L. T. Meade

“ He is a man of undoubted ability and fascination,” he made the last remark slowly, and with a peculiar smile hovering round the corners of his mouth. The next instant we both turned our heads; there was a light step on the grass behind us. Kort came up.
“I just came out to tell you, Ridley,” he said, “that the Dolphin's price has come through on the tape. Twenty to one.”
“Twenty, to one!” cried Ridley, bis whole face undergoing a magical change. “By Jove! that's splendid; they're a smart clique in Russell's stables. ”

“ The patients seem to be all in pretty good health, just now, and you can surely be spared.”
“I will see,” I answered; “if Chetwynd stays here I can go with you.” I rose as I spoke and went indoors. I felt considerably disturbed, and the more so as I could not confide my suspicions to anyone. It was evident that Ridley did know something to Kort's discredit—something upon which the man's position, perhaps even his liberty, depended. The whole thing was mysterious and unsatisfactory, and the most trying part of it was that, beyond doubt, Kort's young wife was involved in the affair. ”

“ The slightest excitement is bad for her. She suffers from a curious affection of the brain, which came on shortly after our marriage. She is very sweet and gentle, and sympathetic, and I am sure you will like her, but there are times when she cannot appear in public. Nothing gives her such relief as living in high altitudes, and I am anxious that she should have her own private suite of rooms in our Davos wing. As you know, the altitude there is 7,000ft., equal to half-way up Mont Blanc—there is no one in the Davos wing at present. ”

“ He was found by one of the gardeners, who came running to tell me.”
“Poor fellow,” said Kort, “that accursed racing. Fool that I was to let him go alone! I feared it, Cato, and told you so. It is too dreadful.”
“I have sent for the police,” said Chetwynd; “you had both better come down with me, the inspector will want to see us all.”
We left the room, and Chetwynd leading the way we soon reached the spot. Yes, there lay the poor fellow among the low bushes in the plantation about a quarter of a mile from the house. His camera was beside him, and a revolver lay beneath his right hand. ”

“ Ridley five years ago in Vienna, but had not seen him since till he became a member of the Sanctuary Club.”
“You think,” said the coroner, “that the wound on the head was self-inflicted?”
“Certainly,” answered Kort, “and,” he added, “of such a nature that death would be quite instantaneous.
[Illustration: “I WAS THEN CALLED.”]
This ended Kort's evidence, and I was then called. In the first few answers to the questions put to me I merely corroborated Kort's evidence as to Ridley's heavy loss, and then I added that in all probability the wound was self-inflicted. ”

“ I'll drive down to Gregson, my bookmaker, at once and get on all I can. The price will be back to ten to one to-morrow night. I am much obliged to you, Kort.”
He hurried off, and Kort seated himself by my side.
“Plunges pretty heavily, eh?” he said.
“Yes, but I suppose he is a rich man,” I answered.
“Is he? I happen to know to the contrary. From a source that must be nameless I hear that he is on his last legs. He means to try and recoup himself by a big plunge on the Dolphin, Captain Harrison's horse. ”

“ I cried; “impossible; there is no paralysis.”
It was certainly the most extraordinary case I had ever seen, and I failed to account for it in any way; but as we left the jockey in the care of his friends, and went back to Ridley, a wild thought flashed through my brain. Just before the race Fisher had been drenched with soda-water, a large portion of the contents having gone into his face and eyes. Kort had brought the soda-water with the other provisions to the racecourse. ”

“ We showed him over the main part of the establishment, took him to the wing specially set aside for our various hydropathic treatments, and showed him that part of the Davos suite not occupied by Mrs. Kort.
He expressed himself delighted with everything, and made one or two pertinent remarks, showing that he was a well-informed man.
“This is just the thing for me,” he said; “you have, I see, one of the Exchange Telegraph instruments in the smoking-room. It is most convenient having racing results out here as soon as one would get them in one's own club in Pall Mall.” ”

“ The shock of yesterday has thoroughly unhinged him, and I do not know what may happen. I have tried to cheer him up, and recommended him to do some photography. If he broods over his loss he may lose his reason. ”

“ The inspector of police made his examination carefully and quickly, asked a few questions, and then, taking possession of the camera and the revolver, had the body placed on the ambulance, which was led away to the mortuary. We then returned to the house.
That night I slept badly. The next day the inquest was held. The court was crowded, all the available seats provided for the public being full. Chetwynd and I were provided with seats beneath the coroner's desk, and just before the coroner entered Kort sauntered in and took a place by my side. ”