THE TRUTH
"Good-morning, my lord. Rather early to disturb you, I am afraid."
Cyril noticed that Griggs's manner had undergone a subtle change.
Although perfectly respectful, he seemed to hold himself rigidly aloof.
There was even a certain solemnity about his trivial greeting. Cyril
felt that another blow was impending. Instantly and instinctively he
braced himself to meet it.
"Not at all. What can I do for you?" he replied in his usual quiet
voice.
The man hesitated a moment.
"The fact is, my lord, I should like to ask you a few questions, but I
warn you that your answers may be used against you."
"I have nothing to fear. What is it you want to know?"
"Have you missed a bag, my lord?"
"That confounded bag! It has turned up at last," thought Cyril. What on
earth should he say? How much did the fellow guess?
"You had better ask my man. He knows more about my things than I do," he
managed to answer, as he lifted a perfectly expressionless face to
Griggs's inspection.
"Quite so, my lord. But I fancy that as far as this particular bag is
concerned, that is not the case."
"Why not?"
"Because I do not see what reason he could have had for hiding one of
his master's bags up the chimney."
"So the bag was found up the chimney? Will you tell me what motive I am
supposed to have had for wishing to conceal it? Is there anything
remarkable about it? Did it contain anything you thought I might want to
get rid of?"
The inspector eyed him narrowly.
"It's no use, my lord. We know that Priscilla Prentice bought this bag a
fortnight ago in Newhaven. Now, if you are able to explain how it came
into your possession, I would strongly advise your doing so."
Still Cyril did not flinch.
"I have never to my knowledge laid eyes on the girl, and I cannot,
therefore, believe that a bag of hers has been found here."
"We can prove it," replied the inspector. "The maker's name is inside
and the man who sold it to her is willing to swear that it is the
identical bag. One of our men has made friends with your chamber-maid
and she confessed that she had discovered it stuffed up the chimney in
your bedroom. She is a stupid girl and thought you had thrown it away,
so she took it. Only afterwards, it occurred to her that you had a
purpose in placing the bag where she had found it and she was going to
return it when my man prevented her from doing so."
"Very remarkable! It all fits together like clock-work. I congratulate
you, Inspector," said Cyril, trying to speak superciliously. "But you
omitted to mention the most important link in the chain of evidence you
have so cleverly forged against me," he continued. "How am I supposed to
have got hold of this bag? I did not stop in Newhaven and you have had
me so closely watched that you must know that since my arrival in
England I have met no one who could have given it to me."
"No, my lord, we are by no means sure of this. Quite the contrary. It is
true that we have, so to speak, kept an eye on you, but, till yesterday,
we had no reason to suspect that you had any connection with the murder,
so we did not think it necessary to have you closely followed. There
have been hours when we have had no idea where you were."
"You surprise me!"
"It is quite possible," continued the inspector without heeding Cyril's
interruption, "that you have met either Prentice or Lady Wilmersley, the
dowager, I mean."
"Really! And why should they have given this bag to me, of all people?
Surely you must see that they could have found many easier, as well as
safer, ways of disposing of it."
"Quite so, my lord, and that is why I am inclined to believe that it was
not through either of them that the bag came into your possession. I
think it more probable that her Ladyship brought it with her."
"Her Ladyship? What do you mean?" Cyril's voice grew suddenly harsh.
"You told me yourself that her Ladyship met you in Newhaven; that, in
fact, she had spent the night of the murder there."
Cyril clutched the table convulsively.
Amy! They suspected Amy. This was too horrible! Why had it never
occurred to him that his lies might involve an innocent person?
"But this is absurd, you know," he stammered, in a futile effort to gain
time.
"Let us hope so, my lord."
"There has been a terrible mistake, I tell you."
"In that case her Ladyship can no doubt easily explain it."
"Her Ladyship is ill. She cannot be disturbed."
"I am afraid that cannot be avoided. I must see her at once. But if you
wish it, I will not question her till she has been examined by our
doctors."
Cyril rose and moved automatically towards the door.
The inspector stepped forward.
"Sorry, my lord, but for the present you can see her Ladyship only
before witnesses. May I ring the bell?"
"What is the use of asking my permission? You are master here, so it
seems," exclaimed Cyril. His nerves were at last getting beyond his
control.
"I am only doing my duty and I assure you that I want to cause as little
unpleasantness as possible."
A servant appeared.
The inspector remained discreetly in the background.
"Ask her Ladyship please to come here as soon as she can get ready. If
she is asleep, it will be necessary to wake her."
"Very good, my lord."
The two men sat facing each other in silence.
Cyril was hardly conscious of the other's presence. He must think; he
knew he must think; but his brain seemed paralysed. There must be a way
of clearing his wife without casting suspicion on Anita. Yet he could
think of none. Was it possible that he was now called upon to choose
between the woman he hated and the woman he loved, between honour and
dishonour? No, there must be a middle course. Time would surely solve
the difficulty.
The door opened and Amy came slowly into the room. She looked
desperately ill.
She was wrapped in a red velvet dressing-gown and its warm colour
contrasted painfully with the greyness of her face and lips. On catching
sight of the inspector, she started, but controlling herself with an
obvious effort, she turned to her husband.
"You wish to speak to me?"
"You can see for yourself, Inspector, that her Ladyship is in no
condition to be questioned," remonstrated Cyril, moving quickly to his
wife's side.
"Just as you say, my lord, but in that case her Ladyship had better
finish her dressing. It will be necessary for her to accompany me to
headquarters."
"I will not allow it," cried Cyril, almost beside himself and throwing a
protecting arm around Amy's shoulders.
Her bloodshot eyes rested a moment on her husband, then gently
disengaging herself, she drew herself to her full height and faced the
inspector.
"What is the matter? You need not try to spare me."
"His Lordship----"
"Do not listen to his Lordship. It is I who demand to be told the
truth."
"Amy, I beg you--" interposed Cyril.
"No, no," she cried, shaking off her husband's hand. "Let me know the
worst. Don't you see that you are torturing me?"
"There has been a mistake. It is all my fault," began Cyril.
She silenced him with an imperious gesture.
"I am waiting to hear what the inspector has to say."
Griggs cast a questioning look at Cyril, which the latter answered by a
helpless shrug.
"A bag has been found in his Lordship's chimney, which was lately
purchased in Newhaven. Do you know how it got there? But perhaps before
answering, you may wish to consult your legal adviser."
She cast a quick glance at her husband.
"I will neither acknowledge nor deny anything until I have seen this bag
and know of what I am accused," she answered after a barely perceptible
pause.
Griggs opened the door and called:
"Jones, the bag, please."
The inspector handed it to Amy.
She looked at it for a moment. Cyril watched her breathlessly. What
would she say? Had the moment come when he must proclaim the truth?
"Am I supposed to have bought this bag?" she asked.
"No, my lady. It was sold to Prentice, who was sempstress at Geralton
and we believe it is the one in which Lady Wilmersley carried off her
jewels."
Amy gave a muffled exclamation, but almost instantly she regained her
composure.
"If that is so, how do you connect me with it? Because it happens to
have been found here, do you accuse me of having robbed my cousin?"
"No, my lady, but as you spent the night of the murder in Newhaven----"
To Cyril's surprise she shuddered from head to foot.
"No, no!" she cried, stretching out her hands as if to ward off a blow.
"It is useless to deny it. His Lordship himself told me that you had
joined him there."
"I lied! It was not her Ladyship who was with me. Her Ladyship was in
Paris at the time. I swear it on my honour. The bag is--is mine. You can
arrest me. I am guilty." Thank God, thought Cyril, he had at last found
a way of saving both his love and his honour.
"Guilty of what, my lord? Of a murder which was committed while you were
still in France--" asked Griggs, lifting his eyebrows incredulously.
"Yes! I mean I instigated it--I hated my cousin--I needed the money, so
I hired an accomplice. He bungled things. I give myself up. I confess.
What more do you want?" cried Cyril.
"Not so fast, my lord. Of course, if you insist upon it, I shall have to
arrest you, but I don't believe you had anything more to do with the
murder than I had, and I would stake my reputation on your being as
straight a gentleman as I ever met professionally. Wait a bit, my lord,
don't be 'asty." In his excitement Griggs dropped one of his carefully
guarded aitches.
The door opened.
"Mr. Campbell, my lord."
"Guy," exclaimed Cyril. "You have arrived in the nick of time. I have
confessed."
"Confessed what?" Campbell cast a bewildered look at the inspector.
"His Lordship says that he hired an assassin to murder Lord Wilmersley."
"What rot! You don't believe him, I hope?"
"He _shall_ believe me," cried Cyril. "I alone am responsible for
Wilmersley's death. The person who actually fired the shot was nothing
but my tool. I will never betray him, never!"
"Honour among murderers, I see! Really, Cyril, you are too ridiculous,"
exclaimed Campbell.
Suddenly he caught sight of Amy, cowering in the shadow of the curtain.
"Who is this lady?" he asked.
"My wife! Look after her. Look after everything." Cyril gave Guy a look
in which he tried to convey all that he did not dare to say.
The door again opened.
"Mr. Judson is 'ere, my lord. I told him you were engaged, but he says
he would like to speak to you most particular."
"I don't want to see him," began Cyril.
"Don't be a greater fool than you can help," exclaimed Campbell. "How do
you know that he has not some important news?"
"But--" objected Cyril.
"Good morning, your Lordship. How do you do, Inspector. Mr. Campbell, I
believe. Your servant, your Ladyship. I took the liberty of forcing
myself upon you at this moment, my lord, because I have just learnt
certain facts which----"
"It is too late to report," interposed Cyril hastily. "I have
confessed."
The detective smiled indulgently.
"Why, my lord, what is the use of pretending that you had anything to do
with the murder? I hurried here to tell you that there is no further
need of your sacrificing yourself. I have found out who----"
"Shut up, I say. I did it. It's none of your business anyhow!" cried
Cyril incoherently.
"Don't listen to his Lordship," said Amy. "We all know, of course, that
he is perfectly innocent. He is trying to shield some one. But who?" She
cast a keen look at Cyril.
"That's just it," Judson agreed. "And it is partly my fault. I convinced
his Lordship that Lord Wilmersley was murdered by his wife. I have come
here to tell him that I was mistaken. It is lucky that I discovered the
truth in time."
"Thank God!" cried Cyril. "I always knew she was innocent." His relief
was so intense that it robbed him of all power of concealment.
Amy's mouth hardened into a straight, inflexible line; her eyes
narrowed.
"I suppose that you have some fact to support your extraordinary
assertion?" demanded Griggs, unable to hide his vexation at finding that
his rival had evidently outwitted him.
"Certainly, but I will say no more till I have his Lordship's
permission. He is my employer, you know."
"What difference does that make?" asked Cyril. "I am more anxious than
any one to discover the truth."
"Permit me to suggest, my lord, that it would be better if I could first
speak to you in private."
"Nonsense," exclaimed Cyril impatiently. "I am tired of this eternal
secrecy. Tell us what you have found out."
The detective's brows contracted slightly.
"Very well, only remember, I warned you."
"That's all right."
"Have you forgotten, my lord, that I told you I always had an idea that
those two Frenchmen who were staying at the Red Lion Inn, were somehow
implicated in the affair?"
"But what possible motive could they have had for murdering my cousin?"
demanded Cyril.
The detective's eyes appeared to wander aimlessly from one of his
auditors to another.
"We are waiting. What about those Frenchmen?"
It was Amy who spoke. She moved slowly forward, and leaning her arm on
the mantelpiece confronted the four men.
"You wish me to continue?" asked Judson.
"Certainly. Why not?"
The detective inclined his head and again turned towards Cyril.
"Having once discovered their identity, my lord, their motive was quite
apparent."
"Well, who are they? Out with it."
"The elder," began Judson, speaking very slowly, "is Monsieur de
Brissac. The younger--" he paused.
For a moment Cyril was too stunned to speak. He could do nothing but
stare stupidly at the detective. Amy guilty! Amy! It was incredible!
"Stop! Your suspicions are absurd! Do not listen to him, Inspector!" He
hardly knew what he was saying. He only realised confusedly that
something within him was crying to him to save her.
A wonderful light suddenly transfigured Amy's drawn face.
"Cyril, would you really do this for----"
"Hush!" He tried to silence her.
She turned proudly to the inspector.
"I don't care now who knows the truth. I killed Lord Wilmersley."
"Don't listen to her! Don't you see that she is not accountable for what
she is saying?" cried Cyril. He had forgotten everything but that she
was a woman--his wife.
"I killed Lord Wilmersley," Amy repeated, as if he had not spoken, "but
I did not murder him."
"Does your Ladyship expect us to believe that you happened to call at
the castle at half-past ten in the evening, and that during an amicable
conversation you accidentally shot Lord Wilmersley?" demanded Griggs.
"No," replied Amy contemptuously, "of course not! I--" She hesitated.
"If your Ladyship had not ulterior purpose in going to Newhaven, why did
you disguise yourself as a boy and live there under an assumed name? And
who is this Frenchman who posed as your brother?"
Amy threw her head back defiantly. A faint colour swept over her face.
"Monsieur de Brissac was my lover. When we discovered that his Lordship
was employing detectives, we went to Newhaven, because we thought that
it was the last place where they would be likely to look for us. I
disguised myself to throw them off the scent."
"But the description the inspector gave me of the boy did not resemble
you in the least," insisted Cyril.
"It was I nevertheless. I merely cut off my hair and dyed it. See!" She
snatched the black wig from her head, disclosing a short crop of reddish
curls.
"You have yet to explain," resumed the inspector sternly, "what took you
to Geralton in the middle of the night. Under the circumstances I should
have thought your Ladyship would hardly have cared to visit his
Lordship's relations."
Ignoring Griggs, Amy turned to her husband.
"My going there was the purest accident," she began in a dull,
monotonous voice, almost as if she were reciting a lesson, but as she
proceeded, her excitement increased till finally she became so absorbed
in her story that she appeared to forget her hearers completely. "I was
horribly restless, so we spent most of our time motoring and often
stayed out very late. One night a tire burst. I noticed that we had
stopped within a short walk of the castle. As I had never seen it except
at a distance, it occurred to me that I would like to have a nearer view
of the place. In my boy's clothes I found it fairly easy to climb the
low wall which separates the gardens from the park. Not a light was to
be seen, so, as there seemed no danger of my being discovered, I
ventured on to the terrace. As I stood there, I heard a faint cry. My
first impulse was to retrace my footsteps as quickly as possible, but
when I realised that it was a woman who was crying for help, I felt that
I must find out what was the matter. Running in the direction from which
the sound came, I turned a corner and found myself confronted by a
lighted window. The shrieks were now positively blood-curdling and there
was no doubt in my mind that some poor creature was being done to death
only a few feet away from me. The window was high above my head, but I
was determined to reach it. After several unsuccessful attempts I
managed to gain a foothold on the uneven surface of the wall and hoist
myself on to the window-sill. Luckily the window was partially open, so
I was able to slip noiselessly into the room and hide behind the
curtain. Peering through the folds, I saw a woman lying on the floor.
Her bodice was torn open, exposing her bare back. Over her stood a man
who was beating her with a piece of cord which was attached to the waist
of a sort of Eastern dressing-gown he wore.
"'So you thought you would leave me, did you?' he cried over and over
again as the lash fell faster and faster. 'Well, you won't! Not till I
send you to hell, which I will some day.'
"At last he paused and wiped the perspiration from his brow. He was very
fat and his exertions were evidently telling on him.
"'Why shouldn't I kill you now? I have my pistol within reach of my
hand. It is here on my desk. Ah, you didn't know that, did you?' He gave
a fiendish laugh.
"The woman shuddered but made no attempt to rise.
"I was slowly recovering from the terror which had at first paralysed
me. I realised I must act at once if I meant to save Lady Wilmersley's
life. The desk was behind him.
"Dropping on my hands and knees, I crept cautiously toward it. 'Kill
you, kill you, that is what I ought to do,' he kept repeating.
"I reached the desk. No pistol was to be seen; yet I knew it was there.
As I fumbled among his papers, my hand touched an ancient steel
gauntlet. Some instinct told me that I had found what I sought. But how
to open it was the question. Some agonising moments passed before I at
last accidentally pressed the spring and a pistol lay in my hand.
"He again raised the cord.
"'Stop!' I cried.
"He swung around and as he caught sight of the pistol levelled at his
head, the purple slowly faded from his face.
"Then seemingly reassured at finding that it was only a boy who
confronted him, he took a step forward.
"'Who the devil are you? Get out of here!' he cried.
"'Stay where you are or I fire.'
"'What nonsense is this?' he blustered, but I noticed that his knees
shook and he made no further effort to move.
"'Climb out of the window. There is a car waiting in the road,' I called
to the girl.
"'She shall not go!' he shrieked. The veins stood out on his temples.
"I held him with my eye and saw his coward soul quiver with fear as I
moved deliberately nearer him.
"'Do as I tell you. Run for your life,' I repeated.
"'But you?' gasped Lady Wilmersley.
"'I have the pistol. I am not afraid. I will follow you,' I assured her.
"I knew rather than saw that she picked up a jacket and bag which lay
near the window. With a soft thud she dropped into the night. That is
the last I saw of her. What became of her I do not know." Amy paused a
moment.
"As Lord Wilmersley saw his wife disappear, he gave a cry like a wounded
animal and rushed after her. I fired. He staggered back a few steps,
then turning he ran into the adjoining room. I heard a splash but did
not stop to find out what happened. Almost beside myself with terror, I
fled from the castle. If you have any more questions to ask, you had
better hurry."
She stopped abruptly, trembling from head to foot, and glanced wildly
about her till her eyes rested on her husband. For a long, long moment
she regarded him in silence. She seemed to be gathering herself together
for a supreme effort.
All four men watched her in breathless suspense.
With her eyes still fastened on Cyril she fumbled in the bosom of her
dress, then her hand shot out, and before any one could prevent her, she
jabbed a hypodermic needle deep into her arm.
"What have you done?" cried Cyril, springing forward and wrenching the
needle from her.
A beatific smile spread slowly over her face.
"You are--free," she gasped.
She swayed a little and would have fallen if Cyril had not caught her.
"Quick--a doctor," he cried.
"It is too late," she murmured. "Too late! Forgive me, Cyril.
I--loved--you--so----"