Edgar Wallace

“ Here the doctor broke down.
"A distant shore," said Manfred, recalling the prisoner's passionate words. "You can do a lot with sixty-three thousand pounds on a distant shore."
The eyes of Leon danced with suppressed merriment.
"It grieves me, George, to hear such cynicism. Have you forgotten that the poor of Devonshire are even now planning how the money will be spent?"
Manfred made a noise of contempt, and resumed his reading, but his companion had not finished with the subject.
"I should like to meet Twenden," he said reflectively. "Would you care to go to Newton Abbot, George? ”

“ Three houses removed from the corner house where Doctor Twenden was in residence he discovered furnished lodgings were to let.
A kindly rosy-faced Devonshire woman was the landlady, and they were the only tenants, her husband being a gunner on one of His Majesty's ships, and he was at sea. She showed them a bright sitting-room and two bedrooms on the same floor. Manfred ordered tea, and when the door closed on the woman, he turned to behold Leon standing by the window gazing intently at the palm of his left hand, which was enclosed, as was the other, in a grey silk glove. ”

“ Unless we can secure evidence which did not come before the Court, we cannot act on suspicion."
Leon nodded.
"But if we prove it," he said softly, "I promise you, Manfred, a most wonderful scheme."
That afternoon he called upon his friend, Mr. Fare of Scotland Yard, and when the Commissioner heard his request, he was less surprised than amused.
"I was wondering how long it would be before you wanted to see our prisons, Señor," he said. "I can arrange that with the Commissioners. What prison would you like to see?"
"I wish to see a typical county prison," said Leon. "What about Baxeter?" ”

“ Ferri, who questioned 200 Italian murderers, found that they were all devout: Naples, which is the most religious city in Europe, is also the most criminal. Ten per cent. of those inmates of British prisons who are tattooed are marked with religious symbols."
"Which only means that when a man of low intelligence submits to the tattoo artist, he demands pictures of the things with which he is familiar," said Manfred, and took up the paper he was reading. Suddenly he dropped the journal on his knees.
"You're thinking of Dr. Twenden," he said and Leon inclined his head slowly. ”

“ Leon woke with a start from his reverie.
"We must first prove that this fellow is guilty," he said, "and we'll have to start on that job to-night. I wonder if our good landlady has a garden."
The good landlady had one. It stretched out for two hundred yards at the back of the house, and Leon made a survey and was satisfied.
"The doctor's place?" he asked innocently, as the landlady pointed out this object of interest. "Not the man who was tried at Baxeter?"
"The very man," said the woman triumphantly. ”

“ Leon had discovered that his key could not open yet another door. He had slipped into the prison van when the warders were searching the train, and had found some difficulty in getting out again. No men were coming from London, as he knew, but he was desperately in need of that Black Maria. ”

“ He's got all the money in a Torquay bank. It was transferred from Newton Abbot a few days ago and was the talk of the town. Go to Plymouth, interview young Jacley, see his lawyer, if he has one, or any lawyer if he hasn't, and if the two thousand pounds has not been paid, get him to apply for a warrant for Twenden's arrest. He is an absconding trustee under those circumstances, and the Justices will grant the warrant if they know the man is leaving by the Rotterdam tomorrow."
"If you were an ordinary man, Leon," said Manfred, "I should think that your revenge was a little inadequate." ”

“ Leon rejoined his companion on the railway station just in time to catch the Plymouth express which would carry them to Newton Abbot.
"A thoroughly satisfactory visit," said Leon. "In fact, it is the most amazingly convenient prison I have ever been in."
"Convenient to get into or convenient to get away from?" asked Manfred. ”

“ He frowned.
"This was pushed through the letter-box on the morning of the 16th," he said slowly. "Mrs. Twenden was injected on the evening of the 15th. The 16th was a Sunday, and there's an early post. Don't you see, Manfred?"
Manfred nodded.
"Obviously he could not have injected serum because he had none to inject, and this arrived when his wife was dying. It is, of course, untouched."
He took out a tiny tube and tapped the seal.
"H'm," said Leon, "I shall want that key after all. Do you remember, Manfred, he did not inject on Wednesday: why? because he had no serum. ”

“ Like every other clever criminal he has made one of the most stupid of blunders. He has inherited his wife's money under an old will, which left him all her possessions, with the exception of £2,000 which she had on deposit at the bank, and this went to her nephew, the Plymouth engineer. In his greed Twenden is pretty certain to have forgotten this legacy. ”

“ He tried lo wriggle his arm away.
"You will recognise the value of a hypodermic syringe, you better than any," said the voice of Gonsalez in his ear. "You murdered an innocent woman, and you evaded the law. A few days ago you spoke of the Four Just Men. I am one of them!" ”