THE CLUE OF THE HANDWRITING.
On the of his movements on the night of the twenty-first of June, Hersham looked at Fanks to see what the of the matter. The no comment, the journalist, of the silence, the observation.
"I have told you all," he said; "now what is your opinion?"
"Let me think for a minute or two," Fanks, up his hand. "I must consider."
Thereupon he his hands into his pockets and to the window, where he looking at the chimney-pots. Hersham him with anxiety, but he did not to interrupt, so that Fanks had time to over the which had been related to him.
He had the main of it from Berry Jawkins, and these with the of the journalist. Still, the additional Anne Colmer Fanks not a little. Her was strange, to say the least of it, and more than that of Hersham. Why had she sent a to her lover from London at the very time of the of the crime? And why had she--so to speak--nullified that by going herself to town almost after she had it. Such was suspicious; and it looked as though she was in the in some way. Why had she in so a fashion, and why had she to her for so acting to Hersham?
So far, so good; but there a mystery. It was Anne Colmer herself who had Hersham to to Fanks; yet she must have that her very would need explanation. But would she explain? Fanks not. He his with her; how she had to speak her evidence--whatever it was--should be to an person. Clearly that person not be Hersham, for he had his in the of the detective. Then if the person in question was not Hersham, who he--or she--be? Mrs. Colmer, Dr. Binjoy, Anne, or Caesar, the missing negro?
Not the first, Fanks, not the first, for Mrs. Colmer was to her room by paralysis, and not take an active part in the business. Scarcely the second, for Anne have no to screen the doctor--at least no that Fanks at. If the third--and that Mrs. Boazoph was her aunt it might be so--the might be that Anne to out a of against the of her sister. As to Caesar, Fanks had settled in his own mind that the was innocent, and that his was being use of to screen the actor or actors in the tragedy.
The result of Fank's therefore resulted in his having an of Mrs. Boazoph. Her at the time of the of the murder, her visit to Mere Hall, and her at the mention that Hersham was the criminal--all these were suspicious; and now the visit of Anne Colmer to her aunt--although such visit was not yet proved--clinched the matter. All the of Fanks now in Mrs. Boazoph; and he himself again to Hersham in the of learning something tangible, likely to her more with her either in London or at Taxton-on-Thames. He was right to act in this way; an had him on the right path.
"I wish you had told me of this before," he said to Hersham, as he his seat. "It would have saved me a of trouble."
"I did not wish to tell you. I was to speak I should myself. I am sure my movements on that night must appear very to you. What is your opinion of me now?"
"The same as before. I am satisfied that you have told me the truth. No, Hersham, it is not you I suspect."
"Then who is it?" asked the man, eagerly.
"I'll tell you that later on," Finks. "In the meantime you must answer a more questions. I am not yet clear on some points. How did you obtain your disguise?"
"Oh, that was Miss Colmer's suggestion."
"The it was!" said Fanks, at this admission.
"Yes! I told her of my idea to myself in order to obtain a of music, and of those who make it. I asked her how she I should dress. In a half-laughing way she me to take Binjoy's Caesar as my model."
"Which you did?"
"Certainly. I the a good one. Caesar was an in his way, and with that mixture of which is so dear to the black race. When off he a red scarf, a hat, black trousers, and a long green with large buttons, a in fact. He had of these garments, and he had one to Anne's to yellow and on to it. On the promise that I would not keep it more than a Anne me the coat, which I for my purpose."
"Strange," said Fanks, thoughtfully. "So you the very of the man we in the instance?"
"I did. It is odd now that you mention it."
Fanks considered. "Did anyone your as a for this music business, or was it your own fancy?"
"It was the of Dr. Binjoy."
"Oh, was it? Humph! I am to see daylight."
"Why, you don't think----?"
"I think nothing at present," said Fanks, quickly; "matters are in too a state."
This was true, for Fanks was to think that the of the green looked like a conspiracy. He was to his to Hersham, of they Anne Colmer; therefore he passed the off as mentioned. Nevertheless, he it that the was the result of an accident. That Binjoy should the idea of the face, that Anne should Hersham to dress up in the very of Caesar, these and to understand. He Binjoy's object, that Binjoy had designed the murder--it was to from himself and by it on Hersham. But what Fanks not see was why Anne should act as she did, when Hersham was her lover. She surely did not wish to Hersham in the matter--if it be that she was with it herself, of which Fanks was by no means sure--and yet Fanks was puzzled to the action, so at with her position. With his he therefore the for the present, and re-addressed himself to the of Hersham.
"Did you know Dr. Binjoy?"
"I did, and him greatly. I don't think he liked me either," added Hersham, smiling, "for I was his successful rival."
"With Miss Colmer?"
"Yes! Fancy, that old man in love with Anne and to her; asked her to be Mrs. Binjoy four or five times, in fact. Like his impudence, wasn't it? However, Anne told him that she was to me, and sent him off with a in his ear. I don't think he liked me any for my triumph."
"No," said Fanks, dryly. "I have no he would do his best to you."
"Fanks, do you think he me to act as a of Caesar?"
"That I can't say. It looks suspicious. His being at the Red Star on the night of the under an name is still more suspicious. All the same he has managed the so that I can nothing home to him."
"Do you think that he designed the of Fellenger so as to the for Sir Louis?"
"His that interpretation," said Fanks, his chin; "but I have no proof as yet. I may out at Mere Hall."
"Are you going there?"
"Next week. I wish to see my employer, Sir Louis, and tell him what I have done; at the same time I to Binjoy. By the way," added the detective, "did you like Sir Louis?"
Hersham his shoulders. "So, so," he replied. "He is a stick, up in his scientific studies. He most of his days with Binjoy in the laboratory making experiments. A tall, fellow, he is, not at all like a dry-as-dust savant."
"Humph!" said Fanks, his ring; "a tall creature. Dr. Binjoy is also tall and stout?"
"Yes! and so is the negro, Caesar. The are all and healthy."
"Humph!" said Fanks again. "I wonder--but that is impossible."
"What is impossible?"
"Something that came into my head. What it is, not matter. I shall no prove its at Mere Hall."
"You Sir Louis?"
"Such a did my mind. But, as Sir Louis is me to the murderer, he would act in such a way. Never mind that at the present moment, Hersham, but tell me if you have to your father?"
"About the cross? No, I have not done so yet. I don't see how my father can help you."
"I am of another opinion," said Fanks, dryly. "It is my that the whole of that in Tooley Alley in the of that cross. Do not look so scared, Hersham. I do not your father."
"I should think not," said Hersham, fiercely.
Fanks laughed indulgently, in with the by the man. Indeed, he him for being so to take up the on of his parent. Nevertheless, he to his point, as he was to the meaning of the cross, and he saw no one was so likely to help him to an as the Rev. George Hersham, Vicar of Fairview, Isle of Wight.
"You must do as I ask," he said, "and to your father. I must know why he had that on your arm."
"I don't my father had anything to do with it," said Hersham, angrily. "However, as you on it, I shall go home and see him. If he tells me, I shall tell you. If he refuses, as he has done before--"
"In that case I'll come to Fairview and see him myself."
"As you please," said Hersham, with a air of indifference, but vexation. "I'll do my best; I can do no more."
"Don't be angry, old fellow. I don't wish to either you or your father, but you must see that it is that I should know the meaning of this cross. You will go and see Mr. Hersham?"
"Yes; the end of the week. Will that you?"
"Yes," Fanks, in his turn. "And now, you go, just tell me if you a from Mrs. Boazoph, and if you have it with you?"
"Now it is that you should have that," said Hersham, in astonishment. "I did a from Mrs. Boazoph; I it to see what you of it. It my memory till you spoke of it. Here it is. Came yesterday from Fairview."
"From Fairview!" Fanks, making no attempt to take the which Hersham him. "Was it sent to that address?"
"Yes, of my father, who it on to me. See for yourself."
"Did Mrs. Boazoph know of your address in the Isle of Wight?"
"No, that's odd," added Hersham, at Fanks. "How did she it?"
"From Miss Colmer."
"I have any but my London address to Miss Colmer. I had my for not doing so."
"So Mrs. Boazoph of your address without your telling her," said the detective, out his hand for the letter. "Queer! If I am not I--By Jove!"
"What is the matter?"
"Wait. Wait," said Fanks, in great excitement. "Let me read the first. My word, here is a discovery."
"What discovery?" asked Hersham, at the letter.
But Fanks paid no attention to him. He was already the from the of the Red Star, which ran as follows:--
"Dear Mr. Edward Hersham,--Come and see me at once. Important business, and, in the meantime, no with the man who calls himself Fanks. I will when we meet.--Yours, Louisa Boazoph."
"I wish you had me this before," said Fanks.
"I was so about what I had to confess, that I forgot, Fanks. Is it important?"
"I should think so. You must see her at once, and tell me what she says. We may the key to the whole in her conversation."
"Do you think Mrs. Boazoph has anything to do with it?"
For answer, Fanks got out the photograph of the Emma Calvert, and the which had the red star. He pointed out the on to Hersham.
"You see that," he said, eagerly. "The on the of the portrait, and that on the are the same as that on your letter."
"True enough," said Hersham, the three objects closely, "but what of that?"
"Only this. That Mrs. Boazoph the envelope, and the red star, which the late Sir Gregory Fellenger to his death on the of the twenty-first of June."
