THE TRUTH AT LAST.
After this extraordinary outbreak of Herne's, in which he accused
himself of Milly's murder, Chaskin led him away, and the court was
adjourned till next day. The situation of a man accusing himself thus
was so utterly without precedent that the presiding judge did not know
how to act. Without sifting the matter and finding why Herne accused
himself so publicly, he did not want to take upon himself the
responsibility of ordering his arrest. Moreover, the judge, who knew
somewhat of Herne's eccentricities, was privately of the opinion that
the man was not quite right in his mind. The tragic death of his
future wife had evidently disturbed the balance of his brain, and had
led him in a frenzy of horror and self-humiliation to accuse himself
publicly of a crime he had not committed. On these grounds, reasonable
enough, Herne was permitted to go free, until the truth of his
extraordinary confession could be proved.
Nevertheless, the judge, while thus cautious and lenient, intimated
that it was his opinion that the police should personally see after
Herne. If he were guilty, he should be arrested forthwith, if insane,
he was not fit to be at large. Acting upon this advice, Inspector Drek
followed Herne and Chaskin to their hotel, and requested an interview.
In response to his inquiry the Vicar presented himself.
"You cannot see Mr. Herne at present," he said gravely; "he is much
excited; but I have persuaded him to lie down. Is it your intention to
arrest him, Mr. Drek?"
"If I see reason to adopt so extreme a course," replied Drek. "What is
your opinion of this confession, sir?"
"I don't believe one word of it."
"You think, then, that Mr. Herne is innocent?"
"Most decidedly," returned Chaskin. "He is as guiltless as I am."
"Is that a good example?" said Drek with some dryness. "You know that
Mrs. Jimboy accuses you as the author of the crime, on the evidence of
the pistol."
"I do not wonder at her belief," answered Chaskin quietly; "the pistol
is mine; it has my name on the butt, and it was found on the spot
where the poor girl's body was discovered by me. Men have been hanged
on less evidence, Mr. Drek."
"No doubt; but they have made some attempt to defend themselves,"
retorted the inspector. "You, sir, as I understand from Messrs. Lovel
and Mexton, decline to say if you are innocent or guilty."
"I did decline," was the Vicar's reply, "for the sake of my poor
friend; but----"
"Ah!" cried Drek, sharply, "then you were afraid lest he should be
arrested; you refused to speak, so as to screen him?"
"I did," said Chaskin simply. "You must remember, sir, that Mr. Herne
is my dearest friend, and I would do much to save him from the
consequences of his own folly."
"What folly? The public confession?"
"Yes--a public confession which is false?"
"If it is false, why should Mr. Herne make it? A man does not put his
neck in danger for nothing."
"Are you so sure of that, Mr. Drek? I have heard of many men giving
themselves up for crimes of which they were guiltless."
"Uneducated men."
"Yes, and men of education also. I tell you, Mr. Drek, that my friend
did not fire that shot."
"Then who did? Yourself?"
"No; I am innocent, as I can say now freely. I refused to speak
because I thought that my speaking might get Herne into trouble. Now
that he has made a public statement--not a confession, mind
you--accusing himself of a crime which he did not commit, I think it
my duty to tell you what I know. Sit down, please, Mr. Drek, and
listen to what I have to say."
Drek did so, in some perplexity, for he did not know what the Vicar
could tell him likely to nullify Herne's statement. Only a knowledge
of the name of the real assassin could prove Herne's innocence, and
the Vicar confessed that he was ignorant of such name. However, the
case had become so complicated that Drek was thankful for any story,
or confession, or statement, or declaration likely to throw light on
its darkness. Therefore he forebore to speak, and with his keen eyes
fixed upon Chaskin, he waited patiently to hear what the Vicar had to
say. At the present moment Drek's mind was in a state of confusion.
"When Messrs. Mexton and Lovel came to see me last week," explained
Chaskin, "I had just parted from my friend. He had lately returned
from London, where he had seen a lady called Catinka Poluski."
"I know," said Drek, with a nod; "the violinist. Mexton told me about
her."
"Well, it appears that she was in the lane on the night of the
murder."
"I know that also, Mr. Chaskin. She saw the corpse, and to inculpate
Mr. Herne, so as to get a hold on him for his money, she left a
rainbow feather on the spot. Herne knew by that of her presence, and
went up to see her. Well, sir, and what did she say?"
"She stated that she saw Herne watching Miss Lester and Lovel; also
that he fired a pistol and killed the girl; then he fled."
"Do you believe that, Mr. Chaskin?"
"No," replied the Vicar decidedly, "because when Herne saw the pair he
was thrown into such a state of emotion that he fell into a trance.
When he recovered the girl was dead, and the pistol was gone."
"Lovel told me about the trance," said Drek thoughtfully. "But about
this pistol. It is yours, I believe?"
"Yes. And on that assumption Mr. Lovel accused me of the crime. I said
nothing in order to screen my friend; but I can tell you now, Mr.
Drek. Herne took that pistol out of the case in my study three months
ago."
"For what reason?"
"Well, you know Herne is philanthropic, and has many acquaintances
amid humble people; also amid Socialistic societies. One of these
societies asked him for money, which he refused to give, as he did not
approve of the purposes for which the society had been founded. In a
rage--for the members had revealed their secrets to Herne--they
threatened to kill him. He told me of this, and laughed at their
threats; but I, knowing the class of reckless men he had to deal with,
advised him to go armed. I gave him that pistol myself."
"And he had it with him on the night of the murder?"
"Yes, Mr. Drek," added the Vicar after a pause. "I do not mind telling
you that the mind of my friend is not properly balanced. He had an
idea that Milly Lester was lost if she did not marry him; and hearing
of her entanglement with Lovel, he came down here with the firm
intention of killing them both. This he confessed to me; he wished to
save Miss Lester's soul at the expense of her body, and kill Lovel for
tempting her away from him. With the pistol he went to the Winding
Lane to kill the pair, and he would have done so but for his trance."
"H'm! you are rather a Devil's Advocate, Mr. Chaskin!" said Drek,
doubtfully; "your testimony, so far as I can see, is rather calculated
to harm your friend than to do him good."
"I must tell the truth at all costs," said Chaskin sadly; "my only
hope of saving my poor, foolish friend is to be honest and outspoken.
Catinka lies, because she wishes to terrorise Herne into giving her
money. But she does not know his nature. As soon as he heard from her
that he had fired the pistol, he resolved to denounce himself before
the court at the trial of Dr. Lester. Catinka came down to see if he
would carry out his intention, for I saw her in the court, standing by
Lucas Lovel. Well, he accused himself, as you know, but he is
guiltless, I am certain."
"But if he went there to kill the girl, and took the pistol to commit
the crime, he must have carried out his intention."
"No, he intended to do so, but God mercifully stayed his hand. He fell
into a trance, and when in such a condition he can do nothing. I
believe that the assassin saw him stiff and rigid in his trance, and
took the revolver out of his hand to kill the girl. The deed done, the
assassin fled, and Herne came out of his cataleptic state to find the
dead body of the girl. At first he thought Lovel had acted thus; but
when Catinka told him that she had seen him fire the pistol himself he
withdrew his accusation."
"H'm! it might be as you say, sir, but----"
"Chaskin! Frank! where are you?"
"There is Herne!" said the Vicar rising rapidly. "In his present state
of mind he must not see you. I'll keep him in the bedroom."
He walked rapidly towards the door of the inner room; but before he
could enter it was flung violently open, and Herne, in a terrible
state of excitement, threw himself into the arms of his friend.
"Frank! Frank!" he gasped, "I Have been dreaming; the devils came in
my dream to drag me down for the sin on my soul. I killed Milly, and
they want my soul!"
"My dear Darcy, you did not kill Milly," said Chaskin, soothing the
distraught man as he would a child. "You are innocent."
"No, no; I am guilty! guilty! There is blood on my hands! Yet I
killed her to save her soul. God knows I wanted to save her from sin.
I--I--ah! what!"--his gaze suddenly fell on Drek--"are you there,
bloodhound of the law? Do you come to take me to gaol? Do so, do so; I
fear no punishment of man, for God has laid the burden of Cain upon
me."
"I have not come to arrest you, Mr. Herne," said Drek, pitying the
nervous agitation of the man. "I believe you to be innocent."
"Then you believe wrongly," retorted Herne, recovering himself a
trifle. "I came down on that night from London in disguise to kill
Lovel and Milly--to punish the first and save the second. I took
Chaskin's pistol with me--he will tell you so--and I shot my poor
darling."
"You did nothing of the sort!" insisted Chaskin. "Before you could
raise the pistol you fell into one of your trances. God forgive you,
my poor friend, for on that night I know that murder was in your
heart. Still, in His mercy He took away your power of action, and you
did not commit the crime."
"Catinka says that I did."
"Blackmail!" said Drek contemptuously. "She thought you would be
frightened into parting with money to her society; but by a public
confession you have taken the game out of her hands. Don't you believe
that young woman, Mr. Herne; she's a liar."
"I can't believe it!" exclaimed the unhappy man, clasping his hands.
"When I fell into my trance, Milly was alive; when I came out of it
she was dead. Also, you found my handkerchief stained with blood; I
dropped that while bending over her. I was there on the spot----"
"And the pistol was gone!" said Chaskin--"don't forget that."
"So I say," cried Herne; "and I say also that I was in a trance. But
how do you know that I am not lying?"
"For the very good reason that Lovel saw you in the trance," said
Drek.
"Did he see me fire the shot?"
"No; he saw no one fire the shot, but he heard it. When the girl fell
dead he rushed round to see who was the assassin, but the dastard had
fled. Then, afraid lest he should be arrested for the murder, he went
away to Gran Jimboy's tent, and persuaded her to swear that he had
been there all the evening."
"Did he leave me still in the trance?"
"Yes; you were as still as stone. When did you wake up?"
Herne passed his hand over his forehead. "I don't know," he said in a
faltering voice. "When I came to myself I found Milly's dead body; and
then, recognising my own danger, I fled also, and got my horse. I rode
back to Marborough, and returned to London; but I swear that I did not
think I killed the girl, else I would have given myself up. I did not
know until Catinka told me of my sin."
"She told a lie, Mr. Herne," said Drek with a nod. "I told you her
reason before: blackmail."
The squire, still convinced of his guilt, was about to begin his
protestations anew, when the door opened and Paul Mexton, breathless
with haste, rushed in, waving a paper.
"Chaskin, Herne! I beg your pardon," he cried, "but I was told at the
police office that Drek was here, and I couldn't wait there to see
him. I had to come on at once."
"What is the matter?" asked the inspector, rising.
"Mother Jimboy is dead!"
"Dead!" echoed Chaskin, starting. "And her confession?"
"Here it is, written down by me, signed by her, and attested with due
legality by two witnesses of full age and intelligence."
"Does she say who killed Miss Lester?" asked Drek, with a glance at
Chaskin.
"Yes, the name of the guilty person is here. Who do you think killed
poor Milly?"
"I did--I did!" cried Herne, beating his breast.
"You!" cried Paul, astonished. "Nothing of the sort! The wretch who
killed Milly was none other than Mother Jimboy herself."