Collected works of j s f.., p.409
Collected Works of J S Fletcher, page 409
“I believe you got him to the hospital within that time?” asked the Coroner.
“Yes — within twenty-five minutes of my first seeing him,” said the witness. “I went with the ambulance. The man died very soon after admission, just as I knew he would. No medical power on earth could have saved him!”
The Coroner glanced at the little knot of professional men in the rear of the witness-box and seemed to be debating within himself as to whether he wanted to ask Dr. Mirandolet any more questions. Eventually he turned again to him.
“What your evidence amounts to, Dr. Mirandolet, is this,” he said. “You were called to the man and you saw at once that you yourself could do nothing for him, so you got him away to the hospital as quickly as you possibly could. Just so! — now, why did you think you could do nothing for him?”
“I will tell you — in plain words,” answered Dr. Mirandolet. “Because I did not recognize or understand one single symptom that I saw! Because, frankly, I knew very well that I did not know what was the matter! And so — I hurried him to people who ought to know more than I do and are reputedly cleverer than I am. In short — I recognized that I was in the presence of something — something! — utterly beyond my skill and comprehension!”
“Let me ask you one or two further questions,” said the Coroner. “Have you formed any opinion of your own as to the cause of this man’s death?”
“Yes!” agreed the witness, unhesitatingly. “I have! I believe him to have been poisoned — in a most subtle and cunning fashion. And” — here Dr. Mirandolet cast a side-glance at the knot of men behind him— “I shall be intensely surprised if that opinion is not corroborated. But — I shall be ten thousand times more surprised if there is any expert in Europe who can say what that poison was!”
“You think it was a secret poison?” suggested the Coroner.
“Secret!” exclaimed Dr. Mirandolet. “Aye — secret is the word. Secret — yes! And — sure!”
“Is there anything else you can tell us?” asked the Coroner.
“Only this,” replied the witness, after a pause. “It may be material. As I bent over this man as he lay there on the pavement I detected a certain curious aromatic odour about his clothes. It was strong at first; it gradually wore off. But I directed the attention of the policeman and Mr. Gardiner to it; it was still hanging about him, very faintly, when we got him to the hospital: I drew attention to it there.”
“It evidently struck you — that curious odour?” said the Coroner.
“Yes,” answered Dr. Mirandolet. “It did. It reminded me of the East — I have lived in the East — India, Burmah, China. It seemed to me that this man had got hold of some Eastern scent, and possibly spilt some on his clothes. The matter is worth noting. Because — I have heard — I cannot say I have known — of men being poisoned in inhalation.”
The Coroner made no remark — it was very evident from his manner that he considered Dr. Mirandolet’s evidence somewhat mystifying. And Dr. Mirandolet stepped down — and in response to the official invitation Dr. John Sperling-Lawson walked into the vacated witness-box.
“One of the greatest authorities on poisons living,” whispered Lauriston to Purdie, while Dr. Sperling-Lawson was taking the oath and answering the formal questions. “He’s principal pathologist at that hospital they’re talking about, and he constantly figures in cases of this sort. He’s employed by the Home Office too — it was he who gave such important evidence in that Barnsbury murder case not so long since — don’t you remember it?”
Purdie did remember, and he looked at the famous expert with great interest. There was, however, nothing at all remarkable about Dr. Sperling-Lawson’s appearance — he was a quiet, self-possessed, plain-faced gentleman who might have been a barrister or a banker for all that any one could tell to the contrary. He gave his evidence in a matter-of-fact tone — strongly in contrast to Dr. Mirandolet’s somewhat excited answers — but Purdie noticed that the people in court listened eagerly for every word.
He happened to be at the hospital, said Dr. Sperling-Lawson, when the man Parslett was brought in, and he saw him die. He fully agreed with Dr. Mirandolet that it was impossible to do anything to save the man’s life when he was brought to the hospital, and he was quite prepared to say that the impossibility had existed from the moment in which Gardiner had seen Parslett collapse. In other words, when Parslett did collapse, death was on him.
“And — the cause of death?” asked the Coroner.
“Heart failure,” replied the witness.
“Resulting from — what?” continued the Coroner.
Dr. Sperling-Lawson hesitated a moment — amidst a deep silence.
“I cannot answer that question,” he said at last. “I can only offer an opinion. I believe — in fact, I am sure! — the man was poisoned. I am convinced he was poisoned. But I am forced to admit that I do not know what poison was used, and that after a most careful search I have not yet been able to come across any trace or sign of any poison known to me. All the same, I am sure he died from the effects of poison, but what it was, or how administered, frankly, I do not know!”
“You made a post-mortem examination?” asked the Coroner.
“Yes,” replied the specialist, “in company with Dr. Seracold. The deceased was a thoroughly healthy, well-nourished man. There was not a trace of disease in any of the organs — he was evidently a temperate man, and likely to live to over the seventy years’ period. And, as I have said, there was not a trace of poison. That is, not a trace of any poison known to me.”
“I want to ask you a particularly important question,” said the Coroner. “Are there poisons, the nature of which you are unacquainted with?”
“Yes!” answered the specialist frankly. “There are. But — I should not expect to hear of their use in London.”
“Is there any European expert who might throw some light on this case?” asked the Coroner.
“Yes,” said Dr. Sperling-Lawson. “One man — Professor Gagnard, of Paris. As a matter of fact, I have already sent certain portions of certain organs to him — by a special messenger. If he cannot trace this poison, then no European nor American specialist can. I am sure of this — the secret is an Eastern one.”
“Gentlemen,” said the Coroner, “we will adjourn for a week. By that time there may be a report from Paris.”
The crowd surged out into the damp November morning, eagerly discussing the evidence just given. Purdie, Lauriston, and Guyler, all equally mystified, followed, already beginning to speculate and to theorize. Suddenly Melky Rubinstein hurried up to them, waving a note.
“There was a fellow waiting outside with this from Zillah,” said Melky. “She’d heard you were all here, and she knew I was. We’re to go there at once — she’s found some letters to her grandfather from that man Purvis! Come on! — it’s another step forward!”
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
MR. KILLICK GOES BACK
AYSCOUGH AND THE man from New Scotland Yard came out of the court at that moment in close and serious conversation: Melky Rubinstein left the other three, and hurried to the two detectives with his news; together, the six men set off for Praed Street. And Purdie, who by this time was developing as much excited interest as his temperament and business habits permitted, buttonholed the Scotland Yard man and walked alongside him.
“What’s your professional opinion about what we’ve just heard in there?” he asked. “Between ourselves, of course.”
The detective, who had already had several long conversations with Purdie at headquarters during the previous afternoon and evening, and knew him for a well-to-do young gentleman who was anxious to clear his friend Lauriston of all suspicion, shook his head. He was a quiet, sagacious, middle-aged man who evidently thought deeply about whatever he had in hand.
“It’s difficult to say, Mr. Purdie,” he answered. “I’ve no doubt that when we get to the bottom of this case it’ll turn out to be a very simple one — but the thing is to get to the bottom. The ways are complicated, sir — uncommonly so! At present we’re in a maze — seeking the right path.”
“Do you think that this Parslett affair has anything to do with the Multenius affair?” asked Purdie.
“Yes — undoubtedly!” answered the detective. “There’s no doubt whatever in my own mind that the man who poisoned Parslett is the man who caused the old pawnbroker’s death — none! I figure it in this way. Parslett somehow, caught a glimpse of that man leaving Multenius’s shop — by the side-door, no doubt — and knew him — knew him very well, mind you! When Parslett heard of what had happened in Multenius’s back-parlour, he kept his knowledge to himself, and went and blackmailed the man. The man gave him that fifty pounds in gold to keep his tongue quiet — no doubt arranging to give him more, later on — and at the same time he cleverly poisoned him. That’s my theory, Mr. Purdie.”
“Then — the only question now is — who’s the man?” suggested Purdie.
“That’s it, sir — who’s the man?” agreed the detective. “One thing’s quite certain — if my theory’s correct. He’s a clever man — and an expert in the use of poisons.”
Purdie walked on a minute or two in silence, thinking.
“It’s no use beating about the bush,” he said at last. “Do you suspect Mr. Levendale — after all you’ve collected in information — and after what I told you about what his butler saw — that bottle and phial?”
“I think that Levendale’s in it,” replied the detective, cautiously. “I’m sure he’s in it — in some fashion. Our people are making no end of enquiries about him this morning, in various quarters — there’s half-a-dozen of our best men at work in the City and the West End, Mr. Purdie. He’s got to be found! So, too, has this man Stephen Purvis — whoever he is. We must find him, too.”
“Perhaps these letters that Melky Rubinstein speaks of may throw some light on that,” said Purdie. “There must be some way of tracing him, somewhere.”
They were at the pawnshop by that time, and all six trooped in at the side-entrance. Old Daniel Multenius, unconscious of all the fuss and bother which his death had caused, was to be quietly interred that afternoon, and Zillah and Melky were already in their mourning garments. But Zillah had lost none of her business habits and instincts, and while the faithful Mrs. Goldmark attended to the funeral guests in the upstairs regions, she herself was waiting in the back-parlour for these other visitors. On the table before her, evidently placed there for inspection, lay three objects to which she at once drew attention — one, an old-fashioned, double-breasted fancy waistcoat, evidently of considerable age, and much worn, the others, two letters written on foreign notepaper.
“It never occurred to me,” said Zillah, plunging into business at once, “at least, until an hour or two ago, to examine the clothes my grandfather was wearing at the time of his death. As a matter of fact he’d been wearing the same clothes for months. I’ve been through all his pockets. There was nothing of importance — except these letters. I found those in a pocket in the inside of that waistcoat — there! Read them.”
The men bent over the unfolded letters, and Ayscough read them aloud.
“MACPHERSON’S HOTEL, CAPE TOWN,
“September 17th, 1912.
“Dear Sir, — I have sent the little article about which I have already written you and Mr. L. fully, to your address by ordinary registered post. Better put it in your bank till I arrive — shall write you later about date of my arrival. Faithfully yours,
“Stephen Purvis.”
“That,” remarked Ayscough, glancing at the rest, “clearly refers to whatever it was that Mr. Multenius took from his bank on the morning of his death. It also refers to Mr. Levendale — without doubt.”
He drew the other letter to him and read it out.
“CAPE TOWN,
“October 10th, 1912.
“Dear Sir, — Just a line to say I leave here by s.s. Golconda in a day or two — this precedes me by today’s mail. I hope to be in England November 15th — due then, anyway — and shall call on you immediately on arrival. Better arrange to have Mr. S. L. to meet you and me at once. Faithfully,
“Stephen Purvis.”
“November 15th?” remarked Ayscough. “Mr. Multenius died on November 19th. So — if Purvis did reach here on the 15th he’d probably been about this quarter before the 19th. We know he was at Mrs. Goldmark’s restaurant on the 18th, anyway! All right, Miss Wildrose — we’ll take these letters with us.”
Lauriston stopped behind when the rest of the men went out — to exchange a few words alone with Zillah. When he went into the street, all had gone except Purdie, who was talking with Melky at the entrance to the side-alley.
“That’s the sure tip at present, mister,” Melky was saying. “Get that done — clear that up. Mr. Lauriston,” he went on, “you do what your friend says — we’re sorting things out piece by piece.”
Purdie took Lauriston’s arm and led him away.
“What Melky says is — go and find out what Mr. Killick can prove,” he said. “Best thing to do, too, Andie, for us. Now that these detectives are fairly on the hunt, and are in possession of a whole multitude of queer details and facts, we’ll just do our bit of business — which is to clear you entirely. There’s more reasons than one why we should do that, my man!”
“What’re you talking about, John?” demanded Lauriston. “You’ve some idea in that head of yours!”
“The idea that you and that girl are in love with each other!” said Purdie with a sly look.
“I’ll not deny that!” asserted Lauriston, with an ingenuous blush. “We are!”
“Well, you can’t ask any girl to marry you, man, while there’s the least bit of suspicion hanging over you that you’d a hand in her grandfather’s death!” remarked Purdie sapiently. “So we’ll just eat a bit of lunch together, and then get a taxi-cab and drive out to find this old gentleman that gave your mother the rings. Come on to the hotel.”
“You’re spending a fine lot of money over me, John!” exclaimed Lauriston.
“Put it down that I’m a selfish chap that’s got interested, and is following his own pleasure!” said Purdie. “Man alive! — I was never mixed up in a detective case before — it beats hunting for animals, this hunting for men!”
By a diligent search in directories and reference books early that morning, Purdie and Lauriston had managed to trace Mr. Edward Killick, who, having been at one time a well-known solicitor in the City, had followed the practice of successful men and retired to enjoy the fruit of his labours in a nice little retreat in the country. Mr. Killick had selected the delightful old-world village of Stanmore as the scene of his retirement, and there, in a picturesque old house, set in the midst of fine trees and carefully trimmed lawns, Purdie and Lauriston found him — a hale and hearty old gentleman, still on the right side of seventy, who rose from his easy chair in a well-stocked library to look in astonishment from the two cards which his servant had carried to him at the persons and faces of their presenters.
“God bless my soul!” he exclaimed. “Are you two young fellows the sons of old friends of mine at Peebles?”
“We are, sir,” answered Purdie. “This is Andrew Lauriston, and I am John Purdie. And we’re very glad to find that you remember something about our people, Mr. Killick.”
Mr. Killick again blessed himself, and after warmly shaking hands with his visitors, bade them sit down. He adjusted his spectacles, and looked both young men carefully over.
“I remember your people very well indeed!” he said. “I used to do a bit of fishing in the Tweed and in Eddleston Water with your father, Mr. Purdie — and I stopped some time with your father and mother, at their house, Mr. Lauriston. In fact, your mother was remarkably kind to me — she nursed me through an illness with which I was seized when I was in Peebles.”
Lauriston and Purdie exchanged glances — by common consent Purdie became spokesman for the two.
“Mr. Killick,” he said, “it’s precisely about a matter arising out of that illness of yours that we came to see you! Let me explain something first — Andie Lauriston here has been living in London for two years — he’s a literary gift, and he hopes to make a name, and perhaps a fortune. I’ve succeeded to my father’s business, and I’m only here in London on a visit. And it’s well I came, for Andie wanted a friend. Now, Mr. Killick, before I go further — have you read in the newspapers about what’s called the Praed Street Mystery?”
The old gentleman shook his head.
“My dear young sir!” he answered, waving his hand towards his books. “I’m not a great newspaper reader — except for a bit of politics. I never read about mysteries — I’ve wrapped myself up in antiquarian pursuits since I retired. No! — I haven’t read about the Praed Street Mystery — nor even heard of it! I hope neither of you are mixed up in it?”
“Considerably!” answered Purdie. “In more ways than one. And you can be of great help. Mr. Killick — when you left Peebles after your illness, you sent Mrs. Lauriston a present of two valuable rings. Do you remember?”
“Perfectly — of course!” replied the old gentleman. “To be sure!”
“Can you remember, too, from whom you bought those rings?” enquired Purdie eagerly.
“Yes! — as if it were yesterday!” said Mr. Killick. “I bought them from a City jeweller whom I knew very well at that time — a man named Daniel Molteno!”
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
MR. KILLICK’S OPINION
THE OLD SOLICITOR’S trained eye and quick intelligence saw at once that this announcement immediately conveyed some significant meaning to his two young visitors. Purdie and Lauriston, in fact, had immediately been struck by the similarity of the names Molteno and Multenius, and they exchanged another look which their host detected and knew to convey a meaning. He leaned forward in his chair.
“Now, that strikes you — both!” he said. “What’s all this about? Better give me your confidence.”
