to clear -out if you can do without me." - -"I think I can. When would you like to be off?" - -"As soon as possible. Say to-morrow morning, after I have made a few -visits and transferred the patients to you." - -"Very well," said Stillbury. "Then I will give you your cheque and -settle up everything to-night, so that you shall be free to go off when -you like to-morrow morning." - -Thus ended my connection with Kennington Lane. On the following day at -about noon, I found myself strolling across Waterloo Bridge with the -sensations of a newly liberated convict and a cheque for twenty-five -guineas in my pocket. My luggage was to follow when I sent for it. Now, -unhampered even by a hand-bag, I joyfully descended the steps at the -north end of the bridge and headed for King's Bench Walk by way of the -Embankment and Middle Temple Lane. - - - - -Chapter V - -Jeffrey Blackmore's Will - - -My arrival at Thorndyke's chambers was not unexpected, having been -heralded by a premonitory post-card. The "oak" was open and an -application of the little brass knocker of the inner door immediately -produced my colleague himself and a very hearty welcome. - -"At last," said Thorndyke, "you have come forth from the house of -bondage. I began to think that you had taken up your abode in Kennington -for good." - -"I was beginning, myself, to wonder when I should escape. But here I am; -and I may say at once that I am ready to shake the dust of general -practice off my feet for ever--that is, if you are still willing to have -me as your assistant." - -"Willing!" exclaimed Thorndyke, "Barkis himself was not more willing -than I. You will be invaluable to me. Let us settle the terms of our -comradeship forthwith, and to-morrow we will take measures to enter you -as a student of the Inner Temple. Shall we have our talk in the open air -and the spring sunshine?" - -I agreed readily to this proposal, for it was a bright, sunny day and -warm for the time of year--the beginning of April. We descended to the -Walk and thence slowly made our way to the quiet court behind the -church, where poor old Oliver Goldsmith lies, as he would surely have -wished to lie, in the midst of all that had been dear to him in his -chequered life. I need not record the matter of our conversation. To -Thorndyke's proposals I had no objections to offer but my own -unworthiness and his excessive liberality. A few minutes saw our -covenants fully agreed upon, and when Thorndyke had noted the points on -a slip of paper, signed and dated it and handed it to me, the business -was at an end. - -"There," my colleague said with a smile as he put away his pocket-book, -"if people would only settle their affairs in that way, a good part of -the occupation of lawyers would be gone. Brevity is the soul of wit; and -the fear of simplicity is the beginning of litigation." - -"And now," I said, "I propose that we go and feed. I will invite you to -lunch to celebrate our contract." - -"My learned junior is premature," he replied. "I had already arranged a -little festivity--or rather had modified one that was already arranged. -You remember Mr. Marchmont, the solicitor?" - -"Yes." - -"He called this morning to ask me to lunch with him and a new client at -the 'Cheshire Cheese.' I accepted and notified him that I should bring -you." - -"Why the 'Cheshire Cheese'?" I asked. - -"Why not? Marchmont's reasons for the selection were, first, that his -client has never seen an old-fashioned London tavern, and second, that -this is Wednesday and he, Marchmont, has a gluttonous affection for a -really fine beef-steak pudding. You don't object, I hope?" - -"Oh, not at all. In fact, now that you mention it, my own sensations -incline me to sympathize with Marchmont. I breakfasted rather early." - -"Then come," said Thorndyke. "The assignation is for one o'clock, and, -if we walk slowly, we shall just hit it off." - -We sauntered up Inner Temple Lane, and, crossing Fleet Street, headed -sedately for the tavern. As we entered the quaint old-world dining-room, -Thorndyke looked round and a gentleman, who was seated with a companion -at a table in one of the little boxes or compartments, rose and saluted -us. - -"Let me introduce you to my friend Mr. Stephen Blackmore," he said as we -approached. Then, turning to his companion, he introduced us by our -respective names. - -"I engaged this box," he continued, "so that we might be private if we -wished to have a little preliminary chat; not that beef-steak pudding is -a great help to conversation. But when people have a certain business -in view, their talk is sure to drift towards it, sooner or later." - -Thorndyke and I sat down opposite the lawyer and his client, and we -mutually inspected one another. Marchmont I already knew; an elderly, -professional-looking man, a typical solicitor of the old school; -fresh-faced, precise, rather irascible, and conveying a not unpleasant -impression of taking a reasonable interest in his diet. The other man -was quite young, not more than five-and-twenty, and was a fine -athletic-looking fellow with a healthy, out-of-door complexion and an -intelligent and highly prepossessing face. I took a liking to him at the -first glance, and so, I saw, did Thorndyke. - -"You two gentlemen," said Blackmore, addressing us, "seem to be quite -old acquaintances. I have heard so much about you from my friend, Reuben -Hornby." - -"Ah!" exclaimed Marchmont, "that was a queer case--'The Case of the Red -Thumb Mark,' as the papers called it. It was an eye-opener to -old-fashioned lawyers like myself. We've had scientific witnesses -before--and bullied 'em properly, by Jove! when they wouldn't give the -evidence that we wanted. But the scientific lawyer is something new. His -appearance in court made us all sit up, I can assure you." - -"I hope we shall make you sit up again," said Thorndyke. - -"You won't this time," said Marchmont. "The issues in this case of my -friend Blackmore's are purely legal; or rather, there are no issues at -all. There is nothing in dispute. I tried to prevent Blackmore from -consulting you, but he wouldn't listen to reason. Here! Waiter! How much -longer are we to be waiters? We shall die of old age before we get our -victuals!" - -The waiter smiled apologetically. "Yessir!" said he. "Coming now, sir." -And at this very moment there was borne into the room a Gargantuan -pudding in a great bucket of a basin, which being placed on a -three-legged stool was forthwith attacked ferociously by the -white-clothed, white-capped carver. We watched the process--as did every -one present--with an interest not entirely gluttonous, for it added a -pleasant touch to the picturesque old room, with its sanded floor, its -homely, pew-like boxes, its high-backed settles and the friendly -portrait of the "great lexicographer" that beamed down on us from the -wall. - -"This is a very different affair from your great, glittering modern -restaurant," Mr. Marchmont remarked. - -"It is indeed," said Blackmore, "and if this is the way in which our -ancestors lived, it would seem that they had a better idea of comfort -than we have." - -There was a short pause, during which Mr. Marchmont glared hungrily at -the pudding; then Thorndyke said: - -"So you refused to listen to reason, Mr. Blackmore?" - -"Yes. You see, Mr. Marchmont and his partner had gone into the matter -and decided that there was nothing to be done. Then I happened to -mention the affair to Reuben Hornby, and he urged me to ask your advice -on the case." - -"Like his impudence," growled Marchmont, "to meddle with my client." - -"On which," continued Blackmore, "I spoke to Mr. Marchmont and he agreed -that it was worth while to take your opinion on the case, though he -warned me to cherish no hopes, as the affair was not really within your -specialty." - -"So you understand," said Marchmont, "that we expect nothing. This is -quite a forlorn hope. We are taking your opinion as a mere formality, to -be able to say that we have left nothing untried." - -"That is an encouraging start," Thorndyke remarked. "It leaves me -unembarrassed by the possibility of failure. But meanwhile you are -arousing in me a devouring curiosity as to the nature of the case. Is it -highly confidential? Because if not, I would mention that Jervis has now -joined me as my permanent colleague." - -"It isn't confidential at all," said Marchmont. "The public are in full -possession of the facts, and we should be only too happy to put them in -still fuller possession, through the medium of the Probate Court, if we -could find a reasonable pretext. But we can't." - -Here the waiter charged our table with the fussy rapidity of the -overdue. - -"Sorry to keep you waiting, sir. Rather early, sir. Wouldn't like it -underdone, sir." - -Marchmont inspected his plate critically and remarked: - -"I sometimes suspect these oysters of being mussels; and I'll swear the -larks are sparrows." - -"Let us hope so," said Thorndyke. "The lark is better employed 'at -Heaven's gate singing' than garnishing a beef-steak pudding. But you -were telling us about your case." - -"So I was. Well it's just a matter of--ale or claret? Oh, claret, I -know. You despise the good old British John Barleycorn." - -"He that drinks beer thinks beer," retorted Thorndyke. "But you were -saying that it is just a matter of--?" - -"A matter of a perverse testator and an ill-drawn will. A peculiarly -irritating case, too, because the defective will replaces a perfectly -sound one, and the intentions of the testator were--er--were--excellent -ale, this. A little heady, perhaps, but sound. Better than your sour -French wine, Thorndyke--were--er--were quite obvious. What he evidently -desired was--mustard? Better have some mustard. No? Well, well! Even a -Frenchman would take mustard. You can have no appreciation of flavour, -Thorndyke, if you take your victuals in that crude, unseasoned state. -And, talking of flavour, do you suppose that there is really any -difference between that of a lark and that of a sparrow?" - -Thorndyke smiled grimly. "I should suppose," said he, "that they were -indistinguishable; but the question could easily be put to the test of -experiment." - -"That is true," agreed Marchmont, "and it would really be worth trying, -for, as you say, sparrows are more easily obtainable than larks. But, -about this will. I was saying--er--now, what was I saying?" - -"I understood you to say," replied Thorndyke, "that the intentions of -the testator were in some way connected with mustard. Isn't that so, -Jervis?" - -"That was what I gathered," said I. - -Marchmont gazed at us for a moment with a surprised expression and then, -laughing good-humouredly, fortified himself with a draught of ale. - -"The moral of which is," Thorndyke added, "that testamentary -dispositions should not be mixed up with beef-steak pudding." - -"I believe you're right, Thorndyke," said the unabashed solicitor. -"Business is business and eating is eating. We had better talk over our -case in my office or your chambers after lunch." - -"Yes," said Thorndyke, "come over to the Temple with me and I will give -you a cup of coffee to clear your brain. Are there any documents?" - -"I have all the papers here in my bag," replied Marchmont; and the -conversation--such conversation as is possible "when beards wag all" -over the festive board--drifted into other channels. - -As soon as the meal was finished and the reckoning paid, we trooped out -of Wine Office Court, and, insinuating ourselves through the line of -empty hansoms that, in those days, crawled in a continuous procession -on either side of Fleet Street, betook ourselves by way of Mitre Court -to King's Bench Walk. There, when the coffee had been requisitioned and -our chairs drawn up around the fire, Mr. Marchmont unloaded from his bag -a portentous bundle of papers, and we addressed ourselves to the -business in hand. - -"Now," said Marchmont, "let me repeat what I said before. Legally -speaking, we have no case--not the ghost of one. But my client wished to -take your opinion, and I agreed on the bare chance that you might detect -some point that we had overlooked. I don't think you will, for we have -gone into the case very thoroughly, but still, there is the -infinitesimal chance and we may as well take it. Would you like to read -the two wills, or shall I first explain the circumstances?" - -"I think," replied Thorndyke, "a narrative of the events in the order of -their occurrence would be most helpful. I should like to know as much as -possible about the testator before I examine the documents." - -"Very well," said Marchmont. "Then I will begin with a recital of the -circumstances, which, briefly stated, are these: My client, Stephen -Blackmore, is the son of Mr. Edward Blackmore, deceased. Edward -Blackmore had two brothers who survived him, John, the elder, and -Jeffrey, the younger. Jeffrey is the testator in this case. - -"Some two years ago, Jeffrey Blackmore executed a will by which he made -his nephew Stephen his executor and sole legatee; and a few months later -he added a codicil giving two hundred and fifty pounds to his brother -John." - -"What was the value of the estate?" Thorndyke asked. - -"About three thousand five hundred pounds, all invested in Consols. The -testator had a pension from the Foreign Office, on which he lived, -leaving his capital untouched. Soon after having made his will, he left -the rooms in Jermyn Street, where he had lived for some years, stored -his furniture and went to Florence. From thence he moved on to Rome and -then to Venice and other places in Italy, and so continued to travel -about until the end of last September, when it appears that he returned -to England, for at the beginning of October he took a set of chambers in -New Inn, which he furnished with some of the things from his old rooms. -As far as we can make out, he never communicated with any of his -friends, excepting his brother, and the fact of his being in residence -at New Inn or of his being in England at all became known to them only -when he died." - -"Was this quite in accordance with his ordinary habits?" Thorndyke -asked. - -"I should say not quite," Blackmore answered. "My uncle was a studious, -solitary man, but he was not formerly a recluse. He was not much of a -correspondent but he kept up some sort of communication with his -friends. He used, for instance, to write to me sometimes, and, when I -came down from Cambridge for the vacations, he had me to stay with him -at his rooms." - -"Is there anything known that accounts for the change in his habits?" - -"Yes, there is," replied Marchmont. "We shall come to that presently. To -proceed with the narrative: On the fifteenth of last March he was found -dead in his chambers, and a more recent will was then discovered, dated -the twelfth of November of last year. Now no change had taken place in -the circumstances of the testator to account for the new will, nor was -there any appreciable alteration in the disposition of the property. As -far as we can make out, the new will was drawn with the idea of stating -the intentions of the testator with greater exactness and for the sake -of doing away with the codicil. The entire property, with the exception -of two hundred and fifty pounds, was, as before, bequeathed to Stephen, -but the separate items were specified, and the testator's brother, John -Blackmore, was named as the executor and residuary legatee." - -"I see," said Thorndyke. "So that your client's interest in the will -would appear to be practically unaffected by the change." - -"Yes. There it is," exclaimed the lawyer, slapping the table to add -emphasis to his words. "That is the pity of it! If people who have no -knowledge of law would only refrain from tinkering at their wills, what -a world of trouble would be saved!" - -"Oh, come!" said Thorndyke. "It is not for a lawyer to say that." - -"No, I suppose not," Marchmont agreed. "Only, you see, we like the -muddle to be made by the other side. But, in this case, the muddle is on -our side. The change, as you say, seems to leave our friend Stephen's -interests unaffected. That is, of course, what poor Jeffrey Blackmore -thought. But he was mistaken. The effect of the change is absolutely -disastrous." - -"Indeed!" - -"Yes. As I have said, no alteration in the testator's circumstances had -taken place at the time the new will was executed. <i>But</i> only two days -before his death, his sister, Mrs. Edmund Wilson, died; and on her will -being proved it appeared that she had bequeathed to him her entire -personalty, estimated at about thirty thousand pounds." - -"Heigho!" exclaimed Thorndyke. "What an unfortunate affair!" - -"You are right," said Mr. Marchmont; "it was a disaster. By the original -will this great sum would have accrued to our friend Mr. Stephen, -whereas now, of course, it goes to the residuary legatee, Mr. John -Blackmore. And what makes it even more exasperating is the fact that -this is obviously not in accordance with the wishes and intentions of -Mr. Jeffrey, who clearly desired his nephew to inherit his property." - -"Yes," said Thorndyke; "I think you are justified in assuming that. But -do you know whether Mr. Jeffrey was aware of his sister's intentions?" - -"We think not. Her will was executed as recently as the third of -September last, and it seems that there had been no communication -between her and Mr. Jeffrey since that date. Besides, if you consider -Mr. Jeffrey's actions, you will see that they suggest no knowledge or -expectation of this very important bequest. A man does not make -elaborate dispositions in regard to three thousand pounds and then leave -a sum of thirty thousand to be disposed of casually as the residue of -the estate." - -"No," Thorndyke agreed. "And, as you have said, the manifest intention -of the testator was to leave the bulk of his property to Mr. Stephen. So -we may take it as virtually certain that Mr. Jeffrey had no knowledge of -the fact that he was a beneficiary under his sister's will." - -"Yes," said Mr. Marchmont, "I think we may take that as nearly certain." - -"With reference to the second will," said Thorndyke, "I suppose there is -no need to ask whether the document itself has been examined; I mean as -to its being a genuine document and perfectly regular?" - -Mr. Marchmont shook his head sadly. - -"No," he said, "I am sorry to say that there can be no possible doubt as -to the authenticity and regularity of the document. The circumstances -under which it was executed establish its genuineness beyond any -question." - -"What were those circumstances?" Thorndyke asked. - -"They were these: On the morning of the twelfth of November last, Mr. -Jeffrey came to the porter's lodge with a document in his hand. 'This,' -he said, 'is my will. I want you to witness my signature. Would you mind -doing so, and can you find another respectable person to act as the -second witness?' Now it happened that a nephew of the porter's, a -painter by trade, was at work in the Inn. The porter went out and -fetched him into the lodge and the two men agreed to witness the -signature. 'You had better read the will,' said Mr. Jeffrey. 'It is not -actually necessary, but it is an additional safeguard and there is -nothing of a private nature in the document.' The two men accordingly -read the document, and, when Mr. Jeffrey had signed it in their -presence, they affixed their signatures; and I may add that the painter -left the recognizable impressions of three greasy fingers." - -"And these witnesses have been examined?" - -"Yes. They have both sworn to the document and to their own signatures, -and the painter recognized his finger-marks." - -"That," said Thorndyke, "seems to dispose pretty effectually of any -question as to the genuineness of the will; and if, as I gather, Mr. -Jeffrey came to the lodge alone, the question of undue influence is -disposed of too." - -"Yes," said Mr. Marchmont. "I think we must pass the will as absolutely -flawless." - -"It strikes me as rather odd," said Thorndyke, "that Jeffrey should have -known so little about his sister's intentions. Can you explain it, Mr. -Blackmore?" - -"I don't think that it is very remarkable," Stephen replied. "I knew -very little of my aunt's affairs and I don't think my uncle Jeffrey knew -much more, for he was under the impression that she had only a life -interest in her husband's property. And he may have been right. It is -not clear what money this was that she left to my uncle. She was a very -taciturn woman and made few confidences to anyone." - -"So that it is possible," said Thorndyke, "that she, herself, may have -acquired this money recently by some bequest?" - -"It is quite possible," Stephen answered. - -"She died, I understand," said Thorndyke, glancing at the notes that he -had jotted down, "two days before Mr. Jeffrey. What date would that be?" - -"Jeffrey died on the fourteenth of March," said Marchmont. - -"So that Mrs. Wilson died on the twelfth of March?" - -"That is so," Marchmont replied; and Thorndyke then asked: - -"Did she die suddenly?" - -"No," replied Stephen; "she died of cancer. I understand that it was -cancer of the stomach." - -"Do you happen to know," Thorndyke asked, "what sort of relations -existed between Jeffrey and his brother John?" - -"At one time," said Stephen, "I know they were not very cordial; but the -breach may have been made up later, though I don't know that it actually -was." - -"I ask the question," said Thorndyke, "because, as I dare say you have -noticed, there is, in the first will, some hint of improved relations. -As it was originally drawn that will makes Mr. Stephen the sole legatee. -Then, a little later, a codicil is added in favour of John, showing that -Jeffrey had felt the necessity of making some recognition of his -brother. This seems to point to some change in the relations, and the -question arises: if such a change did actually occur, was it the -beginning of a new and further improving state of feeling between the -two brothers? Have you any facts bearing on that question?" - -Marchmont pursed up his lips with the air of a man considering an -unwelcome suggestion, and, after a few moments of reflection, answered: - -"I think we must say 'yes' to that. There is the undeniable fact that, -of all Jeffrey's friends, John Blackmore was the only one who knew that -he was living in New Inn." - -"Oh, John knew that, did he?" - -"Yes, he certainly did; for it came out in the evidence that he had -called on Jeffrey at his chambers more than once. There is no denying -that. But, mark you!" Mr. Marchmont added emphatically, "that does not -cover the inconsistency of the will. There is nothing in the second will -to suggest that Jeffrey intended materially to increase the bequest to -his brother." - -"I quite agree with you, Marchmont. I think that is a perfectly sound -position. You have, I suppose, fully considered the question as to -whether it would be possible to set aside the second will on the ground -that it fails to carry out the evident wishes and intentions of the -testator?" - -"Yes. My partner, Winwood, and I went into that question very carefully, -and we also took counsel's opinion--Sir Horace Barnaby--and he was of -the same opinion as ourselves; that the court would certainly uphold the -will." - -"I think that would be my own view," said Thorndyke, "especially after -what you have told me. Do I understand that John Blackmore was the only -person who knew that Jeffrey was in residence at New Inn?" - -"The only one of his private friends. His bankers knew and so did the -officials from whom he drew his pension." - -"Of course he would have to notify his bankers of his change of -address." - -"Yes, of course. And a propos of the bank, I may mention that the -manager tells me that, of late, they had noticed a slight change in the -character of Jeffrey's signature--I think you will see the reason of the -change when you hear the rest of his story. It was very trifling; not -more than commonly occurs when a man begins to grow old, especially if -there is some failure of eyesight." - -"Was Mr. Jeffrey's eyesight failing?" asked Thorndyke. - -"Yes, it was, undoubtedly," said Stephen. "He was practically blind in -one eye and, in the very last letter that I ever had from him, he -mentioned that there were signs of commencing cataract in the other." - -"You spoke of his pension. He continued to draw that regularly?" - -"Yes; he drew his allowance every month, or rather, his bankers drew it -for him. They had been accustomed to do so when he was abroad, and the -authorities seem to have allowed the practice to continue." - -Thorndyke reflected a while, running his eye over the notes on the slips -of paper in his hand, and Marchmont surveyed him with a malicious smile. -Presently the latter remarked: - -"Methinks the learned counsel is floored." - -Thorndyke laughed. "It seems to me," he retorted, "that your proceedings -are rather like those of the amiable individual who offered the bear a -flint pebble, that he might crack it and extract the kernel. Your -confounded will seems to offer no soft spot on which one could commence -an attack. But we won't give up. We seem to have sucked the will dry. -Let us now have a few facts respecting the parties concerned in it; and, -as Jeffrey is the central figure, let us begin with him and the tragedy -at New Inn that formed the starting-point of all this trouble." - - - - -Chapter VI - -Jeffrey Blackmore, Deceased - - -Having made the above proposition, Thorndyke placed a fresh slip of -paper on the blotting pad on his knee and looked inquiringly at Mr. -Marchmont; who, in his turn, sighed and looked at the bundle of -documents on the table. - -"What do you want to know?" he asked a little wearily. - -"Everything," replied Thorndyke. "You have hinted at circumstances that -would account for a change in Jeffrey's habits and that would explain an -alteration in the character of his signature. Let us have those -circumstances. And, if I might venture on a suggestion, it would be that -we take the events in the order in which they occurred or in which they -became known." - -"That's the worst of you, Thorndyke," Marchmont grumbled. "When a case -has been squeezed out to the last drop, in a legal sense, you want to -begin all over again with the family history of every one concerned and -a list of his effects and household furniture. But I suppose you will -have to be humoured; and I imagine that the best way in which to give -you the information you want will be to recite the circumstances -surrounding the death of Jeffrey Blackmore. Will that suit you?" - -"Perfectly," replied Thorndyke; and thereupon Marchmont began: - -"The death of Jeffrey Blackmore was discovered at about eleven o'clock -in the morning of the fifteenth of March. It seems that a builder's man -was ascending a ladder to examine a gutter on number 31, New Inn, when, -on passing a second-floor window that was open at the top, he looked in -and perceived a gentleman lying on a bed. The gentleman was fully -clothed and had apparently lain down on the bed to rest; at least so the -builder thought at the time, for he was merely passing the window on -his way up, and, very properly, did not make a minute examination. But -when, some ten minutes later, he came down and saw that the gentleman -was still in the same position, he looked at him more attentively; and -this is what he noticed--but perhaps we had better have it in his own -words as he told the story at the inquest. - -"'When I came to look at the gentleman a bit more closely, it struck me -that he looked rather queer. His face looked very white, or rather pale -yellow, like parchment, and his mouth was open. He did not seem to be -breathing. On the bed by his side was a brass object of some kind--I -could not make out what it was--and he seemed to be holding some small -metal object in his hand. I thought it rather a queer affair, so, when I -came down I went across to the lodge and told the porter about it. The -porter came out across the square with me and I showed him the window. -Then he told me to go up the stairs to Mr. Blackmore's chambers on the -second pair and knock and keep on knocking until I got an answer. I went -up and knocked and kept on knocking as loud as I could, but, though I -fetched everybody out of all the other chambers in the house, I couldn't -get any answer from Mr. Blackmore. So I went downstairs again and then -Mr. Walker, the porter, sent me for a policeman. - -"'I went out and met a policeman just by Dane's Inn and told him about -the affair, and he came back with me. He and the porter consulted -together, and then they told me to go up the ladder and get in at the -window and open the door of the chambers from the inside. So I went up; -and as soon as I got in at the window I saw that the gentleman was dead. -I went through the other room and opened the outer door and let in the -porter and the policeman.' - -"That," said Mr. Marchmont, laying down the paper containing the -depositions, "is the way in which poor Jeffrey Blackmore's death came to -be discovered. - -"The constable reported to his inspector and the inspector sent for the -divisional surgeon, whom he accompanied to New Inn. I need not go into -the evidence given by the police officers, as the surgeon saw all that -they saw and his statement covers everything that is known about -Jeffrey's death. This is what he says, after describing how he was sent -for and arrived at the Inn: - -"'In the bedroom I found the body of a man between fifty and sixty years -of age, which has since been identified in my presence as that of Mr. -Jeffrey Blackmore. It was fully dressed and wore boots on which was a -moderate amount of dry mud. It was lying on its back on the bed, which -did not appear to have been slept in, and showed no sign of any struggle -or disturbance. The right hand loosely grasped a hypodermic syringe -containing a few drops of clear liquid which I have since analysed and -found to be a concentrated solution of strophanthin. - -"'On the bed, close to the left side of the body, was a brass opium-pipe -of a pattern which I believe is made in China. The bowl of the pipe -contained a small quantity of charcoal, and a fragment of opium -together with some ash, and there was on the bed a little ash which -appeared to have dropped from the bowl when the pipe fell or was laid -down. On the mantelshelf in the bedroom I found a small glass-stoppered -jar containing about an ounce of solid opium, and another, larger jar -containing wood charcoal broken up into small fragments. Also a bowl -containing a quantity of ash with fragments of half-burned charcoal and -a few minute particles of charred opium. By the side of the bowl were a -knife, a kind of awl or pricker and a very small pair of tongs, which I -believe to have been used for carrying a piece of lighted charcoal to -the pipe. - -"'On the dressing-table were two glass tubes labelled "Hypodermic -Tabloids: Strophanthin 1/500 grain," and a minute glass mortar and -pestle, of which the former contained a few crystals which have since -been analysed by me and found to be strophanthin. - -"'On examining the body, I found that it had been dead about twelve -hours. There were no marks of violence or any abnormal condition -excepting a single puncture in the right thigh, apparently made by the -needle of the hypodermic syringe. The puncture was deep and vertical in -direction as if the needle had been driven in through the clothing. - -"'I made a post-mortem examination of the body and found that death was -due to poisoning by strophanthin, which appeared to have been injected -into the thigh. The two tubes which I found on the dressing-table would -each have contained, if full, twenty tabloids, each tabloid -representing one five-hundredth of a grain of strophanthin. Assuming -that the whole of this quantity was injected the amount taken would be -forty five-hundredths, or about one twelfth of a grain. The ordinary -medicinal dose of strophanthin is one five-hundredth of a grain. - -"'I also found in the body appreciable traces of morphine--the principal -alkaloid of opium--from which I infer that the deceased was a confirmed -opium-smoker. This inference was supported by the general condition of -the body, which was ill-nourished and emaciated and presented all the -appearances usually met with in the bodies of persons addicted to the -habitual use of opium.' - -"That is the evidence of the surgeon. He was recalled later, as we shall -see, but, meanwhile, I think you will agree with me that the facts -testified to by him fully account, not only for the change in Jeffrey's -habits--his solitary and secretive mode of life--but also for the -alteration in his handwriting." - -"Yes," agreed Thorndyke, "that seems to be so. By the way, what did the -change in the handwriting amount to?" - -"Very little," replied Marchmont. "It was hardly perceptible. Just a -slight loss of firmness and distinctness; such a trifling change as you -would expect to find in the handwriting of a man who had taken to drink -or drugs, or anything that might impair the steadiness of his hand. I -should not have noticed it, myself, but, of course, the people at the -bank are experts, constantly scrutinizing signatures and scrutinizing -them with a very critical eye." - -"Is there any other evidence that bears on the case?" Thorndyke asked. - -Marchmont turned over the bundle of papers and smiled grimly. - -"My dear Thorndyke," he said, "none of this evidence has the slightest -bearing on the case. It is all perfectly irrelevant as far as the will -is concerned. But I know your little peculiarities and I am indulging -you, as you see, to the top of your bent. The next evidence is that of -the chief porter, a very worthy and intelligent man named Walker. This -is what he says, after the usual preliminaries. - -"'I have viewed the body which forms the subject of this inquiry. It is -that of Mr. Jeffrey Blackmore, the tenant of a set of chambers on the -second floor of number thirty-one, New Inn. I have known the deceased -nearly six months, and during that time have seen and conversed with him -frequently. He took the chambers on the second of last October and came -into residence at once. Tenants at New Inn have to furnish two -references. The references that the deceased gave were his bankers and -his brother, Mr. John Blackmore. I may say that the deceased was very -well known to me. He was a quiet, pleasant-mannered gentleman, and it -was his habit to drop in occasionally at the lodge and have a chat with -me. I went into his chambers with him once or twice on some small -matters of business and I noticed that there were always a number of -books and papers on the table. I understood from him that he spent most -of his time indoors engaged in study and writing. I know very little -about his way of living. He had no laundress to look after his rooms, so -I suppose he did his own house-work and cooking; but he told me that he -took most of his meals outside, at restaurants or his club. - -"'Deceased impressed me as a rather melancholy, low-spirited gentleman. -He was very much troubled about his eyesight and mentioned the matter to -me on several occasions. He told me that he was practically blind in one -eye and that the sight of the other was failing rapidly. He said that -this afflicted him greatly, because his only pleasure in life was in the -reading of books, and that if he could not read he should not wish to -live. On another occasion he said that "to a blind man life was not -worth living." - -"'On the twelfth of last November he came to the lodge with a paper in -his hand which he said was his will'--But I needn't read that," said -Marchmont, turning over the leaf, "I've told you how the will was signed -and witnessed. We will pass on to the day of poor Jeffrey's death. - -"'On the fourteenth of March,' the porter says, 'at about half-past six -in the evening, the deceased came to the Inn in a four-wheeled cab. That -was the day of the great fog. I do not know if there was anyone in the -cab with the deceased, but I think not, because he came to the lodge -just before eight o'clock and had a little talk with me. He said that -he had been overtaken by the fog and could not see at all. He was quite -blind and had been obliged to ask a stranger to call a cab for him as he -could not find his way through the streets. He then gave me a cheque for -the rent. I reminded him that the rent was not due until the -twenty-fifth, but he said he wished to pay it now. He also gave me some -money to pay one or two small bills that were owing to some of the -tradespeople--a milk-man, a baker and a stationer. - -"'This struck me as very strange, because he had always managed his -business and paid the tradespeople himself. He told me that the fog had -irritated his eye so that he could hardly read, and he was afraid he -should soon be quite blind. He was very depressed; so much so that I -felt quite uneasy about him. When he left the lodge, he went back across -the square as if returning to his chambers. There was then no gate open -excepting the main gate where the lodge is situated. That was the last -time that I saw the deceased alive.'" - -Mr. Marchmont laid the paper on the table. "That is the porter's -evidence. The remaining depositions are those of Noble, the night -porter, John Blackmore and our friend here, Mr. Stephen. The night -porter had not much to tell. This is the substance of his evidence: - -"'I have viewed the body of the deceased and identify it as that of Mr. -Jeffrey Blackmore. I knew the deceased well by sight and occasionally -had a few words with him. I know nothing of his habits excepting that he -used to sit up rather late. It is one of my duties to go round the Inn -at night and call out the hours until one o'clock in the morning. When -calling out "one o'clock" I often saw a light in the sitting-room of the -deceased's chambers. On the night of the fourteenth instant, the light -was burning until past one o'clock, but it was in the bedroom. The light -in the sitting-room was out by ten o'clock.' - -"We now come to John Blackmore's evidence. He says: - -"'I have viewed the body of the deceased and recognize it as that of my -brother Jeffrey. I last saw him alive on the twenty-third of February, -when I called at his chambers. He then seemed in a very despondent state -of mind and told me that his eyesight was fast failing. I was aware that -he occasionally smoked opium, but I did not know that it was a confirmed -habit. I urged him, on several occasions, to abandon the practice. I -have no reason to believe that his affairs were in any way embarrassed -or that he had any reason for making away with himself other than his -failing eyesight; but, having regard to his state of mind when I last -saw him, I am not surprised at what has happened.' - -"That is the substance of John Blackmore's evidence, and, as to Mr. -Stephen, his statement merely sets forth the fact that he had identified -the body as that of his uncle Jeffrey. And now I think you have all the -facts. Is there anything more that you want to ask me before I go, for I -must really run away now?" - -"I should like," said Thorndyke, "to know a little more about the -parties concerned in this affair. But perhaps Mr. Stephen can give me -the information." - -"I expect he can," said Marchmont; "at any rate, he knows more about -them than I do; so I will be off. If you should happen to think of any -way," he continued, with a sly smile, "of upsetting that will, just let -me know, and I will lose no time in entering a caveat. Good-bye! Don't -trouble to let me out." - -As soon as he was gone, Thorndyke turned to Stephen Blackmore. - -"I am going," he said, "to ask you a few questions which may appear -rather trifling, but you must remember that my methods of inquiry -concern themselves with persons and things rather than with documents. -For instance, I have not gathered very completely what sort of person -your uncle Jeffrey was. Could you tell me a little more about him?" - -"What shall I tell you?" Stephen asked with a slightly embarrassed air. - -"Well, begin with his personal appearance." - -"That is rather difficult to describe," said Stephen. "He was a -medium-sized man and about five feet seven--fair, slightly grey, -clean-shaved, rather spare and slight, had grey eyes, wore spectacles -and stooped a little as he walked. He was quiet and gentle in manner, -rather yielding and irresolute in character, and his health was not at -all robust though he had no infirmity or disease excepting his bad -eyesight. His age was about fifty-five." - -"How came he to be a civil-service pensioner at fifty-five?" asked -Thorndyke. - -"Oh, that was through an accident. He had a nasty fall from a horse, -and, being a rather nervous man, the shock was very severe. For some -time after he was a complete wreck. But the failure of his eyesight was -the actual cause of his retirement. It seems that the fall damaged his -eyes in some way; in fact he practically lost the sight of one--the -right--from that moment; and, as that had been his good eye, the -accident left his vision very much impaired. So that he was at first -given sick leave and then allowed to retire on a pension." - -Thorndyke noted these particulars and then said: - -"Your uncle has been more than once referred to as a man of studious -habits. Does that mean that he pursued any particular branch of -learning?" - -"Yes. He was an enthusiastic Oriental scholar. His official duties had -taken him at one time to Yokohama and Tokio and at another to Bagdad, -and while at those places he gave a good deal of attention to the -languages, literature and arts of the countries. He was also greatly -interested in Babylonian and Assyrian archaeology, and I believe he -assisted for some time in the excavations at Birs Nimroud." - -"Indeed!" said Thorndyke. "This is very interesting. I had no idea that -he was a man of such considerable attainments. The facts mentioned by -Mr. Marchmont would hardly have led one to think of him as what he seems -to have been: a scholar of some distinction." - -"I don't know that Mr. Marchmont realized the fact himself," said -Stephen; "or that he would have considered it of any moment if he had. -Nor, as far as that goes, do I. But, of course, I have no experience of -legal matters." - -"You can never tell beforehand," said Thorndyke, "what facts may turn -out to be of moment, so that it is best to collect all you can get. By -the way, were you aware that your uncle was an opium-smoker?" - -"No, I was not. I knew that he had an opium-pipe which he brought with -him when he came home from Japan; but I thought it was only a curio. I -remember him telling me that he once tried a few puffs at an opium-pipe -and found it rather pleasant, though it gave him a headache. But I had -no idea he had contracted the habit; in fact, I may say that I was -utterly astonished when the fact came out at the inquest." - -Thorndyke made a note of this answer, too, and said: - -"I think that is all I have to ask you about your uncle Jeffrey. And now -as to Mr. John Blackmore. What sort of man is he?" - -"I am afraid I can't tell you very much about him. Until I saw him at -the inquest, I had not met him since I was a boy. But he is a very -different kind of man from Uncle Jeffrey; different in appearance and -different in character." - -"You would say that the two brothers were physically quite unlike, -then?" - -"Well," said Stephen, "I don't know that I ought to say that. Perhaps I -am exaggerating the difference. I am thinking of Uncle Jeffrey as he was -when I saw him last and of uncle John as he appeared at the inquest. -They were very different then. Jeffrey was thin, pale, clean shaven, -wore spectacles and walked with a stoop. John is a shade taller, a shade -greyer, has good eyesight, a healthy, florid complexion, a brisk, -upright carriage, is distinctly stout and wears a beard and moustache -which are black and only very slightly streaked with grey. To me they -looked as unlike as two men could, though their features were really of -the same type; indeed, I have heard it said that, as young men, they -were rather alike, and they both resembled their mother. But there is no -doubt as to their difference in character. Jeffrey was quiet, serious -and studious, whereas John rather inclined to what is called a fast -life; he used to frequent race meetings, and, I think, gambled a good -deal at times." - -"What is his profession?" - -"That would be difficult to tell; he has so many; he is so very -versatile. I believe he began life as an articled pupil in the -laboratory of a large brewery, but he soon left that and went on the -stage. He seems to have remained in 'the profession' for some years, -touring about this country and making occasional visits to America. The -life seemed to suit him and I believe he was decidedly successful as an -actor. But suddenly he left the stage and blossomed out in connection -with a bucket-shop in London." - -"And what is he doing now?" - -"At the inquest he described himself as a stockbroker, so I presume he -is still connected with the bucket-shop." - -Thorndyke rose, and taking down from the reference shelves a list of -members of the Stock Exchange, turned over the leaves. - -"Yes," he said, replacing the volume, "he must be an outside broker. His -name is not in the list of members of 'the House.' From what you tell -me, it is easy to understand that there should have been no great -intimacy between the two brothers, without assuming any kind of -ill-feeling. They simply had very little in common. Do you know of -anything more?" - -"No. I have never heard of any actual quarrel or disagreement. My -impression that they did not get on very well may have been, I think, -due to the terms of the will, especially the first will. And they -certainly did not seek one another's society." - -"That is not very conclusive," said Thorndyke. "As to the will, a -thrifty man is not usually much inclined to bequeath his savings to a -gentleman who may probably employ them in a merry little flutter on the -turf or the Stock Exchange. And then there was yourself; clearly a more -suitable subject for a legacy, as your life is all before you. But this -is mere speculation and the matter is not of much importance, as far as -we can see. And now, tell me what John Blackmore's relations were with -Mrs. Wilson. I gather that she left the bulk of her property to Jeffrey, -her younger brother. Is that so?" - -"Yes. She left nothing to John. The fact is that they were hardly on -speaking terms. I believe John had treated her rather badly, or, at any -rate, she thought he had. Mr. Wilson, her late husband, dropped some -money over an investment in connection with the bucket-shop that I spoke -of, and I think she suspected John of having let him in. She may have -been mistaken, but you know what ladies are when they get an idea into -their heads." - -"Did you know your aunt well?" - -"No; very slightly. She lived down in Devonshire and saw very little of -any of us. She was a taciturn, strong-minded woman; quite unlike her -brothers. She seems to have resembled her father's family." - -"You might give me her full name." - -"Julia Elizabeth Wilson. Her husband's name was Edmund Wilson." - -"Thank you. There is just one more point. What has happened to your -uncle's chambers in New Inn since his death?" - -"They have remained shut up. As all his effects were left to me, I have -taken over the tenancy for the present to avoid having them disturbed. I -thought of keeping them for my own use, but I don't think I could live -in them after what I have seen." - -"You have inspected them, then?" - -"Yes; I have just looked through them. I went there on the day of the -inquest." - -"Now tell me: as you looked through those rooms, what kind of impression -did they convey to you as to your uncle's habits and mode of life?" - -Stephen smiled apologetically. "I am afraid," said he, "that they did -not convey any particular impression in that respect. I looked into the -sitting-room and saw all his old familiar household gods, and then I -went into the bedroom and saw the impression on the bed where his corpse -had lain; and that gave me such a sensation of horror that I came away -at once." - -"But the appearance of the rooms must have conveyed something to your -mind," Thorndyke urged. - -"I am afraid it did not. You see, I have not your analytical eye. But -perhaps you would like to look through them yourself? If you would, pray -do so. They are my chambers now." - -"I think I should like to glance round them," Thorndyke replied. - -"Very well," said Stephen. "I will give you my card now, and I will look -in at the lodge presently and tell the porter to hand you the key -whenever you like to look over the rooms." - -He took a card from his case, and, having written a few lines on it, -handed it to Thorndyke. - -"It is very good of you," he said, "to take so much trouble. Like Mr. -Marchmont, I have no expectation of any result from your efforts, but I -am very grateful to you, all the same, for going into the case so -thoroughly. I suppose you don't see any possibility of upsetting that -will--if I may ask the question?" - -"At present," replied Thorndyke, "I do not. But until I have carefully -weighed every fact connected with the case--whether it seems to have any -bearing or not--I shall refrain from expressing, or even entertaining, -an opinion either way." - -Stephen Blackmore now took his leave; and Thorndyke, having collected -the papers containing his notes, neatly punched a couple of holes in -their margins and inserted them into a small file, which he slipped into -his pocket. - -"That," said he, "is the nucleus of the body of data on which our -investigations must be based; and I very much fear that it will not -receive any great additions. What do you think, Jervis?" - -"The case looks about as hopeless as a case could look," I replied. - -"That is what I think," said he; "and for that reason I am more than -ordinarily keen on making something of it. I have not much more hope -than Marchmont has; but I shall squeeze the case as dry as a bone before -I let go. What are you going to do? I have to attend a meeting of the -board of directors of the Griffin Life Office." - -"Shall I walk down with you?" - -"It is very good of you to offer, Jervis, but I think I will go alone. I -want to run over these notes and get the facts of the case arranged in -my mind. When I have done that, I shall be ready to pick up new matter. -Knowledge is of no use unless it is actually in your mind, so that it -can be produced at a moment's notice. So you had better get a book and -your pipe and spend a quiet hour by the fire while I assimilate the -miscellaneous mental feast that we have just enjoyed. And you might do a -little rumination yourself." - -With this, Thorndyke took his departure; and I, adopting his advice, -drew my chair closer to the fire and filled my pipe. But I did not -discover any inclination to read. The curious history that I had just -heard, and Thorndyke's evident determination to elucidate it further, -disposed me to meditation. Moreover, as his subordinate, it was my -business to occupy myself with his affairs. Wherefore, having stirred -the fire and got my pipe well alight, I abandoned myself to the renewed -consideration of the facts relating to Jeffrey Blackmore's will. - - - - -Chapter VII - -The Cuneiform Inscription - - -The surprise which Thorndyke's proceedings usually occasioned, -especially to lawyers, was principally due, I think, to my friend's -habit of viewing occurrences from an unusual standpoint. He did not look -at things quite as other men looked at them. He had no prejudices and he -knew no conventions. When other men were cocksure, Thorndyke was -doubtful. When other men despaired, he entertained hopes; and thus it -happened that he would often undertake cases that had been rejected -contemptuously by experienced lawyers, and, what is more, would bring -them to a successful issue. - -Thus it had been in the only other case in which I had been personally -associated with him--the so-called "Red Thumb Mark" case. There he was -presented with an apparent impossibility; but he had given it careful -consideration. Then, from the category of the impossible he had brought -it to that of the possible; from the merely possible to the actually -probable; from the probable to the certain; and in the end had won the -case triumphantly. - -Was it conceivable that he could make anything of the present case? He -had not declined it. He had certainly entertained it and was probably -thinking it over at this moment. Yet could anything be more impossible? -Here was the case of a man making his own will, probably writing it out -himself, bringing it voluntarily to a certain place and executing it in -the presence of competent witnesses. There was no suggestion of any -compulsion or even influence or persuasion. The testator was admittedly -sane and responsible; and if the will did not give effect to his -wishes--which, however, could not be proved--that was due to his own -carelessness in drafting the will and not to any unusual circumstances. -And the problem--which Thorndyke seemed to be considering--was how to -set aside that will. - -I reviewed the statements that I had heard, but turn them about as I -would, I could get nothing out of them but confirmation of Mr. -Marchmont's estimate of the case. One fact that I had noted with some -curiosity I again considered; that was Thorndyke's evident desire to -inspect Jeffrey Blackmore's chambers. He had, it is true, shown no -eagerness, but I had seen at the time that the questions which he put to -Stephen were put, not with any expectation of eliciting information but -for the purpose of getting an opportunity to look over the rooms -himself. - -I was still cogitating on the subject when my colleague returned, -followed by the watchful Polton with the tea-tray, and I attacked him -forthwith. - -"Well, Thorndyke," I said, "I have been thinking about this Blackmore -case while you have been gadding about." - -"And may I take it that the problem is solved?" - -"No, I'm hanged if you may. I can make nothing of it." - -"Then you are in much the same position as I am." - -"But, if you can make nothing of it, why did you undertake it?" - -"I only undertook to think about it," said Thorndyke. "I never reject a -case off-hand unless it is obviously fishy. It is surprising how -difficulties, and even impossibilities, dwindle if you look at them -attentively. My experience has taught me that the most unlikely case is, -at least, worth thinking over." - -"By the way, why do you want to look over Jeffrey's chambers? What do -you expect to find there?" - -"I have no expectations at all. I am simply looking for stray facts." - -"And all those questions that you asked Stephen Blackmore; had you -nothing in your mind--no definite purpose?" - -"No purpose beyond getting to know as much about the case as I can." - -"But," I exclaimed, "do you mean that you are going to examine those -rooms without any definite object at all?" - -"I wouldn't say that," replied Thorndyke. "This is a legal case. Let me -put an analogous medical case as being more within your present sphere. -Supposing that a man should consult you, say, about a progressive loss -of weight. He can give no explanation. He has no pain, no discomfort, no -symptoms of any kind; in short, he feels perfectly well in every -respect; <i>but</i> he is losing weight continuously. What would you do?" - -"I should overhaul him thoroughly," I answered. - -"Why? What would you expect to find?" - -"I don't know that I should start by expecting to find anything in -particular. But I should overhaul him organ by organ and function by -function, and if I could find nothing abnormal I should have to give it -up." - -"Exactly," said Thorndyke. "And that is just my position and my line of -action. Here is a case which is perfectly regular and straightforward -excepting in one respect. It has a single abnormal feature. And for that -abnormality there is nothing to account. - -"Jeffrey Blackmore made a will. It was a well-drawn will and it -apparently gave full effect to his intentions. Then he revoked that will -and made another. No change had occurred in his circumstances or in his -intentions. The provisions of the new will were believed by him to be -identical with those of the old one. The new will differed from the old -one only in having a defect in the drafting from which the first will -was free, and of which he must have been unaware. Now why did he revoke -the first will and replace it with another which he believed to be -identical in its provisions? There is no answer to that question. It is -an abnormal feature in the case. There must be some explanation of that -abnormality and it is my business to discover it. But the facts in my -possession yield no such explanation. Therefore it is my purpose to -search for new facts which may give me a starting-point for an -investigation." - -This exposition of Thorndyke's proposed conduct of the case, reasonable -as it was, did not impress me as very convincing. I found myself coming -back to Marchmont's position, that there was really nothing in dispute. -But other matters claimed our attention at the moment, and it was not -until after dinner that my colleague reverted to the subject. - -"How should you like to take a turn round to New Inn this evening?" he -asked. - -"I should have thought," said I, "that it would be better to go by -daylight. Those old chambers are not usually very well illuminated." - -"That is well thought of," said Thorndyke. "We had better take a lamp -with us. Let us go up to the laboratory and get one from Polton." - -"There is no need to do that," said I. "The pocket-lamp that you lent me -is in my overcoat pocket. I put it there to return it to you." - -"Did you have occasion to use it?" he asked. - -"Yes. I paid another visit to the mysterious house and carried out your -plan. I must tell you about it later." - -"Do. I shall be keenly interested to hear all about your adventures. Is -there plenty of candle left in the lamp?" - -"Oh yes. I only used it for about an hour." - -"Then let us be off," said Thorndyke; and we accordingly set forth on -our quest; and, as we went, I reflected once more on the apparent -vagueness of our proceedings. Presently I reopened the subject with -Thorndyke. - -"I can't imagine," said I, "that you have absolutely nothing in view. -That you are going to this place with no defined purpose whatever." - -"I did not say exactly that," replied Thorndyke. "I said that I was not -going to look for any particular thing or fact. I am going in the hope -that I may observe something that may start a new train of speculation. -But that is not all. You know that an investigation follows a certain -logical course. It begins with the observation of the conspicuous facts. -We have done that. The facts were supplied by Marchmont. The next stage -is to propose to oneself one or more provisional explanations or -hypotheses. We have done that, too--or, at least I have, and I suppose -you have." - -"I haven't," said I. "There is Jeffrey's will, but why he should have -made the change I cannot form the foggiest idea. But I should like to -hear your provisional theories on the subject." - -"You won't hear them at present. They are mere wild conjectures. But to -resume: what do we do next?" - -"Go to New Inn and rake over the deceased gentleman's apartments." - -Thorndyke smilingly ignored my answer and continued-- - -"We examine each explanation in turn and see what follows from it; -whether it agrees with all the facts and leads to the discovery of new -ones, or, on the other hand, disagrees with some facts or leads us to an -absurdity. Let us take a simple example. - -"Suppose we find scattered over a field a number of largish masses of -stone, which are entirely different in character from the rocks found in -the neighbourhood. The question arises, how did those stones get into -that field? Three explanations are proposed. One: that they are the -products of former volcanic action; two: that they were brought from a -distance by human agency; three: that they were carried thither from -some distant country by icebergs. Now each of those explanations -involves certain consequences. If the stones are volcanic, then they -were once in a state of fusion. But we find that they are unaltered -limestone and contain fossils. Then they are not volcanic. If they were -borne by icebergs, then they were once part of a glacier and some of -them will probably show the flat surfaces with parallel scratches which -are found on glacier-borne stones. We examine them and find the -characteristic scratched surfaces. Then they have probably been brought -to this place by icebergs. But this does not exclude human agency, for -they might have been brought by men to this place from some other where -the icebergs had deposited them. A further comparison with other facts -would be needed. - -"So we proceed in cases like this present one. Of the facts that are -known to us we invent certain explanations. From each of those -explanations we deduce consequences; and if those consequences agree -with new facts, they confirm the explanation, whereas if they disagree -they tend to disprove it. But here we are at our destination." - -We turned out of Wych Street into the arched passage leading into New -Inn, and, halting at the half-door of the lodge, perceived a stout, -purple-faced man crouching over the fire, coughing violently. He held up -his hand to intimate that he was fully occupied for the moment, and we -accordingly waited for his paroxysm to subside. At length he turned -towards us, wiping his eyes, and inquired our business. - -"Mr. Stephen Blackmore," said Thorndyke, "has given me permission to -look over his chambers. He said that he would mention the matter to -you." - -"So he has, sir," said the porter; "but he has just taken the key -himself to go to the chambers. If you walk across the Inn you'll find -him there; it's on the farther side; number thirty-one, second floor." - -We made our way across to the house indicated, the ground floor of which -was occupied by a solicitor's offices and was distinguished by a -good-sized brass plate. Although it had now been dark some time there -was no light on the lower stairs, but we encountered on the first-floor -landing a man who had just lit the lamp there. Thorndyke halted to -address him. - -"Can you tell me who occupies the chambers on the third floor?" - -"The third floor has been empty about three months," was the reply. - -"We are going up to look at the chambers on the second floor," said -Thorndyke. "Are they pretty quiet?" - -"Quiet!" exclaimed the man. "Lord bless you the place is like a cemetery -for the deaf and dumb. There's the solicitors on the ground floor and -the architects on the first floor. They both clear out about six, and -when they're gone the house is as empty as a blown hegg. I don't wonder -poor Mr. Blackmore made away with his-self. Livin' up there all alone, -it must have been like Robinson Crusoe without no man Friday and not -even a blooming goat to talk to. Quiet! It's quiet enough, if that's -what you want. Wouldn't be no good to <i>me</i>." - -With a contemptuous shake of the head, he turned and retired down the -next flight, and, as the echoes of his footsteps died away we resumed -our ascent. - -"So it would appear," Thorndyke commented, "that when Jeffrey Blackmore -came home that last evening, the house was empty." - -Arrived on the second-floor landing, we were confronted by a -solid-looking door on the lintel of which the deceased man's name was -painted in white lettering which still looked new and fresh. Thorndyke -knocked at the door, which was at once opened by Stephen Blackmore. - -"I haven't wasted any time before taking advantage of your permission, -you see," my colleague said as we entered. - -"No, indeed," said Stephen; "you are very prompt. I have been rather -wondering what kind of information you expect to gather from an -inspection of these rooms." - -Thorndyke smiled genially, amused, no doubt, by the similarity of -Stephen's remarks to those of mine which he had so recently criticized. - -"A man of science, Mr. Blackmore," he said, "expects nothing. He -collects facts and keeps an open mind. As to me, I am a mere legal -Autolycus, a snapper-up of unconsidered trifles of evidence. When I have -accumulated a few facts, I arrange them, compare them and think about -them. Sometimes the comparison yields new matter and sometimes it -doesn't; but in any case, believe me, it is a capital error to decide -beforehand what data are to be sought for." - -"Yes, I suppose that is so," said Stephen; "though, to me, it almost -looks as if Mr. Marchmont was right; that there is nothing to -investigate." - -"You should have thought of that before you consulted me," laughed -Thorndyke. "As it is, I am engaged to look into the case and I shall do -so; and, as I have said, I shall keep an open mind until I have all the -facts in my possession." - -He glanced round the sitting-room, which we had now entered, and -continued: - -"These are fine, dignified old rooms. It seems a sin to have covered up -all this oak panelling and that carved cornice and mantel with paint. -Think what it must have been like when the beautiful figured wood was -exposed." - -"It would be very dark," Stephen observed. - -"Yes," Thorndyke agreed, "and I suppose we care more for light and less -for beauty than our ancestors did. But now, tell me; looking round these -rooms, do they convey to you a similar impression to that which the old -rooms did? Have they the same general character?" - -"Not quite, I think. Of course the rooms in Jermyn Street were in a -different kind of house, but beyond that, I seem to feel a certain -difference; which is rather odd, seeing that the furniture is the same. -But the old rooms were more cosy, more homelike. I find something rather -bare and cheerless, I was almost going to say squalid, in the look of -these chambers." - -"That is rather what I should have expected," said Thorndyke. "The opium -habit alters a man's character profoundly; and, somehow, apart from the -mere furnishing, a room reflects in some subtle way, but very -distinctly, the personality of its occupant, especially when that -occupant lives a solitary life. Do you see any evidences of the -activities that used to occupy your uncle?" - -"Not very much," replied Stephen. "But the place may not be quite as he -left it. I found one or two of his books on the table and put them back -in the shelves, but I found no manuscript or notes such as he used to -make. I noticed, too, that his ink-slab which he used to keep so -scrupulously clean is covered with dry smears and that the stick of ink -is all cracked at the end, as if he had not used it for months. It seems -to point to a great change in his habits." - -"What used he to do with Chinese ink?" Thorndyke asked. - -"He corresponded with some of his native friends in Japan, and he used -to write in the Japanese character even if they understood English. That -was what he chiefly used the Chinese ink for. But he also used to copy -the inscriptions from these things." Here Stephen lifted from the -mantelpiece what looked like a fossil Bath bun, but was actually a clay -tablet covered with minute indented writing. - -"Your uncle could read the cuneiform character, then?" - -"Yes; he was something of an expert. These tablets are, I believe, -leases and other legal documents from Eridu and other Babylonian cities. -He used to copy the inscriptions in the cuneiform writing and then -translate them into English. But I mustn't stay here any longer as I -have an engagement for this evening. I just dropped in to get these two -volumes--<i>Thornton's History of Babylonia</i>, which he once advised me to -read. Shall I give you the key? You'd better have it and leave it with -the porter as you go out." - -He shook hands with us and we walked out with him to the landing and -stood watching him as he ran down the stairs. Glancing at Thorndyke by -the light of the gas lamp on the landing, I thought I detected in his -impassive face that almost imperceptible change of expression to which I -have already alluded as indicating pleasure or satisfaction. - -"You are looking quite pleased with yourself," I remarked. - -"I am not displeased," he replied calmly. "Autolycus has picked up a few -crumbs; very small ones, but still crumbs. No doubt his learned junior -has picked up a few likewise?" - -I shook my head--and inwardly suspected it of being rather a thick head. - -"I did not perceive anything in the least degree significant in what -Stephen was telling you," said I. "It was all very interesting, but it -did not seem to have any bearing on his uncle's will." - -"I was not referring only to what Stephen has told us, although that -was, as you say, very interesting. While he was talking I was looking -about the room, and I have seen a very strange thing. Let me show it to -you." - -He linked his arm in mine and, walking me back into the room, halted -opposite the fire-place. - -"There," said he, "look at that. It is a most remarkable object." - -[Illustration: THE INVERTED INSCRIPTION.] - -I followed the direction of his gaze and saw an oblong frame enclosing a -large photograph of an inscription in the weird and cabalistic -arrow-head character. I looked at it in silence for some seconds and -then, somewhat disappointed, remarked: - -"I don't see anything very remarkable in it, under the circumstances. In -any ordinary room it would be, I admit; but Stephen has just told us -that his uncle was something of an expert in cuneiform writing." - -"Exactly," said Thorndyke. "That is my point. That is what makes it so -remarkable." - -"I don't follow you at all," said I. "That a man should hang upon his -wall an inscription that is legible to him does not seem to me at all -out of the way. It would be much more singular if he should hang up an -inscription that he could <i>not</i> read." - -"No doubt," replied Thorndyke. "But you will agree with me that it would -be still more singular if a man should hang upon his wall an inscription -that he <i>could</i> read--and hang it upside down." - -I stared at Thorndyke in amazement. - -"Do you mean to tell me," I exclaimed, "that that photograph is really -upside down?" - -"I do indeed," he replied. - -"But how do you know? Have we here yet another Oriental scholar?" - -Thorndyke chuckled. "Some fool," he replied, "has said that 'a little -knowledge is a dangerous thing.' Compared with much knowledge, it may -be; but it is a vast deal better than no knowledge. Here is a case in -point. I have read with very keen interest the wonderful history of the -decipherment of the cuneiform writing, and I happen to recollect one or -two of the main facts that seemed to me to be worth remembering. This -particular inscription is in the Persian cuneiform, a much more simple -and open form of the script than the Babylonian or Assyrian; in fact, I -suspect that this is the famous inscription from the gateway at -Persepolis--the first to be deciphered; which would account for its -presence here in a frame. Now this script consists, as you see, of two -kinds of characters; the small, solid, acutely pointed characters which -are known as wedges, and the larger, more obtuse characters, somewhat -like our government broad arrows, and called arrow-heads. The names are -rather unfortunate, as both forms are wedge-like and both resemble -arrow-heads. The script reads from left to right, like our own writing, -and unlike that of the Semitic peoples and the primitive Greeks; and the -rule for the placing of the characters is that all the 'wedges' point to -the right or downwards and the arrow-head forms are open towards the -right. But if you look at this photograph you will see that all the -wedges point upwards to the left and that the arrow-head characters are -open towards the left. Obviously the photograph is upside down." - -"But," I exclaimed, "this is really most mysterious. What do you suppose -can be the explanation?" - -"I think," replied Thorndyke, "that we may perhaps get a suggestion from -the back of the frame. Let us see." - -He disengaged the frame from the two nails on which it hung, and, -turning it round, glanced at the back; which he then presented for my -inspection. A label on the backing paper bore the words, "J. Budge, -Frame-maker and Gilder, 16, Gt. Anne Street, W.C." - -"Well?" I said, when I had read the label without gathering from it -anything fresh. - -"The label, you observe, is the right way up as it hangs on the wall." - -"So it is," I rejoined hastily, a little annoyed that I had not been -quicker to observe so obvious a fact. "I see your point. You mean that -the frame-maker hung the thing upside down and Jeffrey never noticed the -mistake?" - -"That is a perfectly sound explanation," said Thorndyke. "But I think -there is something more. You will notice that the label is an old one; -it must have been on some years, to judge by its dingy appearance, -whereas the two mirror-plates look to me comparatively new. But we can -soon put that matter to the test, for the label was evidently stuck on -when the frame was new, and if the plates were screwed on at the same -time, the wood that they cover will be clean and new-looking." - -He drew from his pocket a "combination" knife containing, among other -implements, a screw-driver, with which he carefully extracted the screws -from one of the little brass plates by which the frame had been -suspended from the nails. - -"You see," he said, when he had removed the plate and carried the -photograph over to the gasjet, "the wood covered by the plate is as -dirty and time-stained as the rest of the frame. The plates have been -put on recently." - -"And what are we to infer from that?" - -"Well, since there are no other marks of plates or rings upon the -frame, we may safely infer that the photograph was never hung up until -it came to these rooms." - -"Yes, I suppose we may. But what then? What inference does that lead -to?" - -Thorndyke reflected for a few moments and I continued: - -"It is evident that this photograph suggests more to you than it does to -me. I should like to hear your exposition of its bearing on the case, if -it has any." - -"Whether or no it has any real bearing on the case," Thorndyke answered, -"it is impossible for me to say at this stage. I told you that I had -proposed to myself one or two hypotheses to account for and explain -Jeffrey Blackmore's will, and I may say that the curious misplacement of -this photograph fits more than one of them. I won't say more than that, -because I think it would be profitable to you to work at this case -independently. You have all the facts that I have and you shall have a -copy of my notes of Marchmont's statement of the case. With this -material you ought to be able to reach some conclusion. Of course -neither of us may be able to make anything of the case--it doesn't look -very hopeful at present--but whatever happens, we can compare notes -after the event and you will be the richer by so much experience of -actual investigation. But I will start you off with one hint, which is -this: that neither you nor Marchmont seem to appreciate in the least the -very extraordinary nature of the facts that he communicated to us." - -"I thought Marchmont seemed pretty much alive to the fact that it was a -very queer will." - -"So he did," agreed Thorndyke. "But that is not quite what I mean. The -whole set of circumstances, taken together and in relation to one -another, impressed me as most remarkable; and that is why I am giving so -much attention to what looks at first sight like such a very unpromising -case. Copy out my notes, Jervis, and examine the facts critically. I -think you will see what I mean. And now let us proceed." - -He replaced the brass plate and having reinserted the screws, hung up -the frame, and proceeded to browse slowly round the room, stopping now -and again to inspect the Japanese colour-prints and framed photographs -of buildings and other objects of archaeological interest that formed -the only attempts at wall-decoration. To one of the former he drew my -attention. - -"These things are of some value," he remarked. "Here is one by -Utamaro--that little circle with the mark over it is his signature--and -you notice that the paper is becoming spotted in places with mildew. The -fact is worth noting in more than one connection." - -I accordingly made a mental note and the perambulation continued. - -"You observe that Jeffrey used a gas-stove, instead of a coal fire, no -doubt to economize work, but perhaps for other reasons. Presumably he -cooked by gas, too; let us see." - -We wandered into the little cupboard-like kitchen and glanced round. A -ring-burner on a shelf, a kettle, a frying-pan and a few pieces of -crockery were its sole appointments. Apparently the porter was correct -in his statement as to Jeffrey's habits. - -Returning to the sitting-room, Thorndyke resumed his inspection, pulling -out the table drawers, peering inquisitively into cupboards and -bestowing a passing glance on each of the comparatively few objects that -the comfortless room contained. - -"I have never seen a more characterless apartment," was his final -comment. "There is nothing that seems to suggest any kind of habitual -activity on the part of the occupant. Let us look at the bedroom." - -We passed through into the chamber of tragic memories, and, when -Thorndyke had lit the gas, we stood awhile looking about us in silence. -It was a bare, comfortless room, dirty, neglected and squalid. The bed -appeared not to have been remade since the catastrophe, for an -indentation still marked the place where the corpse had lain, and even a -slight powdering of ash could still be seen on the shabby counterpane. -It looked to me a typical opium-smoker's bedroom. - -"Well," Thorndyke remarked at length, "there is character enough -here--of a kind. Jeffrey Blackmore would seem to have been a man of few -needs. One could hardly imagine a bedroom in which less attention seemed -to have been given to the comfort of the occupant." - -He looked about him keenly and continued: "The syringe and the rest of -the lethal appliances and material have been taken away, I see. -Probably the analyst did not return them. But there are the opium-pipe -and the jar and the ash-bowl, and I presume those are the clothes that -the undertakers removed from the body. Shall we look them over?" - -He took up the clothes which lay, roughly folded, on a chair and held -them up, garment by garment. - -"These are evidently the trousers," he remarked, spreading them out on -the bed. "Here is a little white spot on the middle of the thigh which -looks like a patch of small crystals from a drop of the solution. Just -light the lamp, Jervis, and let us examine it with a lens." - -I lit the lamp, and when we had examined the spot minutely and -identified it as a mass of minute crystals, Thorndyke asked: - -"What do you make of those creases? You see there is one on each leg." - -"It looks as if the trousers had been turned up. But if they have been -they must have been turned up about seven inches. Poor Jeffrey couldn't -have had much regard for appearances, for they would have been right -above his socks. But perhaps the creases were made in undressing the -body." - -"That is possible," said Thorndyke: "though I don't quite see how it -would have happened. I notice that his pockets seem to have been -emptied--no, wait; here is something in the waistcoat pocket." - -He drew out a shabby, pigskin card-case and a stump of lead pencil, at -which latter he looked with what seemed to me much more interest than -was deserved by so commonplace an object. - -"The cards, you observe," said he, "are printed from type, not from a -plate. I would note that fact. And tell me what you make of that." - -He handed me the pencil, which I examined with concentrated attention, -helping myself even with the lamp and my pocket lens. But even with -these aids I failed to discover anything unusual in its appearance. -Thorndyke watched me with a mischievous smile, and, when I had finished, -inquired: - -"Well; what is it?" - -"Confound you!" I exclaimed. "It's a pencil. Any fool can see that, and -this particular fool can't see any more. It's a wretched stump of a -pencil, villainously cut to an abominably bad point. It is coloured dark -red on the outside and was stamped with some name that began with -C--O--Co-operative Stores, perhaps." - -"Now, my dear Jervis," Thorndyke protested, "don't begin by confusing -speculation with fact. The letters which remain are C--O. Note that fact -and find out what pencils there are which have inscriptions beginning -with those letters. I am not going to help you, because you can easily -do this for yourself. And it will be good discipline even if the fact -turns out to mean nothing." - -At this moment he stepped back suddenly, and, looking down at the floor, -said: - -"Give me the lamp, Jervis, I've trodden on something that felt like -glass." - -I brought the lamp to the place where he had been standing, close by -the bed, and we both knelt on the floor, throwing the light of the lamp -on the bare and dusty boards. Under the bed, just within reach of the -foot of a person standing close by, was a little patch of fragments of -glass. Thorndyke produced a piece of paper from his pocket and -delicately swept the little fragments on to it, remarking: - -"By the look of things, I am not the first person who has trodden on -that object, whatever it is. Do you mind holding the lamp while I -inspect the remains?" - -I took the lamp and held it over the paper while he examined the little -heap of glass through his lens. - -"Well," I asked. "What have you found?" - -"That is what I am asking myself," he replied. "As far as I can judge by -the appearance of these fragments, they appear to be portions of a small -watch-glass. I wish there were some larger pieces." - -"Perhaps there are," said I. "Let us look about the floor under the -bed." - -We resumed our groping about the dirty floor, throwing the light of the -lamp on one spot after another. Presently, as we moved the lamp about, -its light fell on a small glass bead, which I instantly picked up and -exhibited to Thorndyke. - -"Is this of any interest to you?" I asked. - -Thorndyke took the bead and examined it curiously. - -"It is certainly," he said, "a very odd thing to find in the bedroom of -an old bachelor like Jeffrey, especially as we know that he employed no -woman to look after his rooms. Of course, it may be a relic of the last -tenant. Let us see if there are any more." - -We renewed our search, crawling under the bed and throwing the light of -the lamp in all directions over the floor. The result was the discovery -of three more beads, one entire bugle and the crushed remains of -another, which had apparently been trodden on. All of these, including -the fragments of the bugle that had been crushed, Thorndyke placed -carefully on the paper, which he laid on the dressing-table the more -conveniently to examine our find. - -"I am sorry," said he, "that there are no more fragments of the -watch-glass, or whatever it was. The broken pieces were evidently picked -up, with the exception of the one that I trod on, which was an isolated -fragment that had been overlooked. As to the beads, judging by their -number and the position in which we found some of them--that crushed -bugle, for instance--they must have been dropped during Jeffrey's -tenancy and probably quite recently." - -"What sort of garment do you suppose they came from?" I asked. - -"They may have been part of a beaded veil or the trimming of a dress, -but the grouping rather suggests to me a tag of bead fringe. The colour -is rather unusual." - -"I thought they looked like black beads." - -"So they do by this light, but I think that by daylight we shall find -them to be a dark, reddish-brown. You can see the colour now if you look -at the smaller fragments of the one that is crushed." - -He handed me his lens, and, when I had verified his statement, he -produced from his pocket a small tin box with a closely-fitting lid in -which he deposited the paper, having first folded it up into a small -parcel. - -"We will put the pencil in too," said he; and, as he returned the box to -his pocket he added: "you had better get one of these little boxes from -Polton. It is often useful to have a safe receptacle for small and -fragile articles." - -He folded up and replaced the dead man's clothes as we had found them. -Then, observing a pair of shoes standing by the wall, he picked them up -and looked them over thoughtfully, paying special attention to the backs -of the soles and the fronts of the heels. - -"I suppose we may take it," said he, "that these are the shoes that poor -Jeffrey wore on the night of his death. At any rate there seem to be no -others. He seems to have been a fairly clean walker. The streets were -shockingly dirty that day, as I remember most distinctly. Do you see any -slippers? I haven't noticed any." - -He opened and peeped into a cupboard in which an overcoat surmounted by -a felt hat hung from a peg like an attenuated suicide; he looked in all -the corners and into the sitting-room, but no slippers were to be seen. - -"Our friend seems to have had surprisingly little regard for comfort," -Thorndyke remarked. "Think of spending the winter evenings in damp boots -by a gas fire!" - -"Perhaps the opium-pipe compensated," said I; "or he may have gone to -bed early." - -"But he did not. The night porter used to see the light in his rooms at -one o'clock in the morning. In the sitting-room, too, you remember. But -he seems to have been in the habit of reading in bed--or perhaps -smoking--for here is a candlestick with the remains of a whole dynasty -of candles in it. As there is gas in the room, he couldn't have wanted -the candle to undress by. He used stearine candles, too; not the common -paraffin variety. I wonder why he went to that expense." - -"Perhaps the smell of the paraffin candle spoiled the aroma of the -opium," I suggested; to which Thorndyke made no reply but continued his -inspection of the room, pulling out the drawer of the washstand--which -contained a single, worn-out nail-brush--and even picking up and -examining the dry and cracked cake of soap in the dish. - -"He seems to have had a fair amount of clothing," said Thorndyke, who -was now going through the chest of drawers, "though, by the look of it, -he didn't change very often, and the shirts have a rather yellow and -faded appearance. I wonder how he managed about his washing. Why, here -are a couple of pairs of boots in the drawer with his clothes! And here -is his stock of candles. Quite a large box--though nearly empty now--of -stearine candles, six to the pound." - -He closed the drawer and cast another inquiring look round the room. - -"I think we have seen all now, Jervis," he said, "unless there is -anything more that you would like to look into?" - -"No," I replied. "I have seen all that I wanted to see and more than I -am able to attach any meaning to. So we may as well go." - -I blew out the lamp and put it in my overcoat pocket, and, when we had -turned out the gas in both rooms, we took our departure. - -As we approached the lodge, we found our stout friend in the act of -retiring in favour of the night porter. Thorndyke handed him the key of -the chambers, and, after a few sympathetic inquiries, about his -health--which was obviously very indifferent--said: - -"Let me see; you were one of the witnesses to Mr. Blackmore's will, I -think?" - -"I was, sir," replied the porter. - -"And I believe you read the document through before you witnessed the -signature?" - -"I did, sir." - -"Did you read it aloud?" - -"Aloud, sir! Lor' bless you, no, sir! Why should I? The other witness -read it, and, of course, Mr. Blackmore knew what was in it, seeing that -it was in his own handwriting. What should I want to read it aloud for?" - -"No, of course you wouldn't want to. By the way, I have been wondering -how Mr. Blackmore managed about his washing." - -The porter evidently regarded this question with some disfavour, for he -replied only with an interrogative grunt. It was, in fact, rather an odd -question. - -"Did you get it done for him," Thorndyke pursued. - -"No, certainly not, sir. He got it done for himself. The laundry people -used to deliver the basket here at the lodge, and Mr. Blackmore used to -take it in with him when he happened to be passing." - -"It was not delivered at his chambers, then?" - -"No, sir. Mr. Blackmore was a very studious gentleman and he didn't like -to be disturbed. A studious gentleman would naturally not like to be -disturbed." - -Thorndyke cordially agreed with these very proper sentiments and finally -wished the porter "good night." We passed out through the gateway into -Wych Street, and, turning our faces eastward towards the Temple, set -forth in silence, each thinking his own thoughts. What Thorndyke's were -I cannot tell, though I have no doubt that he was busily engaged in -piecing together all that he had seen and heard and considering its -possible application to the case in hand. - -As to me, my mind was in a whirl of confusion. All this searching and -examining seemed to be the mere flogging of a dead horse. The will was -obviously a perfectly valid and regular will and there was an end of the -matter. At least, so it seemed to me. But clearly that was not -Thorndyke's view. His investigations were certainly not purposeless; -and, as I walked by his side trying to conceive some purpose in his -actions, I only became more and more mystified as I recalled them one -by one, and perhaps most of all by the cryptic questions that I had just -heard him address to the equally mystified porter. - - - - -Chapter VIII - -The Track Chart - - -As Thorndyke and I arrived at the main gateway of the Temple and he -swung round into the narrow lane, it was suddenly borne in on me that I -had made no arrangements for the night. Events had followed one another -so continuously and each had been so engrossing that I had lost sight of -what I may call my domestic affairs. - -"We seem to be heading for your chambers, Thorndyke," I ventured to -remark. "It is a little late to think of it, but I have not yet settled -where I am to put up to-night." - -"My dear fellow," he replied, "you are going to put up in your own -bedroom which has been waiting in readiness for you ever since you left -it. Polton went up and inspected it as soon as you arrived. I take it -that you will consider my chambers yours until such time as you may join -the benedictine majority and set up a home for yourself." - -"That is very handsome of you," said I. "You didn't mention that the -billet you offered was a resident appointment." - -"Rooms and commons included," said Thorndyke; and when I protested that -I should at least contribute to the costs of living he impatiently -waved the suggestion away. We were still arguing the question when we -reached our chambers--as I will now call them--and a diversion was -occasioned by my taking the lamp from my pocket and placing it on the -table. - -"Ah," my colleague remarked, "that is a little reminder. We will put it -on the mantelpiece for Polton to collect and you shall give me a full -account of your further adventures in the wilds of Kennington. That was -a very odd affair. I have often wondered how it ended." - -He drew our two arm-chairs up to the fire, put on some more coal, placed -the tobacco jar on the table exactly equidistant from the two chairs, -and settled himself with the air of a man who is anticipating an -agreeable entertainment. - -I filled my pipe, and, taking up the thread of the story where I had -broken off on the last occasion, began to outline my later experiences. -But he brought me up short. - -"Don't be sketchy, Jervis. To be sketchy is to be vague. Detail, my -child, detail is the soul of induction. Let us have all the facts. We -can sort them out afterwards." - -I began afresh in a vein of the extremest circumstantiality. With -deliberate malice I loaded a prolix narrative with every triviality that -a fairly retentive memory could rake out of the half-forgotten past. I -cudgelled my brains for irrelevant incidents. I described with the -minutest accuracy things that had not the faintest significance. I drew -a vivid picture of the carriage inside and out; I painted a lifelike -portrait of the horse, even going into particulars of the harness--which -I was surprised to find that I had noticed. I described the furniture of -the dining-room and the cobwebs that had hung from the ceiling; the -auction-ticket on the chest of drawers, the rickety table and the -melancholy chairs. I gave the number per minute of the patient's -respirations and the exact quantity of coffee consumed on each occasion, -with an exhaustive description of the cup from which it was taken; and I -left no personal details unconsidered, from the patient's finger-nails -to the roseate pimples on Mr. Weiss's nose. - -But my tactics of studied prolixity were a complete failure. The attempt -to fatigue Thorndyke's brain with superabundant detail was like trying -to surfeit a pelican with whitebait. He consumed it all with calm -enjoyment and asked for more; and when, at last, I did really begin to -think that I had bored him a little, he staggered me by reading over his -notes and starting a brisk cross-examination to elicit fresh facts! And -the most surprising thing of all was that when I had finished I seemed -to know a great deal more about the case than I had ever known before. - -"It was a very remarkable affair," he observed, when the -cross-examination was over--leaving me somewhat in the condition of a -cider-apple that has just been removed from a hydraulic press--"a very -suspicious affair with a highly unsatisfactory end. I am not sure that I -entirely agree with your police officer. Nor do I fancy that some of my -acquaintances at Scotland Yard would have agreed with him." - -"Do you think I ought to have taken any further measures?" I asked -uneasily. - -"No; I don't see how you could. You did all that was possible under the -circumstances. You gave information, which is all that a private -individual can do, especially if he is an overworked general -practitioner. But still, an actual crime is the affair of every good -citizen. I think we ought to take some action." - -"You think there really was a crime, then?" - -"What else can one think? What do you think about it yourself?" - -"I don't like to think about it at all. The recollection of that -corpse-like figure in that gloomy bedroom has haunted me ever since I -left the house. What do you suppose has happened?" - -Thorndyke did not answer for a few seconds. At length he said gravely: - -"I am afraid, Jervis, that the answer to that question can be given in -one word." - -"Murder?" I asked with a slight shudder. - -He nodded, and we were both silent for a while. - -"The probability," he resumed after a pause, "that Mr. Graves is alive -at this moment seems to me infinitesimal. There was evidently a -conspiracy to murder him, and the deliberate, persistent manner in which -that object was being pursued points to a very strong and definite -motive. Then the tactics adopted point to considerable forethought and -judgment. They are not the tactics of a fool or an ignoramus. We may -criticize the closed carriage as a tactical mistake, calculated to -arouse suspicion, but we have to weigh it against its alternative." - -"What is that?" - -"Well, consider the circumstances. Suppose Weiss had called you in in -the ordinary way. You would still have detected the use of poison. But -now you could have located your man and made inquiries about him in the -neighbourhood. You would probably have given the police a hint and they -would almost certainly have taken action, as they would have had the -means of identifying the parties. The result would have been fatal to -Weiss. The closed carriage invited suspicion, but it was a great -safeguard. Weiss's method's were not so unsound after all. He is a -cautious man, but cunning and very persistent. And he could be bold on -occasion. The use of the blinded carriage was a decidedly audacious -proceeding. I should put him down as a gambler of a very discreet, -courageous and resourceful type." - -"Which all leads to the probability that he has pursued his scheme and -brought it to a successful issue." - -"I am afraid it does. But--have you got your notes of the -compass-bearings?" - -"The book is in my overcoat pocket with the board. I will fetch them." - -I went into the office, where our coats hung, and brought back the -notebook with the little board to which it was still attached by the -rubber band. Thorndyke took them from me, and, opening the book, ran -his eye quickly down one page after another. Suddenly he glanced at the -clock. - -"It is a little late to begin," said he, "but these notes look rather -alluring. I am inclined to plot them out at once. I fancy, from their -appearance, that they will enable us to locate the house without much -difficulty. But don't let me keep you up if you are tired. I can work -them out by myself." - -"You won't do anything of the kind," I exclaimed. "I am as keen on -plotting them as you are, and, besides, I want to see how it is done. It -seems to be a rather useful accomplishment." - -"It is," said Thorndyke. "In our work, the ability to make a rough but -reliable sketch survey is often of great value. Have you ever looked -over these notes?" - -"No. I put the book away when I came in and have never looked at it -since." - -"It is a quaint document. You seem to be rich in railway bridges in -those parts, and the route was certainly none of the most direct, as you -noticed at the time. However, we will plot it out and then we shall see -exactly what it looks like and whither it leads us." - -He retired to the laboratory and presently returned with a T-square, a -military protractor, a pair of dividers and a large drawing-board on -which was pinned a sheet of cartridge paper. - -"Now," said he, seating himself at the table with the board before him, -"as to the method. You started from a known position and you arrived at -a place the position of which is at present unknown. We shall fix the -position of that spot by applying two factors, the distance that you -travelled and the direction in which you were moving. The direction is -given by the compass; and, as the horse seems to have kept up a -remarkably even pace, we can take time as representing distance. You -seem to have been travelling at about eight miles an hour, that is, -roughly, a seventh of a mile in one minute. So if, on our chart, we take -one inch as representing one minute, we shall be working with a scale of -about seven inches to the mile." - -"That doesn't sound very exact as to distance," I objected. - -"It isn't. But that doesn't matter much. We have certain landmarks, such -as these railway arches that you have noted, by which the actual -distance can be settled after the route is plotted. You had better read -out the entries, and, opposite each, write a number for reference, so -that we need not confuse the chart by writing details on it. I shall -start near the middle of the board, as neither you nor I seem to have -the slightest notion what your general direction was." - -I laid the open notebook before me and read out the first entry: - -"'Eight fifty-eight. West by South. Start from home. Horse thirteen -hands.'" - -"You turned round at once, I understand," said Thorndyke, "so we draw no -line in that direction. The next is--?" - -"'Eight fifty-eight minutes, thirty seconds, East by North'; and the -next is 'Eight fifty-nine, North-east.'" - -"Then you travelled east by north about a fifteenth of a mile and we -shall put down half an inch on the chart. Then you turned north-east. -How long did you go on?" - -"Exactly a minute. The next entry is 'Nine. West north-west.'" - -"Then you travelled about the seventh of a mile in a north-easterly -direction and we draw a line an inch long at an angle of forty-five -degrees to the right of the north and south line. From the end of that -we carry a line at an angle of fifty-six and a quarter degrees to the -left of the north and south line, and so on. The method is perfectly -simple, you see." - -"Perfectly; I quite understand it now." - -I went back to my chair and continued to read out the entries from the -notebook while Thorndyke laid off the lines of direction with the -protractor, taking out the distances with the dividers from a scale of -equal parts on the back of the instrument. As the work proceeded, I -noticed, from time to time, a smile of quiet amusement spread over my -colleague's keen, attentive face, and at each new reference to a railway -bridge he chuckled softly. - -"What, again!" he laughed, as I recorded the passage of the fifth or -sixth bridge. "It's like a game of croquet. Go on. What is the next?" - -I went on reading out the notes until I came to the final one: - -"'Nine twenty-four. South-east. In covered way. Stop. Wooden gates -closed.'" - -Thorndyke ruled off the last line, remarking: "Then your covered way is -on the south side of a street which bears north-east. So we complete our -chart. Just look at your route, Jervis." - -He held up the board with a quizzical smile and I stared in astonishment -at the chart. The single line, which represented the route of the -carriage, zigzagged in the most amazing manner, turning, re-turning and -crossing itself repeatedly, evidently passing more than once down the -same thoroughfares and terminating at a comparatively short distance -from its commencement. - -"Why!" I exclaimed, the "rascal must have lived quite near to -Stillbury's house!" - -Thorndyke measured with the dividers the distance between the starting -and arriving points of the route and took it off from the scale. - -"Five-eighths of a mile, roughly," he said. "You could have walked it in -less than ten minutes. And now let us get out the ordnance map and see -if we can give to each of those marvellously erratic lines 'a local -habitation and a name.'" - -He spread the map out on the table and placed our chart by its side. - -"I think," said he, "you started from Lower Kennington Lane?" - -"Yes, from this point," I replied, indicating the spot with a pencil. - -"Then," said Thorndyke, "if we swing the chart round twenty degrees to -correct the deviation of the compass, we can compare it with the -ordnance map." - -He set off with the protractor an angle of twenty degrees from the -north and south line and turned the chart round to that extent. After -closely scrutinizing the map and the chart and comparing the one with -the other, he said: - -"By mere inspection it seems fairly easy to identify the thoroughfares -that correspond to the lines of the chart. Take the part that is near -your destination. At nine twenty-one you passed under a bridge, going -westward. That would seem to be Glasshouse Street. Then you turned -south, apparently along the Albert Embankment, where you heard the tug's -whistle. Then you heard a passenger train start on your left; that would -be Vauxhall Station. Next you turned round due east and passed under a -large railway bridge, which suggests the bridge that carries the Station -over Upper Kennington Lane. If that is so, your house should be on the -south side of Upper Kennington Lane, some three hundred yards from the -bridge. But we may as well test our inferences by one or two -measurements." - -"How can you do that if you don't know the exact scale of the chart?" - -"I will show you," said Thorndyke. "We shall establish the true scale -and that will form part of the proof." - -He rapidly constructed on the upper blank part of the paper, a -proportional diagram consisting of two intersecting lines with a single -cross-line. - -"This long line," he explained, "is the distance from Stillbury's house -to the Vauxhall railway bridge as it appears on the chart; the shorter -cross-line is the same distance taken from the ordnance map. If our -inference is correct and the chart is reasonably accurate, all the other -distances will show a similar proportion. Let us try some of them. Take -the distance from Vauxhall bridge to the Glasshouse Street bridge." - -[Illustration: The Track Chart, showing the route followed by Weiss's -carriage. - -A.--Starting-point in Lower Kennington Lane. - -B.--Position of Mr. Weiss's house. The dotted lines connecting the -bridges indicate probable railway lines.] - -He made the two measurements carefully, and, as the point of the -dividers came down almost precisely in the correct place on the diagram, -he looked up at me. - -"Considering the roughness of the method by which the chart was made, I -think that is pretty conclusive, though, if you look at the various -arches that you passed under and see how nearly they appear to follow -the position of the South-Western Railway line, you hardly need further -proof. But I will take a few more proportional measurements for the -satisfaction of proving the case by scientific methods before we proceed -to verify our conclusions by a visit to the spot." - -He took off one or two more distances, and on comparing them with the -proportional distances on the ordnance map, found them in every case as -nearly correct as could be expected. - -"Yes," said Thorndyke, laying down the dividers, "I think we have -narrowed down the locality of Mr. Weiss's house to a few yards in a -known street. We shall get further help from your note of nine -twenty-three thirty, which records a patch of newly laid macadam -extending up to the house." - -"That new macadam will be pretty well smoothed down by now," I objected. - -"Not so very completely," answered Thorndyke. "It is only a little over -a month ago, and there has been very little wet weather since. It may be -smooth, but it will be easily distinguishable from the old." - -"And do I understand that you propose to go and explore the -neighbourhood?" - -"Undoubtedly I do. That is to say, I intend to convert the locality of -this house into a definite address; which, I think, will now be -perfectly easy, unless we should have the bad luck to find more than one -covered way. Even then, the difficulty would be trifling." - -"And when you have ascertained where Mr. Weiss lives? What then?" - -"That will depend on circumstances. I think we shall probably call at -Scotland Yard and have a little talk with our friend Mr. Superintendent -Miller; unless, for any reason, it seems better to look into the case -ourselves." - -"When is this voyage of exploration to take place?" - -Thorndyke considered this question, and, taking out his pocket-book, -glanced through his engagements. - -"It seems to me," he said, "that to-morrow is a fairly free day. We -could take the morning without neglecting other business. I suggest that -we start immediately after breakfast. How will that suit my learned -friend?" - -"My time is yours," I replied; "and if you choose to waste it on matters -that don't concern you, that's your affair." - -"Then we will consider the arrangement to stand for to-morrow morning, -or rather, for this morning, as I see that it is past twelve." - -With this Thorndyke gathered up the chart and instruments and we -separated for the night. - - - - -Chapter IX - -The House of Mystery - - -Half-past nine on the following morning found us spinning along the -Albert Embankment in a hansom to the pleasant tinkle of the horse's -bell. Thorndyke appeared to be in high spirits, though the full -enjoyment of the matutinal pipe precluded fluent conversation. As a -precaution, he had put my notebook in his pocket before starting, and -once or twice he took it out and looked over its pages; but he made no -reference to the object of our quest, and the few remarks that he -uttered would have indicated that his thoughts were occupied with other -matters. - -Arrived at Vauxhall Station, we alighted and forthwith made our way to -the bridge that spans Upper Kennington Lane near its junction with -Harleyford Road. - -"Here is our starting point," said Thorndyke. "From this place to the -house is about three hundred yards--say four hundred and twenty -paces--and at about two hundred paces we ought to reach our patch of new -road-metal. Now, are you ready? If we keep step we shall average our -stride." - -We started together at a good pace, stepping out with military -regularity and counting aloud as we went. As we told out the hundred and -ninety-fourth pace I observed Thorndyke nod towards the roadway a little -ahead, and, looking at it attentively as we approached, it was easy to -see by the regularity of surface and lighter colour, that it had -recently been re-metalled. - -Having counted out the four hundred and twenty paces, we halted, and -Thorndyke turned to me with a smile of triumph. - -"Not a bad estimate, Jervis," said he. "That will be your house if I am -not much mistaken. There is no other mews or private roadway in sight." - -He pointed to a narrow turning some dozen yards ahead, apparently the -entrance to a mews or yard and closed by a pair of massive wooden gates. - -"Yes," I answered, "there can be no doubt that this is the place; but, -by Jove!" I added, as we drew nearer, "the nest is empty! Do you see?" - -I pointed to a bill that was stuck on the gate, bearing, as I could see -at this distance, the inscription "To Let." - -"Here is a new and startling, if not altogether unexpected, -development," said Thorndyke, as we stood gazing at the bill; which set -forth that "these premises, including stabling and workshops," were "to -be let on lease or otherwise," and referred inquiries to Messrs. Ryebody -Brothers, house-agents and valuers, Upper Kennington Lane. "The question -is, should we make a few inquiries of the agent, or should we get the -keys and have a look at the inside of the house? I am inclined to do -both, and the latter first, if Messrs. Ryebody Brothers will trust us -with the keys." - -We proceeded up the lane to the address given, and, entering the -office, Thorndyke made his request--somewhat to the surprise of the -clerk; for Thorndyke was not quite the kind of person whom one naturally -associates with stabling and workshops. However, there was no -difficulty, but as the clerk sorted out the keys from a bunch hanging -from a hook, he remarked: - -"I expect you will find the place in a rather dirty and neglected -condition. The house has not been cleaned yet; it is just as it was left -when the brokers took away the furniture." - -"Was the last tenant sold up, then?" Thorndyke asked. - -"Oh, no. He had to leave rather unexpectedly to take up some business in -Germany." - -"I hope he paid his rent," said Thorndyke. - -"Oh, yes. Trust us for that. But I should say that Mr. Weiss--that was -his name--was a man of some means. He seemed to have plenty of money, -though he always paid in notes. I don't fancy he had a banking account -in this country. He hadn't been here more than about six or seven months -and I imagine he didn't know many people in England, as he paid us a -cash deposit in lieu of references when he first came." - -"I think you said his name was Weiss. It wouldn't be H. Weiss by any -chance?" - -"I believe it was. But I can soon tell you." He opened a drawer and -consulted what looked like a book of receipt forms. "Yes; H Weiss. Do -you know him, sir?" - -"I knew a Mr. H. Weiss some years ago. He came from Bremen, I -remember." - -"This Mr. Weiss has gone back to Hamburg," the clerk observed. - -"Ah," said Thorndyke, "then it would seem not to be the same. My -acquaintance was a fair man with a beard and a decidedly red nose and he -wore spectacles." - -"That's the man. You've described him exactly," said the clerk, who was -apparently rather easily satisfied in the matter of description. - -"Dear me," said Thorndyke; "what a small world it is. Do you happen to -have a note of his address in Hamburg?" - -"I haven't," the clerk replied. "You see we've done with him, having got -the rent, though the house is not actually surrendered yet. Mr Weiss's -housekeeper still has the front-door key. She doesn't start for Hamburg -for a week or so, and meanwhile she keeps the key so that she can call -every day and see if there are any letters." - -"Indeed," said Thorndyke. "I wonder if he still has the same -housekeeper." - -"This lady is a German," replied the clerk, "with a regular jaw-twisting -name. Sounded like Shallybang." - -"Schallibaum. That is the lady. A fair woman with hardly any eyebrows -and a pronounced cast in the left eye." - -"Now that's very curious, sir," said the clerk. "It's the same name, and -this is a fair woman with remarkably thin eyebrows, I remember, now that -you mention it. But it can't be the same person. I have only seen her a -few times and then only just for a minute or so; but I'm quite certain -she had no cast in her eye. So, you see, sir, she can't be the same -person. You can dye your hair or you can wear a wig or you can paint -your face; but a squint is a squint. There's no faking a swivel eye." - -Thorndyke laughed softly. "I suppose not; unless, perhaps, some one -might invent an adjustable glass eye. Are these the keys?" - -"Yes, sir. The large one belongs to the wicket in the front gate. The -other is the latch-key belonging to the side door. Mrs. Shallybang has -the key of the front door." - -"Thank you," said Thorndyke. He took the keys, to which a wooden label -was attached, and we made our way back towards the house of mystery, -discussing the clerk's statements as we went. - -"A very communicable young gentleman, that," Thorndyke remarked. "He -seemed quite pleased to relieve the monotony of office work with a -little conversation. And I am sure I was very delighted to indulge him." - -"He hadn't much to tell, all the same," said I. - -Thorndyke looked at me in surprise. "I don't know what you would have, -Jervis, unless you expect casual strangers to present you with a -ready-made body of evidence, fully classified, with all the inferences -and implications stated. It seemed to me that he was a highly -instructive young man." - -"What did you learn from him?" I asked. - -"Oh, come, Jervis," he protested; "is that a fair question, under our -present arrangement? However, I will mention a few points. We learn that -about six or seven months ago, Mr. H. Weiss dropped from the clouds into -Kennington Lane and that he has now ascended from Kennington Lane into -the clouds. That is a useful piece of information. Then we learn that -Mrs. Schallibaum has remained in England; which might be of little -importance if it were not for a very interesting corollary that it -suggests." - -"What is that?" - -"I must leave you to consider the facts at your leisure; but you will -have noticed the ostensible reason for her remaining behind. She is -engaged in puttying up the one gaping joint in their armour. One of them -has been indiscreet enough to give this address to some -correspondent--probably a foreign correspondent. Now, as they obviously -wish to leave no tracks, they cannot give their new address to the Post -Office to have their letters forwarded, and, on the other hand, a letter -left in the box might establish such a connection as would enable them -to be traced. Moreover, the letter might be of a kind that they would -not wish to fall into the wrong hands. They would not have given this -address excepting under some peculiar circumstances." - -"No, I should think not, if they took this house for the express purpose -of committing a crime in it." - -"Exactly. And then there is one other fact that you may have gathered -from our young friend's remarks." - -"What is that?" - -"That a controllable squint is a very valuable asset to a person who -wishes to avoid identification." - -"Yes, I did note that. The fellow seemed to think that it was absolutely -conclusive." - -"And so would most people; especially in the case of a squint of that -kind. We can all squint towards our noses, but no normal person can turn -his eyes away from one another. My impression is that the presence or -absence, as the case might be, of a divergent squint would be accepted -as absolute disproof of identity. But here we are." - -He inserted the key into the wicket of the large gate, and, when we had -stepped through into the covered way, he locked it from the inside. - -"Why have you locked us in?" I asked, seeing that the wicket had a -latch. - -"Because," he replied, "if we now hear any one on the premises we shall -know who it is. Only one person besides ourselves has a key." - -His reply startled me somewhat. I stopped and looked at him. - -"That is a quaint situation, Thorndyke. I hadn't thought of it. Why she -may actually come to the house while we are here; in fact, she may be in -the house at this moment." - -"I hope not," said he. "We don't particularly want Mr. Weiss to be put -on his guard, for I take it, he is a pretty wide-awake gentleman under -any circumstances. If she does come, we had better keep out of sight. I -think we will look over the house first. That is of the most interest to -us. If the lady does happen to come while we are here, she may stay to -show us over the place and keep an eye on us. So we will leave the -stables to the last." - -We walked down the entry to the side door at which I had been admitted -by Mrs. Schallibaum on the occasion of my previous visits. Thorndyke -inserted the latch-key, and, as soon as we were inside, shut the door -and walked quickly through into the hall, whither I followed him. He -made straight for the front door, where, having slipped up the catch of -the lock, he began very attentively to examine the letter-box. It was a -somewhat massive wooden box, fitted with a lock of good quality and -furnished with a wire grille through which one could inspect the -interior. - -"We are in luck, Jervis," Thorndyke remarked. "Our visit has been most -happily timed. There is a letter in the box." - -"Well," I said, "we can't get it out; and if we could, it would be -hardly justifiable." - -"I don't know," he replied, "that I am prepared to assent off-hand to -either of those propositions; but I would rather not tamper with another -person's letter, even if that person should happen to be a murderer. -Perhaps we can get the information we want from the outside of the -envelope." - -He produced from his pocket a little electric lamp fitted with a -bull's-eye, and, pressing the button, threw a beam of light in through -the grille. The letter was lying on the bottom of the box face upwards, -so that the address could easily be read. - -"Herrn Dr. H. Weiss," Thorndyke read aloud. "German stamp, postmark -apparently Darmstadt. You notice that the 'Herrn Dr.' is printed and the -rest written. What do you make of that?" - -"I don't quite know. Do you think he is really a medical man?" - -"Perhaps we had better finish our investigation, in case we are -disturbed, and discuss the bearings of the facts afterwards. The name of -the sender may be on the flap of the envelope. If it is not, I shall -pick the lock and take out the letter. Have you got a probe about you?" - -"Yes; by force of habit I am still carrying my pocket case." - -I took the little case from my pocket and extracting from it a jointed -probe of thickish silver wire, screwed the two halves together and -handed the completed instrument to Thorndyke; who passed the slender rod -through the grille and adroitly turned the letter over. - -"Ha!" he exclaimed with deep satisfaction, as the light fell on the -reverse of the envelope, "we are saved from the necessity of theft--or -rather, unauthorized borrowing--'Johann Schnitzler, Darmstadt.' That is -all that we actually want. The German police can do the rest if -necessary." - -He handed me back my probe, pocketed his lamp, released the catch of the -lock on the door, and turned away along the dark, musty-smelling hall. - -"Do you happen to know the name of Johann Schnitzler?" he asked. - -I replied that I had no recollection of ever having heard the name -before. - -"Neither have I," said he; "but I think we may form a pretty shrewd -guess as to his avocation. As you saw, the words 'Herrn Dr.' were -printed on the envelope, leaving the rest of the address to be written -by hand. The plain inference is that he is a person who habitually -addresses letters to medical men, and as the style of the envelope and -the lettering--which is printed, not embossed--is commercial, we may -assume that he is engaged in some sort of trade. Now, what is a likely -trade?" - -"He might be an instrument maker or a drug manufacturer; more probably -the latter, as there is an extensive drug and chemical industry in -Germany, and as Mr. Weiss seemed to have more use for drugs than -instruments." - -"Yes, I think you are right; but we will look him up when we get home. -And now we had better take a glance at the bedroom; that is, if you can -remember which room it was." - -"It was on the first floor," said I, "and the door by which I entered -was just at the head of the stairs." - -We ascended the two flights, and, as we reached the landing, I halted. - -"This was the door," I said, and was about to turn the handle when -Thorndyke caught me by the arm. - -"One moment, Jervis," said he. "What do you make of this?" - -He pointed to a spot near the bottom of the door where, on close -inspection, four good-sized screw-holes were distinguishable. They had -been neatly stopped with putty and covered with knotting, and were so -nearly the colour of the grained and varnished woodwork as to be hardly -visible. - -"Evidently," I answered, "there has been a bolt there, though it seems a -queer place to fix one." - -"Not at all," replied Thorndyke. "If you look up you will see that there -was another at the top of the door, and, as the lock is in the middle, -they must have been highly effective. But there are one or two other -points that strike one. First, you will notice that the bolts have been -fixed on quite recently, for the paint that they covered is of the same -grimy tint as that on the rest of the door. Next, they have been taken -off, which, seeing that they could hardly have been worth the trouble of -removal, seems to suggest that the person who fixed them considered that -their presence might appear remarkable, while the screw-holes, which -have been so skilfully and carefully stopped, would be less conspicuous. - -"Then, they are on the outside of the door--an unusual situation for -bedroom bolts--and were of considerable size. They were long and thick." - -"I can see, by the position of the screw-holes, that they were long; but -how do you arrive at their thickness?" - -"By the size of the counter-holes in the jamb of the door. These holes -have been very carefully filled with wooden plugs covered with knotting; -but you can make out their diameter, which is that of the bolts, and -which is decidedly out of proportion for an ordinary bedroom door. Let -me show you a light." - -He flashed his lamp into the dark corner, and I was able to see -distinctly the portentously large holes into which the bolts had fitted, -and also to note the remarkable neatness with which they had been -plugged. - -"There was a second door, I remember," said I. "Let us see if that was -guarded in a similar manner." - -We strode through the empty room, awakening dismal echoes as we trod the -bare boards, and flung open the other door. At top and bottom, similar -groups of screw-holes showed that this also had been made secure, and -that these bolts had been of the same very substantial character as the -others. - -Thorndyke turned away from the door with a slight frown. - -"If we had any doubts," said he, "as to what has been going on in this -house, these traces of massive fastenings would be almost enough to -settle them." - -"They might have been there before Weiss came," I suggested. "He only -came about seven months ago and there is no date on the screw-holes." - -"That is quite true. But when, with their recent fixture, you couple the -facts that they have been removed, that very careful measures have been -taken to obliterate the traces of their presence, and that they would -have been indispensable for the commission of the crime that we are -almost certain was being committed here, it looks like an excess of -caution to seek other explanations." - -"But," I objected, "if the man, Graves, was really imprisoned, could not -he have smashed the window and called for help?" - -"The window looks out on the yard, as you see; but I expect it was -secured too." - -He drew the massive, old-fashioned shutters out of their recess and -closed them. - -"Yes, here we are." He pointed to four groups of screw-holes at the -corners of the shutters, and, once more producing his lamp, narrowly -examined the insides of the recesses into which the shutters folded. - -"The nature of the fastening is quite evident," said he. "An iron bar -passed right across at the top and bottom and was secured by a staple -and padlock. You can see the mark the bar made in the recess when the -shutters were folded. When these bars were fixed and padlocked and the -bolts were shot, this room was as secure, for a prisoner unprovided with -tools, as a cell in Newgate." - -We looked at one another for awhile without speaking; and I fancy that -if Mr. H. Weiss could have seen our faces he might have thought it -desirable to seek some retreat even more remote than Hamburg. - -"It was a diabolical affair, Jervis," Thorndyke said at length, in an -ominously quiet and even gentle tone. "A sordid, callous, cold-blooded -crime of a type that is to me utterly unforgivable and incapable of -extenuation. Of course, it may have failed. Mr. Graves may even now be -alive. I shall make it my very especial business to ascertain whether he -is or not. And if he is not, I shall take it to myself as a sacred duty -to lay my hand on the man who has compassed his death." - -I looked at Thorndyke with something akin to awe. In the quiet -unemotional tone of his voice, in his unruffled manner and the stony -calm of his face, there was something much more impressive, more -fateful, than there could have been in the fiercest threats or the most -passionate denunciations. I felt that in those softly spoken words he -had pronounced the doom of the fugitive villain. - -He turned away from the window and glanced round the empty room. It -seemed that our discovery of the fastenings had exhausted the -information that it had to offer. - -"It is a thousand pities," I remarked, "that we were unable to look -round before they moved out the furniture. We might have found some clue -to the scoundrel's identity." - -"Yes," replied Thorndyke; "there isn't much information to be gathered -here, I am afraid. I see they have swept up the small litter from the -floor and poked it under the grate. We will turn that over, as there -seems to be nothing else, and then look at the other rooms." - -He raked out the little heap of rubbish with his stick and spread it out -on the hearth. It certainly looked unpromising enough, being just such a -rubbish heap as may be swept up in any untidy room during a move. But -Thorndyke went through it systematically, examining each item -attentively, even to the local tradesmen's bills and empty paper bags, -before laying them aside. Another rake of his stick scattered the bulky -masses of crumpled paper and brought into view an object which he picked -up with some eagerness. It was a portion of a pair of spectacles, which -had apparently been trodden on, for the side-bar was twisted and bent -and the glass was shattered into fragments. - -"This ought to give us a hint," said he. "It will probably have belonged -either to Weiss or Graves, as Mrs. Schallibaum apparently did not wear -glasses. Let us see if we can find the remainder." - -We both groped carefully with our sticks amongst the rubbish, spreading -it out on the hearth and removing the numerous pieces of crumpled paper. -Our search was rewarded by the discovery of the second eye-piece of the -spectacles, of which the glass was badly cracked but less shattered than -the other. I also picked up two tiny sticks at which Thorndyke looked -with deep interest before laying them on the mantelshelf. - -"We will consider them presently," said he. "Let us finish with the -spectacles first. You see that the left eye-glass is a concave -cylindrical lens of some sort. We can make out that much from the -fragments that remain, and we can measure the curvature when we get them -home, although that will be easier if we can collect some more fragments -and stick them together. The right eye is plain glass; that is quite -evident. Then these will have belonged to your patient, Jervis. You said -that the tremulous iris was in the right eye, I think?" - -"Yes," I replied. "These will be his spectacles, without doubt." - -"They are peculiar frames," he continued. "If they were made in this -country, we might be able to discover the maker. But we must collect as -many fragments of glass as we can." - -Once more we searched amongst the rubbish and succeeded, eventually, in -recovering some seven or eight small fragments of the broken -spectacle-glasses, which Thorndyke laid on the mantelshelf beside the -little sticks. - -"By the way, Thorndyke," I said, taking up the latter to examine them -afresh, "what are these things? Can you make anything of them?" - -He looked at them thoughtfully for a few moments and then replied: - -"I don't think I will tell you what they are. You should find that out -for yourself, and it will be well worth your while to do so. They are -rather suggestive objects under the circumstances. But notice their -peculiarities carefully. Both are portions of some smooth, stout reed. -There is a long, thin stick--about six inches long--and a thicker piece -only three inches in length. The longer piece has a little scrap of red -paper stuck on at the end; apparently a portion of a label of some kind -with an ornamental border. The other end of the stick has been broken -off. The shorter, stouter stick has had its central cavity artificially -enlarged so that it fits over the other to form a cap or sheath. Make a -careful note of those facts and try to think what they probably mean; -what would be the most likely use for an object of this kind. When you -have ascertained that, you will have learned something new about this -case. And now, to resume our investigations. Here is a very suggestive -thing." He picked up a small, wide-mouthed bottle and, holding it up for -my inspection, continued: "Observe the fly sticking to the inside, and -the name on the label, 'Fox, Russell Street, Covent Garden.'" - -"I don't know Mr. Fox." - -"Then I will inform you that he is a dealer in the materials for -'make-up,' theatrical or otherwise, and will leave you to consider the -bearing of this bottle on our present investigation. There doesn't seem -to be anything else of interest in this El Dorado excepting that screw, -which you notice is about the size of those with which the bolts were -fastened on the doors. I don't think it is worth while to unstop any of -the holes to try it; we should learn nothing fresh." - -He rose, and, having kicked the discarded rubbish back under the grate, -gathered up his gleanings from the mantelpiece, carefully bestowing the -spectacles and the fragments of glass in the tin box that he appeared -always to carry in his pocket, and wrapping the larger objects in his -handkerchief. - -"A poor collection," was his comment, as he returned the box and -handkerchief to his pocket, "and yet not so poor as I had feared. -Perhaps, if we question them closely enough, these unconsidered trifles -may be made to tell us something worth learning after all. Shall we go -into the other room?" - -We passed out on to the landing and into the front room, where, guided -by experience, we made straight for the fire-place. But the little heap -of rubbish there contained nothing that even Thorndyke's inquisitive eye -could view with interest. We wandered disconsolately round the room, -peering into the empty cupboards and scanning the floor and the corners -by the skirting, without discovering a single object or relic of the -late occupants. In the course of my perambulations I halted by the -window and was looking down into the street when Thorndyke called to me -sharply: - -"Come away from the window, Jervis! Have you forgotten that Mrs. -Schallibaum may be in the neighbourhood at this moment?" - -As a matter of fact I had entirely forgotten the matter, nor did it now -strike me as anything but the remotest of possibilities. I replied to -that effect. - -"I don't agree with you," Thorndyke rejoined. "We have heard that she -comes here to look for letters. Probably she comes every day, or even -oftener. There is a good deal at stake, remember, and they cannot feel -quite as secure as they would wish. Weiss must have seen what view you -took of the case and must have had some uneasy moments thinking of what -you might do. In fact, we may take it that the fear of you drove them -out of the neighbourhood, and that they are mighty anxious to get that -letter and cut the last link that binds them to this house." - -"I suppose that is so," I agreed; "and if the lady should happen to pass -this way and should see me at the window and recognize me, she would -certainly smell a rat." - -"A rat!" exclaimed Thorndyke. "She would smell a whole pack of foxes, -and Mr. H. Weiss would be more on his guard than ever. Let us have a -look at the other rooms; there is nothing here." - -We went up to the next floor and found traces of recent occupation in -one room only. The garrets had evidently been unused, and the kitchen -and ground-floor rooms offered nothing that appeared to Thorndyke worth -noting. Then we went out by the side door and down the covered way into -the yard at the back. The workshops were fastened with rusty padlocks -that looked as if they had not been disturbed for months. The stables -were empty and had been tentatively cleaned out, the coach-house was -vacant, and presented no traces of recent use excepting a half-bald -spoke-brush. We returned up the covered way and I was about to close the -side door, which Thorndyke had left ajar, when he stopped me. - -"We'll have another look at the hall before we go," said he; and, -walking softly before me, he made his way to the front door, where, -producing his lamp, he threw a beam of light into the letter-box. - -"Any more letters?" I asked. - -"Any more!" he repeated. "Look for yourself." - -I stooped and peered through the grille into the lighted interior; and -then I uttered an exclamation. - -The box was empty. - -Thorndyke regarded me with a grim smile. "We have been caught on the -hop, Jervis, I suspect," said he. - -"It is queer," I replied. "I didn't hear any sound of the opening or -closing of the door; did you?" - -"No; I didn't hear any sound; which makes me suspect that she did. She -would have heard our voices and she is probably keeping a sharp look-out -at this very moment. I wonder if she saw you at the window. But whether -she did or not, we must go very warily. Neither of us must return to the -Temple direct, and we had better separate when we have returned the keys -and I will watch you out of sight and see if anyone is following you. -What are you going to do?" - -"If you don't want me, I shall run over to Kensington and drop in to -lunch at the Hornbys'. I said I would call as soon as I had an hour or -so free." - -"Very well. Do so; and keep a look-out in case you are followed. I have -to go down to Guildford this afternoon. Under the circumstances, I shall -not go back home, but send Polton a telegram and take a train at -Vauxhall and change at some small station where I can watch the -platform. Be as careful as you can. Remember that what you have to -avoid is being followed to any place where you are known, and, above -all, revealing your connection with number Five A, King's Bench Walk." - -Having thus considered our immediate movements, we emerged together from -the wicket, and locking it behind us, walked quickly to the -house-agents', where an opportune office-boy received the keys without -remark. As we came out of the office, I halted irresolutely and we both -looked up and down the lane. - -"There is no suspicious looking person in sight at present," Thorndyke -said, and then asked: "Which way do you think of going?" - -"It seems to me," I replied, "that my best plan would be to take a cab -or an omnibus so as to get out of the neighbourhood as quickly as -possible. If I go through Ravensden Street into Kennington Park Road, I -can pick up an omnibus that will take me to the Mansion House, where I -can change for Kensington. I shall go on the top so that I can keep a -look-out for any other omnibus or cab that may be following." - -"Yes," said Thorndyke, "that seems a good plan. I will walk with you and -see that you get a fair start." - -We walked briskly along the lane and through Ravensden Street to the -Kennington Park Road. An omnibus was approaching from the south at a -steady jog-trot and we halted at the corner to wait for it. Several -people passed us in different directions, but none seemed to take any -particular notice of us, though we observed them rather narrowly, -especially the women. Then the omnibus crawled up. I sprang on the -foot-board and ascended to the roof, where I seated myself and surveyed -the prospect to the rear. No one else got on the omnibus--which had not -stopped--and no cab or other passenger vehicle was in sight. I continued -to watch Thorndyke as he stood sentinel at the corner, and noted that no -one appeared to be making any effort to overtake the omnibus. Presently -my colleague waved his hand to me and turned back towards Vauxhall, and -I, having satisfied myself once more that no pursuing cab or hurrying -foot-passenger was in sight, decided that our precautions had been -unnecessary and settled myself in a rather more comfortable position. - - - - -Chapter X - -The Hunter Hunted - - -The omnibus of those days was a leisurely vehicle. Its ordinary pace was -a rather sluggish trot, and in a thickly populated thoroughfare its -speed was further reduced by frequent stoppages. Bearing these facts in -mind, I gave an occasional backward glance as we jogged northward, -though my attention soon began to wander from the rather remote -possibility of pursuit to the incidents of our late exploration. - -It had not been difficult to see that Thorndyke was very well pleased -with the results of our search, but excepting the letter--which -undoubtedly opened up a channel for further inquiry and possible -identification--I could not perceive that any of the traces that we had -found justified his satisfaction. There were the spectacles, for -instance. They were almost certainly the pair worn by Mr. Graves. But -what then? It was exceedingly improbable that we should be able to -discover the maker of them, and if we were, it was still more improbable -that he would be able to give us any information that would help us. -Spectacle-makers are not usually on confidential terms with their -customers. - -As to the other objects, I could make nothing of them. The little sticks -of reed evidently had some use that was known to Thorndyke and -furnished, by inference, some kind of information about Weiss, Graves, -or Mrs. Schallibaum. But I had never seen anything like them before and -they conveyed nothing whatever to me. Then the bottle that had seemed so -significant to Thorndyke was to me quite uninforming. It did, indeed, -suggest that some member of the household might be connected with the -stage, but it gave no hint as to which one. Certainly that person was -not Mr. Weiss, whose appearance was as remote from that of an actor as -could well be imagined. At any rate, the bottle and its label gave me no -more useful hint than it might be worth while to call on Mr. Fox and -make inquiries; and something told me very emphatically that this was -not what it had conveyed to Thorndyke. - -These reflections occupied me until the omnibus, having rumbled over -London Bridge and up King William Street, joined the converging streams -of traffic at the Mansion House. Here I got down and changed to an -omnibus bound for Kensington; on which I travelled westward pleasantly -enough, looking down into the teeming streets and whiling away the time -by meditating upon the very agreeable afternoon that I promised myself, -and considering how far my new arrangement with Thorndyke would justify -me in entering into certain domestic engagements of a highly interesting -kind. - -What might have happened under other circumstances it is impossible to -tell and useless to speculate; the fact is that my journey ended in a -disappointment. I arrived, all agog, at the familiar house in Endsley -Gardens only to be told by a sympathetic housemaid that the family was -out; that Mrs. Hornby had gone into the country and would not be home -until night, and--which mattered a good deal more to me--that her niece, -Miss Juliet Gibson, had accompanied her. - -Now a man who drops into lunch without announcing his intention or -previously ascertaining those of his friends has no right to quarrel -with fate if he finds an empty house. Thus philosophically I reflected -as I turned away from the house in profound discontent, demanding of the -universe in general why Mrs. Hornby need have perversely chosen my first -free day to go gadding into the country, and above all, why she must -needs spirit away the fair Juliet. This was the crowning misfortune (for -I could have endured the absence of the elder lady with commendable -fortitude), and since I could not immediately return to the Temple it -left me a mere waif and stray for the time being. - -Instinct--of the kind that manifests itself especially about one -o'clock in the afternoon--impelled me in the direction of Brompton Road, -and finally landed me at a table in a large restaurant apparently -adjusted to the needs of ladies who had come from a distance to engage -in the feminine sport of shopping. Here, while waiting for my lunch, I -sat idly scanning the morning paper and wondering what I should do with -the rest of the day; and presently it chanced that my eye caught the -announcement of a matinee at the theatre in Sloane Square. It was quite -a long time since I had been at a theatre, and, as the play--light -comedy--seemed likely to satisfy my not very critical taste, I decided -to devote the afternoon to reviving my acquaintance with the drama. -Accordingly as soon as my lunch was finished, I walked down the Brompton -Road, stepped on to an omnibus, and was duly deposited at the door of -the theatre. A couple of minutes later I found myself occupying an -excellent seat in the second row of the pit, oblivious alike of my -recent disappointment and of Thorndyke's words of warning. - -I am not an enthusiastic play-goer. To dramatic performances I am -disposed to assign nothing further than the modest function of -furnishing entertainment. I do not go to a theatre to be instructed or -to have my moral outlook elevated. But, by way of compensation, I am not -difficult to please. To a simple play, adjusted to my primitive taste, I -can bring a certain bucolic appreciation that enables me to extract from -the performance the maximum of enjoyment; and when, on this occasion, -the final curtain fell and the audience rose, I rescued my hat from its -insecure resting-place and turned to go with the feeling that I had -spent a highly agreeable afternoon. - -Emerging from the theatre, borne on the outgoing stream, I presently -found myself opposite the door of a tea-shop. Instinct--the five o'clock -instinct this time--guided me in; for we are creatures of habit, -especially of the tea habit. The unoccupied table to which I drifted was -in a shady corner not very far from the pay-desk; and here I had been -seated less than a minute when a lady passed me on her way to the -farther table. The glimpse that I caught of her as she approached--it -was but a glimpse, since she passed behind me--showed that she was -dressed in black, that she wore a beaded veil and hat, and in addition -to the glass of milk and the bun that she carried, she was encumbered by -an umbrella and a small basket, apparently containing some kind of -needlework. I must confess that I gave her very little attention at the -time, being occupied in anxious speculation as to how long it would be -before the fact of my presence would impinge on the consciousness of the -waitress. - -The exact time by the clock on the wall was three minutes and a quarter, -at the expiration of which an anaemic young woman sauntered up to the -table and bestowed on me a glance of sullen interrogation, as if mutely -demanding what the devil I wanted. I humbly requested that I might be -provided with a pot of tea; whereupon she turned on her heel (which was -a good deal worn down on the offside) and reported my conduct to a lady -behind a marble-topped counter. - -It seemed that the counter lady took a lenient view of the case, for in -less than four minutes the waitress returned and gloomily deposited on -the table before me a tea-pot, a milk-jug, a cup and saucer, a jug of -hot water, and a small pool of milk. Then she once more departed in -dudgeon. - -I had just given the tea in the pot a preliminary stir and was about to -pour out the first cup when I felt some one bump lightly against my -chair and heard something rattle on the floor. I turned quickly and -perceived the lady, whom I had seen enter, stooping just behind my -chair. It seemed that having finished her frugal meal she was on her way -out when she had dropped the little basket that I had noticed hanging -from her wrist; which basket had promptly disgorged its entire contents -on the floor. - -Now every one must have noticed the demon of agility that seems to enter -into an inanimate object when it is dropped, and the apparently -intelligent malice with which it discovers, and rolls into, the most -inaccessible places. Here was a case in point. This particular basket -had contained materials for Oriental bead-work; and no sooner had it -reached the floor than each item of its contents appeared to become -possessed of a separate and particular devil impelling it to travel at -headlong speed to some remote and unapproachable corner as distant as -possible from its fellows. - -As the only man--and almost the only person--near, the duty of -salvage-agent manifestly devolved upon me; and down I went, accordingly, -on my hands and knees, regardless of a nearly new pair of trousers, to -grope under tables, chairs and settles in reach of the scattered -treasure. A ball of the thick thread or twine I recovered from a dark -and dirty corner after a brief interview with the sharp corner of a -settle, and a multitude of the large beads with which this infernal -industry is carried on I gathered from all parts of the compass, coming -forth at length (quadrupedally) with a double handful of the -treasure-trove and a very lively appreciation of the resistant qualities -of a cast-iron table-stand when applied to the human cranium. - -The owner of the lost and found property was greatly distressed by the -accident and the trouble it had caused me; in fact she was quite -needlessly agitated about it. The hand which held the basket into which -I poured the rescued trash trembled visibly, and the brief glance that I -bestowed on her as she murmured her thanks and apologies--with a very -slight foreign accent--showed me that she was excessively pale. That -much I could see plainly in spite of the rather dim light in this part -of the shop and the beaded veil that covered her face; and I could also -see that she was a rather remarkable looking woman, with a great mass of -harsh, black hair and very broad black eyebrows that nearly met above -her nose and contrasted strikingly with the dead white of her skin. But, -of course, I did not look at her intently. Having returned her property -and received her acknowledgments, I resumed my seat and left her to go -on her way. - -I had once more grasped the handle of the tea-pot when I made a rather -curious discovery. At the bottom of the tea-cup lay a single lump of -sugar. To the majority of persons it would have meant nothing. They -would have assumed that they had dropped it in and forgotten it and -would have proceeded to pour out the tea. But it happened that, at this -time, I did not take sugar in my tea; whence it followed that the lump -had not been put in by me. Assuming, therefore, that it had been -carelessly dropped in by the waitress, I turned it out on the table, -filled the cup, added the milk, and took a tentative draught to test the -temperature. - -The cup was yet at my lips when I chanced to look into the mirror that -faced my table. Of course it reflected the part of the shop that was -behind me, including the cashier's desk; at which the owner of the -basket now stood paying for her refreshment. Between her and me was a -gas chandelier which cast its light on my back but full on her face; and -her veil notwithstanding, I could see that she was looking at me -steadily; was, in fact, watching me intently and with a very curious -expression--an expression of expectancy mingled with alarm. But this was -not all. As I returned her intent look--which I could do unobserved, -since my face, reflected in the mirror, was in deep shadow--I suddenly -perceived that that steady gaze engaged her right eye only; the other -eye was looking sharply towards her left shoulder. In short, she had a -divergent squint of the left eye. - -I put down my cup with a thrill of amazement and a sudden surging up of -suspicion and alarm. An instant's reflection reminded me that when she -had spoken to me a few moments before, both her eyes had looked into -mine without the slightest trace of a squint. My thoughts flew back to -the lump of sugar, to the unguarded milk-jug and the draught of tea that -I had already swallowed; and, hardly knowing what I intended, I started -to my feet and turned to confront her. But as I rose, she snatched up -her change and darted from the shop. Through the glass door, I saw her -spring on to the foot-board of a passing hansom and give the driver some -direction. I saw the man whip up his horse, and, by the time I reached -the door, the cab was moving off swiftly towards Sloane Street. - -I stood irresolute. I had not paid and could not run out of the shop -without making a fuss, and my hat and stick were still on the rail -opposite my seat. The woman ought to be followed, but I had no fancy for -the task. If the tea that I had swallowed was innocuous, no harm was -done and I was rid of my pursuer. So far as I was concerned, the -incident was closed. I went back to my seat, and picking up the lump of -sugar which still lay on the table where I had dropped it, put it -carefully in my pocket. But my appetite for tea was satisfied for the -present. Moreover it was hardly advisable to stay in the shop lest some -fresh spy should come to see how I fared. Accordingly I obtained my -check, handed it in at the cashier's desk and took my departure. - -All this time, it will be observed, I had been taking it for granted -that the lady in black had followed me from Kensington to this shop; -that, in fact, she was none other than Mrs. Schallibaum. And, indeed, -the circumstances had rendered the conclusion inevitable. In the very -instant when I had perceived the displacement of the left eye, complete -recognition had come upon me. When I had stood facing the woman, the -brief glance at her face had conveyed to me something dimly reminiscent -of which I had been but half conscious and had instantly forgotten. But -the sight of that characteristic squint had at once revived and -explained it. That the woman was Mrs. Schallibaum I now felt no doubt -whatever. - -Nevertheless, the whole affair was profoundly mysterious. As to the -change in the woman's appearance, there was little in that. The coarse, -black hair might be her own, dyed, or it might be a wig. The eyebrows -were made-up; it was a simple enough proceeding and made still more -simple by the beaded veil. But how did she come to be there at all? How -did she happen to be made-up in this fashion at this particular time? -And, above all, how came she to be provided with a lump of what I had -little doubt was poisoned sugar? - -I turned over the events of the day, and the more I considered them the -less comprehensible they appeared. No one had followed the omnibus -either on foot or in a vehicle, as far as I could see; and I had kept a -careful look-out, not only at starting but for some considerable time -after. Yet, all the time, Mrs. Schallibaum must have been following. -But how? If she had known that I was intending to travel by the omnibus -she might have gone to meet it and entered before I did. But she could -not have known: and moreover she did not meet the omnibus, for we -watched its approach from some considerable distance. I considered -whether she might not have been concealed in the house and overheard me -mention my destination to Thorndyke. But this failed to explain the -mystery, since I had mentioned no address beyond "Kensington." I had, -indeed, mentioned the name of Mrs. Hornby, but the supposition that my -friends might be known by name to Mrs. Schallibaum, or even that she -might have looked the name up in the directory, presented a probability -too remote to be worth entertaining. - -But, if I reached no satisfactory conclusion, my cogitations had one -useful effect; they occupied my mind to the exclusion of that -unfortunate draught of tea. Not that I had been seriously uneasy after -the first shock. The quantity that I had swallowed was not large--the -tea being hotter than I cared for--and I remembered that, when I had -thrown out the lump of sugar, I had turned the cup upside down on the -table; so there could have been nothing solid left in it. And the lump -of sugar was in itself reassuring, for it certainly would not have been -used in conjunction with any less conspicuous but more incriminating -form of poison. That lump of sugar was now in my pocket, reserved for -careful examination at my leisure; and I reflected with a faint grin -that it would be a little disconcerting if it should turn out to -contain nothing but sugar after all. - -On leaving the tea-shop, I walked up Sloane Street with the intention of -doing what I ought to have done earlier in the day. I was going to make -perfectly sure that no spy was dogging my footsteps. But for my -ridiculous confidence I could have done so quite easily before going to -Endsley Gardens; and now, made wiser by a startling experience, I -proceeded with systematic care. It was still broad daylight--for the -lamps in the tea-shop had been rendered necessary only by the faulty -construction of the premises and the dullness of the afternoon--and in -an open space I could see far enough for complete safety. Arriving at -the top of Sloane Street, I crossed Knightsbridge, and, entering Hyde -Park, struck out towards the Serpentine. Passing along the eastern -shore, I entered one of the long paths that lead towards the Marble Arch -and strode along it at such a pace as would make it necessary for any -pursuer to hurry in order to keep me in sight. Half-way across the great -stretch of turf, I halted for a few moments and noted the few people who -were coming in my direction. Then I turned sharply to the left and -headed straight for the Victoria Gate, but again, half-way, I turned off -among a clump of trees, and, standing behind the trunk of one of them, -took a fresh survey of the people who were moving along the paths. All -were at a considerable distance and none appeared to be coming my way. - -I now moved cautiously from one tree to another and passed through the -wooded region to the south, crossed the Serpentine bridge at a rapid -walk and hurrying along the south shore left the Park by Apsley House. -From hence I walked at the same rapid pace along Piccadilly, insinuating -myself among the crowd with the skill born of long acquaintance with the -London streets, crossed amidst the seething traffic at the Circus, -darted up Windmill Street and began to zigzag amongst the narrow streets -and courts of Soho. Crossing the Seven Dials and Drury Lane I passed -through the multitudinous back-streets and alleys that then filled the -area south of Lincoln's Inn, came out by Newcastle Street, Holywell -Street and Half-Moon Alley into the Strand, which I crossed immediately, -ultimately entering the Temple by Devereux Court. - -Even then I did not relax my precautions. From one court to another I -passed quickly, loitering in those dark entries and unexpected passages -that are known to so few but the regular Templars, and coming out into -the open only at the last where the wide passage of King's Bench Walk -admits of no evasion. Half-way up the stairs, I stood for some time in -the shadow, watching the approaches from the staircase window; and when, -at length, I felt satisfied that I had taken every precaution that was -possible, I inserted my key and let myself into our chambers. - -Thorndyke had already arrived, and, as I entered, he rose to greet me -with an expression of evident relief. - -"I am glad to see you, Jervis," he said. "I have been rather anxious -about you." - -"Why?" I asked. - -"For several reasons. One is that you are the sole danger that threatens -these people--as far as they know. Another is that we made a most -ridiculous mistake. We overlooked a fact that ought to have struck us -instantly. But how have you fared?" - -"Better than I deserved. That good lady stuck to me like a burr--at -least I believe she did." - -"I have no doubt she did. We have been caught napping finely, Jervis." - -"How?" - -"We'll go into that presently. Let us hear about your adventures first." - -I gave him a full account of my movements from the time when we parted -to that of my arrival home, omitting no incident that I was able to -remember and, as far as I could, reconstituting my exceedingly devious -homeward route. - -"Your retreat was masterly," he remarked with a broad smile. "I should -think that it would have utterly defeated any pursuer; and the only pity -is that it was probably wasted on the desert air. Your pursuer had by -that time become a fugitive. But you were wise to take these -precautions, for, of course, Weiss might have followed you." - -"But I thought he was in Hamburg?" - -"Did you? You are a very confiding young gentleman, for a budding -medical jurist. Of course we don't know that he is not; but the fact -that he has given Hamburg as his present whereabouts establishes a -strong presumption that he is somewhere else. I only hope that he has -not located you, and, from what you tell me of your later methods, I -fancy that you would have shaken him off even if he had started to -follow you from the tea-shop." - -"I hope so too. But how did that woman manage to stick to me in that -way? What was the mistake we made?" - -Thorndyke laughed grimly. "It was a perfectly asinine mistake, Jervis. -You started up Kennington Park Road on a leisurely, jog-trotting -omnibus, and neither you nor I remembered what there is underneath -Kennington Park Road." - -"Underneath!" I exclaimed, completely puzzled for the moment. Then, -suddenly realizing what he meant, "Of course!" I exclaimed. "Idiot that -I am! You mean the electric railway?" - -"Yes. That explains everything. Mrs. Schallibaum must have watched us -from some shop and quietly followed us up the lane. There were a good -many women about and several were walking in our direction. There was -nothing to distinguish her from the others unless you had recognized -her, which you would hardly have been able to do if she had worn a veil -and kept at a fair distance. At least I think not." - -"No," I agreed, "I certainly should not. I had only seen her in a -half-dark room. In outdoor clothes and with a veil, I should never have -been able to identify her without very close inspection. Besides there -was the disguise or make-up." - -"Not at that time. She would hardly come disguised to her own house, -for it might have led to her being challenged and asked who she was. I -think we may take it that there was no actual disguise, although she -would probably wear a shady hat and a veil; which would have prevented -either of us from picking her out from the other women in the street." - -"And what do you think happened next?" - -"I think that she simply walked past us--probably on the other side of -the road--as we stood waiting for the omnibus, and turned up Kennington -Park Road. She probably guessed that we were waiting for the omnibus and -walked up the road in the direction in which it was going. Presently the -omnibus would pass her, and there were you in full view on top keeping a -vigilant look-out in the wrong direction. Then she would quicken her -pace a little and in a minute or two would arrive at the Kennington -Station of the South London Railway. In a minute or two more she would -be in one of the electric trains whirling along under the street on -which your omnibus was crawling. She would get out at the Borough -Station, or she might take a more risky chance and go on to the -Monument; but in any case she would wait for your omnibus, hail it and -get inside. I suppose you took up some passengers on the way?" - -"Oh dear, yes. We were stopping every two or three minutes to take up or -set down passengers; and most of them were women." - -"Very well; then we may take it that when you arrived at the Mansion -House, Mrs. Schallibaum was one of your inside passengers. It was a -rather quaint situation, I think." - -"Yes, confound her! What a couple of noodles she must have thought us!" - -"No doubt. And that is the one consoling feature in the case. She will -have taken us for a pair of absolute greenhorns. But to continue. Of -course she travelled in your omnibus to Kensington--you ought to have -gone inside on both occasions, so that you could see every one who -entered and examine the inside passengers; she will have followed you to -Endsley Gardens and probably noted the house you went to. Thence she -will have followed you to the restaurant and may even have lunched -there." - -"It is quite possible," said I. "There were two rooms and they were -filled principally with women." - -"Then she will have followed you to Sloane Street, and, as you persisted -in riding outside, she could easily take an inside place in your -omnibus. As to the theatre, she must have taken it as a veritable gift -of the gods; an arrangement made by you for her special convenience." - -"Why?" - -"My dear fellow! consider. She had only to follow you in and see you -safely into your seat and there you were, left till called for. She -could then go home, make up for her part; draw out a plan of action, -with the help, perhaps, of Mr. Weiss, provide herself with the necessary -means and appliances and, at the appointed time, call and collect you." - -"That is assuming a good deal," I objected. "It is assuming, for -instance, that she lives within a moderate distance of Sloane Square. -Otherwise it would have been impossible." - -"Exactly. That is why I assume it. You don't suppose that she goes about -habitually with lumps of prepared sugar in her pocket. And if not, then -she must have got that lump from somewhere. Then the beads suggest a -carefully prepared plan, and, as I said just now, she can hardly have -been made-up when she met us in Kennington Lane. From all of which it -seems likely that her present abode is not very far from Sloane Square." - -"At any rate," said I, "it was taking a considerable risk. I might have -left the theatre before she came back." - -"Yes," Thorndyke agreed. "But it is like a woman to take chances. A man -would probably have stuck to you when once he had got you off your -guard. But she was ready to take chances. She chanced the railway, and -it came off; she chanced your remaining in the theatre, and that came -off too. She calculated on the probability of your getting tea when you -came out, and she hit it off again. And then she took one chance too -many; she assumed that you probably took sugar in your tea, and she was -wrong." - -"We are taking it for granted that the sugar was prepared," I remarked. - -"Yes. Our explanation is entirely hypothetical and may be entirely -wrong. But it all hangs together, and if we find any poisonous matter in -the sugar, it will be reasonable to assume that we are right. The sugar -is the Experimentum Crucis. If you will hand it over to me, we will go -up to the laboratory and make a preliminary test or two." - -I took the lump of sugar from my pocket and gave it to him, and he -carried it to the gas-burner, by the light of which he examined it with -a lens. - -"I don't see any foreign crystals on the surface," said he; "but we had -better make a solution and go to work systematically. If it contains any -poison we may assume that it will be some alkaloid, though I will test -for arsenic too. But a man of Weiss's type would almost certainly use an -alkaloid, on account of its smaller bulk and more ready solubility. You -ought not to have carried this loose in your pocket. For legal purposes -that would seriously interfere with its value as evidence. Bodies that -are suspected of containing poison should be carefully isolated and -preserved from contact with anything that might lead to doubt in the -analysis. It doesn't matter much to us, as this analysis is only for our -own information and we can satisfy ourselves as to the state of your -pocket. But bear the rule in mind another time." - -We now ascended to the laboratory, where Thorndyke proceeded at once to -dissolve the lump of sugar in a measured quantity of distilled water by -the aid of gentle heat. - -"Before we add any acid," said he, "or introduce any fresh matter, we -will adopt the simple preliminary measure of tasting the solution. The -sugar is a disturbing factor, but some of the alkaloids and most -mineral poisons excepting arsenic have a very characteristic taste." - -He dipped a glass rod in the warm solution and applied it gingerly to -his tongue. - -"Ha!" he exclaimed, as he carefully wiped his mouth with his -handkerchief, "simple methods are often very valuable. There isn't much -doubt as to what is in that sugar. Let me recommend my learned brother -to try the flavour. But be careful. A little of this will go a long -way." - -He took a fresh rod from the rack, and, dipping it in the solution, -handed it to me. I cautiously applied it to the tip of my tongue and was -immediately aware of a peculiar tingling sensation accompanied by a -feeling of numbness. - -"Well," said Thorndyke; "what is it?" - -"Aconite," I replied without hesitation. - -"Yes," he agreed; "aconite it is, or more probably aconitine. And that, -I think, gives us all the information we want. We need not trouble now -to make a complete analysis, though I shall have a quantitative -examination made later. You note the intensity of the taste and you see -what the strength of the solution is. Evidently that lump of sugar -contained a very large dose of the poison. If the sugar had been -dissolved in your tea, the quantity that you drank would have contained -enough aconitine to lay you out within a few minutes; which would -account for Mrs. Schallibaum's anxiety to get clear of the premises. She -saw you drink from the cup, but I imagine she had not seen you turn the -sugar out." - -"No, I should say not, to judge by her expression. She looked -terrified. She is not as hardened as her rascally companion." - -"Which is fortunate for you, Jervis. If she had not been in such a -fluster, she would have waited until you had poured out your tea, which -was what she probably meant to do, or have dropped the sugar into the -milk-jug. In either case you would have got a poisonous dose before you -noticed anything amiss." - -"They are a pretty pair, Thorndyke," I exclaimed. "A human life seems to -be no more to them than the life of a fly or a beetle." - -"No; that is so. They are typical poisoners of the worst kind; of the -intelligent, cautious, resourceful kind. They are a standing menace to -society. As long as they are at large, human lives are in danger, and it -is our business to see that they do not remain at large a moment longer -than is unavoidable. And that brings us to another point. You had better -keep indoors for the next few days." - -"Oh, nonsense," I protested. "I can take care of myself." - -"I won't dispute that," said Thorndyke, "although I might. But the -matter is of vital importance and we can't be too careful. Yours is the -only evidence that could convict these people. They know that and will -stick at nothing to get rid of you--for by this time they will almost -certainly have ascertained that the tea-shop plan has failed. Now your -life is of some value to you and to another person whom I could mention; -but apart from that, you are the indispensable instrument for ridding -society of these dangerous vermin. Moreover, if you were seen abroad and -connected with these chambers, they would get the information that their -case was really being investigated in a businesslike manner. If Weiss -has not already left the country he would do so immediately, and if he -has, Mrs. Schallibaum would join him at once, and we might never be able -to lay hands on them. You must stay indoors, out of sight, and you had -better write to Miss Gibson and ask her to warn the servants to give no -information about you to anyone." - -"And how long," I asked, "am I to be held on parole?" - -"Not long, I think. We have a very promising start. If I have any luck, -I shall be able to collect all the evidence I want in about a week. But -there is an element of chance in some of it which prevents me from -giving a date. And it is just possible that I may have started on a -false track. But that I shall be able to tell you better in a day or -two." - -"And I suppose," I said gloomily, "I shall be out of the hunt -altogether?" - -"Not at all," he replied. "You have got the Blackmore case to attend to. -I shall hand you over all the documents and get you to make an orderly -digest of the evidence. You will then have all the facts and can work -out the case for yourself. Also I shall ask you to help Polton in some -little operations which are designed to throw light into dark places and -which you will find both entertaining and instructive." - -"Supposing Mrs. Hornby should propose to call and take tea with us in -the gardens?" I suggested. - -"And bring Miss Gibson with her?" Thorndyke added dryly. "No, Jervis, it -would never do. You must make that quite clear to her. It is more -probable than not that Mrs. Schallibaum made a careful note of the house -in Endsley Gardens, and as that would be the one place actually known to -her, she and Weiss--if he is in England--would almost certainly keep a -watch on it. If they should succeed in connecting that house with these -chambers, a few inquiries would show them the exact state of the case. -No; we must keep them in the dark if we possibly can. We have shown too -much of our hand already. It is hard on you, but it cannot be helped." - -"Oh, don't think I am complaining," I exclaimed. "If it is a matter of -business, I am as keen as you are. I thought at first that you were -merely considering the safety of my vile body. When shall I start on my -job?" - -"To-morrow morning. I shall give you my notes on the Blackmore case and -the copies of the will and the depositions, from which you had better -draw up a digest of the evidence with remarks as to the conclusions that -it suggests. Then there are our gleanings from New Inn to be looked over -and considered; and with regard to this case, we have the fragments of a -pair of spectacles which had better be put together into a rather more -intelligible form in case we have to produce them in evidence. That will -keep you occupied for a day or two, together with some work -appertaining to other cases. And now let us dismiss professional topics. -You have not dined and neither have I, but I dare say Polton has made -arrangements for some sort of meal. We will go down and see." - -We descended to the lower floor, where Thorndyke's anticipations were -justified by a neatly laid table to which Polton was giving the -finishing touches. - - - - -Chapter XI - -The Blackmore Case Reviewed - - -One of the conditions of medical practice is the capability of -transferring one's attention at a moment's notice from one set of -circumstances to another equally important but entirely unrelated. At -each visit on his round, the practitioner finds himself concerned with a -particular, self-contained group of phenomena which he must consider at -the moment with the utmost concentration, but which he must instantly -dismiss from his mind as he moves on to the next case. It is a difficult -habit to acquire; for an important, distressing or obscure case is apt -to take possession of the consciousness and hinder the exercise of -attention that succeeding cases demand; but experience shows the faculty -to be indispensable, and the practitioner learns in time to forget -everything but the patient with whose condition he is occupied at the -moment. - -My first morning's work on the Blackmore case showed me that the same -faculty is demanded in legal practice; and it also showed me that I had -yet to acquire it. For, as I looked over the depositions and the copy of -the will, memories of the mysterious house in Kennington Lane -continually intruded into my reflections, and the figure of Mrs. -Schallibaum, white-faced, terrified, expectant, haunted me continually. - -In truth, my interest in the Blackmore case was little more than -academic, whereas in the Kennington case I was one of the parties and -was personally concerned. To me, John Blackmore was but a name, Jeffrey -but a shadowy figure to which I could assign no definite personality, -and Stephen himself but a casual stranger. Mr. Graves, on the other -hand, was a real person. I had seen him amidst the tragic circumstances -that had probably heralded his death, and had brought away with me, not -only a lively recollection of him, but a feeling of profound pity and -concern as to his fate. The villain Weiss, too, and the terrible woman -who aided, abetted and, perhaps, even directed him, lived in my memory -as vivid and dreadful realities. Although I had uttered no hint to -Thorndyke, I lamented inwardly that I had not been given some work--if -there was any to do--connected with this case, in which I was so deeply -interested, rather than with the dry, purely legal and utterly -bewildering case of Jeffrey Blackmore's will. - -Nevertheless, I stuck loyally to my task. I read through the depositions -and the will--without getting a single glimmer of fresh light on the -case--and I made a careful digest of all the facts. I compared my -digest with Thorndyke's notes--of which I also made a copy--and found -that, brief as they were, they contained several matters that I had -overlooked. I also drew up a brief account of our visit to New Inn, with -a list of the objects that we had observed or collected. And then I -addressed myself to the second part of my task, the statement of my -conclusions from the facts set forth. - -It was only when I came to make the attempt that I realized how -completely I was at sea. In spite of Thorndyke's recommendation to study -Marchmont's statement as it was summarized in those notes which I had -copied, and of his hint that I should find in that statement something -highly significant, I was borne irresistibly to one conclusion, and one -only--and the wrong one at that, as I suspected: that Jeffrey -Blackmore's will was a perfectly regular, sound and valid document. - -I tried to attack the validity of the will from various directions, and -failed every time. As to its genuineness, that was obviously not in -question. There seemed to me only two conceivable respects in which any -objection could be raised, viz. the competency of Jeffrey to execute a -will and the possibility of undue influence having been brought to bear -on him. - -With reference to the first, there was the undoubted fact that Jeffrey -was addicted to the opium habit, and this might, under some -circumstances, interfere with a testator's competency to make a will. -But had any such circumstances existed in this case? Had the drug habit -produced such mental changes in the deceased as would destroy or weaken -his judgment? There was not a particle of evidence in favour of any such -belief. Up to the very end he had managed his own affairs, and, if his -habits of life had undergone a change, they were still the habits of a -perfectly sane and responsible man. - -The question of undue influence was more difficult. If it applied to any -person in particular, that person could be none other than John -Blackmore. Now it was an undoubted fact that, of all Jeffrey's -acquaintance, his brother John was the only one who knew that he was in -residence at New Inn. Moreover John had visited him there more than -once. It was therefore possible that influence might have been brought -to bear on the deceased. But there was no evidence that it had. The fact -that the deceased man's only brother should be the one person who knew -where he was living was not a remarkable one, and it had been -satisfactorily explained by the necessity of Jeffrey's finding a -reference on applying for the chambers. And against the theory of undue -influence was the fact that the testator had voluntarily brought his -will to the lodge and executed it in the presence of entirely -disinterested witnesses. - -In the end I had to give up the problem in despair, and, abandoning the -documents, turned my attention to the facts elicited by our visit to New -Inn. - -What had we learned from our exploration? It was clear that Thorndyke -had picked up some facts that had appeared to him important. But -important in what respect? The only possible issue that could be raised -was the validity or otherwise of Jeffrey Blackmore's will; and since the -validity of that will was supported by positive evidence of the most -incontestable kind, it seemed that nothing that we had observed could -have any real bearing on the case at all. - -But this, of course, could not be. Thorndyke was no dreamer nor was he -addicted to wild speculation. If the facts observed by us seemed to him -to be relevant to the case, I was prepared to assume that they were -relevant, although I could not see their connection with it. And, on -this assumption, I proceeded to examine them afresh. - -Now, whatever Thorndyke might have observed on his own account, I had -brought away from the dead man's chambers only a single fact; and a very -extraordinary fact it was. The cuneiform inscription was upside down. -That was the sum of the evidence that I had collected; and the question -was, What did it prove? To Thorndyke it conveyed some deep significance. -What could that significance be? - -The inverted position was not a mere temporary accident, as it might -have been if the frame had been stood on a shelf or support. It was hung -on the wall, and the plates screwed on the frame showed that its -position was permanent and that it had never hung in any other. That it -could have been hung up by Jeffrey himself was clearly inconceivable. -But allowing that it had been fixed in its present position by some -workman when the new tenant moved in, the fact remained that there it -had hung, presumably for months, and that Jeffrey Blackmore, with his -expert knowledge of the cuneiform character, had never noticed that it -was upside down; or, if he had noticed it, that he had never taken the -trouble to have it altered. - -What could this mean? If he had noticed the error but had not troubled -to correct it, that would point to a very singular state of mind, an -inertness and indifference remarkable even in an opium-smoker. But -assuming such a state of mind, I could not see that it had any bearing -on the will, excepting that it was rather inconsistent with the tendency -to make fussy and needless alterations which the testator had actually -shown. On the other hand, if he had not noticed the inverted position of -the photograph he must have been nearly blind or quite idiotic; for the -photograph was over two feet long and the characters large enough to be -read easily by a person of ordinary eyesight at a distance of forty or -fifty feet. Now he obviously was not in a state of dementia, whereas his -eyesight was admittedly bad; and it seemed to me that the only -conclusion deducible from the photograph was that it furnished a measure -of the badness of the deceased man's vision--that it proved him to have -been verging on total blindness. - -But there was nothing startling new in this. He had, himself, declared -that he was fast losing his sight. And again, what was the bearing of -his partial blindness on the will? A totally blind man cannot draw up -his will at all. But if he has eyesight sufficient to enable him to -write out and sign a will, mere defective vision will not lead him to -muddle the provisions. Yet something of this kind seemed to be in -Thorndyke's mind, for now I recalled the question that he had put to the -porter: "When you read the will over in Mr. Blackmore's presence, did -you read it aloud?" That question could have but one significance. It -implied a doubt as to whether the testator was fully aware of the exact -nature of the document that he was signing. Yet, if he was able to write -and sign it, surely he was able also to read it through, to say nothing -of the fact that, unless he was demented, he must have remembered what -he had written. - -Thus, once more, my reasoning only led me into a blind alley at the end -of which was the will, regular and valid and fulfilling all the -requirements that the law imposed. Once again I had to confess myself -beaten and in full agreement with Mr. Marchmont that "there was no -case"; that "there was nothing in dispute." Nevertheless, I carefully -fixed in the pocket file that Thorndyke had given me the copy that I had -made of his notes, together with the notes on our visit to New Inn, and -the few and unsatisfactory conclusions at which I had arrived; and this -brought me to the end of my first morning in my new capacity. - -"And how," Thorndyke asked as we sat at lunch, "has my learned friend -progressed? Does he propose that we advise Mr. Marchmont to enter a -caveat?" - -"I've read all the documents and boiled all the evidence down to a stiff -jelly; and I am in a worse fog than ever." - -"There seems to be a slight mixture of metaphors in my learned friend's -remarks. But never mind the fog, Jervis. There is a certain virtue in -fog. It serves, like a picture frame, to surround the essential with a -neutral zone that separates it from the irrelevant." - -"That is a very profound observation, Thorndyke," I remarked ironically. - -"I was just thinking so myself," he rejoined. - -"And if you could contrive to explain what it means--" - -"Oh, but that is unreasonable. When one throws off a subtly philosophic -obiter dictum one looks to the discerning critic to supply the meaning. -By the way, I am going to introduce you to the gentle art of photography -this afternoon. I am getting the loan of all the cheques that were drawn -by Jeffrey Blackmore during his residence at New Inn--there are only -twenty-three of them, all told--and I am going to photograph them." - -"I shouldn't have thought the bank people would have let them go out of -their possession." - -"They are not going to. One of the partners, a Mr. Britton, is bringing -them here himself and will be present while the photographs are being -taken; so they will not go out of his custody. But, all the same, it is -a great concession, and I should not have obtained it but for the fact -that I have done a good deal of work for the bank and that Mr. Britton -is more or less a personal friend." - -"By the way, how comes it that the cheques are at the bank? Why were -they not returned to Jeffrey with the pass-book in the usual way?" - -"I understand from Britton," replied Thorndyke, "that all Jeffrey's -cheques were retained by the bank at his request. When he was travelling -he used to leave his investment securities and other valuable documents -in his bankers' custody, and, as he has never applied to have them -returned, the bankers still have them and are retaining them until the -will is proved, when they will, of course, hand over everything to the -executors." - -"What is the object of photographing these cheques?" I asked. - -"There are several objects. First, since a good photograph is -practically as good as the original, when we have the photographs we -practically have the cheques for reference. Then, since a photograph can -be duplicated indefinitely, it is possible to perform experiments on it -which involve its destruction; which would, of course, be impossible in -the case of original cheques." - -"But the ultimate object, I mean. What are you going to prove?" - -"You are incorrigible, Jervis," he exclaimed. "How should I know what I -am going to prove? This is an investigation. If I knew the result -beforehand, I shouldn't want to perform the experiment." - -He looked at his watch, and, as we rose from the table, he said: - -"If we have finished, we had better go up to the laboratory and see that -the apparatus is ready. Mr. Britton is a busy man, and, as he is doing -us a great service, we mustn't keep him waiting when he comes." - -We ascended to the laboratory, where Polton was already busy inspecting -the massively built copying camera which--with the long, steel guides on -which the easel or copy-holder travelled--took up the whole length of -the room on the side opposite to that occupied by the chemical bench. As -I was to be inducted into the photographic art, I looked at it with more -attention than I had ever done before. - -"We've made some improvements since you were here last, sir," said -Polton, who was delicately lubricating the steel guides. "We've fitted -these steel runners instead of the blackleaded wooden ones that we used -to have. And we've made two scales instead of one. Hallo! That's the -downstairs bell. Shall I go sir?" - -"Perhaps you'd better," said Thorndyke. "It may not be Mr. Britton, and -I don't want to be caught and delayed just now." - -However, it was Mr. Britton; a breezy alert-looking middle-aged man, who -came in escorted by Polton and shook our hands cordially, having been -previously warned of my presence. He carried a small but solid hand-bag, -to which he clung tenaciously up to the very moment when its contents -were required for use. - -"So that is the camera," said he, running an inquisitive eye over the -instrument. "Very fine one, too; I am a bit of a photographer myself. -What is that graduation on the side-bar?" - -"Those are the scales," replied Thorndyke, "that shows the degree of -magnification or reduction. The pointer is fixed to the easel and -travels with it, of course, showing the exact size of the photograph. -When the pointer is opposite 0 the photograph will be identical in size -with the object photographed; when it points to, say, x 6, the -photograph will be six times as long as the object, or magnified -thirty-six times superficially, whereas if the pointer is at / 6, the -photograph will be a sixth of the length of the object, or one -thirty-sixth superficial." - -"Why are there two scales?" Mr. Britton asked. - -"There is a separate scale for each of the two lenses that we -principally use. For great magnification or reduction a lens of -comparatively short focus must be used, but, as a long-focus lens gives -a more perfect image, we use one of very long focus--thirty-six -inches--for copying the same size or for slight magnification or -reduction." - -"Are you going to magnify these cheques?" Mr. Britton asked. - -"Not in the first place," replied Thorndyke. "For convenience and speed -I am going to photograph them half-size, so that six cheques will go on -one whole plate. Afterwards we can enlarge from the negatives as much as -we like. But we should probably enlarge only the signatures in any -case." - -The precious bag was now opened and the twenty-three cheques brought out -and laid on the bench in a consecutive series in the order of their -dates. They were then fixed by tapes--to avoid making pin-holes in -them--in batches of six to small drawing boards, each batch being so -arranged that the signatures were towards the middle. The first board -was clamped to the easel, the latter was slid along its guides until -the pointer stood at / 2 on the long-focus scale and Thorndyke proceeded -to focus the camera with the aid of a little microscope that Polton had -made for the purpose. When Mr. Britton and I had inspected the -exquisitely sharp image on the focusing-screen through the microscope, -Polton introduced the plate and made the first exposure, carrying the -dark-slide off to develop the plate while the next batch of cheques was -being fixed in position. - -In his photographic technique, as in everything else, Polton followed as -closely as he could the methods of his principal and instructor; methods -characterized by that unhurried precision that leads to perfect -accomplishment. When the first negative was brought forth, dripping, -from the dark-room, it was without spot or stain, scratch or pin-hole; -uniform in colour and of exactly the required density. The six cheques -shown on it--ridiculously small in appearance, though only reduced to -half-length--looked as clear and sharp as fine etchings; though, to be -sure, my opportunity for examining them was rather limited, for Polton -was uncommonly careful to keep the wet plate out of reach and so safe -from injury. - -"Well," said Mr. Britton, when, at the end of the seance, he returned -his treasures to the bag, "you have now got twenty-three of our cheques, -to all intents and purposes. I hope you are not going to make any -unlawful use of them--must tell our cashiers to keep a bright look-out; -and"--here he lowered his voice impressively and addressed himself to -me and Polton--"you understand that this is a private matter between Dr. -Thorndyke and me. Of course, as Mr. Blackmore is dead, there is no -reason why his cheques should not be photographed for legal purposes; -but we don't want it talked about; nor, I think, does Dr. Thorndyke." - -"Certainly not," Thorndyke agreed emphatically; "but you need not be -uneasy, Mr. Britton. We are very uncommunicative people in this -establishment." - -As my colleague and I escorted our visitor down the stairs, he returned -to the subject of the cheques. - -"I don't understand what you want them for," he remarked. "There is no -question turning on signatures in the case of Blackmore deceased, is -there?" - -"I should say not," Thorndyke replied rather evasively. - -"I should say very decidedly not," said Mr. Britton, "if I understood -Marchmont aright. And, even if there were, let me tell you, these -signatures that you have got wouldn't help you. I have looked them over -very closely--and I have seen a few signatures in my time, you know. -Marchmont asked me to glance over them as a matter of form, but I don't -believe in matters of form; I examined them very carefully. There is an -appreciable amount of variation; a very appreciable amount. <i>But</i> under -the variation one can trace the personal character (which is what -matters); the subtle, indescribable quality that makes it recognizable -to the expert eye as Jeffrey Blackmore's writing. You understand me. -There is such a quality, which remains when the coarser characteristics -vary; just as a man may grow old, or fat, or bald, or may take to drink, -and become quite changed; and yet, through it all, he preserves a -certain something which makes him recognizable as a member of a -particular family. Well, I find that quality in all those signatures, -and so will you, if you have had enough experience of handwriting. I -thought it best to mention it in case you might be giving yourself -unnecessary trouble." - -"It is very good of you," said Thorndyke, "and I need not say that the -information is of great value, coming from such a highly expert source. -As a matter of fact, your hint will be of great value to me." - -He shook hands with Mr. Britton, and, as the latter disappeared down the -stairs, he turned into the sitting-room and remarked: - -"There is a very weighty and significant observation, Jervis. I advise -you to consider it attentively in all its bearings." - -"You mean the fact that these signatures are undoubtedly genuine?" - -"I meant, rather, the very interesting general truth that is contained -in Britton's statement; that physiognomy is not a mere matter of facial -character. A man carries his personal trademark, not in his face only, -but in his nervous system and muscles--giving rise to characteristic -movements and gait; in his larynx--producing an individual voice; and -even in his mouth, as shown by individual peculiarities of speech and -accent. And the individual nervous system, by means of these -characteristic movements, transfers its peculiarities to inanimate -objects that are the products of such movements; as we see in pictures, -in carving, in musical execution and in handwriting. No one has ever -painted quite like Reynolds or Romney; no one has ever played exactly -like Liszt or Paganini; the pictures or the sounds produced by them, -were, so to speak, an extension of the physiognomy of the artist. And so -with handwriting. A particular specimen is the product of a particular -set of motor centres in an individual brain." - -"These are very interesting considerations, Thorndyke," I remarked; "but -I don't quite see their present application. Do you mean them to bear in -any special way on the Blackmore case?" - -"I think they do bear on it very directly. I thought so while Mr. -Britton was making his very illuminating remarks." - -"I don't see how. In fact I cannot see why you are going into the -question of the signatures at all. The signature on the will is -admittedly genuine, and that seems to me to dispose of the whole -affair." - -"My dear Jervis," said he, "you and Marchmont are allowing yourselves to -be obsessed by a particular fact--a very striking and weighty fact, I -will admit, but still, only an isolated fact. Jeffrey Blackmore executed -his will in a regular manner, complying with all the necessary -formalities and conditions. In the face of that single circumstance you -and Marchmont would 'chuck up the sponge,' as the old pugilists -expressed it. Now that is a great mistake. You should never allow -yourself to be bullied and browbeaten by a single fact." - -"But, my dear Thorndyke!" I protested, "this fact seems to be final. It -covers all possibilities---unless you can suggest any other that would -cancel it." - -"I could suggest a dozen," he replied. "Let us take an instance. -Supposing Jeffrey executed this will for a wager; that he immediately -revoked it and made a fresh will, that he placed the latter in the -custody of some person and that that person has suppressed it." - -"Surely you do not make this suggestion seriously!" I exclaimed. - -"Certainly I do not," he replied with a smile. "I merely give it as an -instance to show that your final and absolute fact is really only -conditional on there being no other fact that cancels it." - -"Do you think he might have made a third will?" - -"It is obviously possible. A man who makes two wills may make three or -more; but I may say that I see no present reason for assuming the -existence of another will. What I want to impress on you is the -necessity of considering all the facts instead of bumping heavily -against the most conspicuous one and forgetting all the rest. By the -way, here is a little problem for you. What was the object of which -these are the parts?" - -He pushed across the table a little cardboard box, having first removed -the lid. In it were a number of very small pieces of broken glass, some -of which had been cemented together by their edges. - -"These, I suppose," said I, looking with considerable curiosity at the -little collection, "are the pieces of glass that we picked up in poor -Blackmore's bedroom?" - -"Yes. You see that Polton has been endeavouring to reconstitute the -object, whatever it was; but he has not been very successful, for the -fragments were too small and irregular and the collection too -incomplete. However, here is a specimen, built up of six small pieces, -which exhibits the general character of the object fairly well." - -He picked out the little irregularly shaped object and handed it to me; -and I could not but admire the neatness with which Polton had joined the -tiny fragments together. - -I took the little "restoration," and, holding it up before my eyes, -moved it to and fro as I looked through it at the window. - -"It was not a lens," I pronounced eventually. - -"No," Thorndyke agreed, "it was not a lens." - -"And so cannot have been a spectacle-glass. But the surface was -curved--one side convex and the other concave--and the little piece that -remains of the original edge seems to have been ground to fit a bezel or -frame. I should say that these are portions of a watch-glass." - -"That is Polton's opinion," said Thorndyke, "and I think you are both -wrong." - -"What do you say to the glass of a miniature or locket?" - -"That is rather more probable, but it is not my view." - -"What do you think it is?" I asked. But Thorndyke was not to be drawn. - -"I am submitting the problem for solution by my learned friend," he -replied with an exasperating smile, and then added: "I don't say that -you and Polton are wrong; only that I don't agree with you. Perhaps you -had better make a note of the properties of this object, and consider it -at your leisure when you are ruminating on the other data referring to -the Blackmore case." - -"My ruminations," I said, "always lead me back to the same point." - -"But you mustn't let them," he replied. "Shuffle your data about. Invent -hypotheses. Never mind if they seem rather wild. Don't put them aside on -that account. Take the first hypothesis that you can invent and test it -thoroughly with your facts. You will probably have to reject it, but you -will be certain to have learned something new. Then try again with a -fresh one. You remember what I told you of my methods when I began this -branch of practice and had plenty of time on my hands?" - -"I am not sure that I do." - -"Well, I used to occupy my leisure in constructing imaginary cases, -mostly criminal, for the purpose of study and for the acquirement of -experience. For instance, I would devise an ingenious fraud and would -plan it in detail, taking every precaution that I could think of against -failure or detection, considering, and elaborately providing for, every -imaginable contingency. For the time being, my entire attention was -concentrated on it, making it as perfect and secure and undetectable as -I could with the knowledge and ingenuity at my command. I behaved -exactly as if I were proposing actually to carry it out, and my life or -liberty depended on its success--excepting that I made full notes of -every detail of the scheme. Then when my plans were as complete as I -could make them, and I could think of no way in which to improve them, I -changed sides and considered the case from the standpoint of detection. -I analysed the case, I picked out its inherent and unavoidable -weaknesses, and, especially, I noted the respects in which a fraudulent -proceeding of a particular kind differed from the <i>bona fide</i> proceeding -that it simulated. The exercise was invaluable to me. I acquired as much -experience from those imaginary cases as I should from real ones, and in -addition, I learned a method which is the one that I practise to this -day." - -"Do you mean that you still invent imaginary cases as mental exercises?" - -"No; I mean that, when I have a problem of any intricacy, I invent a -case which fits the facts and the assumed motives of one of the parties. -Then I work at that case until I find whether it leads to elucidation or -to some fundamental disagreement. In the latter case I reject it and -begin the process over again." - -"Doesn't that method sometimes involve a good deal of wasted time and -energy?" I asked. - -"No; because each time that you fail to establish a given case, you -exclude a particular explanation of the facts and narrow down the field -of inquiry. By repeating the process, you are bound, in the end, to -arrive at an imaginary case which fits all the facts. Then your -imaginary case is the real case and the problem is solved. Let me -recommend you to give the method a trial." - -I promised to do so, though with no very lively expectations as to the -result, and with this, the subject was allowed, for the present, to -drop. - - - - -Chapter XII - -The Portrait - - -The state of mind which Thorndyke had advised me to cultivate was one -that did not come easily. However much I endeavoured to shuffle the -facts of the Blackmore case, there was one which inevitably turned up on -the top of the pack. The circumstances surrounding the execution of -Jeffrey Blackmore's will intruded into all my cogitations on the subject -with hopeless persistency. That scene in the porter's lodge was to me -what King Charles's head was to poor Mr. Dick. In the midst of my -praiseworthy efforts to construct some intelligible scheme of the case, -it would make its appearance and reduce my mind to instant chaos. - -For the next few days, Thorndyke was very much occupied with one or two -civil cases, which kept him in court during the whole of the sitting; -and when he came home, he seemed indisposed to talk on professional -topics. Meanwhile, Polton worked steadily at the photographs of the -signatures, and, with a view to gaining experience, I assisted him and -watched his methods. - -In the present case, the signatures were enlarged from their original -dimensions--rather less than an inch and a half in length--to a length -of four and a half inches; which rendered all the little peculiarities -of the handwriting surprisingly distinct and conspicuous. Each signature -was eventually mounted on a slip of card bearing a number and the date -of the cheque from which it was taken, so that it was possible to place -any two signatures together for comparison. I looked over the whole -series and very carefully compared those which showed any differences, -but without discovering anything more than might have been expected in -view of Mr. Britton's statement. There were some trifling variations, -but they were all very much alike, and no one could doubt, on looking at -them, that they were all written by the same hand. - -As this, however, was apparently not in dispute, it furnished no new -information. Thorndyke's object--for I felt certain that he had -something definite in his mind--must be to test something apart from the -genuineness of the signatures. But what could that something be? I dared -not ask him, for questions of that kind were anathema, so there was -nothing for it but to lie low and see what he would do with the -photographs. - -The whole series was finished on the fourth morning after my adventure -at Sloane Square, and the pack of cards was duly delivered by Polton -when he brought in the breakfast tray. Thorndyke took up the pack -somewhat with the air of a whist player, and, as he ran through them, I -noticed that the number had increased from twenty-three to twenty-four. - -"The additional one," Thorndyke explained, "is the signature to the -first will, which was in Marchmont's possession. I have added it to the -collection as it carries us back to an earlier date. The signature of -the second will presumably resembles those of the cheques drawn about -the same date. But that is not material, or, if it should become so, we -could claim to examine the second will." - -He laid the cards out on the table in the order of their dates and -slowly ran his eye down the series. I watched him closely and ventured -presently to ask: - -"Do you agree with Mr. Britton as to the general identity of character -in the whole set of signatures?" - -"Yes," he replied. "I should certainly have put them down as being all -the signatures of one person. The variations are very slight. The later -signatures are a little stiffer, a little more shaky and indistinct, and -the B's and k's are both appreciably different from those in the earlier -ones. But there is another fact which emerges when the whole series is -seen together, and it is so striking and significant a fact, that I am -astonished at its not having been remarked on by Mr. Britton." - -"Indeed!" said I, stooping to examine the photographs with fresh -interest; "what is that?" - -"It is a very simple fact and very obvious, but yet, as I have said, -very significant. Look carefully at number one, which is the signature -of the first will, dated three years ago, and compare it with number -three, dated the eighteenth of September last year." - -"They look to me identical," said I, after a careful comparison. - -"So they do to me," said Thorndyke. "Neither of them shows the change -that occurred later. But if you look at number two, dated the sixteenth -of September, you will see that it is in the later style. So is number -four, dated the twenty-third of September; but numbers five and six, -both at the beginning of October, are in the earlier style, like the -signature of the will. Thereafter all the signatures are in the new -style; but, if you compare number two, dated the sixteenth of September -with number twenty-four, dated the fourteenth of March of this year--the -day of Jeffrey's death--you see that they exhibit no difference. Both -are in the 'later style,' but the last shows no greater change than the -first. Don't you consider these facts very striking and significant?" - -I reflected a few moments, trying to make out the deep significance to -which Thorndyke was directing my attention--and not succeeding very -triumphantly. - -"You mean," I said, "that the occasional reversions to the earlier form -convey some material suggestion?" - -"Yes; but more than that. What we learn from an inspection of this -series is this: that there was a change in the character of the -signature; a very slight change, but quite recognizable. Now that change -was not gradual or insidious nor was it progressive. It occurred at a -certain definite time. At first there were one or two reversions to the -earlier form, but after number six the new style continued to the end; -and you notice that it continued without any increase in the change and -without any variation. There are no intermediate forms. Some of the -signatures are in the 'old style' and some in the 'new,' but there are -none that are half and half. So that, to repeat: We have here two types -of signature, very much alike, but distinguishable. They alternate, but -do not merge into one another to produce intermediate forms. The change -occurs abruptly, but shows no tendency to increase as time goes on; it -is not a progressive change. What do you make of that, Jervis?" - -"It is very remarkable," I said, poring over the cards to verify -Thorndyke's statements. "I don't quite know what to make of it. If the -circumstances admitted of the idea of forgery, one would suspect the -genuineness of some of the signatures. But they don't--at any rate, in -the case of the later will, to say nothing of Mr. Britton's opinion on -the signatures." - -"Still," said Thorndyke, "there must be some explanation of the change -in the character of the signatures, and that explanation cannot be the -failing eyesight of the writer; for that is a gradually progressive and -continuous condition, whereas the change in the writing is abrupt and -intermittent." - -I considered Thorndyke's remark for a few moments; and then a -light--though not a very brilliant one--seemed to break on me. - -"I think I see what you are driving at," said I. "You mean that the -change in the writing must be associated with some new condition -affecting the writer, and that that condition existed intermittently?" - -Thorndyke nodded approvingly, and I continued: - -"The only intermittent condition that we know of is the effect of opium. -So that we might consider the clearer signatures to have been made when -Jeffrey was in his normal state, and the less distinct ones after a bout -of opium-smoking." - -"That is perfectly sound reasoning," said Thorndyke. "What further -conclusion does it lead to?" - -"It suggests that the opium habit had been only recently acquired, since -the change was noticed only about the time he went to live at New Inn; -and, since the change in the writing is at first intermittent and then -continuous, we may infer that the opium-smoking was at first occasional -and later became a a confirmed habit." - -"Quite a reasonable conclusion and very clearly stated," said Thorndyke. -"I don't say that I entirely agree with you, or that you have exhausted -the information that these signatures offer. But you have started in the -right direction." - -"I may be on the right road," I said gloomily; "but I am stuck fast in -one place and I see no chance of getting any farther." - -"But you have a quantity of data," said Thorndyke. "You have all the -facts that I had to start with, from which I constructed the hypothesis -that I am now busily engaged in verifying. I have a few more data now, -for 'as money makes money' so knowledge begets knowledge, and I put my -original capital out to interest. Shall we tabulate the facts that are -in our joint possession and see what they suggest?" - -I grasped eagerly at the offer, though I had conned over my notes again -and again. - -Thorndyke produced a slip of paper from a drawer, and, uncapping his -fountain-pen, proceeded to write down the leading facts, reading each -aloud as soon as it was written. - -"1. The second will was unnecessary since it contained no new matter, -expressed no new intentions and met no new conditions, and the first -will was quite clear and efficient. - -"2. The evident intention of the testator was to leave the bulk of his -property to Stephen Blackmore. - -"3. The second will did not, under existing circumstances, give effect -to this intention, whereas the first will did. - -"4. The signature of the second will differs slightly from that of the -first, and also from what had hitherto been the testator's ordinary -signature. - -"And now we come to a very curious group of dates, which I will advise -you to consider with great attention. - -"5. Mrs. Wilson made her will at the beginning of September last year, -without acquainting Jeffrey Blackmore, who seems to have been unaware of -the existence of this will. - -"6. His own second will was dated the twelfth of November of last year. - -"7. Mrs. Wilson died of cancer on the twelfth of March this present -year. - -"8. Jeffrey Blackmore was last seen alive on the fourteenth of March. - -"9. His body was discovered on the fifteenth of March. - -"10. The change in the character of his signature began about September -last year and became permanent after the middle of October. - -"You will find that collection of facts repay careful study, Jervis, -especially when considered in relation to the further data: - -"11. That we found in Blackmore's chambers a framed inscription of large -size, hung upside down, together with what appeared to be the remains of -a watch-glass and a box of stearine candles and some other objects." - -He passed the paper to me and I pored over it intently, focusing my -attention on the various items with all the power of my will. But, -struggle as I would, no general conclusion could be made to emerge from -the mass of apparently disconnected facts. - -"Well?" Thorndyke said presently, after watching with grave interest my -unavailing efforts; "what do you make of it?" - -"Nothing!" I exclaimed desperately, slapping the paper down on the -table. "Of course, I can see that there are some queer coincidences. But -how do they bear on the case? I understand that you want to upset this -will; which we know to have been signed without compulsion or even -suggestion in the presence of two respectable men, who have sworn to the -identity of the document. That is your object, I believe?" - -"Certainly it is." - -"Then I am hanged if I see how you are going to do it. Not, I should -say, by offering a group of vague coincidences that would muddle any -brain but your own." - -Thorndyke chuckled softly but pursued the subject no farther. - -"Put that paper in your file with your other notes," he said, "and think -it over at your leisure. And now I want a little help from you. Have you -a good memory for faces?" - -"Fairly good, I think. Why?" - -"Because I have a photograph of a man whom I think you may have met. -Just look at it and tell me if you remember the face." - -He drew a cabinet size photograph from an envelope that had come by the -morning's post and handed it to me. - -"I have certainly seen this face somewhere," said I, taking the portrait -over to the window to examine it more thoroughly, "but I can't, at the -moment, remember where." - -"Try," said Thorndyke. "If you have seen the face before, you should be -able to recall the person." - -I looked intently at the photograph, and the more I looked, the more -familiar did the face appear. Suddenly the identity of the man flashed -into my mind and I exclaimed in astonishment: - -"It can't be that poor creature at Kennington, Mr. Graves?" - -"I think it can," replied Thorndyke, "and I think it is. But could you -swear to the identity in a court of law?" - -"It is my firm conviction that the photograph is that of Mr. Graves. I -would swear to that." - -"No man ought to swear to more," said Thorndyke. "Identification is -always a matter of opinion or belief. The man who will swear -unconditionally to identity from memory only is a man whose evidence -should be discredited. I think your sworn testimony would be -sufficient." - -It is needless to say that the production of this photograph filled me -with amazement and curiosity as to how Thorndyke had obtained it. But, -as he replaced it impassively in its envelope without volunteering any -explanation, I felt that I could not question him directly. -Nevertheless, I ventured to approach the subject in an indirect manner. - -"Did you get any information from those Darmstadt people?" I asked. - -"Schnitzler? Yes. I learned, through the medium of an official -acquaintance, that Dr. H. Weiss was a stranger to them; that they knew -nothing about him excepting that he had ordered from them, and been -supplied with, a hundred grammes of pure hydrochlorate of morphine." - -"All at once?" - -"No. In separate parcels of twenty-five grammes each." - -"Is that all you know about Weiss?" - -"It is all that I actually know; but it is not all that I suspect--on -very substantial grounds. By the way, what did you think of the -coachman?" - -"I don't know that I thought very much about him. Why?" - -"You never suspected that he and Weiss were one and the same person?" - -"No. How could they be? They weren't in the least alike. And one was a -Scotchman and the other a German. But perhaps you know that they were -the same?" - -"I only know what you have told me. But considering that you never saw -them together, that the coachman was never available for messages or -assistance when Weiss was with you; that Weiss always made his -appearance some time after you arrived, and disappeared some time before -you left; it has seemed to me that they might have been the same -person." - -"I should say it was impossible. They were so very different in -appearance. But supposing that they were the same; would the fact be of -any importance?" - -"It would mean that we could save ourselves the trouble of looking for -the coachman. And it would suggest some inferences, which will occur to -you if you think the matter over. But being only a speculative opinion, -at present, it would not be safe to infer very much from it." - -"You have rather taken me by surprise," I remarked. "It seems that you -have been working at this Kennington case, and working pretty actively I -imagine, whereas I supposed that your entire attention was taken up by -the Blackmore affair." - -"It doesn't do," he replied, "to allow one's entire attention to be -taken up by any one case. I have half a dozen others--minor cases, -mostly--to which I am attending at this moment. Did you think I was -proposing to keep you under lock and key indefinitely?" - -"Well, no. But I thought the Kennington case would have to wait its -turn. And I had no idea that you were in possession of enough facts to -enable you to get any farther with it." - -"But you knew all the very striking facts of the case, and you saw the -further evidence that we extracted from the empty house." - -"Do you mean those things that we picked out from the rubbish under the -grate?" - -"Yes. You saw those curious little pieces of reed and the pair of -spectacles. They are lying in the top drawer of that cabinet at this -moment, and I should recommend you to have another look at them. To me -they are most instructive. The pieces of reed offered an extremely -valuable suggestion, and the spectacles enabled me to test that -suggestion and turn it into actual information." - -"Unfortunately," said I, "the pieces of reed convey nothing to me. I -don't know what they are or of what they have formed a part." - -"I think," he replied, "that if you examine them with due consideration, -you will find their use pretty obvious. Have a good look at them and the -spectacles too. Think over all that you know of that mysterious group of -people who lived in that house, and see if you cannot form some coherent -theory of their actions. Think, also, if we have not some information in -our possession by which we might be able to identify some of them, and -infer the identity of the others. You will have a quiet day, as I shall -not be home until the evening; set yourself this task. I assure you that -you have the material for identifying--or rather for testing the -identity of--at least one of those persons. Go over your material -systematically, and let me know in the evening what further -investigations you would propose." - -"Very well," said I. "It shall be done according to your word. I will -addle my brain afresh with the affair of Mr. Weiss and his patient, and -let the Blackmore case rip." - -"There is no need to do that. You have a whole day before you. An hour's -really close consideration of the Kennington case ought to show you what -your next move should be, and then you could devote yourself to the -consideration of Jeffrey Blackmore's will." - -With this final piece of advice, Thorndyke collected the papers for his -day's work, and, having deposited them in his brief bag, took his -departure, leaving me to my meditations. - - - - -Chapter XIII - -The Statement of Samuel Wilkins - - -As soon as I was alone, I commenced my investigations with a rather -desperate hope of eliciting some startling and unsuspected facts. I -opened the drawer and taking from it the two pieces of reed and the -shattered remains of the spectacles, laid them on the table. The repairs -that Thorndyke had contemplated in the case of the spectacles, had not -been made. Apparently they had not been necessary. The battered wreck -that lay before me, just as we had found it, had evidently furnished the -necessary information; for, since Thorndyke was in possession of a -portrait of Mr. Graves, it was clear that he had succeeded in -identifying him so far as to get into communication with some one who -had known him intimately. - -The circumstance should have been encouraging. But somehow it was not. -What was possible to Thorndyke was, theoretically, possible to me--or to -anyone else. But the possibility did not realize itself in practice. -There was the personal equation. Thorndyke's brain was not an ordinary -brain. Facts of which his mind instantly perceived the relation remained -to other people unconnected and without meaning. His powers of -observation and rapid inference were almost incredible, as I had noticed -again and again, and always with undiminished wonder. He seemed to take -in everything at a single glance and in an instant to appreciate the -meaning of everything that he had seen. - -Here was a case in point. I had myself seen all that he had seen, and, -indeed, much more; for I had looked on the very people and witnessed -their actions, whereas he had never set eyes on any of them. I had -examined the little handful of rubbish that he had gathered up so -carefully, and would have flung it back under the grate without a qualm. -Not a glimmer of light had I perceived in the cloud of mystery, nor even -a hint of the direction in which to seek enlightenment. And yet -Thorndyke had, in some incomprehensible manner, contrived to piece -together facts that I had probably not even observed, and that so -completely that he had already, in these few days, narrowed down the -field of inquiry to quite a small area. - -From these reflections I returned to the objects on the table. The -spectacles, as things of which I had some expert knowledge, were not so -profound a mystery to me. A pair of spectacles might easily afford good -evidence for identification; that I perceived clearly enough. Not a -ready-made pair, picked up casually at a shop, but a pair constructed by -a skilled optician to remedy a particular defect of vision and to fit a -particular face. And such were the spectacles before me. The build of -the frames was peculiar; the existence of a cylindrical lens--which I -could easily make out from the remaining fragments--showed that one -glass had been cut to a prescribed shape and almost certainly ground to -a particular formula, and also that the distance between centres must -have been carefully secured. Hence these spectacles had an individual -character. But it was manifestly impossible to inquire of all the -spectacle-makers in Europe--for the glasses were not necessarily made in -England. As confirmation the spectacles might be valuable; as a -starting-point they were of no use at all. - -From the spectacles I turned to the pieces of reed. These were what had -given Thorndyke his start. Would they give me a leading hint too? I -looked at them and wondered what it was that they had told Thorndyke. -The little fragment of the red paper label had a dark-brown or thin -black border ornamented with a fret-pattern, and on it I detected a -couple of tiny points of gold like the dust from leaf-gilding. But I -learned nothing from that. Then the shorter piece of reed was -artificially hollowed to fit on the longer piece. Apparently it formed a -protective sheath or cap. But what did it protect? Presumably a point or -edge of some kind. Could this be a pocket-knife of any sort, such as a -small stencil-knife? No; the material was too fragile for a -knife-handle. It could not be an etching-needle for the same reason; and -it was not a surgical appliance--at least it was not like any surgical -instrument that was known to me. - -I turned it over and over and cudgelled my brains; and then I had a -brilliant idea. Was it a reed pen of which the point had been broken -off? I knew that reed pens were still in use by draughtsmen of -decorative leanings with an affection for the "fat line." Could any of -our friends be draughtsmen? This seemed the most probable solution of -the difficulty, and the more I thought about it the more likely it -seemed. Draughtsmen usually sign their work intelligibly, and even when -they use a device instead of a signature their identity is easily -traceable. Could it be that Mr. Graves, for instance, was an -illustrator, and that Thorndyke had established his identity by looking -through the works of all the well-known thick-line draughtsmen? - -This problem occupied me for the rest of the day. My explanation did not -seem quite to fit Thorndyke's description of his methods; but I could -think of no other. I turned it over during my solitary lunch; I -meditated on it with the aid of several pipes in the afternoon; and -having refreshed my brain with a cup of tea, I went forth to walk in the -Temple gardens--which I was permitted to do without breaking my -parole--to think it out afresh. - -The result was disappointing. I was basing my reasoning on the -assumption that the pieces of reed were parts of a particular appliance, -appertaining to a particular craft; whereas they might be the remains of -something quite different, appertaining to a totally different craft or -to no craft at all. And in no case did they point to any known -individual or indicate any but the vaguest kind of search. After pacing -the pleasant walks for upwards of two hours, I at length turned back -towards our chambers, where I arrived as the lamp-lighter was just -finishing his round. - -My fruitless speculations had left me somewhat irritable. The lighted -windows that I had noticed as I approached had given me the impression -that Thorndyke had returned. I had intended to press him for a little -further information. When, therefore, I let myself into our chambers and -found, instead of my colleague, a total stranger--and only a back view -at that--I was disappointed and annoyed. - -The stranger was seated by the table, reading a large document that -looked like a lease. He made no movement when I entered, but when I -crossed the room and wished him "Good evening," he half rose and bowed -silently. It was then that I first saw his face, and a mighty start he -gave me. For one moment I actually thought he was Mr. Weiss, so close -was the resemblance, but immediately I perceived that he was a much -smaller man. - -I sat down nearly opposite and stole an occasional furtive glance at -him. The resemblance to Weiss was really remarkable. The same flaxen -hair, the same ragged beard and a similar red nose, with the patches of -<i>acne rosacea</i> spreading to the adjacent cheeks. He wore spectacles, -too, through which he took a quick glance at me now and again, returning -immediately to his document. - -After some moments of rather embarrassing silence, I ventured to remark -that it was a mild evening; to which he assented with a sort of Scotch -"Hm--hm" and nodded slowly. Then came another interval of silence, -during which I speculated on the possibility of his being a relative of -Mr. Weiss and wondered what the deuce he was doing in our chambers. - -"Have you an appointment with Dr. Thorndyke?" I asked, at length. - -He bowed solemnly, and by way of reply--in the affirmative, as I -assumed--emitted another "hm--hm." - -I looked at him sharply, a little nettled by his lack of manners; -whereupon he opened out the lease so that it screened his face, and as I -glanced at the back of the document, I was astonished to observe that it -was shaking rapidly. - -The fellow was actually laughing! What he found in my simple question to -cause him so much amusement I was totally unable to imagine. But there -it was. The tremulous movements of the document left me in no possible -doubt that he was for some reason convulsed with laughter. - -It was extremely mysterious. Also, it was rather embarrassing. I took -out my pocket file and began to look over my notes. Then the document -was lowered and I was able to get another look at the stranger's face. -He was really extraordinarily like Weiss. The shaggy eyebrows, throwing -the eye-sockets into shadow, gave him, in conjunction with the -spectacles, the same owlish, solemn expression that I had noticed in my -Kennington acquaintance; and which, by the way, was singularly out of -character with the frivolous behaviour that I had just witnessed. - -From time to time as I looked at him, he caught my eye and instantly -averted his own, turning rather red. Apparently he was a shy, nervous -man, which might account for his giggling; for I have noticed that shy -or nervous people have a habit of smiling inopportunely and even -giggling when embarrassed by meeting an over-steady eye. And it seemed -my own eye had this disconcerting quality, for even as I looked at him, -the document suddenly went up again and began to shake violently. - -I stood it for a minute or two, but, finding the situation intolerably -embarrassing, I rose, and brusquely excusing myself, went up to the -laboratory to look for Polton and inquire at what time Thorndyke was -expected home. To my surprise, however, on entering, I discovered -Thorndyke himself just finishing the mounting of a microscopical -specimen. - -"Did you know that there is some one below waiting to see you?" I asked. - -"Is it anyone you know?" he inquired. - -"No," I answered. "It is a red-nosed, sniggering fool in spectacles. He -has got a lease or a deed or some other sort of document which he has -been using to play a sort of idiotic game of Peep-Bo! I couldn't stand -him, so I came up here." - -Thorndyke laughed heartily at my description of his client. - -"What are you laughing at?" I asked sourly; at which he laughed yet more -heartily and added to the aggravation by wiping his eyes. - -"Our friend seems to have put you out," he remarked. - -"He put me out literally. If I had stayed much longer I should have -punched his head." - -"In that case," said Thorndyke, "I am glad you didn't stay. But come -down and let me introduce you." - -"No, thank you. I've had enough of him for the present." - -"But I have a very special reason for wishing to introduce you. I think -you will get some information from him that will interest you very much; -and you needn't quarrel with a man for being of a cheerful disposition." - -"Cheerful be hanged!" I exclaimed. "I don't call a man cheerful because -he behaves like a gibbering idiot." - -To this Thorndyke made no reply but a broad and appreciative smile, and -we descended to the lower floor. As we entered the room, the stranger -rose, and, glancing in an embarrassed way from one of us to the other, -suddenly broke out into an undeniable snigger. I looked at him sternly, -and Thorndyke, quite unmoved by his indecorous behaviour, said in a -grave voice: - -"Let me introduce you, Jervis; though I think you have met this -gentleman before." - -"I think not," I said stiffly. - -"Oh yes, you have, sir," interposed the stranger; and, as he spoke, I -started; for the voice was uncommonly like the familiar voice of Polton. - -I looked at the speaker with sudden suspicion. And now I could see that -the flaxen hair was a wig; that the beard had a decidedly artificial -look, and that the eyes that beamed through the spectacles were -remarkably like the eyes of our factotum. But the blotchy face, the -bulbous nose and the shaggy, overhanging eyebrows were alien features -that I could not reconcile with the personality of our refined and -aristocratic-looking little assistant. - -"Is this a practical joke?" I asked. - -"No," replied Thorndyke; "it is a demonstration. When we were talking -this morning it appeared to me that you did not realize the extent to -which it is possible to conceal identity under suitable conditions of -light. So I arranged, with Polton's rather reluctant assistance, to give -you ocular evidence. The conditions are not favourable--which makes the -demonstration more convincing. This is a very well-lighted room and -Polton is a very poor actor; in spite of which it has been possible for -you to sit opposite him for several minutes and look at him, I have no -doubt, very attentively, without discovering his identity. If the room -had been lighted only with a candle, and Polton had been equal to the -task of supporting his make-up with an appropriate voice and manner, the -deception would have been perfect." - -"I can see that he has a wig on, quite plainly," said I. - -"Yes; but you would not in a dimly lighted room. On the other hand, if -Polton were to walk down Fleet Street at mid-day in this condition, the -make-up would be conspicuously evident to any moderately observant -passer-by. The secret of making up consists in a careful adjustment to -the conditions of light and distance in which the make-up is to be seen. -That in use on the stage would look ridiculous in an ordinary room; that -which would serve in an artificially lighted room would look ridiculous -out of doors by daylight." - -"Is any effective make-up possible out of doors in ordinary daylight?" I -asked. - -"Oh, yes," replied Thorndyke. "But it must be on a totally different -scale from that of the stage. A wig, and especially a beard or -moustache, must be joined up at the edges with hair actually stuck on -the skin with transparent cement and carefully trimmed with scissors. -The same applies to eyebrows; and alterations in the colour of the skin -must be carried out much more subtly. Polton's nose has been built up -with a small covering of toupee-paste, the pimples on the cheeks -produced with little particles of the same material; and the general -tinting has been done with grease-paint with a very light scumble of -powder colour to take off some of the shine. This would be possible in -outdoor make-up, but it would have to be done with the greatest care and -delicacy; in fact, with what the art-critics call 'reticence.' A very -little make-up is sufficient and too much is fatal. You would be -surprised to see how little paste is required to alter the shape of the -nose and the entire character of the face." - -At this moment there came a loud knock at the door; a single, solid dab -of the knocker which Polton seemed to recognize, for he ejaculated: - -"Good lord, sir! That'll be Wilkins, the cabman! I'd forgotten all -about him. Whatever's to be done?" - -He stared at us in ludicrous horror for a moment or two, and then, -snatching off his wig, beard and spectacles, poked them into a cupboard. -But his appearance was now too much even for Thorndyke--who hastily got -behind him--for he had now resumed his ordinary personality--but with a -very material difference. - -"Oh, it's nothing to laugh at, sir," he exclaimed indignantly as I -crammed my handkerchief into my mouth. "Somebody's got to let him in, or -he'll go away." - -"Yes; and that won't do," said Thorndyke. "But don't worry, Polton. You -can step into the office. I'll open the door." - -Polton's presence of mind, however, seemed to have entirely forsaken -him, for he only hovered irresolutely in the wake of his principal. As -the door opened, a thick and husky voice inquired: - -"Gent of the name of Polton live here?" - -"Yes, quite right," said Thorndyke. "Come in. Your name is Wilkins, I -think?" - -"That's me, sir," said the voice; and in response to Thorndyke's -invitation, a typical "growler" cabman of the old school, complete even -to imbricated cape and dangling badge, stalked into the room, and -glancing round with a mixture of embarrassment and defiance, suddenly -fixed on Polton's nose a look of devouring curiosity. - -"Here you are, then," Polton remarked nervously. - -"Yus," replied the cabman in a slightly hostile tone. "Here I am. What -am I wanted to do? And where's this here Mr. Polton?" - -"I am Mr. Polton," replied our abashed assistant. - -"Well, it's the other Mr. Polton what I want," said the cabman, with his -eyes still riveted on the olfactory prominence. - -"There isn't any other Mr. Polton," our subordinate replied irritably. -"I am the--er--person who spoke to you in the shelter." - -"Are you though?" said the manifestly incredulous cabby. "I shouldn't -have thought it; but you ought to know. What do you want me to do?" - -"We want you," said Thorndyke, "to answer one or two questions. And the -first one is, Are you a teetotaller?" - -The question being illustrated by the production of a decanter, the -cabman's dignity relaxed somewhat. - -"I ain't bigoted," said he. - -"Then sit down and mix yourself a glass of grog. Soda or plain water?" - -"May as well have all the extries," replied the cabman, sitting down and -grasping the decanter with the air of a man who means business. "Per'aps -you wouldn't mind squirtin' out the soda, sir, bein' more used to it." - -While these preliminaries were being arranged, Polton silently slipped -out of the room, and when our visitor had fortified himself with a gulp -of the uncommonly stiff mixture, the examination began. - -"Your name, I think, is Wilkins?" said Thorndyke. - -"That's me, sir. Samuel Wilkins is my name." - -"And your occupation?" - -"Is a very tryin' one and not paid for as it deserves. I drives a cab, -sir; a four-wheeled cab is what I drives; and a very poor job it is." - -"Do you happen to remember a very foggy day about a month ago?" - -"Do I not, sir! A regler sneezer that was! Wednesday, the fourteenth of -March. I remember the date because my benefit society came down on me -for arrears that morning." - -"Will you tell us what happened to you between six and seven in the -evening of that day?" - -"I will, sir," replied the cabman, emptying his tumbler by way of -bracing himself up for the effort. "A little before six I was waiting on -the arrival side of the Great Northern Station, King's Cross, when I see -a gentleman and a lady coming out. The gentleman he looks up and down -and then he sees me and walks up to the cab and opens the door and helps -the lady in. Then he says to me: 'Do you know New Inn?' he says. That's -what he says to me what was born and brought up in White Horse Alley, -Drury Lane. - -"'Get inside,' says I. - -"'Well,' says he, 'you drive in through the gate in Wych Street,' he -says, as if he expected me to go in by Houghton Street and down the -steps, 'and then,' he says, 'you drive nearly to the end and you'll see -a house with a large brass plate at the corner of the doorway. That's -where we want to be set down,' he says, and with that he nips in and -pulls up the windows and off we goes. - -"It took us a full half-hour to get to New Inn through the fog, for I -had to get down and lead the horse part of the way. As I drove in under -the archway, I saw it was half-past six by the clock in the porter's -lodge. I drove down nearly to the end of the inn and drew up opposite a -house where there was a big brass plate by the doorway. It was number -thirty-one. Then the gent crawls out and hands me five bob--two -'arf-crowns--and then he helps the lady out, and away they waddles to -the doorway and I see them start up the stairs very slow--regler -Pilgrim's Progress. And that was the last I see of 'em." - -Thorndyke wrote down the cabman's statement verbatim together with his -own questions, and then asked: - -"Can you give us any description of the gentleman?" - -"The gent," said Wilkins, was a very respectable-looking gent, though he -did look as if he'd had a drop of something short, and small blame to -him on a day like that. But he was all there, and he knew what was the -proper fare for a foggy evening, which is more than some of 'em do. He -was a elderly gent, about sixty, and he wore spectacles, but he didn't -seem to be able to see much through 'em. He was a funny 'un to look at; -as round in the back as a turtle and he walked with his head stuck -forward like a goose." - -"What made you think he had been drinking?" - -"Well, he wasn't as steady as he might have been on his pins. But he -wasn't drunk, you know. Only a bit wobbly on the plates." - -"And the lady; what was she like?" - -"I couldn't see much of her because her head was wrapped up in a sort of -woollen veil. But I should say she wasn't a chicken. Might have been -about the same age as the gent, but I couldn't swear to that. She seemed -a trifle rickety on the pins too; in fact they were a rum-looking -couple. I watched 'em tottering across the pavement and up the stairs, -hanging on to each other, him peering through his blinkers and she -trying to see through her veil, and I thought it was a jolly good job -they'd got a nice sound cab and a steady driver to bring 'em safe home." - -"How was the lady dressed?" - -"Can't rightly say, not being a hexpert. Her head was done up in this -here veil like a pudden in a cloth and she had a small hat on. She had a -dark brown mantle with a fringe of beads round it and a black dress; and -I noticed when she got into the cab at the station that one of her -stockings looked like the bellows of a concertina. That's all I can tell -you." - -Thorndyke wrote down the last answer, and, having read the entire -statement aloud, handed the pen to our visitor. - -"If that is all correct," he said, "I will ask you to sign your name at -the bottom." - -"Do you want me to swear a affidavy that it's all true?" asked Wilkins. - -"No, thank you," replied Thorndyke. "We may have to call you to give -evidence in court, and then you'll be sworn; and you'll also be paid for -your attendance. For the present I want you to keep your own counsel and -say nothing to anybody about having been here. We have to make some -other inquiries and we don't want the affair talked about." - -"I see, sir," said Wilkins, as he laboriously traced his signature at -the foot of the statement; "you don't want the other parties for to ogle -your lay. All right, sir; you can depend on me. I'm fly, I am." - -"Thank you, Wilkins," said Thorndyke. "And now what are we to give you -for your trouble in coming here?" - -"I'll leave the fare to you, sir. You know what the information's worth; -but I should think 'arf a thick-un wouldn't hurt you." - -Thorndyke laid on the table a couple of sovereigns, at the sight of -which the cabman's eyes glistened. - -"We have your address, Wilkins," said he. "If we want you as a witness -we shall let you know, and if not, there will be another two pounds for -you at the end of a fortnight, provided you have not let this little -interview leak out." - -Wilkins gathered up the spoils gleefully. "You can trust me, sir," said -he, "for to keep my mouth shut. I knows which side my bread's buttered. -Good night, gentlemen all." - -With this comprehensive salute he moved towards the door and let -himself out. - -"Well, Jervis; what do you think of it?" Thorndyke asked, as the -cabman's footsteps faded away in a creaky diminuendo. - -"I don't know what to think. This woman is a new factor in the case and -I don't know how to place her." - -"Not entirely new," said Thorndyke. "You have not forgotten those beads -that we found in Jeffrey's bedroom, have you?" - -"No, I had not forgotten them, but I did not see that they told us much -excepting that some woman had apparently been in his bedroom at some -time." - -"That, I think, is all that they did tell us. But now they tell us that -a particular woman was in his bedroom at a particular time, which is a -good deal more significant." - -"Yes. It almost looks as if she must have been there when he made away -with himself." - -"It does, very much." - -"By the way, you were right about the colours of those beads, and also -about the way they were used." - -"As to their use, that was a mere guess; but it has turned out to be -correct. It was well that we found the beads, for, small as is the -amount of information they give, it is still enough to carry us a stage -further." - -"How so?" - -"I mean that the cabman's evidence tells us only that this woman entered -the house. The beads tell us that she was in the bedroom; which, as you -say, seems to connect her to some extent with Jeffrey's death. Not -necessarily, of course. It is only a suggestion; but a rather strong -suggestion under the peculiar circumstances." - -"Even so," said I, "this new fact seems to me so far from clearing up -the mystery, only to add to it a fresh element of still deeper mystery. -The porter's evidence at the inquest could leave no doubt that Jeffrey -contemplated suicide, and his preparations pointedly suggest this -particular night as the time selected by him for doing away with -himself. Is not that so?" - -"Certainly. The porter's evidence was very clear on that point." - -"Then I don't see where this woman comes in. It is obvious that her -presence at the inn, and especially in the bedroom, on this occasion and -in these strange, secret circumstances, has a rather sinister look; but -yet I do not see in what way she could have been connected with the -tragedy. Perhaps, after all, she has nothing to do with it. You remember -that Jeffrey went to the lodge about eight o'clock, to pay his rent, and -chatted for some time with the porter. That looks as if the lady had -already left." - -"Yes," said Thorndyke. "But, on the other hand, Jeffrey's remarks to the -porter with reference to the cab do not quite agree with the account -that we have just heard from Wilkins. Which suggests--as does Wilkins's -account generally--some secrecy as to the lady's visit to his chambers." - -"Do you know who the woman was?" I asked. - -"No, I don't know," he replied. "I have a rather strong suspicion that I -can identify her, but I am waiting for some further facts." - -"Is your suspicion founded on some new matter that you have discovered, -or is it deducible from facts that are known to me?" - -"I think," he replied, "that you know practically all that I know, -although I have, in one instance, turned a very strong suspicion into a -certainty by further inquiries. But I think you ought to be able to form -some idea as to who this lady probably was." - -"But no woman has been mentioned in the case at all." - -"No; but I think you should be able to give this lady a name, -notwithstanding." - -"Should I? Then I begin to suspect that I am not cut out for -medico-legal practice, for I don't see the faintest glimmer of a -suggestion." - -Thorndyke smiled benevolently. "Don't be discouraged, Jervis," said he. -"I expect that when you first began to go round the wards, you doubted -whether you were cut out for medical practice. I did. For special work -one needs special knowledge and an acquired faculty for making use of -it. What does a second year's student make of a small thoracic aneurysm? -He knows the anatomy of the chest; he begins to know the normal heart -sounds and areas of dullness; but he cannot yet fit his various items of -knowledge together. Then comes the experienced physician and perhaps -makes a complete diagnosis without any examination at all, merely from -hearing the patient speak or cough. He has the same facts as the -student, but he has acquired the faculty of instantly connecting an -abnormality of function with its correleated anatomical change. It is a -matter of experience. And, with your previous training, you will soon -acquire the faculty. Try to observe everything. Let nothing escape you. -And try constantly to find some connection between facts and events that -seem to be unconnected. That is my advice to you; and with that we will -put away the Blackmore case for the present and consider our day's work -at an end." - - - - -Chapter XIV - -Thorndyke Lays the Mine - - -The information supplied by Mr. Samuel Wilkins, so far from dispelling -the cloud of mystery that hung over the Blackmore case, only enveloped -it in deeper obscurity, so far as I was concerned. The new problem that -Thorndyke offered for solution was a tougher one than any of the others. -He proposed that I should identify and give a name to this mysterious -woman. But how could I? No woman, excepting Mrs. Wilson, had been -mentioned in connection with the case. This new <i>dramatis persona</i> had -appeared suddenly from nowhere and straightway vanished without leaving -a trace, excepting the two or three beads that we had picked up in -Jeffrey's room. - -Nor was it in the least clear what part, if any, she had played in the -tragedy. The facts still pointed as plainly to suicide as before her -appearance. Jeffrey's repeated hints as to his intentions, and the very -significant preparations that he had made, were enough to negative any -idea of foul play. And yet the woman's presence in the chambers at that -time, the secret manner of her arrival and her precautions against -recognition, strongly suggested some kind of complicity in the dreadful -event that followed. - -But what complicity is possible in the case of suicide? The woman might -have furnished him with the syringe and the poison, but it would not -have been necessary for her to go to his chambers for that purpose. -Vague ideas of persuasion and hypnotic suggestion floated through my -brain; but the explanations did not fit the case and the hypnotic -suggestion of crime is not very convincing to the medical mind. Then I -thought of blackmail in connection with some disgraceful secret; but -though this was a more hopeful suggestion, it was not very probable, -considering Jeffrey's age and character. - -And all these speculations failed to throw the faintest light on the -main question: "Who was this woman?" - -A couple of days passed, during which Thorndyke made no further -reference to the case. He was, most of the time, away from home, though -how he was engaged I had no idea. What was rather more unusual was that -Polton seemed to have deserted the laboratory and taken to outdoor -pursuits. I assumed that he had seized the opportunity of leaving me in -charge, and I dimly surmised that he was acting as Thorndyke's private -inquiry agent, as he seemed to have done in the case of Samuel Wilkins. - -On the evening of the second day Thorndyke came home in obviously good -spirits, and his first proceedings aroused my expectant curiosity. He -went to a cupboard and brought forth a box of Trichinopoly cheroots. Now -the Trichinopoly cheroot was Thorndyke's one dissipation, to be enjoyed -only on rare and specially festive occasions; which, in practice, meant -those occasions on which he had scored some important point or solved -some unusually tough problem. Wherefore I watched him with lively -interest. - -"It's a pity that the 'Trichy' is such a poisonous beast," he remarked, -taking up one of the cheroots and sniffing at it delicately. "There is -no other cigar like it, to a really abandoned smoker." He laid the cigar -back in the box and continued: "I think I shall treat myself to one -after dinner to celebrate the occasion." - -"What occasion?" I asked. - -"The completion of the Blackmore case. I am just going to write to -Marchmont advising him to enter a caveat." - -"Do you mean to say that you have discovered a flaw in the will, after -all?" - -"A flaw!" he exclaimed. "My dear Jervis, that second will is a forgery." - -I stared at him in amazement; for his assertion sounded like nothing -more or less than arrant nonsense. - -"But the thing is impossible, Thorndyke," I said. "Not only did the -witnesses recognize their own signatures and the painter's greasy -finger-marks, but they had both read the will and remembered its -contents." - -"Yes; that is the interesting feature in the case. It is a very pretty -problem. I shall give you a last chance to solve it. To-morrow evening -we shall have to give a full explanation, so you have another -twenty-four hours in which to think it over. And, meanwhile, I am going -to take you to my club to dine. I think we shall be pretty safe there -from Mrs. Schallibaum." - -He sat down and wrote a letter, which was apparently quite a short one, -and having addressed and stamped it, prepared to go out. - -"Come," said he, "let us away to 'the gay and festive scenes and halls -of dazzling light.' We will lay the mine in the Fleet Street pillar box. -I should like to be in Marchmont's office when it explodes." - -"I expect, for that matter," said I, "that the explosion will be felt -pretty distinctly in these chambers." - -"I expect so, too," replied Thorndyke; "and that reminds me that I shall -be out all day to-morrow, so, if Marchmont calls, you must do all that -you can to persuade him to come round after dinner and bring Stephen -Blackmore, if possible. I am anxious to have Stephen here, as he will be -able to give us some further information and confirm certain matters of -fact." - -I promised to exercise my utmost powers of persuasion on Mr. Marchmont -which I should certainly have done on my own account, being now on the -very tiptoe of curiosity to hear Thorndyke's explanation of the -unthinkable conclusion at which he had arrived--and the subject dropped -completely; nor could I, during the rest of the evening, induce my -colleague to reopen it even in the most indirect or allusive manner. - -Our explanations in respect of Mr. Marchmont were fully realized; for, -on the following morning, within an hour of Thorndyke's departure from -our chambers, the knocker was plied with more than usual emphasis, and, -on my opening the door, I discovered the solicitor in company with a -somewhat older gentleman. Mr. Marchmont appeared somewhat out of humour, -while his companion was obviously in a state of extreme irritation. - -"How d'you do, Dr. Jervis?" said Marchmont as he entered at my -invitation. "Your friend, I suppose, is not in just now?" - -"No; and he will not be returning until the evening." - -"Hm; I'm sorry. We wished to see him rather particularly. This is my -partner, Mr. Winwood." - -The latter gentleman bowed stiffly and Marchmont continued: - -"We have had a letter from Dr. Thorndyke, and it is, I may say, a rather -curious letter; in fact, a very singular letter indeed." - -"It is the letter of a madman!" growled Mr. Winwood. - -"No, no, Winwood; nothing of the kind. Control yourself, I beg you. But -really, the letter is rather incomprehensible. It relates to the will of -the late Jeffrey Blackmore--you know the main facts of the case; and we -cannot reconcile it with those facts." - -"This is the letter," exclaimed Mr. Winwood, dragging the document from -his wallet and slapping it down on the table. "If you are acquainted -with the case, sir, just read that, and let us hear what <i>you</i> think." - -I took up the letter and read aloud: - -"JEFFREY BLACKMORE, DECD. - -"DEAR MR. MARCHMONT,-- - -"I have gone into this case with great care and have now no doubt that -the second will is a forgery. Criminal proceedings will, I think, be -inevitable, but meanwhile it would be wise to enter a caveat. - -"If you could look in at my chambers to-morrow evening we could talk the -case over; and I should be glad if you could bring Mr. Stephen -Blackmore; whose personal knowledge of the events and the parties -concerned would be of great assistance in clearing up obscure details. - -"I am, - -"Yours sincerely, - -"JOHN EVELYN THORNDYKE - -"C.F. MARCHMONT, ESQ." - -"Well!" exclaimed Mr. Winwood, glaring ferociously at me, "what do you -think of the learned counsel's opinion?" - -"I knew that Thorndyke was writing to you to this effect," I replied, -"but I must frankly confess that I can make nothing of it. Have you -acted on his advice?" - -"Certainly not!" shouted the irascible lawyer. "Do you suppose that we -wish to make ourselves the laughing-stock of the courts? The thing is -impossible--ridiculously impossible!" - -"It can't be that, you know," I said, a little stiffly, for I was -somewhat nettled by Mr. Winwood's manner, "or Thorndyke would not have -written this letter. The conclusion looks as impossible to me as it does -to you; but I have complete confidence in Thorndyke. If he says that the -will is a forgery, I have no doubt that it is a forgery." - -"But how the deuce can it be?" roared Winwood. "You know the -circumstances under which the will was executed." - -"Yes; but so does Thorndyke. And he is not a man who overlooks important -facts. It is useless to argue with me. I am in a complete fog about the -case myself. You had better come in this evening and talk it over with -him as he suggests." - -"It is very inconvenient," grumbled Mr. Winwood. "We shall have to dine -in town." - -"Yes," said Marchmont, "but it is the only thing to be done. As Dr. -Jervis says, we must take it that Thorndyke has something solid to base -his opinion on. He doesn't make elementary mistakes. And, of course, if -what he says is correct, Mr. Stephen's position is totally changed." - -"Bah!" exclaimed Winwood, "he has found a mare's nest, I tell you. -Still, I agree that the explanation should be worth hearing." - -"You mustn't mind Winwood," said Marchmont, in an apologetic undertone; -"he's a peppery old fellow with a rough tongue, but he doesn't mean any -harm." Which statement Winwood assented to--or dissented from; for it -was impossible to say which--by a prolonged growl. - -"We shall expect you then," I said, "about eight to-night, and you will -try to bring Mr. Stephen with you?" - -"Yes," replied Marchmont; "I think we can promise that he shall come -with us. I have sent him a telegram asking him to attend." - -With this the two lawyers took their departure, leaving me to meditate -upon my colleague's astonishing statement; which I did, considerably to -the prejudice of other employment. That Thorndyke would be able to -justify the opinion that he had given, I had no doubt whatever; but yet -there was no denying that his proposition was what Mr. Dick Swiveller -would call "a staggerer." - -When Thorndyke returned, I informed him of the visit of our two friends, -and acquainted him with the sentiments that they had expressed; whereat -he smiled with quiet amusement. - -"I thought," he remarked, "that letter would bring Marchmont to our door -before long. As to Winwood, I have never met him, but I gather that he -is one of those people whom you 'mustn't mind.' In a general way, I -object to people who tacitly claim exemption from the ordinary rules of -conduct that are held to be binding on their fellows. But, as he -promises to give us what the variety artists call 'an extra turn,' we -will make the best of him and give him a run for his money." - -Here Thorndyke smiled mischievously--I understood the meaning of that -smile later in the evening--and asked: "What do you think of the affair -yourself?" - -"I have given it up," I answered. "To my paralysed brain, the Blackmore -case is like an endless algebraical problem propounded by an insane -mathematician." - -Thorndyke laughed at my comparison, which I flatter myself was a rather -apt one. - -"Come and dine," said he, "and let us crack a bottle, that our hearts -may not turn to water under the frown of the disdainful Winwood. I think -the old 'Bell' in Holborn will meet our present requirements better than -the club. There is something jovial and roystering about an ancient -tavern; but we must keep a sharp lookout for Mrs. Schallibaum." - -Thereupon we set forth; and, after a week's close imprisonment, I once -more looked upon the friendly London streets, the cheerfully lighted -shop windows and the multitudes of companionable strangers who moved -unceasingly along the pavements. - - - -Chapter XV - -Thorndyke Explodes the Mine - - -We had not been back in our chambers more than a few minutes when the -little brass knocker on the inner door rattled out its summons. -Thorndyke himself opened the door, and, finding our three expected -visitors on the threshold, he admitted them and closed the "oak." - -"We have accepted your invitation, you see," said Marchmont, whose -manner was now a little flurried and uneasy. "This is my partner, Mr. -Winwood; you haven't met before, I think. Well, we thought we should -like to hear some further particulars from you, as we could not quite -understand your letter." - -"My conclusion, I suppose," said Thorndyke, "was a little unexpected?" - -"It was more than that, sir," exclaimed Winwood. "It was absolutely -irreconcilable either with the facts of the case or with common physical -possibilities." - -"At the first glance," Thorndyke agreed, "it would probably have that -appearance." - -"It has that appearance still to me." said Winwood, growing suddenly red -and wrathful, "and I may say that I speak as a solicitor who was -practising in the law when you were an infant in arms. You tell us, sir, -that this will is a forgery; this will, which was executed in broad -daylight in the presence of two unimpeachable witnesses who have sworn, -not only to their signatures and the contents of the document, but to -their very finger-marks on the paper. Are those finger-marks forgeries, -too? Have you examined and tested them?" - -"I have not," replied Thorndyke. "The fact is they are of no interest to -me, as I am not disputing the witnesses' signatures." - -At this, Mr. Winwood fairly danced with irritation. - -"Marchmont!" he exclaimed fiercely, "you know this good gentleman, I -believe. Tell me, is he addicted to practical jokes?" - -"Now, my dear Winwood," groaned Marchmont, "I pray you--I beg you to -control yourself. No doubt--" - -"But confound it!" roared Winwood, "you have, yourself, heard him say -that the will is a forgery, but that he doesn't dispute the signatures; -which," concluded Winwood, banging his fist down on the table, "is -damned nonsense." - -"May I suggest," interposed Stephen Blackmore, "that we came here to -receive Dr. Thorndyke's explanation of his letter. Perhaps it would be -better to postpone any comments until we have heard it." - -"Undoubtedly, undoubtedly," said Marchmont. "Let me entreat you, -Winwood, to listen patiently and refrain from interruption until we have -heard our learned friend's exposition of the case." - -"Oh, very well," Winwood replied sulkily; "I'll say no more." - -He sank into a chair with the manner of a man who shuts himself up and -turns the key; and so remained--excepting when the internal pressure -approached bursting-point--throughout the subsequent proceedings, -silent, stony and impassive, like a seated statue of Obstinacy. - -"I take it," said Marchmont, "that you have some new facts that are not -in our possession?" - -"Yes," replied Thorndyke; "we have some new facts, and we have made some -new use of the old ones. But how shall I lay the case before you? Shall -I state my theory of the sequence of events and furnish the verification -afterwards? Or shall I retrace the actual course of my investigations -and give you the facts in the order in which I obtained them myself, -with the inferences from them?" - -"I almost think," said Mr. Marchmont, "that it would be better if you -would put us in possession of the new facts. Then, if the conclusions -that follow from them are not sufficiently obvious, we could hear the -argument. What do you say, Winwood?" - -Mr. Winwood roused himself for an instant, barked out the one word -"Facts," and shut himself up again with a snap. - -"You would like to have the new facts by themselves?" said Thorndyke. - -"If you please. The facts only, in the first place, at any rate." - -"Very well," said Thorndyke; and here I caught his eye with a -mischievous twinkle in it that I understood perfectly; for I had most of -the facts myself and realized how much these two lawyers were likely to -extract from them. Winwood was going to "have a run for his money," as -Thorndyke had promised. - -My colleague, having placed on the table by his side a small cardboard -box and the sheets of notes from his file, glanced quickly at Mr. -Winwood and began: - -"The first important new facts came into my possession on the day on -which you introduced the case to me. In the evening, after you left, I -availed myself of Mr. Stephen's kind invitation to look over his uncle's -chambers in New Inn. I wished to do so in order to ascertain, if -possible, what had been the habits of the deceased during his residence -there. When I arrived with Dr. Jervis, Mr. Stephen was in the chambers, -and I learned from him that his uncle was an Oriental scholar of some -position and that he had a very thorough acquaintance with the cuneiform -writing. Now, while I was talking with Mr. Stephen I made a very curious -discovery. On the wall over the fire-place hung a large framed -photograph of an ancient Persian inscription in the cuneiform character; -and that photograph was upside down." - -"Upside down!" exclaimed Stephen. "But that is really very odd." - -"Very odd indeed," agreed Thorndyke, "and very suggestive. The way in -which it came to be inverted is pretty obvious and also rather -suggestive. The photograph had evidently been in the frame some years -but had apparently never been hung up before." - -"It had not," said Stephen, "though I don't know how you arrived at the -fact. It used to stand on the mantelpiece in his old rooms in Jermyn -Street." - -"Well," continued Thorndyke, "the frame-maker had pasted his label on -the back of the frame, and as this label hung the right way up, it -appeared as if the person who fixed the photograph on the wall had -adopted it as a guide." - -"It is very extraordinary," said Stephen. "I should have thought the -person who hung it would have asked Uncle Jeffrey which was the right -way up; and I can't imagine how on earth it could have hung all those -months without his noticing it. He must have been practically blind." - -Here Marchmont, who had been thinking hard, with knitted brows, suddenly -brightened up. - -"I see your point," said he. "You mean that if Jeffrey was as blind as -that, it would have been possible for some person to substitute a false -will, which he might sign without noticing the substitution." - -"That wouldn't make the will a forgery," growled Winwood. "If Jeffrey -signed it, it was Jeffrey's will. You could contest it if you could -prove the fraud. But he said: 'This is my will,' and the two witnesses -read it and have identified it." - -"Did they read it aloud?" asked Stephen. - -"No, they did not," replied Thorndyke. - -"Can you prove substitution?" asked Marchmont. - -"I haven't asserted it," answered Thorndyke, "My position is that the -will is a forgery." - -"But it is not," said Winwood. - -"We won't argue it now," said Thorndyke. "I ask you to note the fact -that the inscription was upside down. I also observed on the walls of -the chambers some valuable Japanese colour-prints on which were recent -damp-spots. I noted that the sitting-room had a gas-stove and that the -kitchen contained practically no stores or remains of food and hardly -any traces of even the simplest cooking. In the bedroom I found a large -box that had contained a considerable stock of hard stearine candles, -six to the pound, and that was now nearly empty. I examined the clothing -of the deceased. On the soles of the boots I observed dried mud, which -was unlike that on my own and Jervis's boots, from the gravelly square -of the inn. I noted a crease on each leg of the deceased man's trousers -as if they had been turned up half-way to the knee; and in the waistcoat -pocket I found the stump of a 'Contango' pencil. On the floor of the -bedroom, I found a portion of an oval glass somewhat like that of a -watch or locket, but ground at the edge to a double bevel. Dr. Jervis -and I also found one or two beads and a bugle, all of dark brown glass." - -Here Thorndyke paused, and Marchmont, who had been gazing at him with -growing amazement, said nervously: - -"Er--yes. Very interesting. These observations of yours--er--are--" - -"Are all the observations that I made at New Inn." - -The two lawyers looked at one another and Stephen Blackmore stared -fixedly at a spot on the hearth-rug. Then Mr. Winwood's face contorted -itself into a sour, lopsided smile. - -"You might have observed a good many other things, sir," said he, "if -you had looked. If you had examined the doors, you would have noted that -they had hinges and were covered with paint; and, if you had looked up -the chimney you might have noted that it was black inside." - -"Now, now, Winwood," protested Marchmont in an agony of uneasiness as to -what his partner might say next, "I must really beg you--er--to refrain -from--what Mr. Winwood means, Dr. Thorndyke, is that--er--we do not -quite perceive the relevancy of these--ah--observations of yours." - -"Probably not," said Thorndyke, "but you will perceive their relevancy -later. For the present, I will ask you to note the facts and bear them -in mind, so that you may be able to follow the argument when we come to -that. - -"The next set of data I acquired on the same evening, when Dr. Jervis -gave me a detailed account of a very strange adventure that befell him. -I need not burden you with all the details, but I will give you the -substance of his story." - -He then proceeded to recount the incidents connected with my visits to -Mr. Graves, dwelling on the personal peculiarities of the parties -concerned and especially of the patient, and not even forgetting the -very singular spectacles worn by Mr. Weiss. He also explained briefly -the construction of the chart, presenting the latter for the inspection -of his hearers. To this recital our three visitors listened in utter -bewilderment, as, indeed did I also; for I could not conceive in what -way my adventures could possibly be related to the affairs of the late -Mr. Blackmore. This was manifestly the view taken by Mr. Marchmont, for, -during a pause in which the chart was handed to him, he remarked -somewhat stiffly: - -"I am assuming, Dr. Thorndyke, that the curious story you are telling us -has some relevance to the matter in which we are interested." - -"You are quite correct in your assumption," replied Thorndyke. "The -story is very relevant indeed, as you will presently be convinced." - -"Thank you," said Marchmont, sinking back once more into his chair with -a sigh of resignation. - -"A few days ago," pursued Thorndyke, "Dr. Jervis and I located, with the -aid of this chart, the house to which he had been called. We found that -the late tenant had left somewhat hurriedly and that the house was to -let; and, as no other kind of investigation was possible, we obtained -the keys and made an exploration of the premises." - -Here he gave a brief account of our visit and the conditions that we -observed, and was proceeding to furnish a list of the articles that we -had found under the grate, when Mr. Winwood started from his chair. - -"Really, sir!" he exclaimed, "this is too much! Have I come here, at -great personal inconvenience, to hear you read the inventory of a -dust-heap?" - -Thorndyke smiled benevolently and caught my eye, once more, with a gleam -of amusement. - -"Sit down, Mr. Winwood," he said quietly. "You came here to learn the -facts of the case, and I am giving them to you. Please don't interrupt -needlessly and waste time." - -Winwood stared at him ferociously for several seconds; then, somewhat -disconcerted by the unruffled calm of his manner, he uttered a snort of -defiance, sat down heavily and shut himself up again. - -"We will now," Thorndyke continued, with unmoved serenity, "consider -these relics in more detail, and we will begin with this pair of -spectacles. They belonged to a person who was near-sighted and -astigmatic in the left eye and almost certainly blind in the right. Such -a description agrees entirely with Dr. Jervis's account of the sick -man." - -He paused for the moment, and then, as no one made any comment, -proceeded: - -"We next come to these little pieces of reed, which you, Mr. Stephen, -will probably recognize as the remains of a Japanese brush, such as is -used for writing in Chinese ink or for making small drawings." - -Again he paused, as though expecting some remark from his listeners; but -no one spoke, and he continued: - -"Then there is this bottle with the theatrical wig-maker's label on it, -which once contained cement such as is used for fixing on false beards, -moustaches or eyebrows." - -He paused once more and looked round expectantly at his audience, none -of whom, however, volunteered any remark. - -"Do none of these objects that I have described and shown you, seem to -have any significance for us?" he asked, in a tone of some surprise. - -"They convey nothing to me," said Mr. Marchmont, glancing at his -partner, who shook his head like a restive horse. - -"Nor to you, Mr. Stephen?" - -"No," replied Stephen. "Under the existing circumstances they convey no -reasonable suggestion to me." - -Thorndyke hesitated as if he were half inclined to say something more; -then, with a slight shrug, he turned over his notes and resumed: - -"The next group of new facts is concerned with the signatures of the -recent cheques. We have photographed them and placed them together for -the purpose of comparison and analysis." - -"I am not prepared to question the signatures." said Winwood. "We have -had a highly expert opinion, which would override ours in a court of law -even if we differed from it; which I think we do not." - -"Yes," said Marchmont; "that is so. I think we must accept the -signatures, especially as that of the will has been proved, beyond any -question" to be authentic." - -"Very well," agreed Thorndyke; "we will pass over the signatures. Then -we have some further evidence in regard to the spectacles, which serves -to verify our conclusions respecting them." - -"Perhaps," said Marchmont, "we might pass over that, too, as we do not -seem to have reached any conclusions." - -"As you please," said Thorndyke. "It is important, but we can reserve it -for verification. The next item will interest you more, I think. It is -the signed and witnessed statement of Samuel Wilkins, the driver of the -cab in which the deceased came home to the inn on the evening of his -death." - -My colleague was right. An actual document, signed by a tangible -witness, who could be put in the box and sworn, brought both lawyers to -a state of attention; and when Thorndyke read out the cabman's evidence, -their attention soon quickened into undisguised astonishment. - -"But this is a most mysterious affair," exclaimed Marchmont. "Who could -this woman have been, and what could she have been doing in Jeffrey's -chambers at this time? Can you throw any light on it, Mr. Stephen?" - -"No, indeed I can't," replied Stephen. "It is a complete mystery to me. -My uncle Jeffrey was a confirmed old bachelor, and, although he did not -dislike women, he was far from partial to their society, wrapped up as -he was in his favourite studies. To the best of my belief, he had not a -single female friend. He was not on intimate terms even with his sister, -Mrs. Wilson." - -"Very remarkable," mused Marchmont; "most remarkable. But, perhaps, you -can tell us, Dr. Thorndyke, who this woman was?" - -"I think," replied Thorndyke, "that the next item of evidence will -enable you to form an opinion for yourselves. I only obtained it -yesterday, and, as it made my case quite complete, I wrote off to you -immediately. It is the statement of Joseph Ridley, another cabman, and -unfortunately, a rather dull, unobservant fellow, unlike Wilkins. He has -not much to tell us, but what little he has is highly instructive. Here -is the statement, signed by the deponent and witnessed by me: - -"'My name is Joseph Ridley. I am the driver of a four-wheeled cab. On -the fourteenth of March, the day of the great fog, I was waiting at -Vauxhall Station, where I had just set down a fare. About five o'clock a -lady came and told me to drive over to Upper Kennington Lane to take up -a passenger. She was a middle-sized woman. I could not tell what her age -was, or what she was like, because her head was wrapped up in a sort of -knitted, woollen veil to keep out the fog. I did not notice how she was -dressed. She got into the cab and I led the horse over to Upper -Kennington Lane and a little way up the lane, until the lady tapped at -the front window for me to stop. - -"'She got out of the cab and told me to wait. Then she went away and -disappeared in the fog. Presently a lady and gentleman came from the -direction in which she had gone. The lady looked like the same lady, but -I won't answer to that. Her head was wrapped up in the same kind of veil -or shawl, and I noticed that she had on a dark coloured mantle with -bead fringe on it. - -"'The gentleman was clean shaved and wore spectacles, and he stooped a -good deal. I can't say whether his sight was good or bad. He helped the -lady into the cab and told me to drive to the Great Northern Station, -King's Cross. Then he got in himself and I drove off. I got to the -station about a quarter to six and the lady and gentleman got out. The -gentleman paid my fare and they both went into the station. I did not -notice anything unusual about either of them. Directly after they had -gone, I got a fresh fare and drove away.' - -"That," Thorndyke concluded, "is Joseph Ridley's statement; and I think -it will enable you to give a meaning to the other facts that I have -offered for your consideration." - -"I am not so sure about that," said Marchmont. "It is all exceedingly -mysterious. Your suggestion is, of course, that the woman who came to -New Inn in the cab was Mrs. Schallibaum!" - -"Not at all," replied Thorndyke. "My suggestion is that the woman was -Jeffrey Blackmore." - -There was deathly silence for a few moments. We were all absolutely -thunderstruck, and sat gaping at Thorndyke in speechless-astonishment. -Then--Mr. Winwood fairly bounced out of his chair. - -"But--my--good--sir!" he screeched. "Jeffrey Blackmore was with her at -the time!" - -"Naturally," replied Thorndyke, "my suggestion implies that the person -who was with her was not Jeffrey Blackmore." - -"But he was!" bawled Winwood. "The porter saw him!" - -"The porter saw a person whom he believed to be Jeffrey Blackmore. I -suggest that the porter's belief was erroneous." - -"Well," snapped Winwood, "perhaps you can prove that it was. I don't see -how you are going to; but perhaps you can." - -He subsided once more into his chair and glared defiantly at Thorndyke. - -"You seemed," said Stephen, "to suggest some connection between the sick -man, Graves, and my uncle. I noted it at the time, but put it aside as -impossible. Was I right. Did you mean to suggest any connection?" - -"I suggest something more than a connection. I suggest identity. My -position is that the sick man, Graves, was your uncle." - -"From Dr. Jervis's description," said Stephen, "this man must have been -very like my uncle. Both were blind in the right eye and had very poor -vision with the left; and my uncle certainly used brushes of the kind -that you have shown us, when writing in the Japanese character, for I -have watched him and admired his skill; but--" - -"But," said Marchmont, "there is the insuperable objection that, at the -very time when this man was lying sick in Kennington Lane, Mr. Jeffrey -was living at New Inn." - -"What evidence is there of that?" asked Thorndyke. - -"Evidence!" Marchmont exclaimed impatiently. "Why, my dear sir--" - -He paused suddenly, and, leaning forward, regarded Thorndyke with a new -and rather startled expression. - -"You mean to suggest--" he began. - -"I suggest that Jeffrey Blackmore never lived at New Inn at all." - -For the moment, Marchmont seemed absolutely paralysed by astonishment. - -"This is an amazing proposition!" he exclaimed, at length. "Yet the -thing is certainly not impossible, for, now that you recall the fact, I -realize that no one who had known him previously--excepting his brother, -John--ever saw him at the inn. The question of identity was never -raised." - -"Excepting," said Mr. Winwood, "in regard to the body; which was -certainly that of Jeffrey Blackmore." - -"Yes, yes. Of course," said Marchmont. "I had forgotten that for the -moment. The body was identified beyond doubt. You don't dispute the -identity of the body, do you?" - -"Certainly not," replied Thorndyke. - -Here Mr. Winwood grasped his hair with both hands and stuck his elbows -on his knees, while Marchmont drew forth a large handkerchief and mopped -his forehead. Stephen Blackmore looked from one to the other -expectantly, and finally said: - -"If I might make a suggestion, it would be that, as Dr. Thorndyke has -shown us the pieces now of the puzzle, he should be so kind as to put -them together for our information." - -"Yes," agreed Marchmont, "that will be the best plan. Let us have the -argument, Doctor, and any additional evidence that you possess." - -"The argument," said Thorndyke, "will be a rather long one, as the data -are so numerous, and there are some points in verification on which I -shall have to dwell in some detail. We will have some coffee to clear -our brains, and then I will bespeak your patience for what may seem like -a rather prolix demonstration." - - - - -Chapter XVI - -An Exposition and a Tragedy - - -"You may have wondered," Thorndyke commenced, when he had poured out the -coffee and handed round the cups, "what induced me to undertake the -minute investigation of so apparently simple and straightforward a case. -Perhaps I had better explain that first and let you see what was the -real starting-point of the inquiry. - -"When you, Mr. Marchmont and Mr. Stephen, introduced the case to me, I -made a very brief precis of the facts as you presented them, and of -these there were one or two which immediately attracted my attention. In -the first place, there was the will. It was a very strange will. It was -perfectly unnecessary. It contained no new matter; it expressed no -changed intentions; it met no new circumstances, as known to the -testator. In short it was not really a new will at all, but merely a -repetition of the first one, drafted in different and less suitable -language. It differed only in introducing a certain ambiguity from which -the original was free. It created the possibility that, in certain -circumstances, not known to or anticipated by the testator, John -Blackmore might become the principal beneficiary, contrary to the -obvious wishes of the testator. - -"The next point that impressed me was the manner of Mrs. Wilson's death. -She died of cancer. Now people do not die suddenly and unexpectedly of -cancer. This terrible disease stands almost alone in that it marks out -its victim months in advance. A person who has an incurable cancer is a -person whose death may be predicted with certainty and its date fixed -within comparatively narrow limits. - -"And now observe the remarkable series of coincidences that are brought -into light when we consider this peculiarity of the disease. Mrs. Wilson -died on the twelfth of March of this present year. Mr. Jeffrey's second -will was signed on the twelfth of November of last year; at a time, that -is to say, when the existence of cancer must have been known to Mrs. -Wilson's doctor, and might have been known to any of her relatives who -chose to inquire after her. - -"Then you will observe that the remarkable change in Mr. Jeffrey's -habits coincides in the most singular way with the same events. The -cancer must have been detectable as early as September of last year; -about the time, in fact, at which Mrs. Wilson made her will. Mr. Jeffrey -went to the inn at the beginning of October. From that time his habits -were totally changed, and I can demonstrate to you that a change--not a -gradual, but an abrupt change--took place in the character of his -signature. - -"In short, the whole of this peculiar set of circumstances--the change -in Jeffrey's habits, the change in his signature, and the execution of -his strange will--came into existence about the time when Mrs. Wilson -was first known to be suffering from cancer. - -"This struck me as a very suggestive fact. - -"Then there is the extraordinarily opportune date of Mr. Jeffrey's -death. Mrs. Wilson died on the twelfth of March. Mr. Jeffrey was found -dead on the fifteenth of March, having apparently died on the -fourteenth, on which day he was seen alive. If he had died only three -days sooner, he would have predeceased Mrs. Wilson, and her property -would never have devolved on him at all; while, if he had lived only a -day or two longer, he would have learned of her death and would -certainly have made a new will or codicil in his nephew's favour. - -"Circumstances, therefore, conspired in the most singular manner in -favour of John Blackmore. - -"But there is yet another coincidence. Jeffrey's body was found, by the -merest chance, the day after his death. But it might have remained -undiscovered for weeks, or even months; and if it had, it would have -been impossible to fix the date of his death. Then Mrs. Wilson's next -of kin would certainly have contested John Blackmore's claim--and -probably with success--on the ground that Jeffrey died before Mrs. -Wilson. But all this uncertainty is provided for by the circumstance -that Mr. Jeffrey paid his rent personally--and prematurely--to the -porter on the fourteenth of March, thus establishing beyond question the -fact that he was alive on that date; and yet further, in case the -porter's memory should be untrustworthy or his statement doubted, -Jeffrey furnished a signed and dated document--the cheque--which could -be produced in a court to furnish incontestable proof of survival. - -"To sum up this part of the evidence. Here was a will which enabled John -Blackmore to inherit the fortune of a man who, almost certainly, had no -intention of bequeathing it to him. The wording of that will seemed to -be adjusted to the peculiarities of Mrs. Wilson's disease; and the death -of the testator occurred under a peculiar set of circumstances which -seemed to be exactly adjusted to the wording of the will. Or, to put it -in another way: the wording of the will and the time, the manner and the -circumstances of the testator's death, all seemed to be precisely -adjusted to the fact that the approximate date of Mrs. Wilson's death -was known some months before it occurred. - -"Now you must admit that this compound group of coincidences, all -conspiring to a single end--the enrichment of John Blackmore--has a very -singular appearance. Coincidences are common enough in real life; but -we cannot accept too many at a time. My feeling was that there were too -many in this case and that I could not accept them without searching -inquiry." - -Thorndyke paused, and Mr. Marchmont, who had listened with close -attention, nodded, as he glanced at his silent partner. - -"You have stated the case with remarkable clearness," he said; "and I am -free to confess that some of the points that you have raised had escaped -my notice." - -"My first idea," Thorndyke resumed, "was that John Blackmore, taking -advantage of the mental enfeeblement produced by the opium habit, had -dictated this will to Jeffrey, It was then that I sought permission to -inspect Jeffrey's chambers; to learn what I could about him and to see -for myself whether they presented the dirty and disorderly appearance -characteristic of the regular opium-smoker's den. But when, during a -walk into the City, I thought over the case, it seemed to me that this -explanation hardly met the facts. Then I endeavoured to think of some -other explanation; and looking over my notes I observed two points that -seemed worth considering. One was that neither of the witnesses to the -will was really acquainted with Jeffrey Blackmore; both being strangers -who had accepted his identity on his own statement. The other was that -no one who had previously known him, with the single exception of his -brother John, had ever seen Jeffrey at the inn. - -"What was the import of these two facts? Probably they had none. But -still they suggested the desirability of considering the question: Was -the person who signed the will really Jeffrey Blackmore? The contrary -supposition--that some one had personated Jeffrey and forged his -signature to a false will--seemed wildly improbable, especially in view -of the identification of the body; but it involved no actual -impossibility; and it offered a complete explanation of the, otherwise -inexplicable, coincidences that I have mentioned. - -"I did not, however, for a moment, think that this was the true -explanation, but I resolved to bear it in mind, to test it when the -opportunity arose, and consider it by the light of any fresh facts that -I might acquire. - -"The new facts came sooner than I had expected. That same evening I went -with Dr. Jervis to New Inn and found Mr. Stephen in the chambers. By him -I was informed that Jeffrey was a learned Orientalist, with a quite -expert knowledge of the cuneiform writing; and even as he was telling me -this, I looked over his shoulder and saw a cuneiform inscription hanging -on the wall upside down. - -"Now, of this there could be only one reasonable explanation. -Disregarding the fact that no one would screw the suspension plates on a -frame without ascertaining which was the right way up, and assuming it -to be hung up inverted, it was impossible that the misplacement could -have been overlooked by Jeffrey. He was not blind, though his sight was -defective. The frame was thirty inches long and the individual -characters nearly an inch in length--about the size of the D 18 letters -of Snellen's test-types, which can be read by a person of ordinary sight -at a distance of fifty-five feet. There was, I repeat, only one -reasonable explanation; which was that the person who had inhabited -those chambers was not Jeffrey Blackmore. - -"This conclusion received considerable support from a fact which I -observed later, but mention in this place. On examining the soles of the -shoes taken from the dead man's feet, I found only the ordinary mud of -the streets. There was no trace of the peculiar gravelly mud that -adhered to my own boots and Jervis's, and which came from the square of -the inn. Yet the porter distinctly stated that the deceased, after -paying the rent, walked back towards his chambers across the square; the -mud of which should, therefore, have been conspicuous on his shoes. - -"Thus, in a moment, a wildly speculative hypothesis had assumed a high -degree of probability. - -"When Mr. Stephen was gone, Jervis and I looked over the chambers -thoroughly; and then another curious fact came to light. On the wall -were a number of fine Japanese colour-prints, all of which showed recent -damp-spots. Now, apart from the consideration that Jeffrey, who had been -at the trouble and expense of collecting these valuable prints, would -hardly have allowed them to rot on his walls, there arose the question: -How came they to be damp? There was a gas stove in the room, and a gas -stove has at least the virtue of preserving a dry atmosphere. It was -winter weather, when the stove would naturally be pretty constantly -alight. How came the walls to be so damp? The answer seemed to be that -the stove had not been constantly alight, but had been lighted only -occasionally. This suggestion was borne out by a further examination of -the rooms. In the kitchen there were practically no stores and hardly -any arrangements even for simple bachelor cooking; the bedroom offered -the same suggestion; the soap in the wash-stand was shrivelled and -cracked; there was no cast-off linen, and the shirts in the drawers, -though clean, had the peculiar yellowish, faded appearance that linen -acquires when long out of use. In short, the rooms had the appearance of -not having been lived in at all, but only visited at intervals. - -"Against this view, however, was the statement of the night porter that -he had often seen a light in Jeffrey's sitting-room at one o'clock in -the morning, with the apparent implication that it was then turned out. -Now a light may be left in an empty room, but its extinction implies the -presence of some person to extinguish it; unless some automatic device -be adopted for putting it out at a given time. Such a device--the alarm -movement of a clock, for instance, with a suitable attachment--is a -simple enough matter, but my search of the rooms failed to discover -anything of the kind. However, when looking over the drawers in the -bedroom, I came upon a large box that had held a considerable quantity -of hard stearine candles. There were only a few left, but a flat -candlestick with numerous wick-ends in its socket accounted for the -remainder. - -"These candles seemed to dispose of the difficulty. They were not -necessary for ordinary lighting, since gas was laid on in all three -rooms. For what purpose, then, were they used, and in such considerable -quantities? I subsequently obtained some of the same brand--Price's -stearine candles, six to the pound--and experimented with them. Each -candle was seven and a quarter inches in length, not counting the cone -at the top, and I found that they burned in still air at the rate of a -fraction over one inch in an hour. We may say that one of these candles -would burn in still air a little over six hours. It would thus be -possible for the person who inhabited these rooms to go away at seven -o'clock in the evening and leave a light which would burn until past one -in the morning and then extinguish itself. This, of course, was only -surmise, but it destroyed the significance of the night porter's -statement. - -"But, if the person who inhabited these chambers was not Jeffrey, who -was he? - -"The answer to that question seemed plain enough. There was only one -person who had a strong motive for perpetrating a fraud of this kind, -and there was only one person to whom it was possible. If this person -was not Jeffrey, he must have been very like Jeffrey; sufficiently like -for the body of the one to be mistaken for the body of the other. For -the production of Jeffrey's body was an essential part of the plan and -must have been contemplated from the first. But the only person who -fulfills the conditions is John Blackmore. - -"We have learned from Mr. Stephen that John and Jeffrey, though very -different in appearance in later years, were much alike as young men. -But when two brothers who are much alike as young men, become unlike in -later life, we shall find that the unlikeness is produced by superficial -differences and that the essential likeness remains. Thus, in the -present case, Jeffrey was clean shaved, had bad eyesight, wore -spectacles and stooped as he walked; John wore a beard and moustache, -had good eyesight, did not wear spectacles and had a brisk gait and -upright carriage. But supposing John to shave off his beard and -moustache, to put on spectacles and to stoop in his walk, these -conspicuous but superficial differences would vanish and the original -likeness reappear. - -"There is another consideration. John had been an actor and was an actor -of some experience. Now, any person can, with some care and practice, -make up a disguise; the great difficulty is to support that disguise by -a suitable manner and voice. But to an experienced actor this difficulty -does not exist. To him, personation is easy; and, moreover, an actor is -precisely the person to whom the idea of disguise and impersonation -would occur. - -"There is a small item bearing on this point, so small as to be hardly -worth calling evidence, but just worth noting. In the pocket of the -waistcoat taken from the body of Jeffrey I found the stump of a -'Contango' pencil; a pencil that is sold for the use of stock dealers -and brokers. Now John was an outside broker and might very probably have -used such a pencil, whereas Jeffrey had no connection with the stock -markets and there is no reason why he should have possessed a pencil of -this kind. But the fact is merely suggestive; it has no evidential -value. - -"A more important inference is to be drawn from the collected -signatures. I have remarked that the change in the signature occurred -abruptly, with one or two alterations of manner, last September, and -that there are two distinct forms with no intermediate varieties. This -is, in itself, remarkable and suspicious. But a remark made by Mr. -Britton furnishes a really valuable piece of evidence on the point we -are now considering. He admitted that the character of the signature had -undergone a change, but observed that the change did not affect the -individual or personal character of the writing. This is very important; -for handwriting is, as it were, an extension of the personality of the -writer. And just as a man to some extent snares his personality with his -near blood-relations in the form of family resemblances, so his -handwriting often shows a subtle likeness to that of his near relatives. -You must have noticed, as I have, how commonly the handwriting of one -brother resembles that of another, and in just this peculiar and subtle -way. The inference, then, from Mr. Britton's statement is, that if the -signature of the will was forged, it was probably forged by a relative -of the deceased. But the only relative in question is his brother John. - -"All the facts, therefore, pointed to John Blackmore as the person who -occupied these chambers, and I accordingly adopted that view as a -working hypothesis." - -"But this was all pure speculation," objected Mr. Winwood. - -"Not speculation," said Thorndyke. "Hypothesis. It was ordinary -inductive reasoning such as we employ in scientific research. I started -with the purely tentative hypothesis that the person who signed the will -was not Jeffrey Blackmore. I assumed this; and I may say that I did not -believe it at the time, but merely adopted it as a proposition that was -worth testing. I accordingly tested it, 'Yes?' or 'No?' with each new -fact; but as each new fact said 'Yes,' and no fact said definitely 'No,' -its probability increased rapidly by a sort of geometrical progression. -The probabilities multiplied into one another. It is a perfectly sound -method, for one knows that if a hypothesis be true, it will lead one, -sooner or later, to a crucial fact by which its truth can be -demonstrated. - -"To resume our argument. We have now set up the proposition that John -Blackmore was the tenant of New Inn and that he was personating Jeffrey. -Let us reason from this and see what it leads to. - -"If the tenant of New Inn was John, then Jeffrey must be elsewhere, -since his concealment at the inn was clearly impossible. But he could -not have been far away, for he had to be producible at short notice -whenever the death of Mrs. Wilson should make the production of his -body necessary. But if he was producible, his person must have been in -the possession or control of John. He could not have been at large, for -that would have involved the danger of his being seen and recognized. He -could not have been in any institution or place where he would be in -contact with strangers. Then he must be in some sort of confinement. But -it is difficult to keep an adult in confinement in an ordinary house. -Such a proceeding would involve great risk of discovery and the use of -violence which would leave traces on the body, to be observed and -commented on at the inquest. What alternative method could be suggested? - -"The most obvious method is that of keeping the prisoner in such a state -of debility as would confine him to his bed. But such debility could be -produced by only starvation, unsuitable food, or chronic poisoning. Of -these alternatives, poisoning is much more exact, more calculable in its -effect and more under control. The probabilities, then, were in favour -of chronic poisoning. - -"Having reached this stage, I recalled a singular case which Jervis had -mentioned to me and which seemed to illustrate this method. On our -return home I asked him for further particulars, and he then gave me a -very detailed description of the patient and the circumstances. The -upshot was rather startling. I had looked on his case as merely -illustrative, and wished to study it for the sake of the suggestions -that it might offer. But when I had heard his account, I began to -suspect that there was something more than mere parallelism of method. -It began to look as if his patient, Mr. Graves, might actually be -Jeffrey Blackmore. - -"The coincidences were remarkable. The general appearance of the patient -tallied completely with Mr. Stephen's description of his uncle Jeffrey. -The patient had a tremulous iris in his right eye and had clearly -suffered from dislocation of the crystalline lens. But from Mr. -Stephen's account of his uncle's sudden loss of sight in the right eye -after a fall, I judged that Jeffrey had also suffered from dislocation -of the lens and therefore had a tremulous iris in the right eye. The -patient, Graves, evidently had defective vision in his left eye, as -proved by the marks made behind his ears by the hooked side-bars of his -spectacles; for it is only on spectacles that are intended for constant -use that we find hooked side-bars. But Jeffrey had defective vision in -his left eye and wore spectacles constantly. Lastly, the patient Graves -was suffering from chronic morphine poisoning, and morphine was found in -the body of Jeffrey. - -"Once more, it appeared to me that there were too many coincidences. - -"The question as to whether Graves and Jeffrey were identical admitted -of fairly easy disproof; for if Graves was still alive, he could not be -Jeffrey. It was an important question and I resolved to test it without -delay. That night, Jervis and I plotted out the chart, and on the -following morning we located the house. But it was empty and to let. -The birds had flown, and we failed to discover whither they had gone. - -"However, we entered the house and explored. I have told you about the -massive bolts and fastenings that we found on the bedroom doors and -window, showing that the room had been used as a prison. I have told you -of the objects that we picked out of the dust-heap under the grate. Of -the obvious suggestion offered by the Japanese brush and the bottle of -'spirit gum' or cement, I need not speak now; but I must trouble you -with some details concerning the broken spectacles. For here we had come -upon the crucial fact to which, as I have said, all sound inductive -reasoning brings one sooner or later. - -"The spectacles were of a rather peculiar pattern. The frames were of -the type invented by Mr. Stopford of Moorfields and known by his name. -The right eye-piece was fitted with plain glass, as is usual in the case -of a blind, or useless, eye. It was very much shattered, but its -character was obvious. The glass of the left eye was much thicker and -fortunately less damaged, so that I was able accurately to test its -refraction. - -"When I reached home, I laid the pieces of the spectacles together, -measured the frames very carefully, tested the left eye-glass, and wrote -down a full description such as would have been given by the surgeon to -the spectacle-maker. Here it is, and I will ask you to note it -carefully. - -"'Spectacles for constant use. Steel frame, Stopford's pattern, curl -sides, broad bridge with gold lining. Distance between centres, 6.2 -centimetres; extreme length of side-bars, 13.3 centimetres. - -"'Right eye plain glass. - -"'Left eye -5.75 D. spherical - ------------------- - -3.25 D. cylindrical axis 35 deg..' - -"The spectacles, you see, were of a very distinctive character and -seemed to offer a good chance of identification. Stopford's frames are, -I believe, made by only one firm of opticians in London, Parry & Cuxton -of Regent Street. I therefore wrote to Mr. Cuxton, who knows me, asking -him if he had supplied spectacles to the late Jeffrey Blackmore, -Esq.--here is a copy of my letter--and if so, whether he would mind -letting me have a full description of them, together with the name of -the oculist who prescribed them. - -"He replied in this letter, which is pinned to the copy of mine, that, -about four years ago, he supplied a pair of glasses to Mr. Jeffrey -Blackmore, and described them thus: 'The spectacles were for constant -use and had steel frames of Stopford's pattern with curl sides, the -length of the side-bars including the curled ends being 13.3 cm. The -bridge was broad with a gold lining-plate, shaped as shown by the -enclosed tracing from the diagram on the prescription. Distance between -centres 6.2 cm. - -"'Right eye plain glass. - -"'Left eye -5.75 D. spherical - ------------------- - -3.25 D. cylindrical, axis 35 deg..' - -"'The spectacles were prescribed by Mr. Hindley of Wimpole Street.' - -"You see that Mr. Cuxton's description is identical with mine. However, -for further confirmation, I wrote to Mr. Hindley, asking certain -questions, to which he replied thus: - -"'You are quite right. Mr. Jeffrey Blackmore had a tremulous iris in his -right eye (which was practically blind), due to dislocation of the lens. -The pupils were rather large; certainly not contracted.' - -"Here, then, we have three important facts. One is that the spectacles -found by us at Kennington Lane were undoubtedly Jeffrey's; for it is as -unlikely that there exists another pair of spectacles exactly identical -with those as that there exists another face exactly like Jeffrey's -face. The second fact is that the description of Jeffrey tallies -completely with that of the sick man, Graves, as given by Dr. Jervis; -and the third is that when Jeffrey was seen by Mr. Hindley, there was no -sign of his being addicted to the taking of morphine. The first and -second facts, you will agree, constitute complete identification." - -"Yes," said Marchmont; "I think we must admit the identification as -being quite conclusive, though the evidence is of a kind that is more -striking to the medical than to the legal mind." - -"You will not have that complaint to make against the next item of -evidence," said Thorndyke. "It is after the lawyer's own heart, as you -shall hear. A few days ago I wrote to Mr. Stephen asking him if he -possessed a recent photograph of his uncle Jeffrey. He had one, and he -sent it to me by return. This portrait I showed to Dr. Jervis and asked -him if he had ever seen the person it represented. After examining it -attentively, without any hint whatever from me, he identified it as the -portrait of the sick man, Graves." - -"Indeed!" exclaimed Marchmont. "This is most important. Are you prepared -to swear to the identity, Dr. Jervis?" - -"I have not the slightest doubt," I replied, "that the portrait is that -of Mr. Graves." - -"Excellent!" said Marchmont, rubbing his hands gleefully; "this will be -much more convincing to a jury. Pray go on, Dr. Thorndyke." - -"That," said Thorndyke, "completes the first part of my investigation. -We had now reached a definite, demonstrable fact; and that fact, as you -see, disposed at once of the main question--the genuineness of the will. -For if the man at Kennington Lane was Jeffrey Blackmore, then the man at -New Inn was not. But it was the latter who had signed the will. -Therefore the will was not signed by Jeffrey Blackmore; that is to say, -it was a forgery. The case was complete for the purposes of the civil -proceedings; the rest of my investigations had reference to the criminal -prosecution that was inevitable. Shall I proceed, or is your interest -confined to the will?" - -"Hang the will!" exclaimed Stephen. "I want to hear how you propose to -lay hands on the villain who murdered poor old uncle Jeffrey--for I -suppose he did murder him?" - -"I think there is no doubt of it," replied Thorndyke. - -"Then," said Marchmont, "we will hear the rest of the argument, if you -please." - -"Very well," said Thorndyke. "As the evidence stands, we have proved -that Jeffrey Blackmore was a prisoner in the house in Kennington Lane -and that some one was personating him at New Inn. That some one, we have -seen, was, in all probability, John Blackmore. We now have to consider -the man Weiss. Who was he? and can we connect him in any way with New -Inn? - -"We may note in passing that Weiss and the coachman were apparently one -and the same person. They were never seen together. When Weiss was -present, the coachman was not available even for so urgent a service as -the obtaining of an antidote to the poison. Weiss always appeared some -time after Jervis's arrival and disappeared some time before his -departure, in each case sufficiently long to allow of a change of -disguise. But we need not labour the point, as it is not of primary -importance. - -"To return to Weiss. He was clearly heavily disguised, as we see by his -unwillingness to show himself even by the light of a candle. But there -is an item of positive evidence on this point which is important from -having other bearings. It is furnished by the spectacles worn by Weiss, -of which you have heard Jervis's description. These spectacles had very -peculiar optical properties. When you looked <i>through</i> them they had the -properties of plain glass; when you looked <i>at</i> them they had the -appearance of lenses. But only one kind of glass possesses these -properties; namely, that which, like an ordinary watch-glass, has -curved, parallel surfaces. But for what purpose could a person wear -'watch-glass' spectacles? Clearly, not to assist his vision. The only -alternative is disguise. - -"The properties of these spectacles introduce a very curious and -interesting feature into the case. To the majority of persons, the -wearing of spectacles for the purpose of disguise or personation, seems -a perfectly simple and easy proceeding. But, to a person of normal -eyesight, it is nothing of the kind. For, if he wears spectacles suited -for long sight he cannot see distinctly through them at all; while, if -he wears concave, or near sight, glasses, the effort to see through them -produces such strain and fatigue that his eyes become disabled -altogether. On the stage the difficulty is met by using spectacles of -plain window-glass, but in real life this would hardly do; the -'property' spectacles would be detected at once and give rise to -suspicion. - -"The personator is therefore in this dilemma: if he wears actual -spectacles, he cannot see through them; if he wears sham spectacles of -plain glass, his disguise will probably be detected. There is only one -way out of the difficulty, and that not a very satisfactory one; but Mr. -Weiss seems to have adopted it in lieu of a better. It is that of using -watch-glass spectacles such as I have described. - -"Now, what do we learn from these very peculiar glasses? In the first -place they confirm our opinion that Weiss was wearing a disguise. But, -for use in a room so very dimly lighted, the ordinary stage spectacles -would have answered quite well. The second inference is, then, that -these spectacles were prepared to be worn under more trying conditions -of light--out of doors, for instance. The third inference is that Weiss -was a man with normal eyesight; for otherwise he could have worn real -spectacles suited to the state of his vision. - -"These are inferences by the way, to which we may return. But these -glasses furnish a much more important suggestion. On the floor of the -bedroom at New Inn I found some fragments of glass which had been -trodden on. By joining one or two of them together, we have been able to -make out the general character of the object of which they formed parts. -My assistant--who was formerly a watch-maker--judged that object to be -the thin crystal glass of a lady's watch, and this, I think, was -Jervis's opinion. But the small part which remains of the original edge -furnishes proof in two respects that this was not a watch-glass. In the -first place, on taking a careful tracing of this piece of the edge, I -found that its curve was part of an ellipse; but watch-glasses, -nowadays, are invariably circular. In the second place, watch-glasses -are ground on the edge to a single bevel to snap into the bezel or -frame; but the edge of this object was ground to a double bevel, like -the edge of a spectacle-glass, which fits into a groove in the frame and -is held by the side-bar screw. The inevitable inference was that this -was a spectacle-glass. But, if so, it was part of a pair of spectacles -identical in properties with those worn by Mr. Weiss. - -"The importance of this conclusion emerges when we consider the -exceptional character of Mr. Weiss's spectacles. They were not merely -peculiar or remarkable; they were probably unique. It is exceedingly -likely that there is not in the entire world another similar pair of -spectacles. Whence the finding of these fragments of glass in the -bedroom establishes a considerable probability that Mr. Weiss was, at -some time, in the chambers at New Inn. - -"And now let us gather up the threads of this part of the argument. We -are inquiring into the identity of the man Weiss. Who was he? - -"In the first place, we find him committing a secret crime from which -John Blackmore alone will benefit. This suggests the <i>prima-facie</i> -probability that he was John Blackmore. - -"Then we find that he was a man of normal eyesight who was wearing -spectacles for the purpose of disguise. But the tenant of New Inn, whom -we have seen to be, almost certainly, John Blackmore--and whom we will, -for the present, assume to have been John Blackmore--was a man with -normal eyesight who wore spectacles for disguise. - -"John Blackmore did not reside at New Inn, but at some place within -easy reach of it. But Weiss resided at a place within easy reach of New -Inn. - -"John Blackmore must have had possession and control of the person of -Jeffrey. But Weiss had possession and control of the person of Jeffrey. - -"Weiss wore spectacles of a certain peculiar and probably unique -character. But portions of such spectacles were found in the chambers at -New Inn. - -"The overwhelming probability, therefore, is that Weiss and the tenant -of New Inn were one and the same person; and that that person was John -Blackmore." - -"That," said Mr. Winwood, "is a very plausible argument. But, you -observe, sir, that it contains an undistributed middle term." - -Thorndyke smiled genially. I think he forgave Winwood everything for -that remark. - -"You are quite right, sir," he said. "It does. And, for that reason, the -demonstration is not absolute. But we must not forget, what logicians -seem occasionally to overlook: that the 'undistributed middle,' while it -interferes with absolute proof, may be quite consistent with a degree of -probability that approaches very near to certainty. Both the Bertillon -system and the English fingerprint system involve a process of reasoning -in which the middle term is undistributed. But the great probabilities -are accepted in practice as equivalent to certainties." - -Mr. Winwood grunted a grudging assent, and Thorndyke resumed: - -"We have now furnished fairly conclusive evidence on three heads: we -have proved that the sick man, Graves, was Jeffrey Blackmore; that the -tenant of New Inn was John Blackmore; and that the man Weiss was also -John Blackmore. We now have to prove that John and Jeffrey were together -in the chambers at New Inn on the night of Jeffrey's death. - -"We know that two persons, and two persons only, came from Kennington -Lane to New Inn. But one of those persons was the tenant of New -Inn--that is, John Blackmore. Who was the other? Jeffrey is known by us -to have been at Kennington Lane. His body was found on the following -morning in the room at New Inn. No third person is known to have come -from Kennington Lane; no third person is known to have arrived at New -Inn. The inference, by exclusion, is that the second person--the -woman--was Jeffrey. - -"Again; Jeffrey had to be brought from Kennington to the inn by John. -But John was personating Jeffrey and was made up to resemble him very -closely. If Jeffrey were undisguised the two men would be almost exactly -alike; which would be very noticeable in any case and suspicious after -the death of one of them. Therefore Jeffrey would have to be disguised -in some way; and what disguise could be simpler and more effective than -the one that I suggest was used? - -"Again; it was unavoidable that some one--the cabman--should know that -Jeffrey was not alone when he came to the inn that night. If the fact -had leaked out and it had become known that a man had accompanied him to -his chambers, some suspicion might have arisen, and that suspicion would -have pointed to John, who was directly interested in his brother's -death. But if it had transpired that Jeffrey was accompanied by a woman, -there would have been less suspicion, and that suspicion would not have -pointed to John Blackmore. - -"Thus all the general probabilities are in favour of the hypothesis that -this woman was Jeffrey Blackmore. There is, however, an item of positive -evidence that strongly supports this view. When I examined the clothing -of the deceased, I found on the trousers a horizontal crease on each leg -as if the trousers had been turned up half-way to the knees. This -appearance is quite understandable if we suppose that the trousers were -worn under a skirt and were turned up so that they should not be -accidentally seen. Otherwise it is quite incomprehensible." - -"Is it not rather strange," said Marchmont, "that Jeffrey should have -allowed himself to be dressed up in this remarkable manner?" - -"I think not," replied Thorndyke. "There is no reason to suppose that he -knew how he was dressed. You have heard Jervis's description of his -condition; that of a mere automaton. You know that without his -spectacles he was practically blind, and that he could not have worn -them since we found them at the house in Kennington Lane. Probably his -head was wrapped up in the veil, and the skirt and mantle put on -afterwards; but, in any case, his condition rendered him practically -devoid of will power. That is all the evidence I have to prove that the -unknown woman was Jeffrey. It is not conclusive but it is convincing -enough for our purpose, seeing that the case against John Blackmore does -not depend upon it." - -"Your case against him is on the charge of murder, I presume?" said -Stephen. - -"Undoubtedly. And you will notice that the statements made by the -supposed Jeffrey to the porter, hinting at suicide, are now important -evidence. By the light of what we know, the announcement of intended -suicide becomes the announcement of intended murder. It conclusively -disproves what it was intended to prove; that Jeffrey died by his own -hand." - -"Yes, I see that," said Stephen, and then after a pause he asked: "Did -you identify Mrs. Schallibaum? You have told us nothing about her." - -"I have considered her as being outside the case as far as I am -concerned," replied Thorndyke. "She was an accessory; my business was -with the principal. But, of course, she will be swept up in the net. The -evidence that convicts John Blackmore will convict her. I have not -troubled about her identity. If John Blackmore is married, she is -probably his wife. Do you happen to know if he is married?" - -"Yes; but Mrs. John Blackmore is not much like Mrs. Schallibaum, -excepting that she has a cast in the left eye. She is a dark woman with -very heavy eyebrows." - -"That is to say that she differs from Mrs. Schallibaum in those -peculiarities that can be artificially changed and resembles her in the -one feature that is unchangeable. Do you know if her Christian name -happens to be Pauline?" - -"Yes, it is. She was a Miss Pauline Hagenbeck, a member of an American -theatrical company. What made you ask?" - -"The name which Jervis heard poor Jeffrey struggling to pronounce seemed -to me to resemble Pauline more than any other name." - -"There is one little point that strikes me," said Marchmont. "Is it not -rather remarkable that the porter should have noticed no difference -between the body of Jeffrey and the living man whom he knew by sight, -and who must, after all, have been distinctly different in appearance?" - -"I am glad you raised that question," Thorndyke replied, "for that very -difficulty presented itself to me at the beginning of the case. But on -thinking it over, I decided that it was an imaginary difficulty, -assuming, as we do, that there was a good deal of resemblance between -the two men. Put yourself in the porter's place and follow his mental -processes. He is informed that a dead man is lying on the bed in Mr. -Blackmore's rooms. Naturally, he assumes that the dead man is Mr. -Blackmore--who, by the way, had hinted at suicide only the night before. -With this idea he enters the chambers and sees a man a good deal like -Mr. Blackmore and wearing Mr. Blackmore's clothes, lying on Mr. -Blackmore's bed. The idea that the body could be that of some other -person has never entered his mind. If he notes any difference of -appearance he will put that down to the effects of death; for every one -knows that a man dead looks somewhat different from the same man alive. -I take it as evidence of great acuteness on the part of John Blackmore -that he should have calculated so cleverly, not only the mental process -of the porter, but the erroneous reasoning which every one would base on -the porter's conclusions. For, since the body was actually Jeffrey's, -and was identified by the porter as that of his tenant, it has been -assumed by every one that no question was possible as to the identity of -Jeffrey Blackmore and the tenant of New Inn." - -There was a brief silence, and then Marchmont asked: - -"May we take it that we have now heard all the evidence?" - -"Yes," replied Thorndyke. "That is my case." - -"Have you given information to the police?" Stephen asked eagerly. - -"Yes. As soon as I had obtained the statement of the cabman, Ridley, and -felt that I had enough evidence to secure a conviction, I called at -Scotland Yard and had an interview with the Assistant Commissioner. The -case is in the hands of Superintendent Miller of the Criminal -Investigation Department, a most acute and energetic officer. I have -been expecting to hear that the warrant has been executed, for Mr. -Miller is usually very punctilious in keeping me informed of the -progress of the cases to which I introduce him. We shall hear to-morrow, -no doubt." - -"And, for the present," said Marchmont, "the case seems to have passed -out of our hands." - -"I shall enter a caveat, all the same," said Mr. Winwood. - -"That doesn't seem very necessary," Marchmont objected. "The evidence -that we have heard is amply sufficient to ensure a conviction and there -will be plenty more when the police go into the case. And a conviction -on the charges of forgery and murder would, of course, invalidate the -second will." - -"I shall enter a caveat, all the same," repeated Mr. Winwood. - -As the two partners showed a disposition to become heated over this -question, Thorndyke suggested that they might discuss it at leisure by -the light of subsequent events. Acting on this hint--for it was now -close upon midnight--our visitors prepared to depart; and were, in fact, -just making their way towards the door when the bell rang. Thorndyke -flung open the door, and, as he recognized his visitor, greeted him with -evident satisfaction. - -"Ha! Mr. Miller; we were just speaking of you. These gentlemen are Mr. -Stephen Blackmore and his solicitors, Mr. Marchmont and Mr. Winwood. You -know Dr. Jervis, I think." - -The officer bowed to our friends and remarked: - -"I am just in time, it seems. A few minutes more and I should have -missed these gentlemen. I don't know what you'll think of my news." - -"You haven't let that villain escape, I hope," Stephen exclaimed. - -"Well," said the Superintendent, "he is out of my hands and yours too; -and so is the woman. Perhaps I had better tell you what has happened." - -"If you would be so kind," said Thorndyke, motioning the officer to a -chair. - -The superintendent seated himself with the manner of a man who has had a -long and strenuous day, and forthwith began his story. - -"As soon as we had your information, we procured a warrant for the -arrest of both parties, and then I went straight to their flat with -Inspector Badger and a sergeant. There we learned from the attendant -that they were away from home and were not expected back until to-day -about noon. We kept a watch on the premises, and this morning, about the -time appointed, a man and a woman, answering to the description, arrived -at the flat. We followed them in and saw them enter the lift, and we -were going to get into the lift too, when the man pulled the rope, and -away they went. There was nothing for us to do but run up the stairs, -which we did as fast as we could race; but they got to their landing -first, and we were only just in time to see them nip in and shut the -door. However, it seemed that we had them safe enough, for there was no -dropping out of the windows at that height; so we sent the sergeant to -get a locksmith to pick the lock or force the door, while we kept on -ringing the bell. - -"About three minutes after the sergeant left, I happened to look out of -the landing window and saw a hansom pull up opposite the flats. I put my -head out of the window, and, hang me if I didn't see our two friends -getting into the cab. It seems that there was a small lift inside the -flat communicating with the kitchen, and they had slipped down it one at -a time. - -"Well, of course, we raced down the stairs like acrobats, but by the -time we got to the bottom the cab was off with a fine start. We ran out -into Victoria Street, and there we could see it half-way down the street -and going like a chariot race. We managed to pick up another hansom and -told the cabby to keep the other one in sight, and away we went like the -very deuce; along Victoria Street and Broad Sanctuary, across Parliament -Square, over Westminster Bridge and along York Road; we kept the other -beggar in sight, but we couldn't gain an inch on him. Then we turned -into Waterloo Station, and, as we were driving up the slope we met -another hansom coming down; and when the cabby kissed his hand and -smiled at us, we guessed that he was the sportsman we had been -following. - -"But there was no time to ask questions. It is an awkward station with a -lot of different exits, and it looked a good deal as if our quarry had -got away. However, I took a chance. I remembered that the Southampton -express was due to start about this time, and I took a short cut across -the lines and made for the platform that it starts from. Just as Badger -and I got to the end, about thirty yards from the rear of the train, we -saw a man and a woman running in front of us. Then the guard blew his -whistle and the train began to move. The man and the woman managed to -scramble into one of the rear compartments and Badger and I raced up the -platform like mad. A porter tried to head us off, but Badger capsized -him and we both sprinted harder than ever, and just hopped on the -foot-board of the guard's van as the train began to get up speed. The -guard couldn't risk putting us off, so he had to let us into his van, -which suited us exactly, as we could watch the train on both sides from -the look-out. And we did watch, I can tell you; for our friend in front -had seen us. His head was out of the window as we climbed on to the -foot-board. - -"However, nothing happened until we stopped at Southampton West. There, -I need not say, we lost no time in hopping out, for we naturally -expected our friends to make a rush for the exit. But they didn't. -Badger watched the platform, and I kept a look-out to see that they -didn't slip away across the line from the off-side. But still there was -no sign of them. Then I walked up the train to the compartment which I -had seen them enter. And there they were, apparently fast asleep in the -corner by the off-side window, the man leaning back with his mouth open -and the woman resting against him with her head on his shoulder. She -gave me quite a turn when I went in to look at them, for she had her -eyes half-closed and seemed to be looking round at me with a most -horrible expression; but I found afterwards that the peculiar appearance -of looking round was due to the cast in her eye." - -"They were dead, I suppose?" said Thorndyke. - -"Yes, sir. Stone dead; and I found these on the floor of the carriage." - -He held up two tiny yellow glass tubes, each labelled "Hypodermic -tabloids. Aconitine Nitrate gr. 1/640." - -"Ha!" exclaimed Thorndyke, "this fellow was well up in alkaloidal -poisons, it seems; and they appear to have gone about prepared for -emergencies. These tubes each contained twenty tabloids, a thirty-second -of a grain altogether, so we may assume that about twelve times the -medicinal dose was swallowed. Death must have occurred in a few minutes, -and a merciful death too." - -"A more merciful death than they deserved," exclaimed Stephen, "when one -thinks of the misery and suffering that they inflicted on poor old uncle -Jeffrey. I would sooner have had them hanged." - -"It's better as it is, sir," said Miller. "There is no need, now, to -raise any questions in detail at the inquest. The publicity of a trial -for murder would have been very unpleasant for you. I wish Dr. Jervis -had given the tip to me instead of to that confounded, -over-cautious--but there, I mustn't run down my brother officers: and -it's easy to be wise after the event. - -"Good night, gentlemen. I suppose this accident disposes of your -business as far as the will is concerned?" - -"I suppose it does," agreed Mr. Winwood. "But I shall enter a caveat, -all the same." - - -THE END - - - - - - - - -End of Project Gutenberg's The Mystery of 31 New Inn, by R. 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