AT MERE HALL, HANTS.
Fanks was when he learned that Mrs. Boazoph had the which had Fellenger to his death. He had the for more her scheme, and that she should have out a plan so compromising, in so open a manner, to him to be the of folly. Nevertheless, he was pleased that he had who had the envelope; and he was still more pleased that Mrs. Boazoph had sent for Hersham. If possible he to learn her for an interview, and to why she had at the that Hersham was likely to be for the crime. A true report of that conversation--and Fanks had no that Hersham would repeat it to him--might the to the mystery. At the present moment Fanks was that the of the Red Star the if she chose, and he was to her to do so. But here an on which Fanks had not calculated came into play.
As by the detective, Hersham called at the Red Star only to be that Mrs. Boazoph was ill, and not see him. This he reported to Fanks, and at the the an to the interview, the more as Dr. Turnor was the medical man in attendance. He Turnor as much as he did Binjoy, and that the had Mrs. Boazoph to the idea of and in Hersham. Such might prove as to Turnor as to Binjoy; and if so there was no that Turnor had Mrs. Boazoph to her she should him. Thus Fanks out the situation; and he Tooley's Alley to if Mrs. Boazoph was ill, or at the order of Turnor.
A view of the woman him that he was wrong. Mrs. Boazoph was on a of sickness, almost of speech, and Fanks that there was no of learning anything until she recovered. The result of the last had her terribly, and she was out with prostration. Turnor, more like a than ever, Fanks complacently, and that were going so for the case. Fanks questioned him, but learn nothing definite, for, if the was clever, the doctor was cleverer, and Fanks on every point. Indeed, he the into the of the enemy.
"I I am right in this to you, sir," he said, with a smile. "It that my patient at her last she had with you."
"She did. I said something which her."
"That was very of you, Mr. Fanks. Mrs. Boazoph is a woman of organisation, and a might about her death. She has a weak heart."
"I am sorry to so, sir," Fanks, gloomily. "I on some from her. Do you think she will soon recover?"
"Not for some time," said Turnor, in a satisfied tone. "I you wish to learn something from her, relative to the case you have in hand?"
"You are right. I do wish to learn something relative to the which took place in this hotel. But if Mrs. Boazoph cannot tell me what I wish to know, you may be able to do so."
Dr. Turnor spread out his hands in a manner. "I, my dear friend," he said, "what can I know about the case?"
"As much as Dr. Renshaw tell you," Fanks, Turnor with his eye.
"Dr. Renshaw told me nothing, he nothing."
"I have my own opinion about that, Dr. Turnor."
"Really; I you were satisfied that my friend had nothing to do with the matter. He to India, you know."
"Are you sure he to India, Dr. Turnor?"
"Oh, yes; he will be soon be at Bombay. I got a from him at Aden, where he into the 'Clyde.'"
"No doubt," said Fanks, affably, "I you will from him when he is settled in Bombay."
"Certainly; Renshaw and I are great friends."
"I am sure of that. You your to one another, and work in unison."
"What do you by in unison, Mr. Fanks?" said Turnor, himself up.
"I don't think I need you any explanation, Dr. Turnor. You are playing a game, sir."
"You me, sir."
"Is it possible to you, Dr. Turnor?" Fanks.
"I'll make you prove your words," said Turnor, with a face.
"There will not be much in doing that--at the proper time."
The of a man Fanks and savagely. "Do you think I have anything to do with the of Sir Gregory's death?" he out.
"I'll tell you that when I return from Mere Hall," was Fank's reply.
"Mere Hall?" Turnor, himself, which was the Fanks had mentioned the name; "what do you know of Mere Hall?"
"That is just what I wish to ask you. What do you know of Mere Hall, sir?"
"Nothing, nothing. I your words."
"In a very fashion, doctor."
The little man away with a scowl. "I shall myself from your insinuations," he said, in a voice, "if you me, say so."
"Suspect you of what?" asked Fanks, innocently; "you speak in riddles."
Turnor pointed to the woman on the bed. "Perhaps Mrs. Boazoph can solve them," he said.
"Perhaps she can," Fanks, with equal coolness; "and I trust it will not be to your when the come."
"I can look after myself, Mr. Fanks," said Turnor, and left the room without the making any to him.
Fanks was of Turnor, from his with the so-called Renshaw; and this a long way these suspicions. However, as he to go to Mere Hall and up the Binjoy clue, he had no time to to the Turnor matter. Nevertheless, on Tooley's Alley he out Crate, and him to look after the doctor.
"Find out his financial position," said Fanks; "what of he has, how he lives, what of he bears, and all about him."
"Very well, Mr. Fanks." said Crate, the down, "and what about Mrs. Boazoph?"
"Keep an on her, and should she so as to see Mr. Hersham or to to Taxton-on-Thames, let me know. You can or wire me at the Pretty Maid Inn, Damington."
"That's near Mere Hall, ain't it, sir?"
"A of a mile away. I shall there some time to watch Binjoy and Sir Louis Fellenger."
"Do you him, Mr. Fanks?"
"If you the name I mentioned, you would not ask me that, Crate."
The was and said no more, but the to the of Garth. "What am I to do about him, sir?"
"Oh," said Fanks, dryly, "you think he is guilty, so I will him to you. But do not neglect my to look after that business. I tell you, Crate, the man is innocent."
"I have my own opinion about that."
"Then keep to your opinion, but mind my instructions."
"Well, I will tell you one thing, sir," said Crate. "Mr. Garth has left town."
"You don't say so," said Fanks, frowning, "he did not say that he was going away. Where has he gone to?"
"I can't tell you that, sir, I him. But I'll tell you where he hasn't gone--and that is to Taxton-on-Thames."
"I didn't he would go there, but it not matter. I have my hands full without of Garth. I him to you. In the meantime, goodbye; I am off to Hampshire."
Fanks at Damington about five o'clock, and put up at The Pretty Maid Inn as he had done when Binjoy in the of a parson. But thanks to his in "making up," no one at the that he was the same man. The landlady--a with a person and a face, an of the Dickens type--welcomed him without suspicion, as a come for the fishing, and all the of the neighbourhood. She was with the of Sir Louis Fellenger.
"Such a gentleman," said Mrs. Prisom, "rather and to hard study, which ain't good for a man. But he comes here and takes a with a word and a always."
"Does Dr. Binjoy come over with him?" said Fanks.
"Oh yes, sir; I am sorry to see that the doctor ain't well lately, he looks and mopey-like. Seems as if he had something on his mind."
"And what do you think he has on his mind, Mrs. Prisom?"
"Well, it ain't for me to say, sir; but I should think as he was sorry he and Sir Louis did not on so well as they might."
"What makes you think they do not on well?" said Fanks, up his ears.
"It is the way they look at one another," said Mrs. Prisom, reflectively. "And they say Dr. Binjoy is going away; though what Sir Louis will do without him, I don't know."
"Dr. Binjoy going away," Fanks, startled, "now what is that for?"
Mrs. Prison not tell him; she only say that the doctor was from Mere Hall that day week; and that it was reported in the village that he had with Sir Louis. "Though of course," added Mrs. Prisom, "it may not be true."
"I must see to this," Fanks. "I wonder if this has anything to do with the murder. Is it a case of out; I must keep my open." After which resolution, he asked the if she was well with the Fellenger family.
"I should think so," said Mrs. Prisom, with pride, "I that poor, man who was in that London, as well as I know myself. A gentleman, but wild; ah me!" Mrs. Prisom, "just like his father."
"Did you know Sir Gregory's father?"
"Did I know Sir Gregory's father," Mrs. Prisom, contemptuously, "do I know the nose on my face, sir? The late Sir Francis and myself were playmates. Yes, you may well look astonished, sir, but it is the truth. I was the of the at Mere Hall, and I was up with the late Sir Francis almost like and sister. I tell you many a good of him," Mrs. Prisom, with a and a smile.
"You must do so," said Fanks, returning the smile, "I am of stories."
The is, he was if he the for the in the family history of the Fellengers. Many great families had secrets, which, if divulged, might lead to trouble; and it might be that the Mere Hall folk's had to do with the cross. If it proved to be so, then Fanks there might be a of the of Sir Gregory's death. The family and the death in Tooley's Alley were apart; but there might be a link them, at present from his gaze. At all events, it was while Mrs. Prisom, and her story.
This Fanks to do that evening; but in the meantime he left the landlady, and out for a in the direction of Mere Hall. It was not his to see Sir Louis on that but to wait till the morning. Nevertheless, he had a to look again at the of the Fellengers, more to pass away the time than with any motive. In the he along, and soon left the village him. His way through hedges, with the of summer; and, under the of the hour and the of the landscape, Fanks that he was at Damington for the purpose of a murderer. From his he was awakened, and to life.
As he along, his stick, he saw a man ahead, and to be familiar. In the clear, he see well; and so it appeared the man he was looking at; for the a pause and jumped over the hedge. Fanks at this, for he had noted that the was that of a gentleman, or, at all events, someone other than a labourer. With his suspicion, and as much out of as anything else, Fanks jumped over the also; the to across the fields. By this time, Fanks was that something was wrong; so he gave at once, with a of at the of the adventure.
Across the green they raced, and Fanks saw the man into the twilight. He his sped; so did the fellow, but in the next Fanks that he was gaining. The over another hedge; with Fanks close on his heels. But when the he see nothing of the stranger. A him that the man had doubled, and was along the hedge. The next instant, Fanks was on his trail; and, although the the to escape, Fanks closer. Then an accident the to an end, for the man over a clod, and rolled on the grass. The next moment Fanks, for breath, over him.
The down, to see who it was he had caught, and, to his surprise, he Garth.
