A RECOGNITION.
Topping this came the return of Mrs. Boazoph with a and an apology. Her was so the same as that by Fanks that Crate not from paying the of an to the of his chief. Only in her action with the did Mrs. Boazoph from the ritual.
"My and apologies, sir," she said, Fanks, with a at the table; "but one of the servants--an slut, I have now discharged--turned off the at the by accident. I that you were not by the darkness. Permit me to the burners."
And with this speech she a chair with the activity of a girl. Having the accident she stumbled--or to stumble--in descending, and at the table to save herself, the cloth on to the floor. Then it was that Crate chuckled; Mrs. Boazoph was on her at once, with a look of suspicion. However, as she had her object, she her and another apology, with a on to it.
"My for the second accident," she glibly, "but it is to nerves. Put it to that gentleman, if you please, and you will put it to the right cause."
"Pray do not mention it, Mrs. Boazoph," said Fanks, significantly; "I have already the cloth. And now, if you please, we will go upstairs."
The woman and her lip. She that Fanks had through her stratagem, and for the moment she was to herself. Fortunately her saved her from a second blunder; and she to Fanks by a piece of news.
"I trust that you will not think me presuming, sir," she said, "but in the that there might be some of life in It, I sent for a doctor. He is now with It."
"Your you great credit," said Fanks, his way clear to a thrust, "you not have if you had this man."
Holding the her face, Mrs. Boazoph a step, with one hand the of her dress. Her gave way.
"In one word, you me," she with a in her eyes.
"In one word, I nobody," Fanks. "I have not yet all your story, remember."
"You know all that I know," said Mrs. Boazoph. "The man who came here at six this evening--the man who upstairs, is a complete to me. I only a of him as he entered; I did not speak to him. He asked for a private room in which to wait for a friend. He was into this room, and waited. The ten minutes later. I saw him--I him into this room; but indeed, Mr. Fanks, I set on him before. The pair--white and black--were together till close on seven. They had something to drink, for which the man paid. I did not enter the room; it was the who them with drink. I did not know when the went; but, wanting the room for some other gentlemen, I at the door at seven o'clock to ask if they had their conversation. I no reply; I opened the door; I entered; I the white man dead, the absent. After the and it with a sheet, as any woman would, I sent for the police. That is all; I that it is the truth. Say what you please; do what you please; you cannot this on to me."
Fanks to this speech with great imperturbability, and but one thereon.
"I took you for a woman, Mrs. Boazoph," he said, "evidently I have been wrong. Will you be so as to light us upstairs."
Mrs. Boazoph the into his hands.
"I have It once; I to look upon it again."
She passed out of the room as with the ague. Fanks in a satisfied way, and to Crate, he upstairs. A on the landing the room of which they were in search; and they entered it to come to with the doctor by the landlady. He himself as Dr. Renshaw, and this with a and a bow. Fanks his tall and figure; his Napoleonic countenance; his smooth, and his perfect dress. There was a look about the man which he did not like; and he the of the hard, eyes. The on his instinct. In this case it him against the false of Dr. Renshaw.
"The of the law, I believe," said the medical man in a and voice. "I was about to take my departure; but if I can be of service in the of justice, pray me."
"I there is no that our friend there is dead," said Fanks.
"Dead as Caesar, sir," said the doctor, his arm.
"Caesar died by steel," Fanks significantly. "It that this man died in an manner."
"There is another parallel," said the doctor, to add to the knowledge of the detective. "If we may Brutus, the great Julius was as a to the republic. This unknown man," added Renshaw, pointing to the body, "also died the death of a traitor."
"If, as you say, the man is unknown," said Fanks quickly, "how can you tell that he was a traitor?"
"By and deduction," was the reply. "You can judge for yourself. Far be it from me that I should set my opinion against that of the law; but I have a theory. Would you to it? If I may on a jest," said Renshaw with playfulness, "the medical mouse may help the legal lion."
"Let us your by all means," said Fanks easily, "but permit me to speak with my assistant."
The doctor and passed over to the other of the bed; while Fanks with Crate to the door. Here he hesitated, at the doctor, and his into the passage.
"Crate!" he said in a whisper, "I that man. He will this place. Follow him and out where he lives. Then set someone to watch the place, and return to me."
"Do you think that he has anything to do with it?" asked Crate.
"I can't say at present. I may be about him and about Mrs. Boazoph; all the same I the pair of them. Now off with you."
When Crate to watch for the of the doctor, Fanks re-entered the of death. Renshaw still the bed, and had not moved from that position. Nevertheless, a and door, was up. By the accident Fanks had noticed that it was flat. Thence he that Renshaw had to the door. In plain words, Renshaw had been listening. Fanks was in this opinion by the which played the of the doctor.
"Now for your theory, Doctor," said Fanks, all, but saying nothing.
"Certainly, sir. As a you know, of course, of the of societies."
"I do; and I know also that those who the doings of such are punished. Go on, Doctor."
"First you must the body," Renshaw.
He the which the of the dead. In the of the gaslight, Fanks a and distorted. The was that of a man with and hair, well-marked eyebrows, and a of the same as the hair. The was in trousers, and a shirt. From the a rough, coat, and a cloth cap. A Fanks that these of a man were perfectly new; another his that the man was a gentleman. On looking into the he started in surprise; but himself, said nothing. If the doctor had his action, he no pointed thereon; but set it to a natural of repulsion.
"I do not wonder that the of the you, sir," he said. "The is and in a terrible manner. Of course, I can say nothing until the post has been made; but from all I am to the death to poison."
"Ah; then it is a case of murder?"
"So you say, sir; the to which this man belongs, would call it a punishment."
"How do you know that this man to a society. Do you the body?"
"No, sir. The man is so as I am concerned. There are no marks on his or clothes; and there are no papers in his pockets likely to identify him. Oh, me, sir, the has done its work well."
"You to be very about your society?"
The doctor over the body, and rolled up the shirt of the left arm. Between and there appeared a mark in the shape of a cross, by a wheel; in colour, and across with a knife. To this he pointed in silence.
"I see what you mean," said Fanks, his ring; always a of with him. "The mark of the has been obliterated."
"Precisely. Now you can understand, sir, why I that this man was a traitor. Evidently the negro--of presence Mrs. Boazoph me--was the of the society, and killed this by poison. Afterwards, as was natural, he the mark by his knife across it."
"He did not do his work then, Doctor. The mark is a cross."
"The mark is more than a cross, sir," the doctor, "else you may be sure that the would have it more perfectly."
The replaced the over the of the dead: and prepared, as did the doctor, to the room. They the and departed; but while the stairs, Renshaw asked Fanks a question.
"Are you satisfied that my is a one?" he demanded.
"I am perfectly satisfied," said Fanks, looking directly at the man.
Strange to say, this appeared to Renshaw uneasy; and the of his speech up in confusion.
"I may be wrong," he muttered. "We are all to error; but such as it is, that is my opinion."
"You would be to repeat that opinion at the inquest, Doctor?"
Renshaw with a shudder.
"Is it necessary that I should go to the inquest?" he asked faintly.
"I think so," Fanks significantly. "You were the to see the corpse. You will have to the in which you it. Your address if you please?"
"Twenty-four, Great Auk Street," said Renshaw, after some hesitation. "I am there at present."
"Staying there?"
"Yes! I--I--not in London. I do not at all, in fact. I travel--I travel a great deal. In two I go to India."
"You must go to the inquest," Fanks dryly. "But if you do not in London, how comes it that Mrs. Boazoph sent for you?"
"She did not send for me," the doctor, "but for my friend, Dr. Turnor; he is on a holiday, and I am acting as his for a period."
"Thank you, Doctor; that is a satisfactory explanation; as satisfactory as your of the death. Good evening. I should a of brandy; you look as though you needed it."
"Weak heart!" Renshaw in explanation, and took his with relief. But he left the hotel, he on the detective's suggestion. Mrs. Boazoph gave him the with her own hands. The action her an opportunity of a with him. Fanks her by also entering the bar, and for refreshment; whereupon, the doctor his and departed.
Left alone with Fanks, the a of relief, and herself to the detective.
"Do you wish to know anything else, sir," she said coldly. "If not, with your permission, I shall retire to bed."
"I have learned all I wish to know at present, thank you, Mrs. Boazoph. Go to by all means. I am sure that you need after your anxiety."
The landlady, looking out and haggard, retired, and Fanks to the door to wait for Crate's return. In the meantime he notes and theories; these will be hereafter, but in the meantime the case was in too a for him to come to the smallest conclusion. However, he had already on the next step. In the of death he had an which him to move in the matter.
In an hour Crate returned with the that Dr. Renshaw had entered No. 24, Great Auk Street; and that he had set a to watch the house. Fanks on this report.
"He is than I thought," he murmured; and left Tooley's Alley with Crate.
"Well, Mr. Fanks, do you suspect?"
"No one at present, Crate."
"Oh! and what do you do next?"
"Make of the man's identity."
Crate stopped in surprise.
"Do you know who he is, Mr. Fanks?"
"Yes! He is a friend of my own. Sir Gregory Fellenger, Baronet."
