MRS. BOAZOPH RECEIVES A SHOCK.
Shortly after the at Lincoln's Inn Fields Fanks took his of Garth. He was of the lawyer's company, and, moreover, he such a third person a to the free speech he to from those with he conversed. In his own he was perfectly satisfied that Garth was in no way with the crime, for the test which he in the office of Vaud and Vaud satisfied him. Nevertheless, he was not so that Garth would not be pleased to learn that his cousin--the person who him and the Fellenger estate--was in the affair.
On these he therefore himself to the barrister, and walked off by himself, on his own business. Garth, who was from a attack of fever, was not over pleased at being thus dismissed; still he it best to his friend, and so he departed, to think over the the case had now assumed. In fact, he to do a little on his own account, and, if possible, he to Fanks by an discovery. There were now three different people three different lines of action with respect to the case, so it was to be that one of them at least would the of Sir Gregory Fellenger, unless all failed on the that too many cooks the broth.
On the barrister, Fanks took his way Tooley's Alley. It was his to see Mrs. Boazoph and to try an on that lady. From her Fanks that the of the Red Star more about the case than she choose to confess, and that she was to screen the man or woman who had done the deed. Of this he to make certain.
Mrs. Boazoph the with her composure. She was prepared for his visit, as she that her with the case was too to his eye. Anticipating a trying conversation, she Fanks to be into her private sitting-room, and she herself up to and him.
No one would have the landlady's from the manner in which she her almost enemy. She was positively in her and demeanour, and Fanks from this.
"Well, Mrs. Boazoph," said he, mildly, "I you are what me here?"
"Indeed I am doing no such thing, Mr. Fanks. You came to out what I know about this crime."
"I you on your perspicuity, Mrs. Boazoph. And what do you know about it?"
The woman her and her shoulders.
"I know nothing at all," she replied. "I gave my at the inquest; you it."
"Well?"
"Well, there is nothing more to be said."
"I to differ with you, Mrs. Boazoph; there is a great more to be said."
"Not by me," said Mrs. Boazoph, obstinately, her mouth. "If you think that I am going to you to out who killed this man, you are very much mistaken."
"Strange," said Fanks, in a tone, meant to her ear, "the same thing was said in almost the same by Anne Colmer."
"What do you know about Anne Colmer?"
"More than you can guess. For instance, I know that she is the of--Mrs. Bryant."
With a start, repressed, she looked to him in a hard and manner, a on her lips. "Mrs. Bryant," she repeated, "and who is Mrs. Bryant?"
"If you don't know, I am sure I do not."
"Speak plainly. I epigrams."
"So do I. They are such a to conversation. Well, Mrs. Bryant is a lady of birth, who married her. Mr. Bryant was a bully, a sot, a spendthrift, and he all his money by fast living. When he poor, his friends--for to say, this person had some friends--set him up in an hotel. He was to his own name over his door; so he about for another. Perhaps you can tell me what that other name was?"
"No."
"What a person you are," said, Fanks, his head. "Believe me, it is no use our time in facts. Be sensible, Mrs. Boazoph, and admit that you are Mrs. Bryant."
"No."
"Mrs. Bryant, the sister of Mrs. Colmer, of Taxton-on-Thames, dressmaker, and gentlewoman."
"I don't know her; I her name."
"Really!" said Fanks, with pity, "then I must of Mrs. Colmer, of Taxton-on-Thames, how is it that her sister, Mrs. Bryant, is the Mrs. Boazoph, of London."
"You are a fiend!"
"And what is Mrs. Bryant, Boazoph?"
"She is a most woman; a woman to be than blamed."
"Ah!" said Fanks, a long of satisfaction. "So you admit your identity at last."
"I can do nothing else. I do not wish my sister to know that I am Mrs. Boazoph. She thinks that I live on the money left to me by my late husband; she not know that I keep this hotel; that I am the woman who has been mentioned so often in the papers, in with thieves, rogues, and detectives. Yes. I admit that I am Mrs. Bryant, the sister of Mrs. Colmer. Who told you?"
"Your niece, Anne."
"She had no to do so."
"Very probably; but she not help herself. I her to speak; how, it not matter; but I the truth out of her, Mrs. Bryant."
"Call me Mrs. Boazoph," out the woman, "and me of your presence as as possible. What do you wish to know?"
"I wish to know the agreement you with Dr. Binjoy, this crime."
"Who is Dr. Binjoy?"
"Come now, Mrs. Boazoph, do not let us have another argument. I have neither the time the patience to one, I you. I know more than you think; and I can you to speak if I so choose. I would not choose, if it is all the same to you. Let us this pleasantly, if possible. You know that Dr. Binjoy is the same as Dr. Renshaw?"
"Indeed, I do not. How can you prove it?"
"Very easily. I Dr. Renshaw on his to Bombay, and him to Mere Hall at Bournemouth."
Mrs. Boazoph quailed, and back. This man so much, that she did not know where she stood.
For the moment, she did not know what to do; but, unable to the identity of Renshaw with Binjoy, she it.
"Good!" said Fanks, in a satisfied tone, "we are on. And the agreement you with this man?"
"I no agreement with him."
"Then why was he here on the night of the murder?"
"It was an accident. For some of his own, Dr. Binjoy, I met at Taxton-on-Thames, was in the of his name when in London. He with Dr. Turnor, who is an old friend of his; and did his work when Turnor was absent. When I out the murder, I sent for Dr. Turnor, he was away, and Dr. Binjoy came under his name of Renshaw. I was to see him. I did not know that he was in town."
"Oh! Had you any to go to Mere Hall to see him?"
"Mere Hall!" Mrs. Boazoph, "you saw me at Mere Hall?"
"I saw you with my own eyes; you cannot that."
"I have no wish to it," Mrs. Boazoph, with asperity, "yes I was at Mere Hall. I there to Binjoy against you."
"Indeed; and no Binjoy you that he had me by the to Bombay."
"Yes, he said that."
"And did he say that he had sent his negro, Caesar, to Bombay, in his place?"
Mrs. Boazoph and gasped, on to the arms of her chair. "You know that?" she said, in alarm.
"I know that, and a great more," said Fanks, grimly. "In fact, I more than that I know the assassin."
"Then you know that Caesar killed Sir Gregory?"
"You jump to conclusions, Mrs. Boazoph," said Fanks, the of in which she this remark. "I do not know that Caesar killed Sir Gregory Fellenger. But I know that you and Dr. Binjoy would like me to think so."
"Man! Man!" Mrs. Boazoph, with an laugh, "do you think that I had anything to do with this crime?"
"Why not; the man was killed in your house: you called in a doctor, who is the friend of the present baronet; it was to Binjoy's that Sir Gregory should be got out of the way."
Again Mrs. Boazoph relieved. "Then you that Binjoy Caesar to kill Sir Gregory?"
"No, I do not; Caesar had nothing to do with the of the crime."
"Then who was the black man who killed the baronet?"
"It was no black man."
"But it was," said. Mrs. Boazoph, angrily. "I saw him myself enter the room."
"You saw a white man as a enter the room."
Mrs. Boazoph to her feet. "What!" she cried, "do you to say that the black man was a white man?"
"Yes, I do say so; although I it is no news to you."
Mrs. Boazoph her foot. "It is news to me, I tell you. I that Caesar killed Sir Gregory at the of Dr. Binjoy. When you entered the room I to keep the from you; I did not wish Binjoy to into trouble. But you say that Caesar did not the crime, and so you have my ideas altogether. Now, Mr. Fanks, I tell you truly, that if this did not kill Sir Gregory, I do not know the name of the assassin."
Fanks looked puzzled. She spoke in all good faith, and he not but her. He if she was right, and the of Dr. Binjoy had killed the after all. "Did you as Caesar the black man who came here on that night?" he asked.
"No; how I? I saw Caesar in my life. But I know that Binjoy had a servant; that he him off to Bombay; and that he was the friend of Sir Louis Fellenger. Therefore I this was the Binjoy use of to kill Sir Gregory."
"Do you know anything about a cross, Mrs. Boazoph?" asked Fanks, going on another tack.
The woman into her chair as as a of paper. The mention of the had a most powerful on her mind, and she at the detective. Not a word she for at least two minutes. When she spoke her voice was thick and unsteady. "What do you know of the cross?" she muttered.
"I know that Sir Gregory let this man a on his left arm, and that the used was poisoned. Now, can you tell me why Sir Gregory let a be on his arm?"
"No! no! I--I--can't tell you that."
"Does that that you won't tell me?"
"It--means that I--I--can't tell you," Mrs. Boazoph. "I did not know Sir Gregory Fellenger."
"Do you know anyone else who has a on his left arm?" asked Fanks, preparing for his great stroke.
"No! Why do you ask me?" she muttered, in a tone.
"Because the man who has that on his left arm was the negro; he was the man who killed Sir Gregory."
"Ah Heavens! Oh, Edward Hersham?" Mrs. Boazoph, and upon the in a faint.
