The Red Thumb Mark

by R. Austin Freeman

  CHAPTER XII

  IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN

  It was now only a week from the date on which the trial was to open. Ineight days the mystery would almost certainly be solved (if it wascapable of solution), for the trial promised to be quite a short one,and then Reuben Hornby would be either a convicted felon or a free man,clear of the stigma of the crime.

  For several days past, Thorndyke had been in almost constant possessionof the laboratory, while his own small room, devoted ordinarily tobacteriology and microscopical work was kept continually locked; a stateof things that reduced Polton to a condition of the most extreme nervousirritation, especially when, as he told me indignantly, he met Mr.Anstey emerging from the holy of holies, grinning and rubbing his handsand giving utterance to genial but unparliamentary expressions of amusedsatisfaction.

  I had met Anstey on several occasions lately, and each time liked himbetter than the last; for his whimsical, facetious manner covered anature (as it often does) that was serious and thoughtful; and I foundhim, not only a man of considerable learning, but one also of a loftystandard of conduct. His admiration for Thorndyke was unbounded, and Icould see that the two men collaborated with the utmost sympathy andmutual satisfaction.

  But although I regarded Mr. Anstey with feelings of the liveliestfriendship, I was far from gratified when, on the morning of which I amwriting, I observed him from our sitting-room window crossing thegravelled space from Crown Office Row and evidently bearing down on ourchambers. For the fact is that I was awaiting the arrival of Juliet, andshould greatly have preferred to be alone at the moment, seeing thatThorndyke had already gone out. It is true that my fair enslaver was notdue for nearly half-an-hour, but then, who could say how long Ansteywould stay, or what embarrassments might arise from my efforts toescape? By all of which it may be perceived that my disease had reacheda very advanced stage, and that I was unequal to those tactics ofconcealment that are commonly attributed to the ostrich.

  A sharp rap of the knocker announced the arrival of the disturber of mypeace, and when I opened the door Anstey walked in with the air of a manto whom an hour more or less is of no consequence whatever. He shook myhand with mock solemnity, and, seating himself upon the edge of thetable, proceeded to roll a cigarette with exasperating deliberation.

  "I infer," said he, "that our learned brother is practising parlourmagic upstairs, or peradventure he has gone on a journey?"

  "He has a consultation this morning," I answered. "Was he expectingyou?"

  "Evidently not, or he would have been here. No, I just looked in to aska question about the case of your friend Hornby. You know it comes onfor trial next week?"

  "Yes; Thorndyke told me. What do you think of Hornby's prospects? Is hegoing to be convicted, or will he get an acquittal?"

  "_He_ will be entirely passive," replied Anstey, "but _we_"--here heslapped his chest impressively--"are going to secure an acquittal. Youwill be highly entertained, my learned friend, and Mr. The Enemy will beexcessively surprised." He inspected the newly-made cigarette with acritical air and chuckled softly.

  "You seem pretty confident," I remarked.

  "I am," he answered, "though Thorndyke considers failurepossible--which, of course, it is if the jury-box should chance to befilled with microcephalic idiots and the judge should prove incapable ofunderstanding simple technical evidence. But we hope that neither ofthese things will happen, and, if they do not, we feel pretty safe. Bythe way, I hope I am not divulging your principal's secrets?"

  "Well," I replied, with a smile, "you have been more explicit thanThorndyke ever has."

  "Have I?" he exclaimed, with mock anxiety; "then I must swear you tosecrecy. Thorndyke is so very close--and he is quite right too. I nevercease admiring his tactics of allowing the enemy to fortify andbarricade the entrance that he does _not_ mean to attack. But I see youare wishing me at the devil, so give me a cigar and I will go--thoughnot to that particular destination."

  "Will you have one of Thorndyke's special brand?" I asked malignantly.

  "What! those foul Trichinopolies? Not while brown paper is to beobtained at every stationer's; I'd sooner smoke my own wig."

  I tendered my own case, from which he selected a cigar with anxious careand much sniffing; then he bade me a ceremonious adieu and departed downthe stairs, blithely humming a melody from the latest comic opera.

  He had not left more than five minutes when a soft and elaboraterat-tat from the little brass knocker brought my heart into my mouth. Iran to the door and flung it open, revealing Juliet standing on thethreshold.

  "May I come in?" she asked. "I want to have a few words with you beforewe start."

  I looked at her with some anxiety, for she was manifestly agitated, andthe hand that she held out to me trembled.

  "I am greatly upset, Dr. Jervis," she said, ignoring the chair that Ihad placed for her. "Mr. Lawley has been giving us his views of poorReuben's case, and his attitude fills me with dismay."

  "Hang Mr. Lawley!" I muttered, and then apologised hastily. "What madeyou go to him, Miss Gibson?"

  "I didn't go to him; he came to us. He dined with us last night--he andWalter--and his manner was gloomy in the extreme. After dinner Waltertook him apart with me and asked him what he really thought of the case.He was most pessimistic. 'My dear sir,' he said, 'the only advice I cangive you is that you prepare yourself to contemplate disaster asphilosophically as you can. In my opinion your cousin is almost certainto be convicted.' 'But,' said Walter, 'what about the defence? Iunderstood that there was at least a plausible case.' Mr. Lawleyshrugged his shoulders. 'I have a sort of _alibi_ that will go fornothing, but I have no evidence to offer in answer to that of theprosecution, and no case; and I may say, speaking in confidence, that Ido not believe there is any case. I do not see how there can be anycase, and I have heard nothing from Dr. Thorndyke to lead me to supposethat he has really done anything in the matter.' Is this true, Dr.Jervis? Oh! do tell me the real truth about it! I have been so miserableand terrified since I heard this, and I was so full of hope before. Tellme, is it true? Will Reuben be sent to prison after all?"

  In her agitation she laid her hands on my arm and looked up into my facewith her grey eyes swimming with tears, and was so piteous, so trustful,and, withal, so bewitching that my reserve melted like snow before aJuly sun.

  "It is not true," I answered, taking her hands in mine and speakingperforce in a low tone that I might not betray my emotion. "If it were,it would mean that I have wilfully deceived you, that I have been falseto our friendship; and how much that friendship has been to me, no onebut myself will ever know."

  She crept a little closer to me with a manner at once penitent andwheedling.

  "You are not going to be angry with me, are you? It was foolish of me tolisten to Mr. Lawley after all you have told me, and it did look like awant of trust in you, I know. But you, who are so strong and wise, mustmake allowance for a woman who is neither. It is all so terrible that Iam quite unstrung; but say you are not really displeased with me, forthat would hurt me most of all."

  Oh! Delilah! That concluding stroke of the shears severed the very lastlock, and left me--morally speaking--as bald as a billiard ball.Henceforth I was at her mercy and would have divulged, without ascruple, the uttermost secrets of my principal, but that that astutegentleman had placed me beyond the reach of temptation.

  "As to being angry with you," I answered, "I am not, like Thorndyke, oneto essay the impossible, and if I could be angry it would hurt me morethan it would you. But, in fact, you are not to blame at all, and I aman egotistical brute. Of course you were alarmed and distressed; nothingcould be more natural. So now let me try to chase away your fears andrestore your confidence.

  "I have told you what Thorndyke said to Reuben: that he had good hopesof making his innocence clear to everybody. That alone should have beenenough."

  "I know it should," murmured Juliet remorsefully; "please forgive me formy want of faith."

  "But," I continu
ed, "I can quote you the words of one to whose opinionsyou will attach more weight. Mr. Anstey was here less than half-an-hourago--"

  "Do you mean Reuben's counsel?"

  "Yes."

  "And what did he say? Oh, do tell me what he said."

  "He said, in brief, that he was quite confident of obtaining anacquittal, and that the prosecution would receive a great surprise. Heseemed highly pleased with his brief, and spoke with great admiration ofThorndyke."

  "Did he really say that--that he was confident of an acquittal?" Hervoice was breathless and unsteady, and she was clearly, as she had said,quite unstrung. "What a relief it is," she murmured incoherently; "andso very, very kind of you!" She wiped her eyes and laughed a queer,shaky little laugh; then, quite suddenly, she burst into a passion ofsobbing.

  Hardly conscious of what I did, I drew her gently towards me, and restedher head on my shoulder whilst I whispered into her ear I know not whatwords of consolation; but I am sure that I called her "dear Juliet," andprobably used other expressions equally improper and reprehensible.Presently she recovered herself, and, having dried her eyes, regarded mesomewhat shamefacedly, blushing hotly, but smiling very sweetlynevertheless.

  "I am ashamed of myself," she said, "coming here and weeping on yourbosom like a great baby. It is to be hoped that your other clients donot behave in this way."

  Whereat we both laughed heartily, and, our emotional equilibrium beingthus restored, we began to think of the object of our meeting.

  "I am afraid I have wasted a great deal of time," said Juliet, lookingat her watch. "Shall we be too late, do you think?"

  "I hope not," I replied, "for Reuben will be looking for us; but we musthurry."

  I caught up my hat, and we went forth, closing the oak behind us, andtook our way up King's Bench Walk in silence, but with a new anddelightful sense of intimate comradeship. I glanced from time to time atmy companion, and noted that her cheek still bore a rosy flush, and whenshe looked at me there was a sparkle in her eye, and a smiling softnessin her glance, that stirred my heart until I trembled with the intensityof the passion that I must needs conceal. And even while I was feelingthat I must tell her all, and have done with it, tell her that I was herabject slave, and she my goddess, my queen; that in the face of such alove as mine no man could have any claim upon her; even then, therearose the still, small voice that began to call me an unfaithful stewardand to remind me of a duty and trust that were sacred even beyond love.

  In Fleet Street I hailed a cab, and, as I took my seat beside my faircompanion, the voice began to wax and speak in bolder and sterneraccents.

  "Christopher Jervis," it said, "what is this that you are doing? Are youa man of honour or nought but a mean, pitiful blackguard? You, thetrusted agent of this poor, misused gentleman, are you not planning inyour black heart how you shall rob him of that which, if he is a man atall, must be more to him than his liberty, or even his honour? Shame onyou for a miserable weakling! Have done with these philanderings andkeep your covenants like a gentleman--or, at least, an honest man!"

  At this point in my meditations Juliet turned towards me with a coaxingsmile.

  "My legal adviser seems to be revolving some deep and weighty matter,"she said.

  I pulled myself together and looked at her--at her sparkling eyes androsy, dimpling cheeks, so winsome and lovely and lovable.

  "Come," I thought, "I must put an end to this at once, or I am lost."But it cost me a very agony of effort to do it--which agony, I trust,may be duly set to my account by those who may sit in judgement on me.

  "Your legal adviser, Miss Gibson," I said (and at that "Miss Gibson" Ithought she looked at me a little queerly), "has been reflecting that hehas acted considerably beyond his jurisdiction."

  "In what respect?" she asked.

  "In passing on to you information which was given to him in very strictconfidence, and, in fact, with an implied promise of secrecy on hispart."

  "But the information was not of a very secret character, was it?"

  "More so than it appeared. You see, Thorndyke thinks it so important notto let the prosecution suspect that he has anything up his sleeve, thathe has kept even Mr. Lawley in the dark, and he has never said as muchto me as Anstey did this morning."

  "And now you are sorry you told me; you think I have led you into abreach of trust. Is it not so?" She spoke without a trace of petulance,and her tone of dignified self-accusation made me feel a veritable worm.

  "My dear Miss Gibson," I expostulated, "you entirely misunderstand me. Iam not in the least sorry that I told you. How could I have doneotherwise under the circumstances? But I want you to understand that Ihave taken the responsibility of communicating to you what is really aprofessional secret, and that you are to consider it as such."

  "That was how I understood it," replied Juliet; "and you may rely uponme not to utter a syllable on the subject to anyone."

  I thanked her for this promise, and then, by way of making conversation,gave her an account in detail of Anstey's visit, not even omitting theincident of the cigar.

  "And are Dr. Thorndyke's cigars so extraordinarily bad?" she asked.

  "Not at all," I replied; "only they are not to every man's taste. TheTrichinopoly cheroot is Thorndyke's one dissipation, and, I must say, hetakes it very temperately. Under ordinary circumstances he smokes apipe; but after a specially heavy day's work, or on any occasion offestivity or rejoicing, he indulges in a Trichinopoly, and he smokes thevery best that can be got."

  "So even the greatest men have their weaknesses," Juliet moralised; "butI wish I had known Dr. Thorndyke's sooner, for Mr. Hornby had a largebox of Trichinopoly cheroots given to him, and I believe they wereexceptionally fine ones. However, he tried one and didn't like it, so hetransferred the whole consignment to Walter, who smokes all sorts andconditions of cigars."

  So we talked on from one commonplace to another, and each moreconventional than the last. In my nervousness, I overdid my part, andhaving broken the ice, proceeded to smash it to impalpable fragments.Endeavouring merely to be unemotional and to avoid undue intimacy ofmanner, I swung to the opposite extreme and became almost stiff; andperhaps the more so since I was writhing with the agony of repression.

  Meanwhile a corresponding change took place in my companion. At firsther manner seemed doubtful and bewildered; then she, too, grew moredistant and polite and less disposed for conversation. Perhaps herconscience began to rebuke her, or it may be that my coolness suggestedto her that her conduct had not been quite of the kind that would havecommended itself to Reuben. But however that may have been, we continuedto draw farther and farther apart; and in that short half-hour weretraced the steps of our growing friendship to such purpose that, whenwe descended from the cab at the prison gate, we seemed more likestrangers than on the first day that we met. It was a miserable endingto all our delightful comradeship, and yet what other end could oneexpect in this world of cross purposes and things that might have been?In the extremity of my wretchedness I could have wept on the bosom ofthe portly warder who opened the wicket, even as Juliet had wept uponmine; and it was almost a relief to me, when our brief visit was over,to find that we should not return together to King's Cross as was ourwont, but that Juliet would go back by omnibus that she might do someshopping in Oxford Street, leaving me to walk home alone.

  I saw her into her omnibus, and stood on the pavement looking wistfullyat the lumbering vehicle as it dwindled in the distance. At last, with asigh of deepest despondency, I turned my face homeward, and, walkinglike one in a dream, retraced the route over which I had journeyed sooften of late and with such different sensations.