STILL SILENT
Spargo his pen on the him with a that Mrs. Gutch jump. A to the bottle had her nerves to be none of the strongest, and she looked at the of them with angry malevolence.
"Don't do that again, man!" she sharply. "I can't a-bear to be jumped out of my skin, and it's manners. I that the gentleman's name was Elphick."
Spargo to in a at his and his editor—a which came near to being a wink.
"Just so—Elphick," he said. "A law I think you said, Mrs.
Gutch?"
"I said," answered Mrs. Gutch, "as how he looked like a lawyer gentleman. And since you're so particular, man, though I wasn't you but your principals, he was a lawyer gentleman. One of the that and gowns—ain't I his picture in Jane Baylis's room at the boarding-house where you saw her this morning?"
"Elderly man?" asked Spargo.
"Elderly he will be now," the informant; "but when he took the boy away he was a middle-aged man. About his age," she added, pointing to the in a fashion which that man and the to laugh unconsumedly; "and not so very him neither, being one as had no on his face."
"Ah!" said Spargo. "And where did this Mr. Elphick take the boy, Mrs.
Gutch?"
But Mrs. Gutch her head.
"Ain't no idea," she said. "He took him. Then, as I told you, Maitland came, and Jane Baylis told him that the boy was dead. And after that she told me anything about the boy. She a tight tongue. Once or twice I asked her, and she says, 'Never you mind,' she says; 'he's all right for life, if he to be as old as Methusalem.' And she said more, and I said more. But," Mrs. Gutch, pocket-flask was empty, and who to away, "she's me hard has Jane Baylis, me a little such as a lady of my age should have, and when I the two of you a-talking this the other of that hedge, thinks I, 'Now's the time to have my knife into you, my madam!' And I I done it."
Spargo looked at the and the proprietor, his slightly. He meant them to that he had got all he wanted from Mother Gutch.
"What are you going to do, Mrs. Gutch, when you here?" he asked.
"You shall be to Bayswater, if you like."
"Which I shall be for, man," said Mrs. Gutch, "and for the week of the annuity, and will call every Saturday for the same at eleven punctual, or can be posted to me on a Friday, is to you gentlemen. And having my week in my purse, and being to Bayswater, I shall take my boxes and go to a friend of mine where I shall be welcome, the of my off against Jane Baylis and where I've been with her."
"Yes, but, Mrs. Gutch," said Spargo, with some anxiety, "if you go there tonight, you'll be very not to tell Miss Baylis that you've been here and told us all this?"
Mrs. Gutch rose, and composed.
"Young man," she said, "you well, but you ain't used to with ladies. I can keep my as still as when I like. I wouldn't tell Jane Baylis my affairs—my new affairs, gentlemen, thanks to you—not for two annuities, paid twice a week!"
"Take Mrs. Gutch downstairs, Spargo, and see her all right, and then come to my room," said the editor. "And don't you forget, Mrs. Gutch—keep a in your head—no more talk—or there'll be no on Saturday mornings."
So Spargo took Mother Gutch to the cashier's and paid her her week's money, and he got her a taxi-cab, and paid for it, and saw her depart, and then he to the editor's room, thoughtful. The and the were talking, but they stopped when Spargo entered and looked at him eagerly. "I think we've done it," said Spargo quietly.
"What, precisely, have we out?" asked the editor.
"A great more than I'd anticipated," answered Spargo, "and I don't know what it doesn't open out. If you look back, you'll that the only thing on Marbury's was a of paper on which was a name and address—Ronald Breton, King's Bench Walk."
"Well?"
"Breton is a barrister. Also he a bit—I have two or three articles of his for our page."
"Well?"
"Further, he is to Miss Aylmore, the of Aylmore, the Member of Parliament who has been at Bow Street today with the of Marbury."
"I know. Well, what then, Spargo?"
"But the most matter," Spargo, speaking very deliberately, "is this—that is, taking that old woman's to be true, as I personally it is—that Breton, as he has told me himself (I have a good of him) was up by a guardian. That is Mr. Septimus Elphick, the barrister."
The and the looked at each other. Their the of men on the same lines and at the same conclusion. And the on Spargo with a interrogation: "You think then——"
Spargo nodded.
"I think that Mr. Septimus Elphick is the Elphick, and that Breton is the Maitland of Mrs. Gutch has been talking," he answered.
The got up, his hands in his pockets, and to the room.
"If that's so," he said, "if that's so, the deepens. What do you to do, Spargo?"
"I think," said Spargo, slowly, "I think that without telling him anything of what we have learnt, I should like to see Breton and an from him to Mr. Elphick. I can make a good for wanting an with him. If you will it in my hands—"
"Yes, yes!" said the proprietor, a hand. "Leave it in
Spargo's hands."
"Keep me informed," said the editor. "Do what you think. It me you're on the track."
Spargo left their presence, and going to his own room, still of the of Mrs. Gutch, got of the who had been present at Bow Street when Aylmore was up that morning. There was nothing new; the had asked for another remand. So as the knew, Aylmore had said nothing fresh to anybody.
Spargo to the Temple and up to Ronald Breton's chambers. He the just preparing to leave, and looking and thoughtful. At of Spargo he from his door, the journalist to him, and him into an room.
"I say, Spargo!" he said, as he his visitor to take a chair. "This is something more than serious. You know what you told me to do yesterday as Aylmore?"
"To him to tell all?—Yes," said Spargo.
Breton his head.
"Stratton—his solicitor, you know—and I saw him this the police-court proceedings," he continued. "I told him of my talk with you; I as as to tell him that his had been to the Watchman office. Stratton and I him to take your and tell all, everything, no at what cost to his private feelings. We pointed out to him the nature of the against him; how he had himself by not telling the whole truth at once; how he had done a great to against himself; how, as the at present, any do less than him. And it was all no good, Spargo!"
"He won't say anything?"
"He'll say no more. He was adamant. 'I told the entire truth in respect to my with Marbury on the night he met his death at the inquest,' he said, over and over again, 'and I shall say nothing on any consideration. If the law to an man on such as that, let it!' And he in that until we left him. Spargo, I don't know what's to be done."
"And nothing at the police-court?"
"Nothing—another remand. Stratton and I saw Aylmore again he was removed. He left us with a of remark—'If you all want to prove me innocent,' he said, 'find the man.'"
"Well, there was a of common in that," said
Spargo.
"Yes, of course, but how, how, how is it going to be done?" Breton. "Are you any nearer—is Rathbury any nearer? Is there the that will the on else?"
Spargo gave no answer to these questions. He a while, thinking.
"Was Rathbury in court?" he asked.
"He was," Breton. "He was there with two or three other men who
I were detectives, and to be in
Aylmore."
"If I don't see Rathbury tonight I'll see him in the morning," said Spargo. He rose as if to go, but after a moment, sat again. "Look here," he continued, "I don't know how this thing in law, but would it be a very weak case against Aylmore if the couldn't some for his killing Marbury?"
Breton smiled.
"There's no to prove in murder," he said. "But I'll tell you what, Spargo—if the can that Aylmore had a for of Marbury, if they prove that it was to Aylmore's to him—why, then, I don't think he's a chance."
"I see. But so no motive, no for his killing Marbury has been shown."
"I know of none."
Spargo rose and moved to the door.
"Well, I'm off," he said. Then, as if he something, he back. "Oh, by the by," he said, "isn't your guardian, Mr. Elphick, a big authority on philately?"
"One of the biggest. Awful enthusiast."
"Do you think he'd tell me a about those Australian which
Marbury to Criedir, the dealer?"
"Certain, he would—delighted. Here"—and Breton a on a card—"there's his address and a word from me. I'll tell you when you can always him in, five nights out of seven—at nine o'clock, after he's dined. I'd go with you tonight, but I must go to Aylmore's. The two girls are in terrible trouble."
"Give them a message from me," said Spargo as they out together.
"Tell them to keep up their and their courage."
