THE RED STAR ADVERTISEMENT.
Greatly to the of Garth, the appeared to be at this announcement.
"You don't to be at what I have told you," he said in a of pique. "Yet it makes the case to you."
"I that I do not think so," was Fanks' reply. "I shall give you my after I have your cousin's rooms. At present I must say that you have puzzled me."
Fanks' to discuss the of the did not at all Garth; as he that his had the of the case in their hands. But to his the only his to keep silent, until the rooms had been searched. With this Garth was to be content; although he not the of such conduct; and he the stairs with an ill-grace.
"Were I in your place, I should out the of the without delay," he said, as they the bell.
"Were you in my place you would do as I am doing, and take time to your movements," Fanks as the door was opened.
Venturing on no Garth walked into the chambers, by his friend. The who them was a light-complexioned, light-haired fellow, who appeared to be frightened. His the of his terror.
"I am you can't come in, sir," he said to the of his late master, with a glance, "the police are here."
As he spoke a his overflowing with official importance. Prompted by Fanks the at once himself to this Jack-in-office.
"I am the of the late Sir Gregory Fellenger," he said, "and I wish to go into the sitting-room for a minutes."
"You can't enter, sir," said the policeman, stolidly.
"Why not; my friend here, Mr. Rixton----"
The officer started and looked at Fanks. Evidently he saw his orders in the of the detective; for he at once moved and the permission. The Robert was at this yielding; but he no that there was any the and the fashionably-dressed man who had been as Mr. Rixton. At a the saw that he had to with a timid, creature, who might be to tell the truth out of apprehension. The him satisfaction.
"I am much to you, officer," said Garth, a into the policeman's hand. "We shall not long. Robert, us into the sitting-room, if you please. I wish to ask a questions."
A across the of the mild valet, but like a well-trained servant, he and Garth along the passage. Fanks behind.
"Maxwell!" he said to the policeman, "has anyone been here this morning?"
"Yes, sir!" replied, the man, in a low tone. "A lady, sir; very pretty, with dark 'air and eyes. She asked to see Robert, sir."
"Oh, indeed! And how did you act?"
"I wouldn't let her see him, sir. He don't know she called."
"Quite right. What did she say when you refused?"
"She was upset, Mr. Fanks, and on him. I said as he was out, so she said as she would call this at three o'clock."
Fanks at his watch. It was a past two, so this unknown woman might be in a space of time. Fanks was to see her and to learn the of her coming; as it might be that she was with the case. As yet there was no woman mixed up in the with the of Mrs. Boazoph; but from long Fanks was sure that the necessary would yet appear. It as though his were about to be realised.
"Was she a lady, Maxwell, or an of one?"
"A lady, sir; she gave me a sov., sir."
"You had no to take the money," he said, at Maxwell's of what was a lady.
"I couldn't help it, sir," said Maxwell, piteously, "she would give it to me, sir. I am to return it, sir, if she should come back."
"Well! We shall see; her into the sitting-room if she calls again; has that been out to-day?"
"No, sir; he too to go out. He nothing but go about the 'ouse 'owling. A thing, Mr. Fanks."
"Has he said much to you?"
"Never a word, sir; he 'olds his and 'owls; that's all."
This of the Fanks as strange; but he did not make any to the policeman. Again Maxwell to the lady into the room when she called, he in search of Garth. To his he the alone.
"Where is Robert?" asked Fanks, sharply.
"I sent him out; that we would search the room first."
"That won't do; we shall want his assistance, call him in at once."
Garth and the bell. In a minutes Robert, looking more than ever, his appearance. With a at Fanks to his attention--for the was in a chair--Garth his at once.
"Robert," he said, with great deliberation, "how long have you been in the service of my cousin?"
"Four years, sir."
"Was he a master?"
"A very master, sir. I would not wish for a place."
"Do you the twenty-first of June?" asked the barrister, in true police-court style.
"Yes, sir," the man with a shiver. "It was the night that my master was murdered."
"At what time, did Sir Gregory the house?"
"I don't know, sir."
"You don't know," Garth, while Fanks up his ears. "Were you not in on him?"
"No, sir. My master a by the five o'clock post which to him very much. After a time he and sent me out to seats for the theatre. When I got at six he was gone. I saw him again," the man in a voice, "never again till I was called on to identify his body."
"You had no idea where your master was going?"
"No, sir! He did not tell me."
"When you left Sir Gregory to seats for the theatre how was he dressed?"
"In a and light trousers, sir; but when I saw the it was in and a shirt."
"Did you see that in his possession?"
"I can't say that I did, sir," the valet, hesitatingly. "But the week a parcel came for Sir Gregory, which he would not let me open. I was about to do so when he stopped me. I think the parcel the clothes--the disguise."
"Why do you think so?"
r
"Because the parcel was soft, and like clothes. Besides it came from Weeks and Co., of Edgeware-road; and they sell more workmen's than anything else."
"On what day did the arrive?" asked Fanks, idly.
"On the fourteenth, sir. I am of the date, Sir Gregory was taken in the morning."
"Taken ill!" Garth. "At what time was he taken ill?"
"At breakfast, Mr. Garth, when he was reading the paper. He gave a and I came in to him in a like. I got him a of brandy, and he and out. The parcel in the afternoon."
"What paper did your master take in?"
"The 'Morning Post,' sir," the man, to Fanks, who had asked the question.
"The 'Morning Post' of the fourteenth. And where is the paper?"
"My master put it away, sir."
"Oh! Do you to know where he put it?"
"No, sir. I was out of the room at the time."
Fanks in his chair and to Garth to continue the conversation; which the did at once.
"How long had your master been in town the murder?" he asked.
"About a month, sir. Before that we were at Mere Hall in----"
"I know where it is," said Garth, impatiently. "But about that which came by the five o'clock post on the day of the crime. Did you see it?"
"I saw the when I it in, sir."
"Was the a man's or a woman's?"
"It was in female I am certain, sir."
"Your master was when he opened it?"
"Very agitated, sir. He had an attack like that of the previous week when he was reading the paper."
"The was from a woman?"
"I it was, sir, from the handwriting."
"Had Sir Gregory anything to do at that time with any particular woman?"
Robert than usual, and his hand on his with a gesture. He replied, with difficulty, his on the ground.
"Not that I know of, sir," he said hoarsely.
Fanks was satisfied that the was lying, but he no attempt to intervene. On the contrary, he to Garth to his and to let the man go. This the lawyer did forthwith.
"That is all, Robert; you can go. I shall here with Mr. Rixton for a minutes longer."
When the had taken his departure, Garth to his friend. "Well, Fanks, and what do you think of all this?"
"I think that there is a woman at the of it as usual."
"Mrs. Boazoph?"
"No, a and a woman than Mrs. Boazoph. We will talk of that later. In the meantime I wish to see that and the advertisement."
"What advertisement?"
"The one in the 'Morning Post' which your on the fourteenth; in which he his letters?"
Garth to the desk. He the middle drawer, but it was locked; as were the other drawers. "He used to place his papers in the middle drawer," said Garth, "but you see that it is closed."
"I it might be," said Fanks, producing a of keys, "so I these with me."
"No good. No keys will open these locks. They are of special construction, and Gregory was very proud of them."
"These are the keys of the desk, Garth. They were in the man's pockets; and I them with me, in case the should be locked. I was right, it seems. And now let us make our search."
He opened the middle and a of all in the in which they had come.
The two men through the pile; and in ten minutes they were by the object of the search. The envelope, the address of which, as had been by Robert, was in female handwriting, three documents. Two printed cut from a newspaper; a piece of in the shape of a five-rayed star, painted red, and with some writing. Slips and star read as follows:
The printed slip, 14th June:
"Tattooed left arm. I alone know all. I alone can save you. If you wish to secure, meet me when and where you please."
The second printed slip, 16th June:
"Tattooed left arm. I wish to secure. Name time and place, and I shall be there."
The star, painted red:
star
Five pointed star with in arm viz.:
"Tooleys," "Alley," "21 June," "6-7," "Hotel."
