William Le Queux

“ Sir,—You are a man of such scrupulous integrity yourself, that you are apt to believe all those associated with you are possessed of similar high-mindedness. The last thing a prudent man should do is to put a blind trust in those of his own household, for it will be in these that he will most often be bitterly disappointed. I have reason to know that Mrs. Morrice has for a long time past been spending large sums of money in a certain direction, which could not possibly be defrayed out of your allowance to her, generous as it is. ”

“ It was a desperate invention on the part of Simmons, this about the picture-dealing, not a very happy one, the detective thought. But the poor wretch was in too confused a state to think, and said the first thing that suggested itself to him. Archie Brookes looked from one to the other and he did not appear to be quite satisfied. Lane bore himself very well, and his conscience did not prick him in the least. He assumed the stolid demeanour of a man who has nothing to fear, an attitude to which his rather grave countenance lent strong support. ”

“ The hardest task was when she had to tell her lover that the mystery, so far from approaching solution, was deepened by what had happened. Richard took it calmly to all appearance, but she noticed that the depression which had been temporarily lifted by the discovery of those strange finger-prints, seemed to settle on him again.
“Oh, Dick, my poor darling,” she cried tearfully; “how I wish we were not going to Mürren! I think I shall ask uncle to let me stay behind so that I can come and cheer you.” ”

“ Dobbs was a genial, garrulous sort of soul with a great respect for all persons connected with the Arts. What he did not know about the local gentry for several miles round was not worth the knowing. Nearly sixty-five years of life had been passed in the close neighbourhood of Brinkstone, and there was not a piece of local gossip that was not firmly retained in his retentive memory. It was the greatest bit of luck, thought Sellars, that he should have come across the very man for his purpose, full of knowledge and ready to pour it into the ears of a listening and appreciative guest. ”

“ It was an awkward question for the detective to reply to. A very great deal had been discovered during the time that had elapsed between her departure for Mürren and her return to London; startling facts at present known only to himself and Sellars.
If she had been a hard-headed practical man instead of an emotional girl wrought up to a pitch of almost unendurable tension by the serious plight of her lover, he might have been disposed to make a clean breast of it. But for the moment he dared not trust her. Guided by her feelings, she might act impulsively and spoil all his plans. ”

“ Whatever theory or theories might be forming in his mind, and there could be no doubt that it was working at full-speed all the time, and readjusting itself to every fresh turn of events, Lane would make no disclosures till he judged the time was ripe.
He shook his head with great gravity: “We work very slowly, Mr. Morrice; we come to conclusions with equal slowness, in our profession. I dare say to a keen business man like yourself who plan your coups with lightning rapidity, make and clinch a deal of many thousands in a few minutes, we must seem dull, plodding fellows. ”

“ Morrice agreed that it would be the wisest policy, although perhaps her heart smote her just a little at the prospect of never seeing her child again. But how was it to be carried out? Alma was ready with her plans, and the boldness of them almost took away her friend’s breath.
“I will take him myself,” she said, “and pass him off as an orphan, the child of a distant relative. My friends are not a particular lot; they won’t ask too many questions, and they are at liberty to think what they like; if they think the worst it won’t hurt me.” ”

“ Lane, if he had not been sure of his innocence?”
Lane, unmoved by her angry outburst, bestowed an indulgent smile upon her. “Ah, my dear young lady, your heart spoke there rather than your head. But I will not enter into any lengthy defence of myself, and explain to you why I sometimes am compelled to suspect my own clients. Well, happily there is no longer any question of Mr. Croxton’s vindication. The fact that this memorandum was found securely locked in the least accessible of Mrs. Morrice’s boxes, conveys enough to the mind of any reasonable man.” ”

“ And to tell you the truth, dear uncle, she was so overwrought and seemed so near the verge of an utter collapse that I had not the heart to persevere.”
The face which had maintained its hard expression for so long softened as he looked at the pretty girl, whose compassionate soul shone through her beautiful eyes, now dimmed with tears. He laid his hand very kindly on her shoulder.
“Ah, my little Rosabelle, your heart will ever guide that pretty little head of yours. Well, I would rather it were so. Men have to be hard, but we don’t want our women to lose their softness. ”

“ Sellars took deep pulls at his pipe, as the old man proceeded with his reminiscences. He felt very pleased with the turn things had taken. Nobody had ever seemed to know anything about Mrs. Morrice except, of course, Sir George, who kept that knowledge in his own breast, imitating, in that respect, the reticence of the lady herself. Sellars was now going to learn a good deal from the lips of this garrulous waiter, with his old-world air and respectable side-whiskers. ”

“ The girl laughed gaily. “Oh, Sir George, how well you understand me. I enjoy nearly everything, you know; I am made that way. But above all things, I am an out-of-door girl, and I prefer to take my pleasures in the open air when possible.”
She went away on Richard’s arm, leaving uncle and nephew standing together side by side.
“Two types of people born with silver spoons in their mouths,” remarked the elder man in his smooth, even voice. “She is the apple of old Rupert’s eyes, and young Croxton is as dear to him as a son. They will ultimately get the millions the old man has piled up. ”

“ Turning his attention to the other of the two men, Rupert Morrice himself, the detective found the situation one of greater complexity. Strange as it may sound, men have robbed themselves before now and done their best to fix the guilt upon others, from more than one sinister motive. For instance, a man knowing himself to be on the verge of bankruptcy might, in desperation, purloin some of his own property to put it in a safe place beyond the reach of his creditors. In the case of this wealthy financier, whose credit stood so high, such a theory might be at once dismissed. ”

“ His sweetheart bade him a tearful farewell, and Mrs. Morrice, to whom the young couple explained the terrible happenings of the morning, showed considerable emotion. In her heart, she would have preferred her nephew, Archie Brookes, as a husband for Rosabelle, but she had always been very fond of Richard, and stoutly expressed her belief in his innocence.
A taxi bore him swiftly to the neat little ivy-covered cottage at Petersham, where he received a hearty welcome from his old nurse, a comely old woman verging upon her seventieth year, but hale and vigorous for her age. ”

“ For Morrice, according to Rosabelle’s account, had treated him like a son; there was little doubt that he intended to take him into partnership at an early date, and would leave him a considerable slice of his vast fortune. There was no doubt of his wealth, for, by common consent, he was reputed to be amongst the half-dozen richest men in England.
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Then there was no doubt that the two young people were lovers. Would a man, capable of a moment’s sane thought, put in certain jeopardy his chances of happiness with this charming and lovable girl? ”

“ A poor devil of a fellow with a couple of hundred a year of his own, asking a millionaire to consent to a marriage with a niece whom he is going to make his heiress. Wouldn’t ninety-nine men out of a hundred kick me out of the house in double quick time?”
The smile on Rosabelle’s charming face grew sunnier than ever. “But first of all, we will say, and it is the truth, that he is the hundredth, not one of the ninety-nine. And then, it isn’t as if he didn’t know. I don’t think we have kept our little secret very much to ourselves, have we, Dick?” ”

“ While making every allowance for the unfortunate circumstances in which you found yourself placed, Mrs. Morrice, I cannot acquit you of having proved a very unnatural parent. I find this bright intelligent young fellow condemned to an obscure existence with but little chance of bettering himself, while you, his mother, are a wealthy woman and living in the midst of refinement and luxury. ”

“ Lane thought more than considerably. That poignant exclamation that she had been half ruined suggested a good deal to him.
“I am going to ask you a rather peculiar question, Miss Sheldon. Are Mr. and Mrs. Morrice what might be described as a very devoted couple? You know what I mean, are they wrapt up in each other as some people are at their time of life when they have married solely for love?”
It was a peculiar question certainly; to Rosabelle it seemed rather an irrelevant one. But she was sure the detective never asked irrelevant questions. ”

“ Morrice may be an exceptional man of liberal independent views.”
“Oh, but that is just what he is,” cried the girl warmly. In spite of her fervent belief in her lover, and perhaps a little natural resentment against her uncle for his obstinate presumption of Richard’s guilt, she loved him very dearly and thoroughly appreciated his sterling qualities.
“That is just what he is, Mr. Lane,” she repeated. “Rich as he is, hard as he works to make himself so, he does not love money for its own sake or value the possession of it in others. ”

“ Yes, Richard thoroughly understood. He hated to keep anything from his beloved Rosabelle, who had stood by him so staunchly in these dark hours. But the detective was right, women cannot control their feelings like men, especially where their deepest emotions are concerned.
Lane had perhaps been more frank in his statement of the facts than illuminating in his deductions from them, if indeed he had suffered himself to draw from them any deductions of a very positive nature. But the young man felt much more cheerful after that visit. ”

“ The detective went to the point at once. “Of course, you know of Rupert Morrice, the big financier, most probably you are personally acquainted with him?”
“Known him for years, he was rather a pal of my father’s, used to give him a good tip now and then for his investments,” was the answer. “Can’t say I’m one of the intimates of the house, but always get a card for their big things, have been asked twice, I think, to fill up a dinner-party. What’s up?”
But without answering his question, Lane asked one himself. “We all know the man’s story, that is public property. ”

“ There was a certain element of romance about the introduction of Richard Croxton into the Morrice ménage. The great financier, hard as iron in his business dealings, was in private life a man of the greatest sentiment and sensibility. Some years before he met the lady who was now his wife, he had been desperately in love with a charming girl, who had been one of the fashionable beauties of the day. ”

“ He came across a rather well-known music-hall artist, one Tom Codlin, who reddened his nose and leaned decidedly to the vulgar side on the boards, but who was a very quiet, decorous fellow off. He knew the name at once.
“Alma Buckley, of course, known her since I first took up the business; must be a good ten years older than I am, I should say, makes up wonderfully, too. Saw her a few months ago in one of the Stein shows, and I was surprised to see how well she wore. No particular talent, no particular line, but generally gets an engagement, even when cleverer people are out.” ”

“ Archie Brookes was a very self-contained young man. He seldom allowed his temper to get the better of him, and he never indulged in sarcastic remarks.
“Ah, you’ve got a very wise head upon your shoulders, Dick,” he said in a genial tone, and accentuating his air of good-fellowship by the unfamiliar use of the Christian name. “You’ll never let your tongue give you away. But I am sure it will be as I say. Uncle Rupert thinks the world of you, and he has no near relative of his own. What more natural than that you should succeed?” ”

“ The acquaintance, begun casually on board the boat, ripened with amazing rapidity into friendship, swiftly into love on the part of the young man and also of Lettice Larchester.
Alma Buckley, who had no real experience of the world, although perhaps she was just a little more sophisticated than her friend, looked on approvingly. Darcy was a gentleman, a man of culture and refinement, he had plenty of money. It would be an ideal match for Lettice, and the girl was as much in love with him as he was with her. ”

“ I’ll find you a little furnished flat where you can hide yourself for a bit; when the time comes, you’ll go into a nursing home. Later on we’ll find a good home for the child, under an assumed name, where you can go and see it at regular intervals, and satisfy yourself that it is being well looked after. You’re young and have all your life before you. You must drop the name of Darcy, forget you were ever married, and start again as Lettice Larchester. It’s lucky that you know hardly anybody, except those pals of his who are never likely to see you again, and wouldn’t round on you if they did. ”

“ However much her life with this impossible and selfish father disgusted her, however deeply the iron entered her soul, she never spoke of her private sorrows and disappointments, or showed them in her demeanour.
“You see, sir, to my way of thinking,” explained the honest head-waiter, and there was a suspicion of moisture in his little, bright old eyes as he spoke, “to my way of thinking it was a cruel piece of work, knowing the kind of man he was, as he must have known, to bring a young girl like that to a peddling place like this; she just eat her heart out in that poor little cottage. ”

“ With such weaknesses, a rich man might often find himself temporarily poor.
“You are a lucky young fellow, my dear Richard, to have been brought up under the careful guidance of such a wise mentor as Rupert Morrice. The man is sound to the core; no weaknesses, no failings. He has told me that he has never touched a card [Pg 14] in his life, nor made a bet. And yet, withal, he is not a bit of a Puritan.”
Richard was quite aware of the fact that he was a very lucky person; that, thanks perhaps mostly to that old love-affair, he had won the favour of the wealthy financier. ”

“ You are the only girl I ever came across who made me think seriously of settling down. I’ve just a few men pals, and speaking for myself, you and they are all I want. Now, I don’t know about you, whether you would like to have a large acquaintance amongst your own sex. I’ve always heard that women, in their hearts, are not very fond of each other. Well, you’ve got Miss Buckley, who’s a real good sort, a little lacking in refinement perhaps, who can come here as often as you want her. ”

“ When the young one was grown up, Sir George sent for him to come home, and adopted him. There’s the whole history cut and dried for you.”
“And very lucidly told too,” said Mr. Lane approvingly. Sellars knew him well now, and he inferred from the careful way in which he entered the details in his notebook that he attached great importance to the information. So he did, much more than the young man guessed; this he was to learn later on.
To be a really great detective a man must have a certain amount of inspiration and imagination, and Lane possessed both these in a remarkable degree. ”

“ Morrice was to him, there was no actual blood-tie between them; you tell me the young man had practically no money of his own, that his future depended entirely on a continuance of his benefactor’s favour. You, on the other hand, are a near relative and it is to be assumed that your uncle will leave you a considerable sum. It would be a very natural thing that he should have different views for you, should have wished you to look a little higher than one who, after all, was not your equal in anything but birth. ”

“ But our investigations would not be very useful if we refused to weigh not only every probability, but also every possibility. You say that your uncle firmly believes in this young man’s guilt, although he loved him and treated him like a son. If he still maintains that belief, is it not open to him to say that if Richard Croxton was not the actual thief, he was an accomplice or an accessory? How otherwise could the actual thief have got the necessary knowledge of that safe’s complicated mechanism? ”