PRINGLE UNANSWERED.
When the three men arrived at Dulwich, they went straight to
Carlingford House, where Mr. Paulton lived. The owner was in. Some
years ago he had retired from business in the City, and now
interested himself in local affairs, his garden, his horses, and
reading. He was bluff, white-haired, stout, brief of speech,
straightforward, kindly. He was not quite sixty yet, notwithstanding
his white hair.
Just as they got into the house he was crossing the hall. He paused,
and held out his hand cordially to Jerry O'Brien.
"What lucky wind has blown you here at such an hour?" he cried. "You
are just too late for luncheon; but I dare say they'll be able to
find something for you and Alfred, and----"
He now became aware the third man was a stranger, and stopped.
Young Paulton introduced the solicitor, and then all four went into a
little library on the right hand side of the hall. Alfred felt
acutely the difficulty of his position, and he found himself
completely at a loss to explain the situation to his father. Then it
occurred to him to appeal to O'Brien for help.
"Jerry," said he, "tell the governor all about it."
The old man looked apprehensively from one to the other. There was
evidently something wrong.
"Out with it whatever it is, my lad," said he to O'Brien, and,
without further delay, Jerry began. When he had finished, the old man
seemed thunderstruck. It was incredible that he should ever be
brought into contact with such people, and such a history. He had sat
down in an easy-chair, and now he felt he had not the strength to get
out of it. He looked blankly around at the three figures and the
bookcases and the walls, as if he were awaiting contradiction from
animate or inanimate objects. But no one spoke, and nothing occurred
to reassure him.
At last the solicitor came forward with, "You know, sir, we have
really nothing whatever to go on yet. Dr. Santley's dissatisfaction
and the lady's shrinking from an inquiry, and the presence of this
man Blake in London may all point to nothing--end in nothing. I have
come out here to clear up the whole thing, and I have no doubt that
if I might be favoured with half-an-hour's conversation with Mrs.
Davenport all our uneasiness would disappear."
A look of hope came into Mr. Paulton's face. He rose, and,
approaching the solicitor, said: "I wish you would see her and bring
us good news. She is keeping her room, but I think she will come down
to the drawing-room if Mrs. Paulton asks her. You would greatly
oblige me if you would see her. I wouldn't be mixed up with a case of
that kind for any consideration."
"I shall be only too happy to do anything I can in your interest,
which is, I presume, identical with that of the afflicted lady. The
first step to be taken is to ascertain through Mrs. Paulton if Mrs.
Davenport will see me."
"I'll go immediately." Mr. Paulton moved towards the door.
"A moment, sir. Don't you think that if Mrs. Davenport will see me it
would be as well Mrs. Paulton said a few words of preparation. Such
as, for instance, that in cases of this kind it was always desirable
to have advice, and to allow some one to act instead of the
principal; as owing to the distress attendant on loss one is little
able to look after matters of detail. If Mrs. Paulton would be good
enough she might say that you thought I might be of some slight use.
Anything of that kind Mrs. Paulton might say would prevent my coming
too suddenly on the widow."
"Quite so. I am glad you mentioned it. I shall do exactly as you
suggest. I shall be back as soon as I can." He hurried out of the
room.
In less than a quarter of an hour he returned, rubbing his hands. It
was plain by his appearance that he had been successful. Yes; Mrs.
Davenport was in the drawing-room, and would see Mr. Pringle.
He went up, was introduced by Mrs. Paulton, who then retired, leaving
client and lawyer together.
The lady had sent up to Crescent House for a change of clothes, and
now appeared in a plain, black dress, with sleeves of ordinary
length, and without the orange scarf or the diamonds at her throat or
girdle. She motioned him to a seat, and then took one herself.
What Alfred said had prepared him for something out of the common,
but for nothing like what he now saw. He was prepared to meet a
beautiful woman in need of his help--he found a regal woman who might
perhaps condescend to give him orders. Her face was absolutely
without colour, save the full red lips, the dark impenetrable eyes,
and the black eyebrows. But the modelling of the face was superb, and
the carriage of the head magnificent. And yet he was conscious of
something that detracted from, or contradicted the imperial grandeur
of the head. There was no splendour in the pose of the figure. In the
arms, and figure, and gait, there was an air of patient, suppliant
dutifulness, that seemed to plead for love and protection.
"Mrs. Paulton has explained to me," she said, in a low, soft voice,
"that it is better I should have some one to advise me in the present
circumstances, and that you have been good enough, Mr. Pringle, to
allow me to look to you for the help I need."
She spoke with great precision and delicacy of tone. It was a
flattery to hear her utter one's name.
He answered in a low voice. His voice never before seemed so harsh in
his own ears. "It is well for you to have advice. You may rely upon
my doing all I can for you."
It was simply monstrous to associate this woman with the idea of
crime. Attorney and man of the world though he was, he could not be
persuaded into such a ridiculous belief. O'Brien must be a fool. Or
no, it wasn't O'Brien--it was Paulton's doctor who had the honour of
broaching that absurdity.
"I am quite sure of that. And the first thing I want to ask you about
is, when I shall need your advice?--for I know absolutely nothing
about such things. Mr. Davenport has a brother living; I suppose he
had better be telegraphed for?"
"Yes. He must be telegraphed for at once."
"Then I suppose the--funeral must be arranged for immediately?"
"Yes. Then, as you are aware, a few legal formalities have to be gone
through before that."
"What are they?"
"Have you not been told?"
"No. Pray tell me."
"Well, the sad event took place so suddenly that a certain form has
to be observed. In this case it will be the merest form."
"Some sort of certificate has to be got, I dare say?"
"Well, yes; if you put it in that way."
"And what must I do?"
"You say you know nothing of such matters as we are now talking
about. The first advice I have to give you is, that you must repose
full confidence in me. Remember, I am bound by a rule of my
profession to respect any confidence you may place in me. I shall
have to ask you questions which would be impertinent from any one but
your legal adviser. Mind, all this is merely to save you annoyance
hereafter. Will you trust me with the history of last night?"
"I will--as far as I may," faintly.
"I have heard something of last night. I will not trouble you with
any inquiries that I do not consider absolutely necessary. You and
Mr. Davenport arrived together yesterday evening, and came on to your
new house close by, your furniture having preceded you by only a few
hours, so that the house was all in disorder?"
"Yes."
"And you came unaccompanied by any servant; may I ask you why was
this?"
"Mr. Davenport had peculiar notions about never moving servants from
one house to another. He insisted on getting new servants when we
changed."
"So that it was at his desire you came unattended?"
"Certainly. Only it was too late when we arrived, we should have got
some one to help us."
"And was Mr. Davenport in his usual health when you reached Crescent
House?"
"No. His asthma was worse, but not very much worse. When it was bad
he could not lie down. My room was the only one in order, and he said
he would rest on the couch for the night. I left him at about eleven,
but did not go to bed, as I was not quite easy about him, and thought
I'd come down and put some coal on the fire later. I fell asleep in a
chair, and when I went down I found all was over."
"He had a large quantity of chloroform by him?"
"Yes; a two-ounce bottle, almost full."
"And he was in the habit of using chloroform when the spasms were
bad?"
"Yes; but what do you mean? You are perplexing and terrifying me.
Pray speak plainly to me."
"I shall very soon be done. Remember, I told you I should ask no
question that was not absolutely essential. Now, from the time you
and Mr. Davenport entered that house, and until Mr. Paulton and the
doctor entered it, had any other person access to it?"
She grasped the edge of the table near her. She trembled as in an
ague. Her lips grew as pallid as her brow. She did not speak.
"Remember, anything you communicate is privileged, and will not find
its way abroad through me. I am trying to get the means of protecting
you. Of course you are fully at liberty to refuse to answer me now;
but all questions will have to be answered at the inquest."
"Inquest!" she whispered, in a voice of abject terror. She rose to
her feet and stood swaying to and fro, one hand still grasping the
table. "Inquest! Mr. Paulton said there would be no inquest. There
_shall_ be no inquest."
"The bottle was found _empty_."
"Oh, Heaven, take away my life from me!"
"Was Blake in the house that night?"
She took her hand from the table and stood still a moment, looking
upward. Then slowly she raised both her arms aloft, and cried:
"Hear Thou my prayer!"
She stood a while motionless. After a moment she said, in a firm
voice:
"No mercy!"
She dropped her arms to her side, bowed slowly to him, and then with
erect head and a firm step walked out of the room.