THE PRIVATE AFFAIRS OF A DUKE
"A very interesting little problem," said Cleek, studying his
finger-nails as if the condition of them was of moment. "You are not,
sir, I take it, inclined to share the general belief obtaining in the
village, and to attribute these remarkable doings to any supernatural
agency?"
"Certainly not," the duke replied. "That would be the very height of
absurdity. It must certainly be apparent to anybody with an ounce of
common sense that there is not only a human brain engineering the
affair, but that there is behind it a definite purpose."
"Beyond all question."
"Yes, but what? That is the point. What end can be attained, what
purpose served by a proceeding of this nature? That is the inexplicable
part of it. Were it not for the disappearance of the child and the
murder of the man, it would be but one degree removed from farce."
"Quite so," admitted Cleek, still studying his finger-nails. "But the
elements of farce come perilously near to the borderline of tragedy at
times; and we have it upon the best authority that it is but a step
from the sublime to the ridiculous. Besides, when one has large landed
interests---- H'm! Yes. By the way, I see that, despite all the rumours
to the contrary, you have finally decided not to take a place on the
board of directors of the company formed for exploiting the new cement
which is to make the present variety as obsolete as the mud bricks of
the Early Britons. Septarite it is called, is it not? I see that the
company's prospectus is out and that the name of the Duke of Essex is
not upon it."
"No; it is not," admitted the duke, with some heat. "Its mention in that
connection was an unwarranted presumption. The thing had merely been
broached to me in the most casual manner, and while I was considering
the project my name was made use of in the most flagrant manner to bring
the company before the public."
"I fancy I have heard that it was the present chairman of the board, Sir
Julius Solinski, who was responsible for that."
"It was. And a piece of infernal impertinence it was, too! Geological
borings have established the fact that there is in all probability a
large deposit of septaria underlying a tract of land which I own in the
village, and the man approached me with a proposition to sell or lease
it to his wretched company for a term of years. As the land was
practically of no importance to me, I told the fellow that I would
consider the matter, and on that basis he made the most flagrant misuse
of my name to bolster up his pettifogging business. Of course, I
immediately declined to have any further dealings with him, and that
settled the affair altogether."
"Unless by one means or another--depreciated value, a deserted village,
something of that sort--he might, in time, bring you round to another
way of thinking," said Cleek, quietly.
The duke sat up sharply. It was impossible not to catch a hint from that
line of argument.
"Do you mean to say that he--that that pettifogging fellow---- The thing
is monstrous, Mr. Cleek, monstrous! If that's the little game--if his is
the hand that's behind the thing----"
"Pardon, but I have not said that, Duke. It is possible, of course, and
there is a suggestiveness about it which---- Oh! well, I shall know more
about that when I go down to Valehampton and look into the matter at
close quarters. And now may I venture to ask a question touching upon
more personal matters? I distinctly remember reading that, at the time
of making known Lady Adela's engagement eleven months ago, you chose the
opportunity to declare also your intention of taking another wife. Is
that so?"
"It is perfectly true. The fact is now public property. If all goes as
planned, I shall be married to Lady Mary Hurst-Buckingham this coming
autumn."
"I see. One other question, please. Your first marriage never having
been blessed by a son, the heir to your title and estates--failing, of
course, direct issue in the future--is, I believe, the son of a distant
cousin, one Captain Paul Sandringham?"
"That, too, is true."
"You have no very great respect for that gentleman, I imagine. Is that a
fact?"
"Your pardon, Mr. Cleek," replied the duke, stiffly. "I am afraid I
cannot enter into a discussion of my personal affairs. They cannot
concern Scotland Yard, nor have any bearing upon the matter in hand."
"That, I fear, Your Grace," said Cleek quietly, "is a matter upon which
I may be the better judge. One should be as frank with one's detective
as with one's doctor. Each has the greatest interest in being able
definitely to lay his finger upon the root of a disease, and each may
become useless if perfect confidence be not given with regard to all
points."
"I ask your pardon, Mr. Cleek. I did not at first see it in that light.
I admit it then: I have no respect for Captain Sandringham--none
whatever. He is a person of dissolute habits and very questionable ways.
He left the Army under compulsion, but he still retains the title of
'Captain.' People of any standing, however, no longer receive him."
"So that, naturally, he will not be invited to share in the festivities
in connection with Lady Adela's wedding?"
"Most emphatically he will not! I have not written to him, spoken to
him, nor even seen him these ten years past. That, however, would not
prevent his inheriting both the title and estates were I to die without
male issue. I have not the slightest doubt that he has raised money on
the anticipated reversion, which he will now, of course, be obliged to
pay back. I don't know how he will manage it, nor do I care."
"H'm! Yes! I see! So then your marriage would be something in the light
of a severe blow to the gentleman, of course. In England is he?"
"I haven't the faintest idea. The last I heard of him he was on the
Continent somewhere. But that was ten years ago, and I have forgotten
the exact place. It would be where there is gaming and life of that
sort, of course."
"Quite so--if one is given to that sort of thing. Mr. Narkom!"
"Yes, old man?"
"Don't happen to know the market price for fullers' earth in bulk, do
you?"
"Good lord, no! Why, what in the world----?"
"I should like about fifteen or sixteen pounds of the ordinary
variety--not the bleached sort, you know," interposed Cleek, rising.
"You might 'phone through to the Yard and order it. And, by the way,
I'm afraid you won't be able to join Mrs. Narkom at dinner this evening,
after all. We shall spend the night at Valehampton. And now, before I
set out to look into the matter of this engaging little affair, Duke,
one last question, please. Did you take anybody into your confidence
regarding this visit to London to-day?"
"Yes, naturally. I spoke to the Marquis and to Captain Weatherley about
it, of course; and--yes--to Overton. I fancy I may also have mentioned
it while Carstairs was present; he was coming in and out of the
breakfast room a great deal, of course. He's the butler."
"H'm! Yes, I see! You wouldn't mind letting it be understood when you go
back, would you, that a couple of ordinary Yard men have been put on the
case? Just ordinary plain-clothes men, you know--called--er--let us say,
'George Headland' and 'Jim Markham.' Can you remember the names?"
"I can and I will, Mr. Cleek," the duke replied, stopping to write them
down on the margin of a newspaper lying on a table beside him.
Cleek stood and watched the operation, explaining the while that he
should like the names to get into circulation in the village; then,
after having obtained permission to call at the Castle and interview the
duke whenever occasion might arise, he took his departure in company
with Mr. Narkom, and left their noble client alone.
"Rum sort of a case, isn't it?" remarked the Superintendent as they went
down the stairs together.
"Very. And it will depend so much upon what they are. Geraniums, lilies,
pansies!--even roses. Yes, by Jupiter! roses would do--roses and
fuchsias--that sort of thing."
"Roses and---- My hat, what the dickens are you talking about?"
"Let me alone for a minute--please!" rapped out Cleek. "I say--you'd
better tell Hammond and Petrie to bring that bag of fullers' earth with
them instead of sending it. Have them turn up with it--both of them--at
the King's Head, Liverpool Street, as soon as they possibly can. The
light lingers late at this time of the year, and the limousine ought to
get us down to Valehampton before tea time if Lennard makes up his mind
to it."