IN THE COURT OF JUSTICE
The next morning Helen was sadly feverish, though quite sensible.
From the time she woke up 11-30 a.m. she never opened her lips.
She was very feverish and her brain very much upset.
Mr. Palsey decided not to tell Helen the fearful news till she was
better and indeed it was a wise thing to do. Helen smiled and looked
pleased when Cyril went to see her, but turned away in disgust when Mr.
Palsey went near her.
"Helen dear" said Cyril "I am going out now, is there anything you would
like me to buy for you?"
"No nothing" replied Helen "let me be alone, I want no one near me."
Cyril sighed, took up his hat and departed.
Entering the sitting room he found Mr. Palsey busy writing.
"James" said Cyril "I must go out now, will you come."
"No I cant" replied Mr. Palsey "I am very busy."
Cyril again gave a sigh of relief, and opening the front door went out.
The storm of the night before had quite subsided and the sun was shining
brightly.
To tell the truth, Cyril was very glad to hear that Mr. Palsey could not
go out, for he himself was going to the court of Justice to appear as
witness concerning the death of Mr. Winston, which some of the
detectives suspected to be murder and some suicide.
The court was densely crowded and in consequence very hot and stuffy.
Cyril forced his way through the crowd and seated himself in the witness
box, where sat two other men, Mr. Porter the head warder of the prison
and Dr. Slyn, both of whom had held conversation with Mr. Winston, an
hour or so before his death.
"Not many witnesses for so serious a case" cried the judge in loud tones
as he eyed the three desolate looking men.
Cyril was the first witness as he knew more of the deceased than either
of the other two. He had to relate all he knew of Mr. Winston's past
life and in conclusion the judge asked him if he thought Mr. Winston
looked like commiting suicide when he went to hang Mr. Smith.
Cyril replied that Mr. Winston looked rather morbid on the day of the
execution and otherwise no other change was visible.
The judge coughed, "summon the detectives" he cried.
The detectives (three in number) advanced.
"Now Mr. Slag" said the judge, addressing the leader of the three men,
"what is your opinion of this terrible case, murder or suicide?"
Cyril waited open mouthed for the reply, his whole life depended on Mr.
Slag's reply.
Mr. Slag evidently did not like giving his opinion in public and he
hesitated before speaking.
"I say it was murder" cried one of the other detectives.
Cyril could have screamed with vexation.
"Are you aware Mr. Tix that your opinion was not asked" enquired the
judge dryly "Mr. Slag if you please" he added authoritivly.
"I say suicide most decidedly replied Mr. Slag "I am a trained detective
my lord and am not likely to make a mistake, Mr. Rennet is also of my
opinion."
"Very well" said the judge writing in his note book.
"I am convinced it is suicide and so is the jury and you may go Mr.
Slag, the case is with drawn where are Mr. Winston's relations who will
bury the deceased?"
A stir in the witness box and Cyril came forward "I will undertake to
pay for the burial" he said.
"You?" cried the astonished judge "who are you pray?"
"My name is Cyril Sheene" replied Cyril getting very red "and I am the
greatest friend poor Mr. Winston had, besides his daughter who I know is
penniless.
"Very well" said the judge "you are a good benevolent man.
Little did the simple minded judge know, that the innocent looking
person he addressed in such kind tones was the real murderer of Mr.
Winston.