Information Laid by Carson Wildred
The case being one of great local importance, having thrown the
countryside into a whirl of excitement, the inspector himself had
thought it worth while to accompany me on my journey to the mortuary. My
name was familiar to him, he said, with a look of interest and curiosity
in his eyes; and this being so, doubtless he had not been averse to the
chance of keeping watch upon me when I went to gaze upon the body of the
mysteriously murdered man.
If he were interested in me, I was, at least, equally interested in him,
or rather in the opinions which he and brother members of the police
force might have formed.
Reticence was, of course, supposed to be observed by so important a
functionary as the inspector, but I saw that in his round, good-natured
face which caused me to hope he might be amenable to a little
judiciously applied flattery. I therefore extolled the arrangements of
the local authorities, and ended by saying that, as the sight I had just
witnessed had considerably upset me, I should be glad if he would do me
the favour of having something with me at the private bar of the
adjacent inn.
"Well, sir, it's against the rules, you know," he said, smiling
sapiently. "But I certainly consider it an honour to be invited by so
celebrated a gentleman as you, Mr. Stanton. And--if you'll go first,
sir, I'll just look in a little later and find you at the private bar."
I followed the prudent suggestion, and was presently joined by the
inspector, who appeared relieved at finding himself shut in and alone
with me.
We had whisky and soda _ad libitum_, and then I cautiously began:
"The fact is, inspector," I said, "I was particularly anxious for this
chance of a little friendly chat with you. I have certain suspicions
which may be, of course, without a grain of foundation. What I mean to
say is, I have grave fears that the murdered man is the friend I thought
it possible I might identify. Who the murderer may be in any case
remains to be seen, but if the body is that of the person I have in my
mind, I might be able to put a clue into the hands of the police. 'A
word to the wise,' you know, inspector! But first I am hoping for a
little help from you before I run the risk of incriminating one who may
be innocent. Quite between ourselves, allow me to ask what your police
surgeon has had to say regarding his examination?"
The inspector looked dubious, then brightened visibly. "You being the
man you are, Mr. Stanton," he said, sociably, over his third glass of
old Scotch, "I can't see that there'd be anything amiss in my answering
you so far. Our surgeon, Mr. Potter, reported that the corpse was that
of a well-nourished man of somewhere between forty and forty-five years
of age, all the organs healthy, though there were traces of opium in the
system--not, however, enough to have caused death. The head had been
severed from the neck by a skilled anatomist, who knew exactly where to
strike; but it had been separated after death, not before. Also the
mutilation of the left hand had been done in the same way. I suppose
that is roughly the sort of thing you wanted to know?"
"Exactly," I returned, "and every detail you have mentioned goes to
strengthen my suspicions. Being an amateur, I was obliged to judge
principally by size and height. The surgeon's report fits in with my
theory precisely. Still, it does not comprise everything. It would be a
great assistance if I might know whether the police have yet had any
reliable information to work upon."
We had grown very friendly, indeed, almost fraternal now, and the
inspector kindly allowed me to refill his glass. "Do you know who Mr.
Carson Wildred, of the House by the Lock, is, Mr. Stanton?" he enquired,
confidentially.
The question surprised and excited me. Was it possible, I hastily asked
myself, that already the police were on the same track that I was
following? If so, Wildred must have shown himself a less impenetrable
villain than I had had reason to suppose him.
"Yes, I not only know who he is, but have a slight personal acquaintance
with him," I said conservatively.
"Well, sir"--slowly, and with some unction--"Mr. Wildred has been the
only one so far--not counting what you yourself may have to say
presently--who has given any information of value."
"Indeed? _He_ has given information?" I could not eliminate the
astonishment, and perhaps something of the disappointment, from my
voice.
"Yes, sir. As you know Mr. Wildred, you're probably aware that his
country house is close by our town, and close, too, to the spot where
the body was found. He was in yesterday evening, as soon as the matter
had got noised about, and asked to see the body."
"Incredible!" The word sprang to my lips, but I forced it back, and
refrained from uttering it.
"He was unable to identify it, but he spoke to having seen something in
the neighbourhood of the small backwater not far from his house, just
before Christmas, which seemed likely to throw light on the matter. The
surgeon's idea is, as I think I forgot to mention, sir, that the body
had been in the water since Christmas time, or thereabouts, which made
Mr. Wildred's supposition the more feasible.
"It seems that the gentleman had a friend staying with him at the House
by the Lock until a week or so ago--a Mr. Farnham, an American--who has
since sailed for home. They were in the habit of taking a daily walk
together, whenever they were not in town, and a week before Christmas
noticed that close to the little backwater two men were living in a
tent.
"It was a quiet place enough in winter time, and the fellows might have
expected to escape observation, perhaps, but it was the smell of their
smoke which first attracted Mr. Wildred and his friend to the spot, and
as it was his land Mr. Wildred at first was inclined to order the chaps
away. He thought better of it, though, as he seems a good-natured
gentleman, and said it didn't really matter to him whether they stayed
or went. A strict watch was kept on all the locks up at the house,
however, as it occurred to Mr. Wildred the men might have some queer
design. A day or two went by, and the tent was still there, but on
Christmas, when Mr. Wildred and Mr. Farnham were walking out, they heard
the sound of loud voices, and went near enough to see that the two men
were quarrelling outside.
"He says he wishes now he had interfered, but it didn't seem worth while
at the time. That night there was an unpleasant smell of burning, which
came up to the House by the Lock, with the wind from that quarter, and
was noticed by all the servants, as well as Mr. Wildred, who asked the
butler about it at dinner. Next day, when Mr. Wildred sent down to find
out, the tent and the men were both gone."
"I suppose," I said, "that you have already taken means to ascertain
whether there are any remaining traces of such an encampment by the
backwater?"
"Certainly we have. That was done immediately, sir, and the ashes left
by a big wood fire were found close to the water; also four rough stakes
for the tent ropes, and--a coal sack--much of the sort in which the body
up there at the mortuary was sewn. There was something else, too, sir. I
wouldn't mention it thus early in the proceedings to anybody for whom I
hadn't the respect I have for you; but even as it is, I must have your
promise it shan't go any further till it comes out in the proper course
of events."
I gave him my promise, hiding my impatience as best I could.
"Well, Mr. Stanton," the inspector went on, lowering his voice, though
there was nobody within earshot, "in the wood ashes was found what looks
like a most important clue. Nothing less, sir, than the calcined bones
of four human fingers, _cut from the left hand_!"
"By Jove!" I ejaculated involuntarily, springing to my feet, and
beginning to walk nervously up and down. I hardly knew whether to feel
that I had been brought to a dead stop in my operations and suspicions,
or to tell myself that Carson Wildred was the most cold-blooded, and, at
the same time, the cleverest scoundrel who had ever walked the earth.