AT this time Mr. Warden received his first packet of English letters
from the _poste restante_ at Le Puy.
Among others there was one from Inspector Hill, which ran as follows:—
“Scotland Yard,
“Nov. 20th.
“SIR,—
“I think it right you should be informed of certain facts which have
come to my knowledge respecting some jewellery belonging to Miss
Warden, viz., a diamond necklace, earrings, and brooch, which have
already been restored to you through Mr. Varley, and an antique ruby
ring which Miss Warden was supposed to have worn the day she left home,
but which in reality was left by her on her toilette table with the
diamonds which she had worn on the previous night at the Leicestershire
county ball.
“My informant is a Miss Marian Kempe, whom you may possibly remember I
have mentioned once or twice in my reports to you as a relative of the
girl Lucy Williams, at one time Miss Warden’s maid.
“This girl Williams, if you will remember, I stated had a most
disreputable brother who had been convicted of connivance with poachers
to rob his master’s estate. On his release from prison he returned to
his native place, and once more fell into his old dissolute habits.
He appears, on several occasions, to have had interviews with
his sister at your house, and to have threatened her in various ways if
she could not find sufficient money to enable him to reach New York, or
some other large city, where he hoped, by false written characters, to
find some means of support.
“Then occurred Miss Warden’s mysterious disappearance, and the
jewellery lying loose upon the table proved too strong a temptation for
the girl, who at once secreted the diamonds and ring, and when asked by
you for the dress in which to describe Miss Warden in the
advertisements, cleverly included the ring in the description. This
ring she at once handed over to her brother, who immediately started
for Liverpool, intending to wait there for farther supplies which his
sister had promised, if possible, to procure for him.
“The diamonds she appears to have kept back for a time in case they
should be asked for, but in the state of confusion into which your
house was thrown, and Mrs. Warden being too ill to interest herself
much in the matter, they were not missed; in fact, I believe, the jewel
case was not even opened when handed over to Mrs. Warden’s care.
“The girl most probably intended to dispose of the diamonds in London,
and afterwards to have escaped with her brother to New York, when, as
you know, she was seized with small-pox, and died at the house of her
relative, the Miss Marian Kempe whom I have already mentioned.
“This Miss Kempe is, undoubtedly, a woman of good character, holding
extreme religious views, and willing to sacrifice everything in the
discharge of her duty. She was at one time engaged to be married to Tom
Williams, and although the match was broken off, is evidently still
very much attached to the man. About a week since she came to me in
travelling dress, and appeared very much fatigued with a long journey
she said she had just taken across the channel. She also seemed much
agitated, and asked me in an excited tone if I ever read the Gospel,
and if I knew who it was Christ came to seek and to save? ‘See here,
Miss Kempe,’ I said in reply, ‘if you are alluding to publicans and
sinners, I conclude you have something to say to me about that rascal,
Tom Williams. If so, say it at once, please, for I have no time
for sermonizing, I assure you.’ ‘He is no rascal,’ she said,
indignantly, ‘he is a repentant sinner, and will yet, please God, be
numbered among the elect.’ Then she proceeded to tell me a very
extraordinary story. How that Tom Williams arrived at Liverpool,
intending to wait there for Lucy; how he waited and waited, and at
length received, through some secret channel, the news of her death,
and that the diamonds had been restored to you. In his haste to escape,
he took passage in the first steamer he came across, which chanced to
be a trader bound for Boulogne. It is also possible he imagined himself
to be safer across the channel than across the Atlantic. Landing at
Boulogne, he appears to have had some drunken quarrel with an Italian
seaman, who wounded him severely in the thigh with a large clasp
knife. Tom was eventually carried by some passers-by to a quiet
lodging-house on the Quai, and the woman of the house showed him a
great deal of kind attention. A fever set in after this stabbing
affair, and Tom was reduced to a very low ebb. Utterly friendless, in a
foreign country, and at death’s door, his thoughts turned to Miss Kempe
as the one most likely to help him out of his troubles. He consequently
made an appeal to her, couched in very penitent language, and implored
her, by her past affection for him, to help him out of his sin and
misery. This letter he sent under cover to some comrade in London, who
posted it to Miss Kempe’s address. The bait succeeded admirably. The
woman at once locked up her room, disposed of a few valuables she had,
and started for Boulogne. At Charing Cross Station, when about to take
her ticket for the night train, she caught sight of your luggage on the
platform, addressed to Boulogne. She at once concluded you were in
pursuit of Tom, and determined to wait and watch your proceedings. She,
however, crossed the next morning, and hurrying to Tom, informed him of
your approach, and asked what he thought it best to do. ‘This is what
they want, Marian,’ he said, drawing the ring from under his pillow,
‘take it to them, and beg me off.’ This she seemed afraid to do, and
waited about the hotel all day before she could make up her mind to
enter. When at length she summoned courage to do so, she wandered by
chance into your sitting-room, and finding Lord Hardcastle asleep by
the fire, the idea occurred to her of placing the ring on his finger as
he slept, thus avoiding embarrassing questions, and thinking, poor,
foolish woman, that if your property were restored to you, you would no
longer wish to prosecute the rascal. Her object in coming to me was
twofold. First, to assure me of the genuineness of the man’s
repentance, and secondly to find out, if possible, your intention on
the matter.
“Of course nothing would be easier than to bring the man to justice. I
have not the slightest belief in his penitence, and I farther think, if
he should recover, he will induce this infatuated woman to marry him
for the sake of her small savings.
“I must ask your pardon, sir, for this long letter I have
unwillingly troubled you with, and awaiting your orders, beg to remain,
“Your obedient servant,
“JERVIS HILL.”
“Postscript.—Since writing the above I have received a special
communication from Dunwich Police Station, in which, perhaps, sir, you
may feel interested. It relates to the conviction of a gipsy woman and
tramp, for stealing. In her possession was found a long travelling
cloak and thick veil. This she states she found in a plantation in your
grounds about two months ago, when she had there taken refuge from a
thunderstorm which had set in with violence. This thunderstorm, sir, we
must all remember as occurring on the night Miss Warden’s body was
found. This cloak and veil most probably belonged to her and enabled
her to pass unnoticed and unknown through Dunwich streets, and were
most likely thrown on one side by her when wearied and heated by her
long walk she found them heavy and cumbersome. They remain at Dunwich
Station to be claimed and identified, if possible, and may chance to be
of great importance should you wish at any time to recommence the
investigation I had the honour to conduct for you.
“J. HILL.”
To this Lord Hardcastle wrote in reply, at Mr. Warden’s request—
“SIR,—
“Mr. Warden wishes me to thank you for your letter, and to inform you
that he cannot ask you to recommence your former investigation for the
simple reason that Miss Warden has returned to her family and friends,
and will in due time communicate all that is wished to be known.
“As for Tom Williams, Mr. Warden has not the least intention of
prosecuting him provided he gives up his malpractices and leads a
sober, honest life. Please to have him informed of this, and also
strongly counsel Miss Kempe to return to her home and keep her money in
her own hands.
“Your obedient servant,
“HARDCASTLE.”