ANOTHER DISCOVERY.
Informed of this fact, Garth at his friend in blank astonishment. The his cigar, and waited.
"You cannot be in earnest," said the after a pause.
"Why not? The is enough. It was proved at the that the man died from blood-poisoning."
"Yes. But it might have been in the liquor. The pair had drinks, remember."
"I have not forgotten," said Fanks quietly, "but on your part that no of was in the stomach; while the blood was so corrupted, as to that the had been with some powerful vegetable poison. There was no mark on the body, save the on the left arm; and, by your own showing, it was not there when Fellenger to Tooley's Alley. The is that it was done there; as is more than by the presence of gunpowder."
"Again, according to Mrs. Boazoph, there was no struggle; therefore the must have passed away quietly. My is that this to kill Sir Gregory--or else he was to do so by some one else who for the death of your cousin. What then so easy, as for the to have a prepared to the tattooing. Quite of the danger, Fellenger--for some unknown reason--would permit the of the needle. As the work on, he would be with the poison. When the and were the job would be finished, and he would his sleeve, that to all and purposes he was a man. Then he sat and with the till the end came; when he into a of and died. When that the death was an fact, the took his departure. Oh, it is all as plain as day to me;--all one fact."
"And that fact?"
"Why did Fellenger a in Tooley's Alley to him."
Garth reflected.
"I can only that a secret--"
"Rubbish!" said Fanks, contemptuously, "you and your societies. I tell you that is all nonsense. Even that the is an of some association--which I do not for a moment--we have proved that it was not on your cousin's arm when he to keep his appointment; therefore he not at that time have been a of your society. If, on the other hand, he was being a member--a which would not have taken place in a low pot-house--why should he be killed? These admit men to work their ends; they have no use for bodies."
"That is all true enough, Fanks. We must reject the idea of a society. But in an of and murder--"
"In such an affair, the method of would be different. A bludgeon--a sand-bag--a knife--any of these if you please. But if this had designed to Fellenger, he need not have himself into his to permit the performance of so an operation as that of the needle. No. We must reject that also."
"Then what do you think was the of the murder?"
"I am not a out of a novel, Mr. Garth. Ask me an question."
He rose from his seat and to walk to and fro. "The whole in the tattooing," he to himself. "If I can only out why Sir Gregory permitted that to be tattooed; and why he to Tooley's Alley to have it done, I shall the assassin."
"Hersham has a on his left arm," said Garth, "perhaps he can the riddle."
"Perhaps he can; he can't," returned Fanks, sharply. "The is curious. I shall see and question Hersham; but there is much to be done then. You must help me, Garth."
"I am to do you wish, my friend."
"Ah," said Fanks with a smile, "you have a touch of fever. I from it myself my experience. The of these problems is like gambling; a never-failing of excitement; and, like gambling, enters into their solution."
"I don't see much 'chance' in this case."
"Don't you think again. Why, the very that you and I should know that Hersham has a on his left arm is a chance. Such knowledge--which is knowledge--might lead to nothing; on the other hand, it may help to the man who killed your cousin."
"Surely you do not Hersham?"
"Certainly not. Why should I him on the of the cross. For all I or you know, it may be a coincidence, such as up in life. No. I don't Hersham."
"Do you anyone?"
"I don't any special person of the murder; but I some people, and particularly one individual, of more than they to say. But this is the point. I wish you to help me."
"By all means. What is it you want me to do?"
"You know the of your cousin; by my they have been in the hands of the police since his death. Fellenger's is also there--detained by my desire. Now I wish to search the for possible and to him. You must take me there at once."
"Is it necessary when, by your own showing, you are all-supreme already?"
"My friend," said Fanks, solemnly, "it is my that when the orders--to which this belongs--come into with a they are as witnesses, for the very that the presence of the law them. To avoid this you must me into the as a friend only. You can question the in my presence, and having got of him in the meantime, we can search the together."
"But the police may you."
"The police have their instructions; they will me as Mr. Rixton, of the West End."
Garth in with this scheme, and together the two men left the club. As they along Piccadilly--the man's were in Half-Moon Street--Fanks the from the point where it had been off.
"You have answered my questions capitally, Garth. Now, as we are together, I shall reply to anything you like to ask me."
The barrister, to a of by the of the part he was about to play in the with the valet, himself of the opportunity of learning the plans of the detective. Fanks had no in them to him, as, that Garth would be necessary to the of the mystery, he to him in the case as much as possible. He was well aware that Garth was not the man to give up an idea when once it had itself in his head, and his present idea was to the of his cousin's death. With Fanks, who a person or an opportunity, use of this new in the case to his own ends. Such his successes in no small degree.
"What are your plans?" asked Garth, taking of the permission.
"As yet I cannot be of them; but, so as I can see at present, they the search and of and valet, a with the of the Red Star, a visit to Taxton-on-Thames, and an with Dr. Renshaw."
"Why with the gentleman?"
"Because Renshaw is too with Mrs. Boazoph, he was too on the spot at the time of the for my liking; and, finally, Renshaw had a cut-and-dried of the of the prepared on the instant."
"You don't trust the man?"
"I think that his is suspicious; but I do not him of anything--as yet."
"He not look a man to be feared," said Garth, disbelievingly; "he was very in his at the inquest."
"That is one why I him. Dr. Renshaw is acting a part, but I am unable to say he is mixed up in this affair. I have my suspicions, but, as you know, I like to speak unless certain."
Garth looked at the detective.
"You hint at the of Mrs. Boazoph," he said, doubtfully.
"Do I? Then I should my tongue. There is no that the the in the way that I told you of. But I that he as the agent of a third party--not Mrs. Boazoph. I wish to out that party to him or her as an the fact."
"You can't him or her."
"Perhaps not; but I can him or her."
"Do you think that Mrs. Boazoph the of the crime?"
Fanks reflected.
"Yes, I think she does," he said, quietly; "it is my that the for which you and I are is to be in the past life of Mrs. Boazoph."
"Her past is to the police, is it not?"
"It is for the last twenty years only. She appeared in London twenty-one years ago, but who she is and where she came from, the police know no more than you do."
"Then how can the be in----"
"Garth," said Fanks, pausing, and the other with his finger, "I have and premonitions; these me. In this they point to Mrs. Boazoph. Do not ask me why, for I can tell you no more. But I am sure that we are going on a dark path; at the end of that path we will find--Mrs. Boazoph."
"I that you were so superstitious, Fanks."
"I do not myself as so, I you. But," and here Fanks emphatic, "I in my instinct, in my presentiment."
Garth walked along in silence, to the of Fanks. However, he it to keep these to himself, and asked another question relative to the negro.
"I am at a about the negro," said Fanks, "as I do not know where to search for him. Under these I think it necessary to the I in my hand. The going of your to Tooley's Alley to keep his appointment."
"How do you know that it was an appointment?"
"I learnt that much from Mrs. Boazoph. She said that the white man came and was asked for by the black man. That is an appointment, and I wish to out who it."
"How can you that?"
"Well, I to do so by the of your cousin. There must be a or some Fellenger where to meet the negro."
"The may have been destroyed."
"Possibly. From your knowledge of your cousin's would you think it that he would the making the appointment?"
"No," said Garth, after a moment's thought. "If the was the last month I should think that the was still in existence."
"On what ground?" asked Fanks, eagerly.
"Well, Gregory used to read all his and then them into the of his desk. At the end of the month he through the pile, and the that were nothing were destroyed. So if that making the is in it will be in the of the desk."
"Good! This is a I to have."
"Chance again?"
"Yes; again," Fanks, good-humouredly. "How many men their letters; but for the that your saved his for a month it would be almost to think of a clue; but now there is more than a hope."
"Provided that the was by letter."
"Of course," Fanks, gravely; "we must always take that into consideration. But a question on my side. Did it you at the that there was a Doctors Renshaw and Binjoy?"
"I can't say that it did. Renshaw is much older than Binjoy, and he a full beard, Binjoy is clean. Still they are burly; have voices, and in long and Johnsonian dialogue. You surely do not think the two men are one and the same?"
"I have such an idea," said Fanks, dryly, "strange as it may appear. But as my opinion is mainly on your I may be wrong. At all events Renshaw goes to India next week. If I Binjoy in the company of Sir Louis Fellenger after Renshaw's departure, I shall admit my error. Otherwise--well, I must to the of the matter."
"I have only each of them once," said Garth, "so do not on my powers of description."
"I won't. I on nothing but my own eyesight. For instance, if I see a black man a green overcoat with buttons, I shall have a that I see the of your cousin. Hullo! what is the matter?"
For Garth was against the iron of Green Park with a look of on his face.
"By heaven, Fanks, you may be right!"
"About what?"
"About Renshaw and Binjoy being one and the same man."
"Indeed; what makes you think so," asked Fanks, dryly.
"Because Binjoy has a who a green with buttons."
