A LETTER FROM HORRISTON.
"MY DEAR CLAUDE:
"In my last letter I informed you of my various discoveries with regard
to the case. I deem myself singularly fortunate in finding those who
could afford me the necessary information. Five-and-twenty years is a
wide gap of time, and, to tell the honest truth, I scarcely expected to
be successful in my mission. Death, absence, old age, might have put an
end to all who knew about the case, but, as you are already advised, I
unexpectedly met with three people who gave me three different versions
of the murder from their various points of view. First, the waiter
Sugden, who merely reflected the opinion of Dick Pental; second, the
gardener himself, with his first-hand story; and third, Miss Belinda
Pike, whose ideas are quite at variance with the other two.
"I mentioned to you that I had met Miss Pike at my friend Brandon's, and
that she had invited me to visit her the next day to hear her story of
the case. Of course, I went, and found the lady an excellent character
for my purpose. She has a truly wonderful memory for the small beer of
life. She is a born gossip, and is one of the most spiteful women it has
ever been my fortune to meet. Her invitation was more to satisfy her own
vanity and curiosity than because she wished to do me a service; but if
she is gratified in the one she is balked in the other. With some
difficulty--for she is a most persistent creature--I managed to evade
her inquiries as to my reason for wishing to know about 'The Larcher
Affair'; and extracted from her all information likely to be of service
to us in discovering the truth. What she told me leaves me more in the
dark than ever; and I shall doubtless return to Thorston no whit nearer
the truth than I was when I set out.
"But before narrating her story, as imparted to me in strict secrecy,
you must not be offended if certain reflections are cast by this
busybody on your mother. To get at the truth of this complication you
must view it from a disinterested standpoint and throw aside all
prejudice. I do not for a moment believe that Mrs. Larcher intended to
willfully deceive her husband, as is implied by Miss Pike, but I must
confess I think her conduct was highly reprehensible. Still I pass no
judgment, as it is not my place to do so; and you must clearly
understand that the remarks herein contained about her are those of Miss
Pike. You can guess from their tenor what a very spiteful old lady she
is. I promised to report my doings and hearings faithfully to you, and I
hereby keep my promise, and at the cost of your losing your temper.
"The cause of Miss Pike's malignity is jealousy--a passion which is as
active now with her as it was twenty-five years ago. Then the fair
Belinda, according to her own account, was the belle of Horriston, and
shared that enviable position with two rivals--the one being your
mother, the other Miss Louisa Sinclair. I fancy I hear you exclaim at
the mention of this name. But Mrs. Bezel is right; such a person does
exist. She was a passably pretty girl,--according to Miss Pike,--and
rather popular,--again Miss Pike,--but cared for no one so much as Mr.
Francis Hilliston, then a handsome young lawyer of great promise and
good family. This is evidently the romance of Hilliston's life, and
accounts for his silence about Louisa Sinclair. He did not wish to speak
of one who had disappeared under somewhat discreditable circumstances;
yet who truly loved him. Whether he returned her love I cannot say.
Suspend your judgment till you hear the story of this maiden lady. Of
course, it is quite different to that of Dick Pental, and, I think, less
easy to believe. The gardener spoke of what he saw; Miss Pike speaks of
what she thinks. Judge for yourself which is right.
"As I have said, Miss Pike was a belle in her younger days. She was also
well off, and could have made a good match. Unfortunately, she was in
love with Hilliston; I say unfortunately, because he happened to be in
love with Mrs. Larcher. I again apologize for putting the matter so
plainly, but Miss Pike insisted that it was so. In those days Hilliston
must have been a handsome and fascinating man, for Louisa Sinclair also
loved him--with a like result. He had no eyes for these two damsels, but
quietly devoted himself to Mrs. Larcher. I do not mean to say that he
roused the suspicions of your father, for his devotion was perfectly
respectful. The desire of the moth for the star, I may say--for
Hilliston knew well enough that he had no chances in that quarter for
two reasons. First, Mrs. Larcher was a married woman; second, she was in
love with Jeringham.
"At the time of that notable dress ball matters stood thus:
"Miss Belinda Pike in love with Hilliston.
"Miss Louisa Sinclair in love with Hilliston.
"Hilliston in love with Mrs. Larcher.
"Mrs. Larcher in love with Jeringham.
"Can you imagine anything more complicated; and to make confusion still
worse, Miss Pike solemnly asserted that Jeringham was not in love with
Mrs. Larcher, but with her maid, Mona Bantry. Therefore, all round, each
of these five people was in love with the wrong person. It was a modern
'Comedy of Errors,' with a tragic ending.
"Miss Pike went to the ball in the character of a flower girl, and there
was astonished to find two Mary, Queen of Scots, and two Darnleys.
During the night she learned that out of jealousy Louisa Sinclair had
adopted the same fancy dress as your mother. She was the second Queen of
Scots, and was attired precisely the same in all respects, save that
Mrs. Larcher wore a small dagger, and Miss Sinclair did not. On making
this discovery Miss Pike naturally thought--as a jealous woman
would--that the second Darnley was Hilliston. She knew that the first
was Jeringham, and did not trouble herself about him, but maneuvered to
get speech with the second. To her astonishment she found out--how I
cannot say--that it was Captain Larcher, who was supposed to be in
London. He confessed that he was jealous of his wife, and had returned
in disguise to learn the truth. Miss Pike was not clear whether he was
suspicious of Jeringham or of Hilliston, and she had no opportunity of
learning the truth as Larcher, seeing his wife leave the ballroom,
followed her at once. The next day Miss Pike was informed of the
disappearance of Jeringham, and later on she learned of the death of
Captain Larcher.
"Now, you will ask whom she suspected. A woman with so unhappy a temper
would not be long in forming an opinion about a matter connected with a
lady of whom she was jealous. I allude to your mother. Miss Pike had a
theory, and ever since, declining to accept the evidence given at the
trial, has held firmly to it. She suspected Mona Bantry to be guilty. I
give her reason in her own words.
"'Of course it is only theory,' she said, when I asked her pointblank
who she thought was guilty, 'but my suspicions point to Mrs. Larcher's
maid.'
"'To Mona Bantry?' I asked, rather astonished.
"'Yes! She was in love with Mr. Jeringham, and he was at the ball
dressed as Darnley; Captain Larcher wore the same dress. As I told you
he left the ballroom when he saw his wife go out with Mr. Jeringham. I
fancy he followed them home, and caught them as they parted in the
garden of The Laurels. Very likely he ordered Mr. Jeringham off the
premises, and insisted on his wife going into the house. Mona, who was
sitting up for her mistress, would open the door, and seeing by the
dress, as she thought, Mr. Jeringham with Mrs. Larcher, I believe she
lost her head and killed him.'
"'Killed him; but how?'
"'With the dagger worn by Mrs. Larcher,' responded Miss Pike
triumphantly. 'She snatched it from the sheath as it hung at the girdle
of Mrs. Larcher, and killed the poor man--thinking he was her lover.
Then, finding out her mistake, she fled.
"'But so did Jeringham,' I said.
"'Yes. He also saw the murder, and naturally enough thought he might be
suspected. I think he took Mona away with him on the very night, and
they fled together. As to the body, Denis, the brother, to save his
sister and possibly his mistress from being suspected, threw it into the
river. That is my theory, Mr. Tait, and I believe it to be the true
one.'
"I need not repeat more of our conversation, as it was merely argument
on both sides, but you now know sufficient to see in what direction Miss
Pike's suspicions are directed. Her story is quite at variance with that
of your mother, who plainly stated that she found Mona in the sitting
room with your father. It is not strange that the two narrations should
be contradictory, for we must remember that Mrs. Larcher spoke from
facts while Miss Pike only speaks from hearsay.
"Again, from the statement of Dick Pental, it would appear that the
murder took place in the garden; your mother says it was committed in
the sitting room, so here is another contradiction. But you must not
forget that only one person has sworn to the identity of those he saw
with the body. Miss Pike can prove nothing from facts, and only evolves
accusations out of her own malignant nature. Your mother accuses no one,
alleging that she fainted in the sitting room. Therefore, taking all
facts into consideration, I believe the gardener's story to be true, and
that Denis Bantry killed your father; Jeringham, through force of
circumstances, being an accessory to the deed. This view accounts for
the identity of Paynton with Jeringham, of Kerry with Denis--and fully
accounts for their living in seclusion at Thorston. This is my opinion.
Do you think you can give a better?
"Regarding your mother's hint about Louisa Sinclair, I confess I cannot
understand it. Miss Pike was perfectly frank about that person; and
stated that shortly after the murder she went to America and had not
been heard of for years. Hilliston may know of her whereabouts, but
under the circumstances I do not think he is likely to speak. At all
events we are certain of two things: that Louisa Sinclair did not marry
Hilliston; that she had nothing to do with the tragedy at The Laurels.
Miss Pike intends to show me a portrait of the lady on the occasion of
my next visit. A knowledge of her looks may lead to something; but
honestly speaking I do not see how she can possibly be implicated in the
matter.
"But I must bring this long letter to a close. I have found out
sufficient at Horriston to justify our suspicions of the _ménage_ at
Rose Cottage, and when I return we must set our wits to work to see
Paynton and Kerry. They must be forced into plain speaking, then we may
solve the mystery of your father's death--not before. Expect me in two
days, and think over what I have written so that we may discuss the
matter thoroughly when we come together. And so no more at present from
your friend,
"SPENSER TAIT."