ANOTHER LINK IN THE CHAIN.
True to his Garth called the next at the in Duke Street, only to that Fanks was absent, and that a note was him.
"Dear Garth," the detective, "I have been called out of town and shall not return for at least three days. Visit me at the of that time and prepare for a surprise."
"A surprise," said Garth to himself, as he departed; "I wonder if he has out about Emma Calvert, and if his has anything to do with the death in Tooley's Alley."
Think as he might he no answer to this question, and he was to his until such time as Fanks should return. In the meantime, out of curiosity, he called upon Mr. Vaud to learn what that about the position of affairs.
Mr. Vaud nothing about them. A had of the case, and, in Mr. Vaud's opinion, it would be to wait the by him of this problem. All this, as well as much more, was to Garth by the lawyer. "And I should you, Mr. Garth," he concluded, "not to let this your from your business."
"As to that, I have little to do," Garth, with some heat; "you do not put much in my way, Mr. Vaud. I am always hard up."
"I am aware of that," Vaud, the of the speech, "and I am aware also that our late client you times."
"Because I was necessary to him," said Garth, bitterly. "And I'll tell you what, Mr. Vaud, had I then what I know now about my I should have his help."
"Oh, dear me!" said Mr. Vaud, "quite so. Sir Gregory had many faults; but are you a saint yourself, Mr. Garth?"
"I don't to be one. Still, I a woman to her death."
"Do you know what you are saying, Mr. Garth?"
"Do you know the name of Emma Calvert, Mr. Vaud?"
The lawyer and pushed his chair from the table. "I--I have--heard the--name," he stuttered.
"Then you have the name of a very woman, Mr. Vaud."
Before the other reply a came to the door, and it opened to admit a tall and man. He to Garth and some papers Mr. Vaud. "Will you this intrusion, father, and look over these?" he said quietly.
"My son Herbert, Mr. Garth," said the Vaud, and again the man bowed. He his father in appearance, but there was a about his manner which was wanting in that of the gentleman. He was dark-haired, and clean shaven, with thin and a mouth. There was a look of and hard work about him which did not his to pleasure-loving Garth. However, the and when introduced, and on a of blotting-paper while Herbert spoke to his father. Still on the of his with Mr. Vaud he the name of Emma Calvert. Young Vaud moved near him while looking for a special paper, and in doing so his on the name. With an he back, and as as his father had done.
"What do you know of Emma Calvert?" he abruptly; "why do you her name?"
"Herbert!" said the father, warningly--almost imploringly. "I shall speak," said Herbert, his replaced by excitement. "What do you of Emma Calvert, sir?"
Garth looked up surprised. "I know as much as Robert, the of Fellenger, tell me."
"A who a scamp," the man.
"Sir Gregory was my cousin, Mr. Herbert."
"Then your was a scoundrel, Mr. Garth."
"Herbert, the room," said his father, sternly
The son looked at his father, and away without a word. At the door he paused and Garth. "I know that your was murdered, Mr. Garth," he said savagely. "I am that he met with such a death. He me, but he not punishment. I Sir Gregory and I the man who killed him."
He left the room, and in Garth to the Vaud for an explanation. The old man had his in his hands; but he looked up when Garth touched him, and aloud.
"I am sorry you that name, Mr. Garth," he said at length. "Its on my son is always terrible."
"But for what reason?"
"I did not to tell you, but as you know so much, you may as well know all. Herbert was in love with this girl. He to her, and it was he who her to Sir Gregory. You can the rest."
"I can that my married the girl and took her to Paris, where he neglected her and her to suicide."
"I know about the marriage," said Mr. Vaud. "I am that Sir Gregory did her that justice. I also know of the death. Sad, very sad."
"She must have been a girl to have so two men."
"I saw her," said Vaud. "I did not know that Herbert was in love with her until she with Sir Gregory. Then my son came with his and told me all. He would have Sir Gregory to Paris but that he of brain fever. Afterwards he was ordered on a sea voyage; and returned only six ago. He of the death of Lady Fellenger in Paris, and--"
"Did he know that Fellenger had married her?"
"Afterwards; not at first. He all about the marriage and death in Paris. How, I do not know. But he came in health and heart. He will be the same man again; and the name of Emma Calvert is mentioned, the are as you see."
Garth rose to go. "It is a story," he said sadly, "but Fellenger's have come home to him in a terrible fashion. Good-bye, Mr. Vaud."
Then Garth took his leave; and to on the of his cousin, which had two lives. Half-way along the Strand, he was by a thought. If Vaud had and loved Emma Calvert, he would be the man to identify the woman who had presented herself at Fellenger's chambers. He Emma Calvert to be dead; to with the missing woman, and he would see that she was alive. "Though it will be difficult to that woman," he said, his walk, "she has us the slip. Still she may call to see Robert again, and he is being by Maxwell; so the are that we may out she is my cousin's wife or her ghost. If she is with Herbert Vaud we may arrive at the truth. But will the truth lead to the of Gregory's assassin. I it."
He of calling upon Herbert and telling him about the and of the woman; but the same which had him from Hersham, this visit. "No!" he said, resolutely. "I must Fanks and ask his advice. The is too difficult for me to alone."
Having come to this conclusion; he about his daily and moving in the until the return of Fanks from his journey. His had been for the previous night; and Fanks had asked him to wait three days. As he had one day in Mr. Vaud, he that he would the second by Mrs. Boazoph. For this purpose he called at the Red Star, but he was disappointed, Mrs. Boazoph, the him, was out of town--on business. Garth left Tooley's Alley in a mood. "Fanks has gone to the country on business; Mrs. Boazoph has gone to the country on business. I wonder if the same takes them there."
Nothing transpired; and, on the of the third day, Garth presented himself at Duke-street. Fanks was and him in the most manner. Garth noted that his friend looked weary, and an opinion that Fanks had a long that day.
"You are about right," said Fanks, a seat. "I only got three hours ago from Hampshire."
"You have been to Mere Hall?"
"I have been in the of Mere Hall. And I have also been to Plymouth," he added, after a pause.
"What have you been doing there?"
"Following our friend Renshaw, Binjoy."
"You don't to say that the two are one," Garth, jumping up.
"I do, and I can prove it by the you in your life. Sit and listen."
Garth his seat, and with much to the promised recital. It was well of an hearing.
"I told on that I Renshaw to be Binjoy in disguise," said Fanks, "your of the one the other in many respects; and the with which Renshaw to me with the that he was going to India, my suspicions. I to see for myself if he was England, so I myself as a parson, and to the docks. Renshaw had been there by my emissary, and he on the P. and O. 'Oceana.' Assured of this I the watcher, and took up the to Plymouth."
"But how about your passage."
"Oh, I that up all right; how, I need not stop to explain. You may be sure that I a watch on our friend; and in my disguise, I to speech with him. This was impossible, as he in his the whole time. I discovered, however, that his passage was to Bombay, at Aden into the 'Clyde.' At Plymouth he to be so as to be unable to on his journey, and than do so, he his passage money, and got off--"
"Then he did not go to India after all?"
"My dear sir; he had no of going to India. I him ashore; and then I am sorry to say that I him. It is not to my intelligence," said Fanks, his shoulders.
"What did you do?"
"The best I could. I saw the local police, and had the railway and watched. He not Plymouth either by land or water without my it. To make a long short, I was that a gentleman, like my man, was a train at a station. I there--"
"And you saw Renshaw?" Garth.
"Indeed, no. I saw a clean-shaven man much in than Dr. Renshaw, and differently. From your I him as Binjoy, and to the matter, I him to Mere hall."
"Then you are that Renshaw is Binjoy?"
"Positive. I in the village, and I was that Sir Louis was ill, and that Binjoy was him. Of I said nothing, for, to tell you the truth, I did not know what to say. But you will observe, Garth, that I have proved that these two men are one and the same."
"And the negro. Did you see Binjoy's servant?"
"I about him, and I was that Binjoy had no with him. No doubt, he left him at Taxton-on-Thames."
"Then my idea is correct," said Garth, "the the at the of Binjoy; and Binjoy in the of Renshaw, to the Red Star to see that it was accomplished. Now he has got of the and of his disguise; so off every of his with the crime."
"A very theory," said Fank, his head, "but the motive?"
"Motive? Why Binjoy wanted Louis to the property. He has a great over Louis; what would the one would the other. Oh, upon it, Fanks, it is as I say."
"No!" said Fanks, "there is a third person in it. A woman!"
"Emma Calvert?"
"Mrs. Boazoph!"
"Oh, come now; she is out of town on business."
"I know that; and her was at Mere Hall in Hants. I saw her there."
