A moment later, however, the detective who had spoken returned to me,
and leaning over the bed said in a low, confidential whisper so that
none could hear:--
"The dead man--Mr Miller--he bore rather a bad reputation, didn't he?
Was a bit of a mystery, I mean? Now, tell me the truth."
"What do you mean?" I asked, in feigned surprise.
"Well, you know what we mean when we say that," he exclaimed, smiling.
"I don't know how intimate you were with him, but the fact is that the
body's been identified as that of a man we've wanted for a very long
time. He was generally known as Milner, and lived on the Continent a
good deal. The French police sent us his photograph and description
nearly three years ago. This is it." And he showed me in secret an
unmounted police portrait taken in two positions, full face and side
face.
"This surprises me," I said. "Of course I've never had anything to do
with his business. Indeed, although I knew his daughter well, I only
knew him very slightly."
"Oh, his daughter's all right. We have no suspicion of her."
"Then for her sake I hope you won't reveal to her the truth concerning
her father. If he is wanted she need never know. What use is it to
revile the dead?"
"Of course not, Mr Leaf," replied the officer. "I've got a daughter of
her age myself, therefore if the truth can possibly be kept from her
I'll keep it. Rely on me. Now," he added, lowering his voice, "tell
me--did you ever suspect Miller of being a thief?"
"Well," I said hesitatingly, "to tell you the truth I did. Not so much
from his actions as from the friends he kept. Besides, a friend of mine
once declared to me that he was a black sheep."
"My dear sir, if our information is true, he was wanted upon twenty
different charges, of fraud, forgery, theft, and other things. A report
from Italy is that he was chief of a very dangerous international gang.
Himes may have been one of his accomplices, and quarrelled with him. In
fact that's my present theory. But we shall see."
"Remember your promise regarding Miss Lucie," I urged.
"I'll not forget, never fear," was the detective's answer, and he turned
and rejoined the other at the end of the ward.
I had only admitted my suspicions in order to make friends with the
officer, and in the hope of preventing him revealing the truth to poor
Lucie.
About six o'clock that evening I opened my eyes and found my neat little
friend, pale and tearful, standing by my bedside.
She tried to speak, but only burst into a flood of tears.
I took her hand and held it, while the nurse, realising the situation,
placed a chair for her.
"You know the terrible blow that has fallen upon me!" she faltered, in a
low voice. "My poor father!"
"They have told me," I answered, in sympathy. "How can I sufficiently
express my regret!"
She shook her head in sorrow, and her great dark eyes met mine.
"Blow after blow has fallen upon me," she sighed. "This is the
heaviest!"
"I know, Miss Lucie," I said. "But you must bear up against the
terrible misfortune. We were both victims of an ingenious blackguard.
What did you know of the fellow? I was under the impression that he was
your friend?"
"Friend!" she echoed. "He always pretended to be--and yet he killed my
poor father in secret, and tried also to take your life."
"He believed me to be a friend of your father's," I said, "He told me so
when I accused him of having poisoned me--he said his intention was to
kill all your father's friends, one by one."
"He said that!" she gasped. "He actually told you that!"
"Yes. He admitted that he had poisoned me, and laughed in my face," I
answered. "But who is he? Where did you know him?"
"He was once my father's most intimate friend."
And while she bent over my bed, her blanched, haggard face near mine as
she spoke, another figure came between myself and the light.
I turned, and saw that it was my friend the detective, while Lucie also
recognised and greeted him instantly.
"As I was passing, I thought I'd just drop in and tell you, feeling sure
you'd be interested," he said, addressing me; "the fact is that this
afternoon we've made a most amazing discovery. Perhaps you will be able
to throw some light upon it. At present it is a complete and profound
mystery."