FANKS MAKES UP HIS MIND.
Naturally Fanks was at this confession; but he was so with the of the man that he not the journalist was guilty. Despite the of the and the relationship of Fellenger's wife with Anne Colmer, he did not think for a moment that his friend had anything to do with the crime. Nevertheless, it would appear from the of Hersham to speak openly that he had some knowledge--if not of the itself--at all events of the leading to its accomplishment. This was the only he place on this last outburst.
"After what I have said, Hersham, I think you ought to in me," he after a pause. "I do not you in any way; yet you to me. You ought to be the to help me."
"I do not see how you make that out," Hersham, with a face. "I met with Sir Gregory. I nothing but of his life, and he to suicide the sister of the girl to I am engaged. Why should I help you?"
"Ah!" Fanks, sharply; "then you can help me if you choose."
"I cannot," returned Hersham, doggedly. "I have not the idea who killed Fellenger. I can tell you nothing."
"Yes, you can; only you to. Why I cannot say. You had be careful, Hersham; you will not me easy to with if you my suspicions."
"Do you me?"
"I you," Fanks, smartly, "I am not to have my offers of help repelled. Your of a moments ago me that you know something. What is it?"
"I know nothing."
"You do! Speak, if not for your own sake, at least for that of Miss Colmer."
Hersham up to Fanks with an angry face. "How you the name of Miss Colmer?" he cried. "I you to speak of her."
"All the for you and for--her. She called at the of the man. Why did she call there? She was at Tooley's Alley on the night of the murder. What was she doing in such a place? You to tell me? I shall ask her."
Hersham forward, and the arm of Fanks to prevent his the room. "Think of what you are about," he gasped. "Ask her nothing, you me, nothing."
"That rests with yourself. Tell me what you know and--"
"I know nothing," said Hersham, and away with an look.
"Good!" said Fanks, on his hat. "We now one another. I shall out all without you. Good-bye. And you may thank your that I do not you on suspicion."
"I that I am innocent."
"I know that, else I would have had you in by this time. But you are another person. Anne Colmer, for instance."
"She nothing."
"I shall judge of that for myself," Fanks, and left the room.
In Acacia Road the a and to the nearest office. It had to him that Hersham might attempt to with Anne; and he was to such a move. To this end he sent a wire to the of the police at Taxton-on-Thames, him to if possible all and which might come to Miss Colmer. Thereby he to prevent Hersham the girl.
Arriving at New Scotland Yard, he a man to watch Hersham, and sent him up to Acacia Road. A at "Bradshaw" him that to Taxton-on-Thames, Hersham would have to start from Waterloo. Thither he sent another detective, to keep an on the trains. Therefore, by letter, by telegram, and by railway, he had stopped Hersham from with Anne Colmer. After taking these he saw Crate.
"I am going to Taxton-on-Thames at three o'clock," he said.
"Are you going to look for the woman who the envelope, Mr. Fanks?"
Fanks out his legs, and with his ring. "That is just what is me, Crate," he. "I have told you of my with Mr. Hersham. Well, unless he is me, Mrs. Conner, is a paralytic. She not have that envelope; yet, going by the writing, I'll that an woman the address. If not Mrs. Colmer--an impossibility--who it?"
"Anne Colmer," said Crate, promptly.
"No. For disguise, she would have a hand."
"Mrs. Boazoph?"
"If Mrs. Boazoph had been to Taxton-on-Thames I should say yes; if the had been sent from Mere Hall I should have said yes. But," added Fanks, with emphasis, "as it did not come from Mere Hall, and Mrs. Boazoph has nothing to do with Taxton-on-Thames, I am not to the lady."
"Then there is nobody else."
"There must be somebody else; and the somebody else the crime."
Crate thought. "Do you think that the sent that star?" he asked.
"I perfectly that the had nothing to do with the star."
"But we have proved that a killed Fellenger."
Fanks complacently. "I should not be at all if we out that a had nothing to do with the murder," he said, slowly.
"But that is impossible, Mr. Fanks."
"Nothing is in a case," said Fanks. "Look here, Crate, as you know, it is not my to give an opinion I have out the of a case; but in this instance, I shall from my rule. I should not be if I had already the of Sir Gregory Fellenger."
"No!" Crate in admiration. "And who is it, Mr. Fanks. Man or woman?"
"Walls have ears, Crate. I shall the name and when the case comes to an end--if it does--you can laugh at me or me at your will. Now then."
Fanks approached his mouth to the ear of Crate and a single name. "That is my opinion," he said slowly.
Crate his head. "No, Mr. Fanks. I am to put my opinion, against yours, but I think you are making a mistake."
"Perhaps I am," Fanks, carelessly, "the case is a difficult one, and I am prepared to out that I am wrong. All the same, I am that the person I named is guilty. I'll you five to five that I am correct."
Crate and took up the bet. The of his him, and he would not have losing. But he not himself to agree with Fanks as to the name of the person; for he had a of his own in which he believed. This was to that of his superior.
"How long shall you be at Taxton-on-Thames," he asked Fanks, when this little piece of was concluded.
"I may be a days, a hours, or a month. It all on what I out. I must Anne Colmer; see her mother; and make about Binjoy and his servant."
"But the doctor is at Mere Hall. You must go there to ask about the negro."
"Rubbish. As I told you before, the has been at Mere Hall. Binjoy at Taxton-on-Thames, and it is there that I must ask after this black man. Afterwards, I can go to Mere Hall."
"Have you any for going?"
"One. I wish to out why Mrs. Boazoph visited the Hall."
"And what about the cross, Mr. Fanks?"
"Oh, I shall see that later on. But in the meantime I must pay these visits. Firstly, Taxton-on-Thames. Secondly, Mere Hall. Thirdly, the Isle of Wight and the Rev. Mr. Hersham."
"Humph!" said Crate, doubtfully. "From what you say, I should think Mr. Hersham junior would your plans, if he could."
"I have not the least of it," Fanks dryly, "but he is being watched. If he to me I shall, at least, have the of it. By the way, do you know anything about Bombay?"
"That's in India, isn't it?" said Crate, taken by the of this question. "I don't know anything about Bombay, Mr. Fanks, what I've in books."
"You must your knowledge then; for I may want you to go there in a week or so."
"Has my going there anything to do with this case?" Crate, still very much at the turn the had taken.
"It has to do with this case," Fanks, his perplexity, and the of his slow-moving mind.
"Dr. Renshaw did not go to India," was Crate's next remark.
"Quite so. Renshaw having his name of Binjoy, is now at Mere Hall--in safety, as he thinks. I can hands on him any time; but I can't hands on that negro. You must do that, Crate."
"But the isn't in India, Mr. Fanks?"
"In my opinion--I may be wrong--he is," the other. "See here, Crate. Dr. Binjoy must know that as I am by Sir Louis to the assassin, I must see him sooner or later. If I see the new baronet, I can help his 'Fidus Achates.' Now, although Binjoy has--as he thinks--destroyed all of his with Renshaw, yet he cannot his personal appearance, which is noticeable. He may off his so as to make himself look younger; he may of his stoutness; but he cannot his voice or his manner. He must, therefore that I may be with his to Renshaw. In some way--for I give him the of being clever--he will to account for the resemblance. I do not know the particular he will to; but of one thing I am certain;--he will keep up the that Renshaw is in India by means of prepared to Dr. Turnor."
"It is my opinion, Crate," Fanks, solemnly, "that Binjoy has got of his by sending him to Bombay; and, from Bombay the will letters--already written--to Turnor of Great Auk Street. I may be wrong, of course, and I do not wish to act in a hurry. But the I see from India, to be from Binjoy-Renshaw, that very day you start for Bombay to look for the who is at present missing. I am to my professional that you will him there."
"Well, you are a 'cute one, Mr. Fanks," said Crate in an tone. "I should have of that."
This of respect from Crate put an end to the for the time being. Fanks to his chambers, packed a clothes, and repaired to Waterloo Station. The who was there, him that Hersham had not been on the platform; and Fanks to Taxton-on-Thames satisfied that he had what the Americans call "the running."
He himself while in the train by making notes in his pocket book; and with out the questions which he to ask Miss Colmer. Notwithstanding his to Crate, he was very if he would be able to the of Sir Gregory, for the he into the case the more did it become. So as he see at the present moment, the person who had killed the Tooley Alley had every of the gallows. All that the do was to go on in the darkness; and trust to any of light which might the assassin; but at present, he not see an ahead of him.
On at Taxton-on-Thames he at once to the local post office; and, as he expected, he there a telegram, which the police had succeeded in delaying. It was to Anne Colmer, and ran as follows: "Detective coming; answer him nothing." There was no name; but from the context, and the place it had been sent--High Street, St. John's Wood--Fanks had no in that it had come from Hersham.
"Very good," he murmured. "What Hersham knows, the girl knows. I failed to the from him; I may from her."
