THE TATTOOED CROSS.
Fanks was prepared for most surprises, and, from experience, he was capable, of his thoroughly. In this instance, however, he was so by the of the that it was some time he his and plan of action. The of the was extraordinary, but the of the portraits was still more so. Before he on the Hersham asked an question.
"Why do you speak of these things?" he said anxiously, "and what do you know about Miss Colmer?"
"I know nothing about Miss Colmer," Fanks, quickly. "Hold on a minute, my good fellow, I have had what people call a turn."
Hersham this with a air, and pushed the the detective. Accepting this attention, Fanks himself out a glass. A or two his nerves and set his brain to work, so that he was able to the situation. For he did not wish to too much to Hersham; yet under the of the case he was to tell him a amount. To his ends with the least possible to his plans he was to a from the his knowledge. The was one of some little difficulty, but he succeeded well in so much of the truth as he did not wish known.
"That photograph took me by surprise, Hersham," he said after a pause.
"Why should it take you by surprise?" said the other, jealously. "Have you met with Miss Colmer?"
"I have not met the lady," Fanks, slowly, "but I have some one who her. So that I the person I saw was the original of that photograph."
"Where did you see this person?"
"At Paris--in the Morgue."
It to Fanks that Hersham colour on this; but he his under control, and remarked, "In the Morgue? A case of murder, no doubt."
"No! Suicide by drowning. Afterwards I that the was that of an English girl called Emma Calvert." He the of the marriage. "She is in Pere la Chaise under the name--whether true or not, I cannot say--of Calvert. You cannot wonder that the of that picture, which I took for that of the woman, should me, the more as you me that the original of that photograph is still alive and is to you."
"Was it for this purpose that you came to see me?" Hersham.
"No; I came to see you about something else. Nevertheless, telling you the object of my visit, I should like to have the of the photograph explained."
"How do you know that I can it?"
"Perhaps you can, you can't. On the other hand, you can and you--won't."
Hersham his lip, and took a turn up and the room. He appeared to be on the of something, but himself when about to speak. At this stage Fanks his tongue, and to let Hersham make the remark. Evidently the man had something on his mind, and what the something was Fanks was to out; but he left the mode of to his host. Hersham was aware of this, and and and frowned. Ultimately he his seat and the situation.
"I have always looked upon you as a friend, Fanks," he said in a manner; "and I have every to that you wish me well."
"My dear fellow," said Fanks, what be the of this appeal, "you are perfectly right. I would do anything to prove my for you."
"Then answer me candidly. Did you come here to ask me about that which you know is on my left arm?"
"Yes," said Fanks, unhesitatingly; "I did. How did you my errand?"
"I read the report of the on the of Fellenger, and I the of the and the cross. I was that you had the case in hand; I that you had the mark on my arm. So when you me to see you it was not hard for me to what you wanted. You see, I was right."
"I you on your penetration, my dear Hersham," replied. Fanks, coolly. "At the same time, I do not see what this speech has to do with your one about friendship."
"I can explain. You asked me a question about that photograph; and to answer it in a satisfactory manner I shall be to tell you something about the family of the girl to I am engaged."
"Does your the late Sir Gregory Fellenger?"
"Yes. It has a great to do with the late Sir Gregory."
"And with Emma Calvert?"
"With the woman you call Emma Calvert."
"Ought I to say Lady Fellenger?" said Fanks, quickly.
Hersham his shoulders. "That makes no to my explanation," he said, and rose to the photograph off the mantelshelf. "You think that this is the picture of Emma Calvert?"
For answer, Fanks produced the portrait he had in Fellenger's rooms, and it to Hersham. "Is this the picture of Anne Colmer?" he asked.
"No, that is Emma Calvert."
"Then these are those of two different women?"
"Certainly. The one is Emma Calvert who suicide in Paris. The other is Anne Colmer who is alive and to me."
Fanks for a minute. "I now to see light," he said, in a tone. "Am I right in that Emma is the sister of Anne?"
"You are perfectly right. She is the twin-sister."
"Ah! That for the resemblance."
"It does," Hersham, with a nod, "the two sisters were so that you not tell one from the other--at least, so I have been told."
"Oh! Then you saw the two sisters together?"
"I did not. I saw Emma in my life."
"Of you know her sad story," said Fanks, after a pause.
"Anne's mother told it to me. I know that Emma married Fellenger secretly, and was to her death by his brutality. Now, you can see why I you of our telling you the truth."
"No!" said Fanks, sharply, "I can't see."
"Why! I am to the sister of the girl; so I thought--"
"That I might you of killing Sir Gregory out of revenge?"
"Well, I did have that in my head; and then the of the cross, you know."
Fanks laughed, and took the hand of Hersham. "My dear lad," he said. "I have no idea of you of the crime; your to Miss Colmer is no proof that you killed the man who so her sister. Do not, therefore, to tell me all you know. How Emma Calvert came to London; how she met with Sir Gregory; and how she was loved by Herbert Vaud?"
"What!" Hersham. "You know that also?"
"I know more than you think, Hersham; therefore, if you attempt to me I shall you out. Now go on with your story."
"I do not want to you," the journalist, "but you must that I only speak from hearsay. If you want the first-hand you must see old Mrs. Colmer, at Taxton-on-Thames."
"Hum!" said Fanks, his the of the which the star. "What of a person is the lady in question?"
"An invalid," said Hersham, promptly. "A paralytic; she has not moved hand or for years."
"Confound it!"
"What is the matter?"
"Nothing. Only your has a theory. Never mind; go on."
"There isn't much to tell," said Hersham. "Mrs. Colmer is a gentlewoman, husband died and left her with two little girls. To support these she set up a dressmaker's at Taxton-on-Thames. When the children up, Mrs. Colmer was with and on the shelf. Anne and Emma on the business, and thus supported their mother. Emma came to London to in a dressmaker's establishment; and Anne to look after the shop at Taxton-on-Thames. While in London, Emma met with Vaud at the house of a friend of her mother's. He in love with Emma and to her. She liked him, but she did not love him; nevertheless, for her mother's sake, she his offer. Then in an unlucky hour Herbert Fellenger to Emma; she loved him, or was by his title. At all events, she ran away with him to Paris and his wife."
"She was married in a London office. Registrar's."
"I did not know that," said Hersham. "Emma told her mother that she was married, but she did not where. Well, Vaud had an attack of brain fever, and he on a sea voyage. On his return he to Paris to learn what had of Emma. He that she was and buried; in some way he learned the whole history. Vaud returned to England to see Fellenger; but he meet with him the was killed in Tooley's Alley; and the of Emma was by an unknown hand. That is the story, Fanks; you can make what use you like of it."
"It is a story," Fanks. "I can now the which Vaud the memory of his false friend; and I can also how I Anne for Emma. But," added Fanks, with emphasis, "I cannot why Anne came to the of Fellenger, and why she ran away when she saw me."
Hersham looked jealous, and frowned. "I cannot that myself," he said. "She Fellenger as much as did Herbert Vaud; and I do not know why she should go to the rooms of the scoundrel."
"She asked for the valet."
"Robert, the whimpering, dog?"
"Anne might have gone to see him to ask for particulars of her sister's death."
"Well, yes," Fanks, thoughtfully; "but that not why she away when she saw me."
"I can only that she did not wish to what her there, and so tell the of her sister's death to a stranger."
"No, there is more in it than that," said the detective, that Anne had been among the on the night of the murder; "but we will talk of this hereafter. In the meantime, let us return to the main object of my visit, and me this famous cross."
Hersham no to this request, and his coat. Rolling up his he the on the of the left forearm. It was a St. Catherine cross, the size of a florin, and Fanks it long and carefully. "Did you that at school?" he asked when Hersham had his coat.
"I did not it done at all. I have had it since I can remember; and I have asked my father often about it, but he cannot, or will not, give me any information."
"He will not most probably. Are you sure that there is no to the tattooing?"
"None that I know of; but my father might be informed."
"Would your mother know?"
"I have no mother; she died when I was a baby."
"Strange," Fanks, pensively; "it is that you should have this mark on you and yet be of its significance. I wish you would speak to your father about it."
"He won't tell me anything; I have asked him before."
"You have no idea why a to this should have been on Sir Gregory's arm by a negro?"
"Certainly not. I did not know Sir Gregory."
"I wonder if your father tell me?"
"I don't know. He might or he might not. Do you think that this has anything to do with the you are investigating?"
"That is just what I do think," Fanks. "The man was killed by means of a used to in a to that on your arm."
"But that that I am mixed up in the matter."
"It nothing of the sort. Don't be an ass."
But Hersham was not with this assurance. "You think that I have something to do with the crime," he said obstinately.
Fanks looked at his face, at his hands, and a entered his mind. "I'll tell you what I do think," he said in an tone; "I think that you have not told me all the truth."
Hersham still more, and his hands together. "I cannot," he muttered, away from Fanks; "I not."
