VAUD AND VAUD.
Here, indeed, was food for reflection. That the with which the had been should come into the detective's was extraordinary; but that it should have been left at the rooms of the man was audacious. Fanks at once returned to the chambers, and closely questioned Maxwell and Robert. It him that the might have had a hand in the parcel in the box.
"I the box an hour ago, sir," said Maxwell, "as you told me to look after all letters. There was nothing in it then. It must have been in it since."
"While we were in the sitting-room, no doubt," said Garth. "Do you know anything of this, Robert?"
"I, sir? Lord, no, sir; I set on it before."
"We left ten minutes ago," Fanks. "What have you been doing since that time."
"I have been with Mr. Maxwell, sir."
"Was he with you all the time, Maxwell?"
"Yes, sir," the in great alarm. "He came out into the kitchen, and we was together for a chat; then I it was near post time, and I goes to the box. I that parcel, and as I you couldn't be off I ran stairs."
This was perfectly satisfactory, yet for the life of him, the not help looking at Robert with suspicion. However, as he had not been out of Maxwell's company, he not possibly have put the parcel in the box, therefore Fanks was to in his innocence.
"That will do," he said, at length, and Garth away. When they again the stairs, Garth to ask him questions, but Fanks cut these short. "I must be alone to think it out," he said, in explanation. "Go away, Garth, and let me puzzle over the by myself."
The lawyer was to do this as he was with the needle. However, he nothing, and he saw that his presence his friend. He therefore the request, and off to on his own account. As for Fanks, he repaired to his rooms, and with the him he sat for over an hour what it all meant. The was than ever.
There was no that someone had left the parcel in the box the hour. According to Maxwell, it had not been there when he last looked in; according to Robert, he had not been out of the policeman's company since he left the sitting-room. Who, then, this of the in the box? The himself? But the assassin, as had been proved clearly, was a negro. A questions to the near the door had the that no had gone up. In fact, the man had that he had nobody the stairs since the time Fanks returned from his pursuit. So were the which he had to go on, that Fanks not up a theory. He was in the dark, and he likely to so.
The was of silver, the length of a needle, and while the point was as as a lancet, it till when it passed into a slim, handle, it was--for a needle, bulky. In this part the was contained, and it oozed, by drop, to the point. Fanks at the of the piece of ingenuity. The of the thing gave him an idea.
"Must have been by a scientific man," he mused, the slender, line gingerly. "It's too for an amateur. Louis, the new baronet, is a man of science; he has succeeded to the title. Can it be that--but, no!" he added, off abruptly, "he would not a in so a fashion, much less, the means he used at the address of his victim."
Nevertheless, the idea him so afield, into so many that, they to nothing, he locked up the needle, put it out of his thoughts, and paid a visit to New Scotland Yard. Here he to the person in authority, that, while he had every of the of the late Sir Gregory Fellenger, yet he was to point out that the of the case would be considerable. To this, the person in authority by Fanks a from Messrs. Vaud and Vaud, of Lincoln's Inn Fields. It that they had been by Sir Louis Fellenger--who was at present to through ill-health--to the that he every to be to the of his cousin; and that he would the of the investigation. This by that the in of the case should call at the offices of the lawyers at his convenience.
"Very of Sir Louis to save the Government expense," said the person in authority. "Use what money you require, Mr. Fanks, but be reasonable--be reasonable."
"I shall be as as I possibly can be, sir," Fanks; "but in my opinion, the case will be long and expensive. It is the most that I took in hand."
"The more difficulty, the more glory," said the person in authority. "Go on with the case, Mr. Fanks; act as you please, make use of all our resources. I have every in you, Mr. Fanks; if anyone can his hand on the of Sir Gregory Fellenger, you are the man. I wish you good day, Mr. Fanks."
Dismissed in this manner, Fanks left the room with the of the of Vaud and Vaud. Before he he was by Crate.
"A from Dr. Renshaw," said Crate, with an air of great importance. "He called here this with the of you. In your absence, he saw me; and that he was for India to-night by the P. and O. 'Oceana.' Before leaving, he to see and speak with you."
"Before leaving, he has to see and speak with me," Fanks, coolly. "I would have him on if he to London without according me an interview."
"You have no on which you can him, Mr. Fanks."
"I have more than you are aware of, Crate. If Dr. Renshaw have me he would have done so; but he not. Where is he now?"
"He is still at Great Auk Street, where he has been since the night of the murder."
"When the 'Oceana' the Docks?"
"To-night at ten o'clock. Dr. Renshaw goes from Fenchurch Street by the eight train."
"It is now a past five. Good! I shall call at Great Auk Street; in the meantime, I have to keep another appointment."
"Have you out anything since I saw you last, Mr. Fanks?"
"I have out that there is a woman in the case," said Fanks. "And that me, Crate. You must go to Paris by to-night's mail. Are you with anything else?"
"No, Mr. Fanks. I shall be to start when you please. What am I to do in Paris?"
Fanks sat at Crate's table and a name and a date. "Get me a certificate of the death and of Emma Calvert, who died in Paris last year; she suicide, which was passed off as an accident, and was in Pere la Chaise. I do not know the month of the death, but you can do without that. Wire me all particulars. You can the French police to help you. Ask in the office here for necessary and authorisation. Don't expense, I have full power to all I want."
After these necessary instructions, Fanks off to Lincoln's Inn Fields, and presented his card at the office of Vaud and Vaud. He was at once up to the room of the senior partner, and him as Garth said, a of the old school. He was red-faced and white-haired; his by a "pince-nez," and spoke with some of the of Dr. Renshaw.
"This is a most business, Mr. Fanks," he said, when the was seated. "I go home five o'clock, but in the of our client, Sir Louis Fellenger, I remained, on the of you. I am to see you."
"I came as soon as I was able, Mr. Vaud; but you only sent for me to-day. I wonder you did not wish to see me before."
"There was no necessity, my dear sir. We only from Sir Louis yesterday that he was prepared to all with the of the case."
"Sir Louis is ill, I believe, Mr. Vaud?"
"Sir Louis is well, sir," said the lawyer impressively. "He is a man, and he is over to the science of chemistry. The with which he his him in a of anxiety; and his health accordingly. He is now at Mere Hall, by Dr. Binjoy."
"Is Dr. Binjoy with Sir Louis at Mere Hall at this present moment?"
"Certainly. Dr. Binjoy the of Sir Louis. He has the over him. Though I must say," added Vaud, "that the of the doctor not prevent his patient from his sick-bed to the of the late baronet."
"He must have been of his cousin," said Fanks, pointedly.
"On the contrary, the had not one another for ten years and more," said Mr. Vaud, solemnly. "I do not wish to speak of the dead, but the late Sir Gregory was a of fashion, while the present Sir Louis is a man of science. They got on well together, and therefore out of each other's way."
"And very sensible, too," said Fanks, dryly. "Do you to know if Dr. Binjoy has been in London lately?"
"I to know on the best authority--that of Sir Louis--that Binjoy has not been in London for the last six weeks. Sir Louis has been for that period; the doctor has not left his bedside."
Fanks a note of this answer, and the in the direction of the crime. "You know that Fellenger died from poison?"
"From blood-poisoning," Vaud. "So I saw in the papers. A most case, my dear sir. What took our late client to that locality, and why did he submit himself to the needle?"
"I can't say. Are you aware of any which might have the man to have a tattooed?"
"No, sir. As a of fact," Mr. Vaud, "the late Sir Gregory and myself were not on the best of terms. He was extravagant, and he my well-meant advice. I saw as little of him as of Sir Louis."
"Then you are not with Sir Louis?"
"I cannot say that I am. Sir Louis has a life at Taxton-on-Thames. I have only him once or twice."
"And Dr. Binjoy?"
"I have him at all?"
"Was Sir Louis rich?"
"On the contrary, he was very poor. Five hundred a year only."
"Well, Mr. Vaud," said Fanks, rising. "I have to thank Sir Louis for his offer to the of this case; and I shall do my best to the to justice."
"Have you any clue, Mr. Fanks?"
"I have a of clues, but they all to lead to nothing."
"Do you think that you will be successful?"
"I can't say--yet. I so."
"I so, too, but I am doubtful; very doubtful. Well, good evening, Mr. Fanks. Do you want any money?"
"Not at present. I shall to you when I do."
"That's all right. I trust you will succeed, Mr. Fanks. But in my opinion you are time and money. The is a mystery, and for all that I can see, it will a mystery."
