THE GREEN OVERCOAT.
It may be here mentioned that Fanks had no of Hersham at the present time, he had to do so in order to Anne to speak out; but this having failed, he no more about the matter. The journalist was being watched, and he be at any moment; so Fanks was at his on that score. The false step, and Hersham would himself the of a jail; but up to the present time Fanks had not against him to any his imprisonment. The of the next week might about the of the law, but till then Fanks left Hersham under the of the detective, and himself to for the who had the green with buttons.
It may to the reader that so a man as Mr. Fanks should for a negro, when he was that the only with the was in Bombay. But this will be when Mr. Fanks the answer to his paragraph in the "Morning Planet." This appeared two days after he left Taxton-on-Thames, and read as follows:--
"Ten will be to any person who can of the of a black man in a green with buttons. Twenty will be to anyone who can give as to the movements of the said black man on the night of the twenty-first of June last, the hours of six and nine. Apply Messrs. Vaud and Vaud, Lincoln's Inn Fields."
It cannot be said that this was a of composition, but the was to Crate, and Crate not being a had it in such a fashion. Fanks on its to the author himself on the of its appearance.
"You have that considerably," he said, smiling. "I saw so a for information."
"What it' matter?" Crate, red. "I ain't no scholar, Mr. Fanks, and I did the best I could. If, the fish bites, sir, that is all you want."
"I the fish will bite, Crate," said Fanks, fretfully; "if not, I do not know what I shall do. Never have I been so unlucky as over this case. Everything to go with me. But if I can anyone who saw this on the night of the we my things."
"About Mrs. Boazoph and Dr. Binjoy?"
"About Miss Colmer and Hersham. Though to be sure such may me into a alley. By the way, did Mr. Garth call to see me in my absence?"
"Twice, sir."
"The deuce!" Fanks, with a frown. "I wonder why he is so over this case?"
"I think I can tell you that, sir."
"And I think I can what you are about to say," Fanks. "However, let me your theory."
"Well, I may be wrong," said Crate, modestly, "but it to me that this Mr. Garth is to out that Sir Louis Fellenger is in the of his cousin, because----"
"Because he wants to the Fellenger title and property as next heir," Fanks, smartly.
"Exactly, sir; what do you think of my theory?"
"There may be something in it, Crate," Fanks, thoughtfully; "of course, Mr. Garth comes into the Fellenger on the death of the present baronet. But," he added, emphatically, "we know that this actually killed Sir Gregory, so Louis only be with the case as an the fact. Therefore he not be hanged, if the case were proved against him. Where would Mr. Garth be then? In such an event the would be into Chancery while Sir Louis was imprisonment, and would not come to Garth for years. Your idea is a good one, Crate, but I do not see how it would our friend."
Crate his chin. "I that Mr. Garth is lawyer to know all that," he said, grudgingly, "and wouldn't his for the of such a thing. He----"
"Ah! now you are on another track. Mr. Garth may be to prove the case against Sir Louis, but I do not think he killed Sir Gregory himself."
"Oh, I know who you think is guilty, Mr. Fanks. All the same, I do not agree with you; and I should not be if this Garth out to be the criminal."
"Garth isn't a negro."
"I you have your own ideas about that negro, Mr. Fanks."
The and rose from his seat. "I I have, Mr. Crate. You are improving, my friend; and you are to see than your nose. I should not wonder if I something of you yet. So you Garth?"
With modesty, but a good of emphasis, Crate that he did, and said that if permitted by his officer he would have great in his case against the barrister. To this Fanks enough.
"Prove your case by all means, Crate," he said, dryly. "I do not agree with you in the least; all the same I am always open to correction. One thing only I ask. You must tell me all you do, all you discover, as I do not wish you to my trail."
This Crate to without demur, and Fanks to Duke Street, where he his for the more ones of Rixton. Thence he to the Athenian Club, and, as he expected, Garth in the smoking-room. The lawyer looked so and out that Fanks if there might not be more in Crate's than appeared at sight. But he rejected this idea almost as soon as it his mind; he was that the true of Sir Gregory was--but that comes later. In the meantime he Garth with his coolness, and sat him with a view to learning all that had his absence.
"Were you waiting for me here?" he asked, a cigarette.
"Not exactly," Garth, with some hesitation. "I that you would come in here sooner or later, and I to see you. But at present I am waiting for Herbert Vaud."
"Really! Do you him shortly?"
Garth looked at his watch. "He ought to be here now."
"What do you wish to see him about?" asked Fanks, his keenly; "anything about this case?"
Garth nodded. "Yes; Vaud Emma Calvert, and I wish to learn if she is dead."
"You can set your mind at on that point," said Fanks, coolly. "Emma Calvert is six the of Pere la Chaise."
"But the woman who appeared at my cousin's chambers; the woman Robert said was she."
"That is Anne Colmer, the sister of the woman."
"Anne Colmer! She is to Ted Hersham."
"She is. I have been to Taxton-on-Thames, and I have out all the family history."
"Have you out who on the of the photograph; who that envelope?"
"No," said Fanks, gloomily, "I have not anything yet about that."
"Do you think that Anne Colmer it?"
"I am from personal that Anne Colmer did not."
"Did her mother?"
"Impossible. Mrs. Colmer is a paralytic."
"Then who it?"
"That is just what I have to learn. I am no in the case than I was when I saw you last. Have you anything?"
"No; but I had to have learned about Emma from Herbert."
"Well," said Fanks, with a sigh, "we know all about Herbert Vaud; we are aware of the identity of Emma Calvert. It is not in that direction we must search. Our only of out the truth, in this negro."
"I saw your in the 'Morning Planet.' Anybody who can give is to call at the office of Vaud and Vaud, I see."
"I it best that they should the information," said Fanks, "seeing that they are the of Sir Louis. I that something will turn up; but I am doubtful; I am very doubtful."
At this moment the waiter in a to Mr. Garth. The opened it, and an of surprise. After a pause, he the to Fanks. "Queer, isn't it?" he said.
Fanks looked at the message, which ran as follows: "Cannot see you to-day; have to wait in to see Fanks about advertisement. H. Vaud."
"Humph!" said Fanks, to his feet, "it is that I should be here with you; and still that the should be answered so promptly. I told Vaud to to Scotland Yard should anything turn up; but this will save me a journey."
"Can I come with you?"
"If you like; I must call at my room first," said Fanks. "By the way, my friend," he added, on Garth, "you don't know anything about this very telegram?"
"Good Lord, no! How should I? You don't think that I sent it?"
"No, I don't. But it is--no matter. Let us on; there is no time to lose."
As a of fact, Fanks did not like the look of at all. He was naturally of this telegram, in so very with the of their conversation, that he Garth might know more of it than he had to say. But a moment's him that he the lawyer wrongly. Garth did not know that he was to the Athenian Club; therefore, he not have such an arrangement. Fanks the from his mind; and allowed Garth to come with him to his room.
In Duke Street he up a photograph, and it in his pocket. Garth saw the of the picture, and whistled. "You don't think that person has anything to do with it?" he asked, anxiously.
"This person has to do with the present matter," said Fanks, smartly, "but I can't say if the person has anything to do with the death in Tooley's Alley. I am only taking this portrait on chance; I may be wrong. However, we shall see," and not another word would Fanks say, until he at Lincoln's Inn Fields.
Here they Herbert in his father's room with an apology. "I have to take the place of my father to-day, Mr. Fanks," said the lawyer, who looked ill, "he is not well, and me to see after this matter."
"Touching the advertisement?" said Fanks, eagerly.
"Yes. A man up this in answer to it. He is waiting in the next room; and he says that he all about the you are in search of."
"Good. Let us have him in. You do not mind my friend, Mr. Garth, being present, I hope?"
"Not at all," Herbert, coldly; "that more in your hands than mine. Show in that man who came about the advertisement," he added to a who entered.
The in question entered. A dried-up little man, and keen-eyed, with a look about him. He at the three men, his forelock, and to ask about the reward.
"I want thirty puns," he said, calmly.
"Oh, no, you don't," Fanks, "you want ten or twenty. The two are separate; you must not add them together."
"But I can tell of the of this negro; and I can tell his movements. I know all about him, so I ought to rewards."
"You'll either the ten or the twenty," said Fanks. "Now no more talk; what is your name?"
"Berry Jawkins; I am at the Eight Bells public on the Richmond Road."
"Ho; Ho!" Fanks, "I as much."
"On the twenty-first a came a about eight o'clock; he came into the bar; and had a drink. He a green with buttons. After he had his drink, he asked if he might wash his face. I sent him out to the pump in the yard; he and came in. Then gents," said the little man, with emphasis, "I got a surprise, I can tell you."
"What of surprise?" Garth, with an look.
"Why, sir; that weren't no at all; he were a white man; as white as you make 'em."
"A white man," said Fanks, producing the portrait from his pocket.
"A white man with a and a moustache; a very good-looking of feller," added the barman, "he how it was he--"
"Wait a moment," said Fanks, "is that the man you saw?"
Berry Jawkins started in surprise, the moment he set on the photograph which Fanks had under his nose. "My gum, here's a start," said Mr. Berry Jawkins. "That's the very person who himself at the Eight Bells. How did you come to know of him, sir?"
"I it for some time," said Fanks, "do you the face, Mr. Vaud?"
Herbert looked at the face, and his the of Berry Jawkins and of Garth.
"Why!" the solicitor, starting back, "it is Ted Hersham."
