J. S. Fletcher

“ Campenhaye, you don’t think she did this—you don’t?”
“That is exactly what I do think then, Major Valentine!” I replied. “What else can I think? You tell me that you have jilted this lady—you tell me that she is of an exceedingly jealous temperament. Jealousy and revenge usually go hand in hand. I naturally conclude that she inclined to revenge. Then you tell me that she is an expert on poison—and I am already aware that she sent the grapes to Vienna Mansions. It will not take much to convince a jury of her guilt, I think.” ”

“ Miss Braye’s flat—a large and commodious one—was a scene of unusual activity. There were several police officials there; there were two doctors; and there was my friend, Inspector Wyemond, from Scotland Yard, who smiled at the sight of me and presently drew me aside. In a quiet corner he tapped me familiarly on the arm.
“This is a case of much ado about nothing, Mr. Campenhaye,” he whispered. “I think Major Valentine must have lost his head in sending for us. There seems no doubt that the poor girl died from natural causes—heart failure. ”

“ I drew Major Valentine a little out of the crowd of pedestrians.
“Listen!” I said. “The woman who dropped that medallion in the shop where you have just seen it is the woman who sent the muscats to Miss Braye!”
That I was yet to learn more from Major Valentine I was assured by the effect of this announcement. He turned white to his lips, and, big and strong man though he was, he staggered a little, and put out his right hand as if to find some support.
“My God!” he exclaimed. “I—I was engaged to Honoria Allison!” ”

“ I always have some live stock here, as you know, for experiments. Well, I threw one of your beautiful grapes to a dog who would snatch at anything; he just lay down and died in exactly thirty seconds. Then I drew off the juice of another grape and injected it into a rabbit; he died in precisely seventeen seconds. Since then——”
“For God’s sake, sir, stop!” exclaimed Major Valentine. “Campenhaye, let’s get out—let me, at any rate, get out of this. I can’t stand it!” ”

“ The girl stared at me in astonishment.
“I’m certain there wasn’t, sir,” she exclaimed. “I’d only just left it after laying the table for lunch. Besides, nobody could have come into the flat unless I’d let them in—that is, except Mrs. and Miss Bray with their keys. And this morning I only answered the door twice.”
“Who came?” I asked her.
“Nobody came, sir,” she replied, “at least, nobody to come in. One was a telegram for Major Valentine; the other was a fruiterer’s boy with those grapes.” ”

“ I continued; “that is, up to the time of telephoning to me.”
“Well,” he said, “when we saw that we could not resuscitate Felicie I telephoned for a doctor. Then I telephoned to Tottenham Court Road police-station for the police. Presently I sent for you.”
“I quite understand your sending for a doctor,” I said. “That is what everybody does in such circumstances. But I do not understand your sending for the police. That is what one does not do in such circumstances—as a rule. Now, Major Valentine, is it not the fact that as soon as you discovered that the maid was dead you suspected foul play?” ”

“ Vienna Mansions is where Miss Hermione Braye lives. I hope she is not murdered.”
But all doubt on that point was set at rest when the taxi put me down at the chief entrance to the flats, where Major Valentine was awaiting me. He hurried me off to the lift.
“It’s most kind of you to come so quickly, Mr. Campenhaye!” he exclaimed. “There are the police here, and some Scotland Yard men, and police surgeons—but I wanted you. ”

“ He was a big, muscular man, and I had heard of daring deeds of his during the South African War; but he was now trembling and shaken, and heavy beads of sweat were gathered on his forehead—in fact, he showed all signs of intense fear. ”

“ Campenhaye, quite right; though how you thought of it I’m hanged if I know.”
“I’m afraid you might easily be hanged, Major,” I said. “Now, then, answer me straight out—who is the other woman?”
This direct question made him jump to his feet, turn very red, and stare at me as if I were something superhuman.
“The—other—woman!” he exclaimed. “The——”
“Shall I tell you what really is in your mind, Major Valentine?” I said, interrupting him. “What is there is the consciousness that there is another woman whom you may or may not have jilted in favour of Miss Braye ”

“ Allison, had in his time been the leading expert on toxicology. What mystery was this? What had Honoria, who was obviously his daughter, to do with Miss Braye and Major Valentine?
I got on to the telephone at once. Major Valentine was still at Vienna Mansions. Within twenty minutes he joined me under the church clock in Covent Garden, and I gave him some instructions.
“Just walk down the right-hand side of the arcade, Major,” I said. “You will come to a shop in the middle of which a medallion portrait is hanging. ”

“ THE COVENT GARDEN FRUIT SHOP. IT was two o’clock on a dull day in January. My faithful clerk, Killingley, was out; consequently, when the telephone bell began ringing furiously in the outer office I was obliged to respond to it myself. As I crossed the floor I expressed a firm wish that the call might not necessitate my immediate attendance anywhere, for I was hungry, and was on the point of setting off to the Ritz for lunch. But no man knows what he is going to hear when he picks up the receiver of a telephone.
“This is Mr. Campenhaye,” I said. ”

“ And they are adepts at poison, you know. I thought that the Bianchi might—might be up to all sorts of games—eh? Poison the wine, you know, or——”
“Or the brandy, or the whisky,” I said rising. “Very good. Now, Major Valentine, don’t say a word of what we have talked about to a soul. And, to be practical, look in that cupboard and find me an empty biscuit-box. There is one? That’s good! Now, you may be mystified; but, you see, I put these grapes—which are muscats from Alexandria—in the box, and I now proceed to seal the box—thus. ”