VAUD AND VAUD.
Here, indeed, was food for reflection. That the instrument with which
the crime had been committed should come into the detective's
possession was extraordinary; but that it should have been left
anonymously at the rooms of the murdered man was inconceivably
audacious. Fanks at once returned to the chambers, and closely
questioned Maxwell and Robert. It struck him that the latter might
have had a hand in placing the mysterious parcel in the letter box.
"I examined the box an hour ago, sir," said Maxwell, "as you told me
to look after all letters. There was nothing in it then. It must have
been placed in it since."
"While we were in the sitting-room, no doubt," said Garth. "Do you
know anything of this, Robert?"
"I, sir? Lord, no, sir; I never set eyes on it before."
"We left ten minutes ago," remarked Fanks. "What have you been doing
since that time."
"I have been with Mr. Maxwell, sir."
"Was he with you all the time, Maxwell?"
"Yes, sir," replied the policeman in great alarm. "He came out into
the kitchen, and we was together for a chat; then I thought it was
near post time, and I goes to the box. I found that parcel, and as I
knowed you couldn't be far off I ran down stairs."
This explanation was perfectly satisfactory, yet for the life of him,
the detective could not help looking at Robert with suspicion.
However, as he had not been out of Maxwell's company, he could not
possibly have put the parcel in the box, therefore Fanks was
reluctantly compelled to believe in his innocence.
"That will do," he said, at length, and drew Garth away. When they
again descended the stairs, Garth began to ask him questions, but
Fanks cut these short. "I must be alone to think it out," he said, in
apologetic explanation. "Go away, Garth, and let me puzzle over the
matter by myself."
The young lawyer was unwilling to do this as he was filled with
genuine curiosity concerning the needle. However, he could suggest
nothing, and he saw that his mere presence worried his friend. He
therefore obeyed the request, and went off to meditate on his own
account. As for Fanks, he repaired to his rooms, and with the needle
before him he sat for considerably over an hour thinking what it all
meant. The mystery was deeper than ever.
There was no doubt that someone had left the parcel in the letter box
within the hour. According to Maxwell, it had not been there when he
last looked in; according to Robert, he had not been out of the
policeman's company since he left the sitting-room. Who, then, placed
this damning evidence of the crime in the box? The assassin himself?
But the assassin, as had been proved clearly, was a negro. A few
questions to the constable stationed near the door had elicited the
fact that no negro had gone up. In fact, the man had sworn that he had
seen nobody ascend the stairs since the time Fanks returned from his
unsuccessful pursuit. So scanty were the facts which he had to go on,
that Fanks could not even build up a theory. He was completely in the
dark, and he seemed likely to remain so.
The instrument was of silver, the length of a darning needle, and
while the point was as sharp as a lancet, it broadened gradually till
when it passed into a slim, ebony handle, it was--for a needle, quite
bulky. In this broad part the poison was doubtless contained, and
thence it oozed, drop by drop, to the deadly point. Fanks shuddered at
the sight of the piece of devilish ingenuity. The infernal dexterity
of the thing gave him an idea.
"Must have been manufactured by a scientific man," he mused, touching
the slender, silver line gingerly. "It's too clever for an amateur.
Louis, the new baronet, is a man of science; he has succeeded to the
title. Can it be that--but, no!" he added, breaking off abruptly, "he
would not commit a crime in so obvious a fashion, much less, leave the
means he used at the address of his victim."
Nevertheless, the idea lured him so far afield, into so many
speculations that, finding they led to nothing, he locked up the
poisoned needle, put it out of his thoughts, and paid a visit to New
Scotland Yard. Here he explained to the person in authority, that,
while he had every hope of capturing the assassin of the late Sir
Gregory Fellenger, yet he was bound to point out that the expenses of
the case would be considerable. To this, the person in authority
replied by placing before Fanks a letter from Messrs. Vaud and Vaud,
of Lincoln's Inn Fields. It stated that they had been directed by
Sir Louis Fellenger--who was at present confined to bed through
ill-health--to assure the authorities that he wished every effort to
be made to discover the murderer of his cousin; and that he would
willingly bear the costs of the investigation. This communication
concluded by requesting that the detective in charge of the case
should call at the offices of the lawyers at his earliest convenience.
"Very meritorious of Sir Louis to save the Government expense," said
the person in authority. "Use what money you require, Mr. Fanks, but
be reasonable--be reasonable."
"I shall be as reasonable as I possibly can be, sir," replied Fanks;
"but in my opinion, the case will be both long and expensive. It is
the most complicated matter that I ever took in hand."
"The more difficulty, the more glory," said the person in authority.
"Go on with the case, Mr. Fanks; act as you please, make use of all
our resources. I have every confidence in you, Mr. Fanks; if anyone
can lay his hand on the assassin of Sir Gregory Fellenger, you are the
man. I wish you good day, Mr. Fanks."
Dismissed in this gracious manner, Fanks left the room with the
intention of obeying forthwith the injunction of Vaud and Vaud. Before
he could depart he was intercepted by Crate.
"A communication from Dr. Renshaw," said Crate, with an air of great
importance. "He called here this afternoon with the intention of
seeing you. In your absence, he saw me; and stated that he was leaving
for India to-night by the P. and O. steamer 'Oceana.' Before leaving,
he wished to see and speak with you."
"Before leaving, he has to see and speak with me," retorted Fanks,
coolly. "I would have him arrested on suspicion if he attempted to
leave London without according me an interview."
"You have no evidence on which you can arrest him, Mr. Fanks."
"I have more evidence than you are aware of, Crate. If Dr. Renshaw
could have defied me he would have done so; but he dare not. Where is
he now?"
"He is still at Great Auk Street, where he has been watched ever since
the night of the murder."
"When does the 'Oceana' leave the Docks?"
"To-night at ten o'clock. Dr. Renshaw goes down from Fenchurch Street
by the eight train."
"It is now a quarter past five. Good! I shall call at Great Auk
Street; in the meantime, I have to keep another appointment."
"Have you found out anything since I saw you last, Mr. Fanks?"
"I have found out that there is a woman in the case," said Fanks. "And
that reminds me, Crate. You must go to Paris by to-night's mail. Are
you busy with anything else?"
"No, Mr. Fanks. I shall be ready to start when you please. What am I
to do in Paris?"
Fanks sat down at Crate's table and wrote a name and a date. "Get me a
certificate of the death and burial of Emma Calvert, who died in Paris
last year; she committed suicide, which was passed off as an accident,
and was buried in Pere la Chaise. I do not know the month of the
death, but you can do without that. Wire me all particulars. You can
get the French police to help you. Ask in the office here for
necessary credentials and authorisation. Don't spare expense, I have
full power to draw all moneys I want."
After delivering these necessary instructions, Fanks drove off to
Lincoln's Inn Fields, and presented his card at the office of Vaud and
Vaud. He was at once shown up to the room of the senior partner, and
found him as Garth said, a dignified gentleman of the old school. He
was red-faced and white-haired; emphasised his remarks by waving a
"pince-nez," and spoke with some of the magnificence of Dr. Renshaw.
"This is a most lamentable business, Mr. Fanks," he said, when the
detective was seated. "I usually go home before five o'clock, but in
the interests of our client, Sir Louis Fellenger, I remained, on the
chance of seeing you. I am glad to see you."
"I came as soon as I was able, Mr. Vaud; but you only sent for me
to-day. I wonder you did not wish to see me before."
"There was no necessity, my dear sir. We only heard from Sir Louis
yesterday that he was prepared to bear all expenses connected with the
investigation of the case."
"Sir Louis is ill, I believe, Mr. Vaud?"
"Sir Louis is never well, sir," said the lawyer impressively. "He is a
delicate man, and he is given over to the arduous science of
experimental chemistry. The earnestness with which he prosecutes his
researches keeps him in a constant state of anxiety; and his health
suffers accordingly. He is now at Mere Hall, attended by Dr. Binjoy."
"Is Dr. Binjoy with Sir Louis at Mere Hall at this present moment?"
"Certainly. Dr. Binjoy never leaves the side of Sir Louis. He has the
greatest influence over him. Though I must say," added Vaud, "that
even the influence of the doctor could not prevent his patient rising
from his sick-bed to attend the funeral of the late baronet."
"He must have been fond of his cousin," said Fanks, pointedly.
"On the contrary, the cousins had not seen one another for ten years
and more," said Mr. Vaud, solemnly. "I do not wish to speak evil of
the dead, but the late Sir Gregory was certainly a butterfly of
fashion, while the present Sir Louis is a man of science. They never
got on well together, and therefore kept out of each other's way."
"And very sensible, too," said Fanks, dryly. "Do you happen to know if
Dr. Binjoy has been in London lately?"
"I happen to know on the best authority--that of Sir Louis--that
Binjoy has not been in London for the last six weeks. Sir Louis has
been ill for that period; the doctor has not left his bedside."
Fanks made a mental note of this answer, and turned the conversation
in the direction of the crime. "You know that Fellenger died from
poison?"
"From blood-poisoning," corrected Vaud. "So I saw in the papers. A
most remarkable case, my dear sir. What took our late client to that
locality, and why did he submit himself to the tattooing needle?"
"I can't say. Are you aware of any motive which might have induced the
dead man to have a cross tattooed?"
"No, sir. As a matter of fact," continued Mr. Vaud, "the late Sir
Gregory and myself were not on the best of terms. He was extravagant,
and he resented my well-meant advice. I saw as little of him as of Sir
Louis."
"Then you are not intimate with Sir Louis?"
"I cannot say that I am. Sir Louis has led a secluded life at
Taxton-on-Thames. I have only seen him once or twice."
"And Dr. Binjoy?"
"I have never seen him at all."
"Was Sir Louis rich?"
"On the contrary, he was very poor. Five hundred a year only."
"Well, Mr. Vaud," said Fanks, rising. "I have to thank Sir Louis for
his offer to bear the expenses of this case; and I shall do my best to
bring the criminal to justice."
"Have you any clue, Mr. Fanks?"
"I have a variety of clues, but they all seem to lead to nothing."
"Do you think that you will be successful?"
"I can't say--yet. I hope so."
"I hope so, too, but I am doubtful; very doubtful. Well, good evening,
Mr. Fanks. Do you want any money?"
"Not at present. I shall write to you when I do."
"That's all right. I trust you will succeed, Mr. Fanks. But in my
opinion you are wasting time and money. The crime is a mystery, and
for all that I can see, it will remain a mystery."