ANOTHER LINK IN THE CHAIN.
True to his appointment Garth called the next evening at the chambers
in Duke Street, only to find that Fanks was absent, and that a note
was awaiting him.
"Dear Garth," wrote the detective, "I have been called unexpectedly
out of town and shall not return for at least three days. Visit me at
the expiration of that time and prepare yourself for a surprise."
"A surprise," said Garth to himself, as he departed; "I wonder if he
has found out about Emma Calvert, and if his discovery has anything to
do with the death in Tooley's Alley."
Think as he might he could find no answer to this question, and he was
forced to restrain his curiosity until such time as Fanks should
return. In the meantime, out of curiosity, he called upon Mr. Vaud to
learn what that gentleman thought about the position of affairs.
Mr. Vaud thought nothing about them. A detective had charge of the
case, and, in Mr. Vaud's opinion, it would be better to wait the
solution by him of this criminal problem. All this, as well as much
more, was expressed to Garth by the pompous lawyer. "And I should
advise you, Mr. Garth," he concluded, "not to let this unhappy episode
divert your energies from your business."
"As to that, I have precious little to do," retorted Garth, with some
heat; "you do not put much in my way, Mr. Vaud. I am always hard up."
"I am aware of that," replied Vaud, ignoring the beginning of the
speech, "and I am aware also that our late client assisted you several
times."
"Because I was necessary to him," said Garth, bitterly. "And I'll tell
you what, Mr. Vaud, had I known then what I know now about my cousin I
should never have accepted his help."
"Oh, dear me!" said Mr. Vaud, "quite so. Sir Gregory had many faults;
but are you a saint yourself, Mr. Garth?"
"I don't pretend to be one. Still, I never drove a woman to her
death."
"Do you know what you are saying, Mr. Garth?"
"Do you know the name of Emma Calvert, Mr. Vaud?"
The lawyer paled and pushed his chair from the table. "I--I
have--heard the--name," he stuttered.
"Then you have heard the name of a very injured woman, Mr. Vaud."
Before the other could reply a knock came to the door, and immediately
afterwards it opened to admit a tall and handsome young man. He bowed
to Garth and placed some papers before Mr. Vaud. "Will you please
excuse this intrusion, father, and look over these?" he said quietly.
"My son Herbert, Mr. Garth," said the elder Vaud, and again the young
man bowed. He rather resembled his father in appearance, but there was
a sternness about his manner which was wanting in that of the elder
gentleman. He was dark-haired, and clean shaven, with thin lips and a
compressed mouth. There was a look of resolution and hard work about
him which did not recommend his personality to pleasure-loving Garth.
However, the latter bowed and smiled when introduced, and scribbled on
a sheet of blotting-paper while Herbert spoke to his father. Still
thinking on the subject of his discourse with Mr. Vaud he absently
wrote the name of Emma Calvert. Young Vaud moved near him while
looking for a special paper, and in doing so his eye fell on the name.
With an ejaculation he drew back, and turned as pale as his father had
done.
"What do you know of Emma Calvert?" he demanded abruptly; "why do you
write down her name?"
"Herbert!" said the father, warningly--almost imploringly.
"I shall speak," said Herbert, his composure replaced by intense
excitement. "What do you knew of Emma Calvert, sir?"
Garth looked up surprised. "I know as much as Robert, the valet of
Fellenger, could tell me."
"A scamp who served a scamp," muttered the young man.
"Sir Gregory was my cousin, Mr. Herbert."
"Then your cousin was a scoundrel, Mr. Garth."
"Herbert, leave the room," said his father, sternly
The son looked defiantly at his father, and turned away without a
word. At the door he paused and addressed Garth. "I know that your
cousin was murdered, Mr. Garth," he said savagely. "I am glad that he
met with such a death. He escaped me, but he could not escape
punishment. I hated Sir Gregory and I bless the man who killed him."
He left the room, and in dumb astonishment Garth turned to the elder
Vaud for an explanation. The old man had buried his face in his hands;
but he looked up when Garth touched him, and groaned aloud.
"I am sorry you wrote down that name, Mr. Garth," he said at length.
"Its effect on my unfortunate son is always terrible."
"But for what reason?"
"I did not intend to tell you, but as you know so much, you may as
well know all. Herbert was in love with this girl. He wished to marry
her, and it was he who introduced her to Sir Gregory. You can guess
the rest."
"I can guess that my cousin married the girl and took her to Paris,
where he neglected her and drove her to suicide."
"I know about the marriage," said Mr. Vaud. "I am glad that Sir
Gregory did her that justice. I also know of the death. Sad, very
sad."
"She must have been a pretty girl to have so strongly attracted two
men."
"I never saw her," said Vaud. "I did not even know that Herbert was in
love with her until she eloped with Sir Gregory. Then my son came with
his broken heart and told me all. He would have followed Sir Gregory
to Paris but that he fell ill of brain fever. Afterwards he was
ordered on a sea voyage; and returned only six weeks ago. He heard of
the death of Lady Fellenger in Paris, and--"
"Did he know that Fellenger had married her?"
"Afterwards; not at first. He discovered all about the marriage and
death in Paris. How, I do not know. But he came back broken in health
and heart. He will never be the same man again; and whenever the name
of Emma Calvert is mentioned, the consequences are as you see."
Garth rose to go. "It is a cruel story," he said sadly, "but
Fellenger's sins have come home to him in a terrible fashion.
Good-bye, Mr. Vaud."
Then Garth took his leave; and withdrew to meditate on the villainy of
his cousin, which had ruined two lives. Half-way along the Strand, he
was struck by a sudden thought. If young Vaud had known and loved Emma
Calvert, he would be the man to identify the woman who had presented
herself at Fellenger's chambers. He believed Emma Calvert to be dead;
brought face to face with the missing woman, and he would see that she
was alive. "Though it will be difficult to find that woman," he said,
resuming his walk, "she has given us the slip. Still she may call to
see Robert again, and he is being watched by Maxwell; so the chances
are that we may find out whether she is my cousin's wife or her ghost.
If she is confronted with Herbert Vaud we may arrive at the truth. But
will the truth lead to the detection of Gregory's assassin. I doubt
it."
He thought of calling upon Herbert and telling him about the
appearance and flight of the presumedly dead woman; but the same
reason which had prevented him from seeing Hersham, prevented this
visit. "No!" he said, resolutely. "I must interview Fanks and ask his
advice. The matter is too difficult for me to handle alone."
Having come to this sensible conclusion; he went about his daily
business and postponed moving in the matter until the return of Fanks
from his mysterious journey. His appointment had been for the previous
night; and Fanks had asked him to wait three days. As he had employed
one day in seeing Mr. Vaud, he thought that he would utilise the
second by interviewing Mrs. Boazoph. For this purpose he called at the
Red Star, but he was disappointed, Mrs. Boazoph, the barmaid informed
him, was out of town--on business. Garth left Tooley's Alley in a
meditative mood. "Fanks has gone to the country on business; Mrs.
Boazoph has gone to the country on business. I wonder if the same
errand takes them there."
Nothing further transpired; and, on the evening of the third day,
Garth presented himself at Duke-street. Fanks was within and received
him in the most amiable manner. Garth noted that his friend looked
weary, and ventured an opinion that Fanks had made a long journey that
day.
"You are about right," said Fanks, indicating a seat. "I only got back
three hours ago from Hampshire."
"You have been to Mere Hall?"
"I have been in the neighbourhood of Mere Hall. And I have also been
to Plymouth," he added, after a pause.
"What have you been doing there?"
"Following our friend Renshaw, alias Binjoy."
"You don't mean to say that the two are one," cried Garth, jumping up.
"I do, and I can prove it by the clearest evidence you ever heard in
your life. Sit down and listen."
Garth resumed his seat, and leaned forward with much curiosity to hear
the promised recital. It was well worthy of an attentive hearing.
"I told him that I suspected Renshaw to be Binjoy in disguise," said
Fanks, "your description of the one fitted the other in many respects;
and the eagerness with which Renshaw tried to impress me with the fact
that he was going to India, roused my suspicions. I determined to see
for myself if he was really leaving England, so I disguised myself as
a parson, and went to the docks. Renshaw had been followed there by my
emissary, and he duly went on board the P. and O. steamer 'Oceana.'
Assured of this I dismissed the watcher, and took up the running to
Plymouth."
"But how about your passage."
"Oh, I fixed that up all right; how, I need not stop to explain. You
may be sure that I kept a watch on our friend; and confident in my
disguise, I tried to get speech with him. This was impossible, as he
remained in his berth the whole time. I discovered, however, that his
passage was booked to Bombay, exchanging at Aden into the 'Clyde.' At
Plymouth he feigned to be so ill as to be unable to proceed further on
his journey, and rather than do so, he forfeited his passage money,
and got off--"
"Then he did not go to India after all?"
"My dear sir; he had no intention of going to India. I followed him
ashore; and then I am sorry to say that I lost him. It is not
creditable to my intelligence," said Fanks, shrugging his shoulders.
"What did you do?"
"The best I could. I saw the local police, and had the railway
stations and boats watched. He could not leave Plymouth either by land
or water without my knowing it. To make a long story short, I was
informed that a stout gentleman, somewhat like my man, was awaiting a
train at a certain station. I went there--"
"And you saw Renshaw?" interrupted Garth.
"Indeed, no. I saw a clean-shaven man much younger in appearance than
Dr. Renshaw, and dressed differently. From your description I
recognised him as Binjoy, and to clinch the matter, I followed him to
Mere hall."
"Then you are certain that Renshaw is Binjoy?"
"Positive. I made inquiries in the village, and I was informed that
Sir Louis was ill, and that Binjoy was attending him. Of course I said
nothing, for, to tell you the truth, I did not know what to say. But
you will observe, Garth, that I have proved that these two men are one
and the same."
"And the negro. Did you see Binjoy's negro servant?"
"I inquired about him, and I was informed that Binjoy had brought
no negro servant with him. No doubt, he left him behind at
Taxton-on-Thames."
"Then my idea is correct," said Garth, "the negro committed the crime
at the instigation of Binjoy; and Binjoy in the disguise of Renshaw,
went to the Red Star to see that it was accomplished. Now he has got
rid of the negro and of his disguise; so cutting off every trace of
his connection with the crime."
"A very plausible theory," said Fank, shaking his head, "but the
motive?"
"Motive? Why Binjoy wanted Louis to inherit the property. He has a
great influence over Louis; what would benefit the one would benefit
the other. Oh, depend upon it, Fanks, it is as I say."
"No!" said Fanks, "there is a third person in it. A woman!"
"Emma Calvert?"
"Mrs. Boazoph!"
"Oh, come now; she is out of town on business."
"I know that; and her business was at Mere Hall in Hants. I saw her
there."