THE INTERVENTION OF CHANCE.
It was a moment or so Garth the of this new of Mrs. Boazoph into the case. When he did so, he that she had no gone to Mere Hall to see Louis Fellenger. Fanks dissented. "In my opinion she to see Binjoy."
"For what reason?"
"I can't tell you. It must be a powerful which would make this woman out Binjoy when he had so his with Renshaw. But I have long had my of Mrs. Boazoph. She the body; she answered my questions in a manner, and to herself without being so to do. Also she got of the of gunpowder. All these that Mrs. Boazoph more about the than she to tell."
"Do you think that she who the crime?"
"I wouldn't to that," said Fanks, with some hesitation; "but she must have Renshaw with Binjoy, else she would have out the at Mere Hall."
"Do you that Mrs. Boazoph Fellenger to her hotel by means of that advertisement, and then had him killed?"
"How can I tell?" Fanks; "you know as much about the as I do. But I will do Mrs. Boazoph the to say that I she would a so to herself. I do not think that she had anything to do with the advertisement."
"The was in a woman's handwriting."
"No doubt; but the may not be that of Mrs. Boazoph. Still she is in some way with Binjoy, and he is mixed up in the crime."
"You that he the to it?"
"It looks like it; and yet," Fanks, with a frown, "the is too clear for me to take that view."
"Why! The the evidence, the more you must be of the truth."
Fanks his head. "From my I am to easily-obtained evidence. Everything points to the of the by the of Binjoy, and for that I do not to accept it. It would that in case of trouble Mrs. Boazoph and Binjoy had provided for their own safety by on the negro."
"But one thing is clear enough," said Garth, impatiently, "the killed my cousin."
"A killed your cousin, but not necessarily the of Binjoy."
Garth looked puzzled. "I am more in the dark than ever," he said.
"Same here, Garth. Depend upon it this is no affair. It is a cleverly-planned and cleverly-executed scheme; out by people who know what they are doing. As the case new I cannot see my way. The evidence--in my opinion--leads to nothing. If Crate had this in hand he would Binjoy on suspicion, and for the as the murderer, and by doing so he would make a of the whole business. I shall nobody--at present. Save to and Crate I shall give my opinions to nobody. I shall watch and wait; put two and two together, and when they make four I shall on the assassin. It will take time and patience and money, but, as I said before, the case is a one. We are with people who are as and than we are. I that the is anything but promising," Fanks, with a sigh.
"You cannot who the crime?"
"No, I cannot. To all it was the negro, but--and this is the main point--was it the of Binjoy, and would the be to so a method of a as the mode of the needle? Again, would a be in of such as would Fellenger to permit the use of the needle? The whole in that on the arm. When I its meaning I shall be able to name the assassin."
"Then why not see Hersham?" Garth. "He has a mark on his left arm. He may be able to tell you what you wish to know."
"I have an with Hersham at his rooms to-morrow. I may learn something from him; on the other hand, I may learn nothing."
"And what about Emma Calvert?"
"Oh, I shall out about her at Taxton-on-Thames. I may Lady Fellenger of Paris alive at the Surrey village under another name. And yet," added Fanks, producing a paper, "Crate's report proves that the woman died in Paris in 1893, and was in Pere la Chaise."
"If that is so, who was the woman who appeared so strangely? The of the photograph and the prove that she is Emma Calvert."
"I can only that she did not die; but that either or some woman was in her place. It is the only that I can give. Yet, for all I know, Emma Calvert may have that to kill her husband."
"It is a wild theory," said Garth, "why should this woman, the wife of my cousin, to be dead, and submit to have her identity by the false burial? If she is alive, I can that she should have my killed out of revenge; but why the death, which--to all appearances--was in by Fellenger?"
"I can't answer that question until I the truth from Robert."
"There is no for Robert. I have another person who can tell you the truth."
"Oh!" said Fanks, looking up sharply, "and this person?"
"Herbert Vaud; the son of the lawyer you saw the other day."
"You don't say so," Fanks, eagerly, "you laugh at chance, Garth; well, here is another which may put us on the right track. If we solve the of Emma Calvert, we may the Tooley Alley enigma. Tell me all you know; no detail. Begin, begin!"
Flattered by the taken in his discovery, Garth related at great length the of Vaud; the of such as by the Vaud; and attention to the that if with the missing woman, Herbert might be able to her, either as an imposter, or as the Emma Calvert.
Fanks with the attention; did he a until Garth had his story. Then he a and reflected.
"It is most extraordinary," he said at length, "dare you in chance. Chance you to the office of the Vauds; you that name on the paper; the attention of Herbert Vaud to the name. I have always that is my best friend."
"All this is the point," said Garth, impatiently, "what do you say?"
"Your may lead to something," Fanks, cautiously. "I shall see Herbert Vaud after I have Hersham. Between the two of them I may learn something likely to light on the of this case; but we are only on the of our as yet."
Garth rose to take his leave. "I agree with you," he said, "the looks anything but hopeful. But I shall you now; as you are after your long journey."
Fanks himself. "I am weary," he remarked, yawning, "and I shan't be sorry to go to bed. Come and see me to-morrow, and I'll tell you how I on with Hersham. And Garth," added Fanks, going to the door with his guest, "don't do any more on your own account. It will take me some time to the you have me. When I have at some this new evidence, I shall tell you what to do."
Garth was to be by Fanks' advice; the more so as he was at a how to proceed, and was waiting for the more of the to him. With to think about for the next twenty-four hours he took his departure, and left Fanks to a well-earned rest.
The with Hersham was for twelve o'clock the next day; and at that time Fanks took his way up to Acacia Road, St. John's Wood, where the journalist had his lodgings. Certainly not a very position for a man in the press; but Hersham had been up in the Isle of Wight, the sea, and green trees. From the of early he not to be up and mortar, where he breathe. Therefore he had taken up his in a where he was of fresh air. He to and Fleet Street and St. John's Wood on his bicycle, and thus by a little dexterity, he managed to to his on the "Morning Planet," and yet to live a life.
When Fanks at noon, Hersham, for health's sake, was in the garden; but, on the detective, he came to his visitor. He was a slender, man of eight and twenty, or thereabouts; with curly, and eyes. He a moustache, but otherwise he was clean-shaven. Usually his was and smiling, with a high colour and a expression. On this occasion he was pale, and there was an look in his which did not the detective. He had the same in the of Binjoy.
"How are you, Fanks," said Hersham, with an at lightness. "I see that you are to the minute. I am of that; as I can't give you much time. I have an with my at one-thirty."
"Oh, I can my in an hour," Fanks, lightly. "I won't take up more of your valuable time than I can help. You were to my note."
"Frankly speaking, I was," said Hersham, with an look. "I can't what you want to see me about. I hope," he added, with a smile, "that it is nothing in your line of business?"
"That is just the point. It is in my line of business."
To the of Fanks, the man gave a of gasp, and without a word he and the way into the house. This was so different to his manner, that Fanks trouble; and, with nothing but his to go on, he if this was in any way with the he had come about. In plain words, with the cross; and with the of Tooley's Alley. The room into which Hersham the detective, was a simply-furnished of a and character. Furniture, carpet, wallpaper, and curtains, were all of a light and complexion. Two book-shelves on either of the were with well-chosen volumes; while and on the that the tastes of the journalist were not literary. Excellent pictures the walls; and photographs--mostly those of women--were on the mantlepiece. As a whole, the room was and in of which respects it the of its occupant.
With hospitality, Hersham produced a bottle of whisky, two glasses, and a of water. Signing to Fanks to help himself, he sat in a chair near the window, and waited for his visitor to speak. Fanks did not open his mouth, and Hersham looked up to see the of his silence. The was at the on the mantleshelf--or rather, he was with at one portrait. It was little wonder that he did so; for the picture was that of the woman, who had appeared and so at the of Sir Gregory Fellenger, in Half-Moon Street. For once in his life, Fanks was with astonishment.
"What are you at?" asked Hersham, sharply.
The pointed to the picture. "Who is that lady?" he asked in a of curiosity.
"I don't see what that is of yours," Hersham, "but to your I may tell you she is the girl I am to."
"The girl you are to! Is she alive?"
"Of she is," said Hersham, angry, amused, "why should she be dead. Do you know her? Have you her? Why do you ask?"
"I shall tell you that later on," answered Fanks, "but tell me. Is the name of that girl Emma Calvert?"
"I of Emma Calvert," Hersham, crossly, "the name of that lady is Anne Colmer."
"Of Taxton-on-Thames?"
"Yes! Of Taxton-on-Thames."
