(_Letter from Mr. Barnes to Mr. Mitchel_)
"MY DEAR MR. MITCHEL:--
"I am leaving town in connection with a matter of considerable
importance, and am thus compelled to abandon a little mystery unsolved.
It is not a very serious case, yet it presents certain unique features
which I fancy would make it attractive to you. I therefore take the
liberty of relating to you the occurrence as it was told to me by the
person who sought my aid, as well as such steps as have been taken by me
towards its elucidation. I must confess, however, at the outset, that
though I have learned some things, the knowledge thus gained appears to
me to complicate the affair, rather than otherwise.
"Two days ago a district messenger boy brought me a summons, on scented
paper. The writer was a woman, who explained that she wished to intrust
to me the investigation of 'a great mystery involving the honesty of one
or two of our society leaders.' I was urged to call without loss of
time, and was at the Madison Avenue mansion within an hour.
"In response to my card, I was shown up to the lady's boudoir, where I
found Mrs. Upton eager to unfold her story, which evidently to her mind
was of paramount consequence. I accepted an invitation to be seated, and
she began at once, assuming a low tone, which was almost a whisper, as
though she imagined that when talking with a detective the utmost
stealth and secrecy were essential.
"'Mr. Barnes' she began, 'this affair is simply awful. I have been
robbed, and the thief is a woman of my own social status. I am horrified
to discover that one of my set could stoop so low as to steal. And then
the thing itself was such a trifle. A diamond stud, worth two hundred
dollars at the outside valuation. What do you think of it?'
"Observe that she had told me little enough before asking for an
opinion. She seemed to be a woman of mediocre mental grasp, though
perhaps as bright as most of the butterflies that flit about the
fashionable ballrooms. I decided to treat her as though she were really
very shrewd, and by a little flattery I hoped perhaps to learn more than
she might otherwise be willing to confide to a detective, a class of
beings whom she too evidently looked upon as necessary evils. I answered
her in about these words:
"'Why, Mrs. Upton' said I,'if you really know the thief, and if, as you
say, she is a society woman and rich, it would seem to be possibly a
case of kleptomania.'
"'Kleptomania?' she exclaimed. 'Kleptomania? Rubbish! That is the
excuse all rich women give for what I call plain stealing. But your idea
is not new to me. I believe in being perfectly just in these matters. I
would not harm a flea, unless he had bitten me; but when he does bite
me, I kill him. There are no half-way measures that will suit me. No,
Mr. Barnes, there is to be no compromise in this case. I will not
condone theft, even if the thief be respectable and rich. And as for
kleptomania, as I've said before, I've looked that up. I find it is a
sort of insanity. Now there is no insanity in this case. Quite the
contrary, I assure you.'
"'You are very keen in your perceptions, Mrs. Upton,' I ventured. 'If we
set aside the kleptomania idea, why, then, do you imagine a rich woman
would steal a thing of such little value?'
"'Spite!' she snapped back without a moment's hesitation. 'Spite, Mr.
Barnes. Let that be your cue. But I must tell you just how this
happened. You see, I hold a somewhat influential position in the society
of "The Daughters of the Revolution," and because I do have some
influence, I am constantly bothered by people who could not become
members rightfully, if their titles were closely scrutinized; so they
undertake to gain their end through me. They grow suddenly attentive,
effusive, gushing. I am their "dearest friend," they think me "so
charming," "so beautiful," "so delightfully cosmopolitan and yet so
exclusive." To hear them talk you would be persuaded that I belong to
both Belgravia and Bohemia in the same moment. But I usually see
through their wiles, and long before they broach the subject I say to
myself, "My dear madame, you want one of our society badges to pin on
your breast; that is what _you_ are after." Then at last comes the note
asking for a "confidential interview," and when I grant it a lot of
documents are shown to me which are meant to uphold the candidate's
claim to membership. But there is always the little flaw, the bar
sinister as it were, which they hope to override through influence;
through my influence, which I may state, they never get.'
"'Ah, then, this lady, whom you suspect of taking your stud, had hoped
to join your society?'
"'I cannot answer that with a single word. I cannot say either yes or
no. You see, there are two women.'
"'Oh, I thought you knew the thief?'
"'So I do. I know it is one of two women. If I knew exactly which, of
course I should not need your help. But you have interrupted my story.
Where was I?'
"She evidently thought me an ass.
"'Oh, yes,' she resumed. 'I was telling you how people bother me to get
into our society. Well, a woman of that kind has been fairly running
after me all winter. She is a Mrs. Merivale. She was born an Ogden, and
some of the Ogden branch are fully entitled to membership. But,
unfortunately for her, she traces back to the brother of the
Revolutionary Ogden, and _her_ ancestor, far from fighting for our
independence, is said to have made quite a tidy fortune by observing a
shrewd neutrality; sometimes crying for England and sometimes the
reverse, according to the company present. Of course, that is not Mrs.
Merivale's fault; it all happened too long ago for her to have had any
influence. But, you see, she is not in the direct line, and we only
recognize the direct line. Heavens! if we did not, who knows where we
would end? No, collateral branches are out of it, so far as our society
is concerned, and I told her so plainly this morning. Of course, you can
see how she might be spiteful about it. It was a great disappointment to
her.'
"'Then you think this Mrs. Merivale took your stud just to annoy you?'
"'Dear me; how stupid you are! Did I not tell you there were two women?
The other is Mrs. Ogden Beaumont. You see she clings to the family name.
She also was an Ogden, and in the line. She is a member, and she had
considerable influence in our society at one time. But she lost it by
just such schemes as she is trying to persuade me into. She manoeuvred
till she had two or three of her friends elected, who have even less
claim than her cousin, Mrs. Merivale. Finally, it got so that if she
were to propose a name, the Membership Committee would be suspicious at
once. Now she wants Mrs. Merivale elected, and according to her little
plan I was to be the cat's paw. The scheming of those two women to get
into my good graces has been a source of amusement to me all winter,
and the climax came this morning, when I told them both very frankly
that I had seen through them from the start. Mrs. Merivale was horribly
disappointed, but she behaved like a lady. I must admit that, though she
said some bitter things, things she will be sorry for, I assure you. But
Mrs. Beaumont just lost all control of her temper. She stormed and
raged, and said vile things, all of which had as little effect on me as
a pea-shooter would against the rock of Gibraltar. So the two women went
off, and in less than five minutes I discovered that my diamond stud had
gone with them.'
"'Gone with them? Of that you are sure?'
"'Of course I am sure. Do you suppose I would make such a charge without
knowing that I am in the right? Come with me, and I will convince you.'
"She led the way into a little anteroom next to her boudoir. It was not
more than eight feet square, and not crowded with furniture. The floor
of hardwood, covered by one large silk rug, afforded little opportunity
to lose anything by dropping it. There were four chairs, a small
reading-lounge, a revolving case filled with novels, a handsome
piano-lamp, and a little tea-table with all requisites for making tea.
"'This is my little den where I retire when I am wearied by people and
things,' continued Mrs. Upton. 'Here I am surrounded by my friends, the
people that our best writers have created. I love my books, and I get as
fond of the characters as though they were all living; more, I think,
because I do not come into actual contact with them. I can admire the
nice people, and the mean ones may be as mean as they like without
affecting me. Well, I was lying here reading when these women were
announced, and as I was too comfortable to get up and dress, I thought I
would have them up and excuse my toilet on the plea of indisposition.
"Indisposed" is always a useful word; indisposed to be bothered by the
visitors, you know,--the nicest of all the white lies. So they came up
here and sat around my lounge and began to bring their all-winter's
scheme to a climax. After awhile, when I saw that the time had arrived
to disillusionize these women, I dismissed my headache and got up to
have a frank talk with them. As I arose my diamond stud dropped from the
collar of my waist which I had opened, and I picked it up and placed it
on that little tea-table. Then we had our little scene. It was as good
as a play. I kept my temper, as a hostess always must, but my guests
were not so self-possessed, and, as I have said, Mrs. Merivale said a
few things, and Mrs. Beaumont a great many more, that would not sound
pretty coming out of a phonograph. Then they left, and I walked to my
window and saw them jump into their carriage, Mrs. Beaumont slamming the
door herself with a bang that must have weakened the hinges. That is
all, except that I immediately remembered my stud and came here for it.
It was gone.'
"'I suppose, of course, you have searched this room, under the
possibility of its having dropped to the floor?' I inquired.
"'Yes, indeed,' she answered. 'I had my own maid up, and superintended
the search myself. But I took the precaution to see that nothing should
be removed from the room. I had the door closed, and then we took up the
rug carefully and shook it. Nothing fell from it, and the stud was not
on the floor or elsewhere. You can see yourself that it cannot be a
difficult matter to search this little room thoroughly. It has been done
without success, but if you like you may search again. I assure you that
nothing has been taken from the room. If one of those two women has not
taken that stud, you may count me an idiot.'
"'You have admitted that your maid was in this room, and that brings
another possibility into the case,' I said.
"'You mean that Janet might have taken it? Not at all a possibility. In
the first place she is devoted to me, as my people adopted her when she
was but a child, and she has been personally in my service for more than
ten years. No, Janet would not do such a thing, but even if she would,
she could not have done so. I took precautions.'
"'What precautions?' I asked.
"'Why, she would need one hand to pick it up, and I not only kept both
of her hands occupied, but I did not permit her to stoop to the floor.'
"'How could you keep her hands always occupied?' said I.
"'Why, most of the time she was handling the broom, and that requires
two hands. It was only when she shook the rug and moved the sofa that
her hands were otherwise occupied. I myself did the searching, and I am
absolutely certain that Janet had not the least opportunity to pick up
so much as a pin.'
"'And you think that one of your friends would do what you would not
attribute to your maid?'
"'Assuredly. In the first place these women are not friends of mine;
after to-day, I should rather say enemies. Moreover, I would trust Janet
as I would few of my real friends. You see I have not tested all my
friends, and I have tested Janet. She has had temptation enough and
opportunity enough to rob me a thousand times over, were she so
disposed. No, I tell you one of those two women has that diamond stud.'
"'Would you mind saying which one you are the more inclined to suspect?'
I asked.
"'Why, that is a hard question. Sometimes I think one, and then again
the other. Mrs. Beaumont showed so much venom that I can see more reason
to suspect her if I decide from motive alone. It is really her scheme to
get her cousin into the society. It is she who feels most thwarted,
because of her lost influence. On the other hand, I cannot remember
seeing her within reach of the tea-table, while Mrs. Merivale was near
it all the time. So Mrs. Merivale had the opportunity, while the
incentive through temper was with Mrs. Beaumont.'
"This was the little problem which I was asked to solve, and I think
that you will comprehend my meaning when I say that it was intricate
because of its very simplicity. Let me enumerate the facts so as to get
a sort of bird's-eye view of the situation.
"First, we have two women present when the missing property is placed on
a table accessible to at least one, and possibly to both. Second, a
small room, with floor devoid of cracks, and covered by a rug easily
moved and shaken. Third, only a few pieces of simple furniture in the
room. Fourth, the visitors depart, and the property is missed. Fifth, a
search without discovery, a third possible thief entering upon the
scene.
"We have apparently but four solutions; either one of the three women
took the stud, or else the alleged loser lies. I omit the possibility
that the stud was merely mislaid or accidentally out of sight in the
room; this, because I personally conducted a search, which was so
systematic as to make it absolutely assured that the stud was not in the
room when I looked for it.
"Of the four theories, then, I preferred first to consider that one
which the mistress declared to be ridiculous. I insisted upon seeing and
catechising the maid Janet, thereby deepening madame's doubts as to my
ability. After talking with this girl for half an hour, I felt so
convinced of her integrity that I mentally eliminated her from the case.
Next in order we had the two visitors, one of whom, according to Mrs.
Upton, had a motive while the other had the opportunity. The first
postulate always is that the guilty person must have both opportunity
and motive, unless indeed we are dealing with an insane person, when
motive may be eliminated, though frequently the insane are actuated by
quite intelligible motives. Thus we seemed obliged either to discover
that Mrs. Beaumont had an opportunity to obtain possession of the stud,
or else that Mrs. Merivale had a motive, except that the latter may have
simply acted upon the opportunity without motive, in which case we would
be dealing with the kleptomaniac. After due consideration I decided to
call separately upon these two ladies, and went to Mrs. Merivale first.
"She courteously received me, and as soon as I met her I was pleasantly
impressed by her personality. After five minutes' talk I was certain
that if she took the stud, it was, after all, the act of a kleptomaniac,
and that no petty motive of revenge would have tempted this high-born,
beautiful gentlewoman to descend to theft. She asked me the object of my
call, and looked at me so frankly that there was no chance for
subterfuge. Consequently I openly declared the purpose of my visit.
"'Madame,' said I, 'I regret very much the embarrassing nature of my
errand. But you visited Mrs. Upton this morning, I believe?'
"'I did, in company with my cousin, Mrs. Beaumont.'
"'Did you happen to notice that while you were there she placed a
diamond stud on the tea-table?'
"'Yes; I remember the circumstance perfectly, because of the impression
which it made upon me.'
"'Would you mind telling me what that impression was?'
"'Why, simply that it was very discourteous, or at least very untidy.
When we were shown to her room, she was lying down, with the collar of
her waist open. After a while she arose, the stud dropped to the floor,
and she picked it up and placed it on the little tea-table. I thought
that it would have shown a greater sense of propriety if she had
replaced it and fastened her collar.'
"'Do you recall whether the stud was still on the table when you left?'
"'Why, no! How should I? I paid no further attention to it whatever.'
Then as a new idea entered her mind, her eyes flashed, and the color
rose in her cheeks as she said to me sharply:
"'You cannot mean that Mrs. Upton dares to intimate----'
"'She intimated nothing,' I hastened to interject. 'Immediately after
your departure the stud was missed, and the most thorough search has
failed to discover it. In these circumstances Mrs. Upton sought my aid,
and I drew from her the details of her morning's experiences.'
"'I imagine you had little difficulty in drawing forth the details.' She
said this with a sneer, which made me understand how this woman could
say unpleasant things without forgetting her dignity.
"'I assure you,' I hastened to add, 'Mrs. Upton knows nothing of my
visit here. I have on my own responsibility called with the idea that if
I could obtain an account of your visit from yourself, there might be
some slight difference in the two stories which would show me how to
proceed.'
"'I know no more than I have told you, and as I am far from being
interested in Mrs. Upton's lost baubles, I must beg you to excuse me
from further discussion of the subject.'
"I was dismissed. It was courteously done, but done nevertheless. I
could do nothing but take leave. Still I made one venture,--
"'I must ask your pardon for intruding, but, as I have said, I thought
you might be able to supply a missing detail. For example, do you recall
whether Mrs. Upton's maid entered the room while you were there?'
"'I am sorry, Mr. Barnes,' said she in courteous but firm tones, 'but I
must decline to pursue this conversation further.'
"That was all. I had seen one of the suspected persons, and learned
nothing. Still an interview of this character is bound to leave an
impression, and in this case the impression was very strongly in favor
of Mrs. Merivale. Without irrefutable proof I could not believe that
this dignified, frank woman had stolen the stud. For the time at least I
also dismissed all theories of kleptomania.
"Thus my attention was directed toward the woman who had a motive, but
was reported to have lacked the opportunity. I called at once upon Mrs.
Beaumont.
"This lady is of quite a different mould from her cousin. Older by at
least ten years, she is still handsome, her beauty being, however,
physical in character only. She lacks the self-poise and dignity which
renders Mrs. Merivale's beauty so much more attractive. Moreover, she is
voluble, where the other is reserved, a trait which I welcomed as
affording me more opportunity to gain some possible clue to truth.
"She came into her reception-room where I awaited her, evidently brimful
of curiosity. I had sent in my card, and it seems she had heard of me in
connection with that somewhat famous wager of yours.
"'Mr. Barnes, the detective, I believe,' she said as she entered.
"'At your service, Madame,' I replied. 'May I have a few minutes'
conversation with you upon a trifling, yet quite puzzling matter?'
"'Why, certainly,' said she, 'but don't keep me in suspense. I am
burning with curiosity to know why a detective should call on me.'
"I thought that this woman might be caught by a sudden attack, and made
the venture.
"'A diamond stud was stolen from Mrs. Upton this morning, while you were
there!' I said, watching her closely. She did not flinch, but seemed
honestly not to comprehend the suggestiveness of my words.
"'I do not understand you,' said she.
"'It is not a serious matter, Madame, but Mrs. Upton placed a diamond
stud on her tea-table while you and Mrs. Merivale were with her, and
missed it a moment after you had left. Therefore----'
"This was plain enough, and she grasped the truth at a flash. In an
instant she gave me evidence of that temper against which I had been
warned by Mrs. Upton.
"'You dare to insinuate that I took her miserable little stud? I wish
my husband were at home; I would have you horsewhipped. No, I wouldn't
either. It is not you who suspect me, it is that self-sufficient
she-devil, Mrs. Upton. So she accuses me of being a thief, does she?
Well, mark me well, Mr. Detective, I shall make her pay dearly for
that insult. I have stood enough of that woman's impertinent
superciliousness. This is going too far. If she has a shadow of proof
against me, she can meet me in open court. Do you understand me? Go back
and tell Mrs. Upton, with my compliments, that she must either prove
that I stole her stud, or else I will sue her for libel. I'll let her
see with whom she is fooling.'
"'Really, Mrs. Beaumont,' said I as soon as I found a chance to speak,
'you have rather gotten ahead of my intentions. I assure you that no
accusation has been made against you.'
"'Indeed!' said she, scornfully uplifting her nose. 'And pray, then, why
have you called? Certainly Mrs. Upton cannot imagine that I would be
interested in the petty thieving that goes on in her house.'
"'The point is just this, Madame,' said I. 'The stud was placed on a
tea-table while you were present. Mrs. Merivale has told me that she
remembers this distinctly. When you had left, the stud was missed, and
the most thorough search has been made, not once but twice, without
finding it. Indeed, there is no place in the room where it could have
been lost. According to the story of Mrs. Upton, the affair, trifling as
it is, is a really puzzling problem. But I ventured to hope that either
Mrs. Merivale or yourself might remember some incident which might give
me a clue; such, for example, as the entrance of one of the house
servants.'
"'That is nothing but a smooth story invented by yourself,' said she,
'in order to pacify my righteous indignation. But you cannot deceive me.
Mrs. Upton has told you that I stole her stud, and you have come here to
endeavor to prove it.'
"'In justice to Mrs. Upton,' said I, 'I must state, on the contrary,
that she very distinctly told me that you could have had no opportunity
to take the stud, as you were not at any time near enough to the
tea-table to touch it.'
"'If she told you that, it shows how little observation she has. I don't
at all object to admitting that I had the thing in my hand.'
"'You had it in your hand!' I exclaimed, surprised.
"'Yes. It happened in this way, Mrs. Upton received us with her collar
unbuttoned, in the most slovenly fashion. After a while she got up from
the lounge, where she was feigning a headache because too lazy to
arrange her toilet before receiving guests. It was then that the stud
fell to the floor. She picked it up and placed it on the table. When we
were leaving she led the way out of the room, Mrs. Merivale following,
and I leaving the room last. As I passed, I thoughtlessly picked up the
stud and looked at it. I then put it back. I have a vague idea that it
rolled off and fell to the floor, but I can't be sure.'
"'That is singular,' said I; 'for if it fell to the floor it should have
been found.'
"'Undoubtedly. Very likely it has been found; I should say, by one of
the servants. You will never induce me to believe that Mrs. Upton took
the trouble to search for that stud without help. She is too lazy by
far.'
"I thought it best to keep discreetly silent, preferring not to mention
the fact that the maid had been in the room. It being evident to my mind
that this woman would adhere to this story, true or false, I deemed it
prudent to at least appear to believe her.
"'I am much indebted to you, Madame,' said I. 'You see that, after all,
my visit has led me to the truth, for we know that the stud probably
fell to the floor, and is therefore either still in the room, or else,
as you suggest, one of the servants may have picked it up.'
"'All that is very well, Mr. Barnes,' said she; 'and you are very clever
in shielding Mrs. Upton. But, as I said before, you do not deceive me.
This matter is more serious than you imagine. That woman has worked
systematically for two years to supplant me in our society, "The
Daughters of the Revolution." Just now she fancies that she has
triumphed over me; but in spite of that, she is jealous of my influence
with the members, and would go to any extreme to injure me socially. She
well knows that I did not take her stud, but she is quite willing to
allow this suspicion to drift out to the world, knowing that it would be
difficult to prove my innocence of a charge so vaguely circulated, and
that there might be some who would turn aside from me because of this
shadow. Now this I shall not permit. If she does not prove her charge, I
shall certainly sue her for libel, and have the whole matter cleared up
in the open tribunal of the law. You may tell her this from me. There
shall be no half-way measures. One thing more before you go. I must call
my maid.'
"She rang a bell, and a moment later her maid responded, and at her
mistress's orders went upstairs and brought down a jewel-case of large
size. This, Mrs. Beaumont opened, and taking out the contents strewed
them on the table.
"'There, do you see these?' said she with pride in her voice. 'These are
my jewels. Mrs. Upton perhaps is richer than I am, but I defy her to
show such jewelry as I have. Some of these things are two hundred years
old. Here is a necklace which one of my ancestors wore at the first
inauguration of Washington. Here is another which my grandmother wore at
the coronation of Queen Victoria. Here is an emerald ring, presented to
my own mother by Napoleon. And you see what the others are. Nearly all
have some history which adds to their intrinsic value. And with these in
my possession, to think that that woman would accuse me of stealing a
common little diamond stud! It makes my blood boil. But I have told you
what course I shall pursue, and you may warn Mrs. Upton.'
"This ended the interview. I had gained some information at least, for I
had learned that Mrs. Beaumont did have the opportunity to take the
stud, but, on the other hand, the motive for such an act seemed less
tenable. She certainly would not take it for its value, and in view of
her own magnificent array of jewels, she would be less likely to imagine
that she was giving Mrs. Upton any great annoyance by the petty theft.
Then, too, her assertion that Mrs. Upton is systematically seeking to
undermine her influence in their society connections, affords a possible
reason for our last theory, that Mrs. Upton lied in declaring that the
stud had been stolen. Thus the matter rests, as I have had no
opportunity to have another interview with Mrs. Upton. If you call on
her, I am sure that you will be well received because of the fact that
she knows all about your outwitting me in that wager matter. Trusting
that you may care to give this little affair some of your time and
attention, and with the belief that you will certainly unravel the
tangle if you do, I am
"Very sincerely yours,
"JACK BARNES."
(_Letter from Mr. Mitchel to Mr. Barnes_)
"MY DEAR BARNES:--
"I read your letter with considerable interest. As you very truly say,
the case was intricate because of its simplicity. As you had followed up
three theories with apparently the result that you were at least
tentatively satisfied that neither held the key to the mystery, it
seemed proper to take up the affair where you had left it, and to
endeavor to learn whether or not Mrs. Upton had lied to you, and still
had the stud in her own possession. For this and other reasons I decided
to adopt your suggestion and call upon Mrs. Upton. I did so, and, as you
surmised, was cordially received. She met me first in her parlor, and I
at once stated to her the object of my visit.
"'Mrs. Upton,' said I, 'you are perhaps aware that I have a friendly
regard for Mr. Barnes, the detective, ever since the affair of my little
wager. I have received a letter from him this morning in which he states
that an important criminal case compels him suddenly to leave the city;
he has also given me a succinct statement of the few facts in relation
to the loss of your stud, and has asked me to interest myself in the
solution of this little mystery."
"'And you mean to do it?' she exclaimed, impulsively. 'Why, how
delightful! Of course you will find out all about it. To think that you,
Mr. Mitchel, the man who outwitted Mr. Barnes, will take up my case! I
am honored, I assure you.'
"I give you her exact words, though her flattery was somewhat
embarrassing. In the course of the conversation she referred to you in
terms which I repeat, though I do not at all share her poor estimate of
your ability.
"'Of course,' said I, 'I am not a detective, yet I do take a trifling
interest in these little problems, I find it mentally exhilarating to
measure minds, as it were, with these wrong-doers. Thus far I have
generally been successful, which, however, only proves my claim that
those who stoop to crime are not really ever sound mentally, and
consequently, either from too little or from too much care, some slight
detail is overlooked, which, once comprehended by the investigator,
leads unerringly to the criminal.'
"'Ah, how delightfully you talk!' said she. 'I am so glad you have taken
this up, for, do you know, I rather thought Mr. Barnes a little dull,
not to say stupid. Why, he actually suggested that my maid took the
stud!'
"Here, I thought, was an opportune moment to follow the method which you
employed with Mrs. Beaumont, and by a sudden, unexpected accusation, to
endeavor to surprise the truth from her. I said:
"'Oh, Mr. Barnes has given up that idea now, and has almost adopted one
even more startling. He thinks that perhaps you took the stud yourself."
"I had expected from your estimate of this woman's character, which you
recall was not very flattering to her mental calibre, that if indeed it
were true that she had concocted this little scheme to injure a society
rival, thus taken unawares she would feign great indignation. On the
contrary, she laughed so heartily, and spoke of your theory so lightly
that I was practically convinced that again we were on the wrong scent.
All she said by way of comment was:
"'Well, if that is the result of his investigation, he is a bigger fool
than I took him to be. It is certain, therefore, that he will never
discover the truth, and so I am doubly glad that he has gone out of
town, and that you have consented to take his place.'
"'You must not so quickly condemn Mr. Barnes,' said I, feeling bound to
defend you. 'He has really worked in this matter quite systematically,
and this final theory has been reached by exclusion.'
"'I do not understand,' said she, puzzled.
"'Well, first he accepted your assurance that the maid Janet was not
guilty because she had no opportunity. Then he called upon Mrs.
Merivale, and from his interview with her judged that she too must be
innocent, a view in which I must concur after reading his report of what
passed. Then he called upon Mrs. Beaumont, and though she admitted, what
you did not yourself observe, that she actually took the stud in her
hand when leaving the room, yet it seems equally certain that she
replaced it, as she says she did. Thus, if the stud is really not in the
room, there apparently could be no other explanation than that you are
misleading us.'
"'Us? Does that mean that you too held the view that I merely pretend
that the stud was lost?'
"'My dear Madame,' I replied: 'such an idea, of course, seems
preposterous, but a detective cannot set aside any theory without
thorough investigation. In an analysis of this character the personal
equation must have a secondary place. In this affair it could not help
us at all. Perhaps you will not understand my meaning. But do you not
see that it is just as inconceivable that either of the other ladies
should have stolen this stud of yours, as it is to believe that you
merely pretend that it is lost? From the view-point of the impartial
investigator there can be no choice between these propositions.'
"'I must say that you are not very flattering,' said she, troubled, as
she realized that social position could not protect her from suspicion
any more than it would the other women. 'Why, I have my enmities, of
course, and I frankly admit that I do not love either Mrs. Merivale or
Mrs. Beaumont, especially not the latter. Still, to concoct such a
scandalous calumny against an innocent woman would be awful. I could not
be so low as that.'
"'I believe you,' said I, and I did. 'But, on the other hand, would it
not be equally low for these ladies, your social equals, to stoop to
petty theft?'
"'I suppose you are right,' said she reluctantly; 'but how did the stud
disappear? Don't you see that I had strong evidence against one of them?
It was there when they were in the room, and gone when they had left.
There must be some explanation of that. What can it be?'
"'Of course,' said I, 'there must be, and there is, an explanation. The
most plausible seems to be the one suggested by Mrs. Beaumont, that it
rolled from the table to the floor when she put it back. It seems
incredible that two searches have failed to discover it, yet it is a
small object, and may be lying now in some crevice which you all have
over-looked.'
"'I think not,' said she, shaking her head dubiously. 'Suppose you come
up and see for yourself. You won't find any crevices. Why, we have even
run wires along the line where the seat and back of the lounge are
joined. No, the stud is not in that room.'
"And now, friend Barnes, we come to the finale, for I may as well tell
you at once that I have found the stud,--that, indeed, as soon as I
looked into the room, I suspected that it was within those four walls,
in a place where no one had thought of looking, though, to mystify you a
little more, I may say that it may not have been in the room when you
made your search.
"I inclose with this a sciagraph, that is to say, a picture taken with
the X-ray. You will observe that the skeleton of a small animal is
discernible surrounded by a faint outline which suggests the form of a
dog. If you understand something of anatomy, look where the stomach of
the dog should be, and you will notice a dark spot. This is the shadow
of the missing stud, which, as Mrs. Beaumont suggested, must have
dropped to the floor. There it evidently attracted the attention of Mrs.
Upton's pet dog, Fidele, who took it into his mouth, with the result
shown in the sciagraph. You will ask how I guessed this at once? In the
first place I had perfect confidence in the thoroughness of your search,
so when I saw the dog in the room, lying on a silk pillow, two pertinent
facts were prominent at once. First, the dog may not have been in the
room when you examined the place, and consequently you could not have
counted him in as a possible place of search. Secondly, he might easily
have been present when the two ladies called, and this was probable
since his mistress was lying down and the dog's sleeping-pillow was near
the head of the lounge. If you noted this, you may not have comprehended
its use; perhaps you took it for one which had slipped from the lounge.
At all events, I do not consider that you have been at all at fault. I
had better luck than you, that is all.
"Very sincerely yours,
"ROBERT LEROY MITCHEL.
"P. S.--I do not myself believe in luck. I must also state that Mrs.
Upton has sent letters of apology to the other ladies. The dog, Fidele,
is to undergo an operation to-morrow. One of our most skilful surgeons
has agreed to regain the stud and preserve the life of the pet. A
laparotomy, I believe they, call it.--R. L. M."