CHAPTER LXIV.
A STARTLING DENOUEMENT.
"What is your name and calling?"
"I am of the Criminal Investigation Department in Paris. Joseph Pitou,a name well known."
"We are familiar with it in England. You have come to London onspecial business?"
"In association with my esteemed _confrA"re_, Monsieur Lambert, I havecome to make the arrest of a notorious criminal."
"You speak excellent English?"
"You are pleased to say so. It is to me as my mother tongue; as isalso Italian, German, and various dialects of the Turkish and Polishlanguages."
"What is the name of the notorious criminal you have come to arrest?"
"Louis Lorenz."
"Do you hope to be able to lay hands on him?"
"I can lay this hand on him at any moment."
"What is the nature of his crime?"
"Permit me. Of his many crimes. Many robberies, attended with extremebrutality. And worse than robberies. One positive murder in Gallicia;another probable murder in Vienna; another in St. Petersburg."
"Up to this day he has escaped?"
"Yes, he has escaped, always escaped. Condemned to the galleys inVienna; a week afterwards, flown. Sent to Siberia in Russia;disappeared on the road. Sentenced to death in Gallicia; his cellempty the day after he was put into it."
"A man of rare talent?"
"Of immense talent. His plans laid with the brain of a master; moneyready for bribes; confederates ready to obey orders. Nothing has beentoo difficult for him to accomplish."
"What was the principal motive for his crimes? Money?"
"It is curious. Money sometimes, but never money alone. In every casehis victim was possessed of some rare treasures of art which Lorenzcoveted, and would have trodden through blood to obtain. As ithappens, he trod through much blood. In this way many valuableantiques have disappeared. I have a record of them. Search has beenmade for them throughout the wide world, and they are stillundiscovered. For years I have been on the track of them. A clue fellinto my hands, and I followed it up. I hold a warrant for the man'sarrest, and soon justice will be satisfied."
"Louis Lorenz can be no common criminal?"
"My faith, no! Louis Lorenz is a prince, an emperor of criminals. Ihave hunted for him in every city in Europe and America, and for theart treasures he has stolen. Not one has seen the light; not one hasbeen offered to dealers or connoisseurs. He has been known here, andknown there, as a man who dabbled in science. It has been said he isin search of the Philosopher's Stone, of the elixir of life. He hasimposed even upon _savants_, who have been seduced into believing inthe miracles he declared he would one day accomplish."
"But if he presented himself in his own proper person how is it thathe has not been caught, that he is still free?"
"Never did he present himself in his own proper person. Always sodisguised that it was impossible to identify him. He is an actor ofthe first class, a match for the Evil One himself. But for the powersof darkness man is sometimes a match."
"'Be sure thy sin will find thee out?'"
"Ah, monsieur, it is true."
"You say it would be impossible to identify him with his clothes on.Would it be impossible to identify him with his clothes off?"
"Ah, no, that is a different matter. He is branded on the back, onthe breast."
Mr. Marlow: "Is not my learned friend wandering from the case we areinvestigating--the murder of Samuel Boyd of Catchpole Square?"
Mr. Pallaret: "No. Be patient, and you will understand; I will notkeep you long in suspense." (To the witness.) "You say you can layhands on Louis Lorenz at any moment. At this moment?"
"At this moment."
"Here in this court?"
"Here in this court."
"Then he must be in attendance?
"He is in attendance."
"Point him out."
The witness extended his arm dramatically, and pointed to Dr. Pye.
"That is the man!"
A scene of indescribable excitement ensued. Exclamations ofastonishment were heard on all sides, and everyone, with the exceptionof the French detective, the counsel for the defence, and Dr. Pye, wasin commotion. They remained unmoved, the two former silent andwatchful, the latter exhibiting not the least trace of agitation. Inthe midst of this excited scene loud exclamations were heard outsidethe court, where the people appeared to have caught the contagion, andpresently the policemen near the door leading to the publicthoroughfare were seen to be busily forcing a passage for the entranceof two persons, one a little girl, carried in the arms of detectiveLambert, the other a man, white and emaciated, reclining in the armsof two constables. As they came into view a shriek from Mrs. Deathresounded through the Court.
"Abel! Abel!" she screamed, and her frenzied cry was followed by aninterval of dead silence.
Abel Death raised his head, and looked at his wife with a wan,affectionate smile; and Gracie, with a strange glitter in her largeblack eyes, cried in a hoarse voice,
"It's all right, mother! It's all right, Dick! I said I'd find father,didn't I?"
Mr. Pallaret: "Let these witnesses be brought forward to this table,where they will have more breathing space. I must ask your worship toexcuse me while I speak privately to them."
Abel Death, who was very weak, was accommodated with a seat at thetable, where he reclined, with a cushion at his back; Gracie, holdinghis hand, sat by his side; and between them and Mr. Pallaret andLambert, a whispered conference was held, lasting several minutes. Theconference over, Mr. Pallaret addressed the magistrate:
"The proceedings in this case have been somewhat irregular, but notless irregular than I anticipated when I opened the defence. Myobject, as I informed your worship, was to obtain, not an adjournmentof the case, but the immediate acquittal of the accused. I made theobservation that the only evidence against Mr. Reginald Boyd was thatgiven by the person who calls himself Dr. Pye, and it will not bedisputed that his evidence is entirely discredited. Nay, I will gofarther and say that it was fabricated for the purpose of weaving sostrong a case of circumstantial evidence against two innocent men asto practically ensure their conviction of a crime which they did notcommit. With respect to Mr. Richard Remington, you have heard thestrange but true story of the part he has played in this mystery. Whenhe was caught last Monday night in Catchpole Square his appeals to hiscaptors to hurry into the house for the purpose of arresting the twomen who were searching for treasure there while, disguised to resemblethe wax figure of the Chinaman, he was seated in its chair, wasdoubtless regarded by many in this court as a mere invention; but Ishall now be able to prove that it was no invention, and at the sametime to establish the truth of the story I have related to you. Theproof will be forthcoming in the evidence of this brave little girl,Gracie Death, who has played a part in this strange mystery asadventurous and romantic as that of Richard Remington himself. Aftershe has given her evidence I shall call her father, Mr. Abel Death, ifhe is strong enough, to relate what he knows. He has, as it were,risen from the grave, and thanks to his brave little daughter, isenabled to make his appearance here to-day. I shudder to think whatmight have been his fate had the vile conspiracy I am unmasking beenallowed to proceed, and had the conspirators been allowed to leave thecourt. In a charge so serious, and in circumstances so strange andunprecedented, I am confident that your worship and my learned friendfor the prosecution will allow me every latitude; and in furtheranceof this appeal I ask to be permitted to suspend the examination ofMonsieur Joseph Pitou, for the purpose of examining the two newwitnesses who are manifestly unfit to remain for a long time in theair of this Court."
Mr. Marlow: "I have no objection to offer."
"I thank my learned friend. Let Gracie Death go into the witness box."
But before this could be done Gracie was seized with a fit of coughingwhich terribly shook her slight frame. There were few among thespectators that did not pity the child,
who made brave efforts tocheck the cough, and who, when it was over, looked lovingly at hermother, and said,
"It's all right, mother, don't you worry about it; only I've had tohold it back so long!"
Then, all eyes upon her, she was assisted into the witness box, and astool placed for her to stand upon, Detective Lambert stationinghimself by her side to render her assistance if she needed it. Whenthe Bible was handed to her the magistrate asked if she understood thenature of an oath; she replied that she was to tell the truth, thewhole truth, and nothing but the truth, and that she didn't mean totell anything else. This being deemed satisfactory she was sworn, andher examination proceeded with.
"What is your name?"
"Gracie Death."
"How old are you?"
"I shall be thirteen soon, sha'n't I, mother?"
"You left your home last Tuesday morning?"
"Yes, sir, I did, and I was sorry for mother because I knew she'dworry. But I had to."
"Why?"
"Because of Dick."
The Magistrate: "Who is Dick?"
"Dick Remington, my lordship."
The magistrate was not the only one who smiled at the form of thisreply.
"What had Dick to do with your leaving your home? Tell us as much asyou can?"
"Well, sir, Dick and me had gone partners to find father, and to findout who murdered Samuel Boyd. I was sure father didn't do it, though alot of people was wicked enough to say so, and Dick was sure Mr.Reginald didn't do it, and I believed what Dick believed, so I wassure, too. Dick was the captain of the ship, and I was first mate. Hegave me things to do, and I did 'em as well as I could. I foundout that Dr. Vinsen wasn't Dr. Vinsen at all, but Ezra Lynn, amoney-lender. I always knew he was no good--yes, I did, mother! And Icaught the sham doctor talking to Mr. Rawdon, the ironmonger, the manthat was on the jury, and I saw him go into his shop. Well, when I sawthe notice posted up in Catchpole Square that Dick had gone away, Icouldn't make it out, though I knew that Dick was doing the rightthing--he always does, you know--but I didn't like to be left out ofit. I went to Mrs. Inspector Robson, who's been I can't tell you howkind to me--and so has Mr. Inspector Robson and that poor young ladythere--but she couldn't say where Dick was, and I was that worriedyou'd hardly believe. Wait a bit, please--there's that cough of minecoming back again." After a silence of a minute or so, except for thehollow, rasping sounds she made, she said, with an odd kind ofpathetic resignation, "It's taking it out of me now because I wouldn'tlet it have its way when it wanted to. I didn't dare, you know. Well,I worried and worried, and last Monday night I had my dream again."
"What dream?"
"About father. I've had it I don't know how many times, and every timefather's come crying out to me to save him and to look for him inCatchpole Square. When I woke up on Tuesday morning I kept on thinkingand thinking about it, and then I heard that Dick was taken up for themurder, and I had him to save as well as father. He'd been caughtcoming out of the house, where he'd been watching since Friday, so Isays to myself, 'What Dick can do I can do,' and I makes up my mind towatch as he'd done, on the chance of catching the murderers. Dick saidthey'd been there, you know, and if they come once they might comeagain, all the more now that Dick was out of the way. That's whereI've been from Tuesday night up till now."
"How did you get into the house?"
"Didn't Dick tell you? It's through the next house, where you can pushopen the door at the bottom of the steps. Then you go down to thecellar, and there's some bricks in the wall that you can take out andput back again. That's the way you get into the cellar of SamuelBoyd's house. There's a trap door in the ceiling that you can reach bystanding on a broken chair; you push it up and scramble through, andthere you are in Samuel Boyd's kitchen. I showed it to Dick, andperhaps he made use of it when he didn't want anybody to know how hegot in and out of Mr. Boyd's house. And you can put everything backthat artful that it'd take a clever one to find it out. So there I wasin the house, with a loaf of bread that I bought with some money Dickgive me. The water was on, and with that and the bread there was nofear of my starving for a little while. Nobody come on Tuesday night,and I kept myself snug. And nobody come on Wednesday. But I wouldn'tgive it up as a bad job, and I kept on watching and listening all dayyesterday. Well, I don't know how late in the night it was, but Ithink it must have been two or three in the morning, when I heardsomebody talking to somebody else in the downstairs passage. Theytalked very soft, but I heard 'em, and then they crept upstairs, and Islips into my hiding place, and watches through a chink. For I says tomyself, 'If they come anywhere they'll come into the office.'"
"Where was your hiding place?"
"You'd never guess. There's a large pianner in the office where fatherworked, and would you believe it, there's nothing inside it? It'shollow, and it stands against the wall of another little room at theside. Oh, it's artful, I can tell you! You go into that little room,and you push a sliding panel in the wall just at the back of thepianner, and you creep in. Then you push the sliding panel back, andthere you are, shut up in a box like. And if there's a light in theoffice you can peep through a chink, and see all that's going on. Ihadn't long to wait; the trouble was that my cough was tickling mythroat, but I kept it down, though it almost choked me. If I hadn'tyou wouldn't have seen me here. The door opens, and two men come in,without a light. 'What's the good of that?' I thinks. But presentlythey strike a match and light a candle, and they keep it close to theground. I knew why they did that--so that the light couldn't be seenthrough the window outside in the Square. What with their backs beingto me I couldn't catch sight of their faces, but I kept my eye gluedto the chink, waiting for my chance. And all at once I saw them."
"Did you know them?"
"One of 'em I did, but not the other. I guessed, though."
"We will make sure. Look around the court, and tell me whether you seethe other man?"
Gracie's sharp eyes had lighted on Dr. Vinsen the moment she was inthe witness-box, and they kindled when they rested on Dr. Pye, butwith rare self-control she had restrained herself from crying out, thedramatic instinct within her assuring her that the right moment wouldcome for denouncing him. Being now directed, it was her turn to ask aquestion.
Gracie: "Who is that next Dr. Vinsen?"
Mr. Pallaret, hesitating in his reply, some person called out, "It isDr. Pye," whereupon an officer cried, "Order in the court!" But,irregular as was this proceeding, neither the counsel for theprosecution nor the magistrate intervened.
Gracie: "That is the other man."
Mr. Pallaret: "Take time. Look again. Be absolutely certain."
Gracie: "I am. The other man is Dr. Pye."
Mr. Pallaret: "Still you may be mistaken?"
Gracie: "I can't be. I'd pick him out of a thousand. There ain'tanother man in the world like him."
Mr. Pallaret: "Well, you saw them. What happened next?"
Gracie: "They searched about the room a good deal, and I think theywere disappointed at not finding something. After that they began totalk louder. Dr. Vinsen--I wouldn't call him that, because it ain'this proper name, but it comes easier--he said it was madness to comeinto the house, where they were in danger of being caught any minute.He looked very frightened: His face was as white as chalk. Dr. Pyecalled him a coward. There's a lot of wine in the office--father usedto tell of it--and Dr. Pye took up a bottle, and opened it with acorkscrew. Then he went to the bedroom, and brought out a glass, andpoured the wine into it. Dr. Vinsen wouldn't drink, and Dr. Pyelaughed and said something about eating and drinking to-day and dyingto-morrow. 'Look,' he said, 'it was just on this very spot yousqueezed the last breath out of Samuel Boyd.' 'It's a lie!' Dr. Vinsencried, 'it was you that did it.' 'You are a liar,' Dr. Pye said. 'Yourknee was on his chest, and your hands at his throat.' Then they beganto quarrel, Dr. Vinsen speaking loud and Dr. Pye soft, and laughingand drinking all the time. 'You've been the ruin of me,' Dr. Vinsensaid. 'If I escape with my life I shall think myself lucky.' 'To b
ehanged by the neck till you're dead,' said Dr. Pye, laughing again,'and the Lord have mercy on your soul. You blubbering fool!' Icouldn't catch everything they said. 'What are we to do if thingsdon't turn out well to-morrow?' Dr. Vinsen said. 'I am prepared,' Dr.Pye said. 'Perhaps when I get home I'll set fire to the house, andvanish in the smoke. Only I'd like to have a settling first with Mr.Dick Remington.' Take care of yourself, Dick, he looked like a devil!Soon afterwards I heard father's name--I don't know which one spokeit--and my heart beat so I was afraid they'd hear it. In a littlewhile they said it was no use stopping any longer, and I heard themleaving the room."
Mr. Pallaret: "Stop a moment or two, and get your breath."
Gracie: "Let me go on, please--I'm all right. How's poor father? Is hefeeling any better?"
Mr. Pallaret: "Yes. With your permission, your worship."
A kind person had sent out for some hot coffee, a cup of which wasgiven to Gracie, and another to Abel Death. Mrs. Death rose, andimplored the magistrate to allow her to stand in the witness box withher child, and, permission being given, a score of willing hands werestretched forward to assist her. This was the commencement of anaffecting scene. She had to pass her husband, and she stooped andkissed him, sobbing,
"Oh, Abel, my dear, dear Abel!"
No one in the court spoke, and presently he whispered,
"Go to Gracie. She has saved my life!"
In the witness box her maternal feelings were not to be restrained;she clasped Gracie in her arms, and wept over her, and kissed heragain and again.
"You don't mind my running away, do you, mother?" asked Gracie, in alow tone. "If I hadn't, father might never have been found."
"My darling, my darling!" sobbed Mrs. Death. "It was I who waswrong--you were right all through."
"Never mind that now, mother," Gracie said. "Let me go on, or thegentlemen will be angry. Oh, but I am glad to be back!"
Many strange scenes have been witnessed in the Bishop Street PoliceCourt, but none so strange and moving as this. Not one of theofficials made any effort to stop its progress. The magistrate made apretence of being busy with his papers; eyes were dimmed by tears; andeven when Lady Wharton, in her hearty voice, said, "I should like todo something for that little heroine," the ushers forgot to cry,"Silence in the court!"
Gracie (turning to Mr. Pallaret, one hand hanging down in her mother'stender clasp): "May I go on, now, sir?"
Mr. Pallaret: "Yes, child. Your last words were, 'I heard them leavingthe room.'"
Gracie: "I remember, sir. After they were gone I couldn't stay where Iwas, could I? I crept out of the pianner as quiet as a mouse, andthrough the door of the little room into the passage. They weredownstairs by that time, and lucky for me had blown out the candle; sodown I slipped after them. First I thought they were going out by thestreet door, and I hoped a policeman would be in the Square to catch'em; but they didn't go that way; they went down to the kitchen. ThenI thought they knew of the trap door, and how to get in the cellar ofthe next house. But I was wrong again. I heard Dr. Pye say, 'Give methe matches,' and a minute afterwards, 'You clumsy fool--you've spilt'em!' I peeped through the keyhole of the kitchen door, and there theywere picking up the matches. I guessed that, you know, becauseeverything was dark, but when they began striking the matches I sawwhat they'd been at. There's a large dresser in the kitchen, and ashelf on the floor where people put saucepans and things; and ifyou'll believe it, at the back of this shelf there's a sliding panelin the wall, just the same as there is in the pianner upstairs. I sawthe panel move, and saw Dr. Pye and Dr. Vinsen creep through the hole.Then the panel was shut, and everything was dark. I didn't lose aminute. I made up my mind to see where that hole led to if I died forit, so I went into the kitchen and crept under the dresser as they'ddone, but it was so dark that I might have been there till now if theyhadn't left some matches behind them on the floor. Then I soon got thepanel to work. It opened on a flight of rickety stairs. Down I went,without caring what happened to me. I thought there might be a well ofwater at the bottom of the stairs, but there wasn't. It was solidground, and I was in a sort of a tunnel that runs right underCatchpole Square from Mr. Boyd's house to Dr. Pye's house. When I gotto the end of the tunnel I had only two matches left, but I made themdo. There was another sliding panel in the wall, and I pushed thataside, and there I was in Dr. Pye's house, but without a light. Ididn't know which way to turn, but I felt about with my hands, and myblood run cold when they touched a face, and I only kept fromscreaming out loud by the fear that if I did I should be murdered. Atfirst I thought it was a dead face, but I remembered what I'd read,that if it was dead it would be stone cold. I felt again, and it waswarm. Then I heard a voice say, 'Whose hand is that?' And, oh, sir,though he spoke almost in a whisper, I knew I had found my father.'Father!' I said, and I put my face close to his. 'My God!' heanswered. 'It's little Gracie!'"
Up to this point Gracie had told her thrilling story withextraordinary composure, and every one who heard it wondered at thelack of passion in her voice and gesture. But now she broke down. Herlips trembled, her eyes wandered around, and with a long shudderingsigh she sank fainting in her mother's arms. Many of the spectatorsgave utterance to cries of sympathy, and ready assistance was tenderedby the officials, while a hurried consultation took place between thecounsel for the defence and the prosecution, at the end of which Mr.Pallaret addressed the court:
"Your worship will perceive that the witness is not in a fit conditionto conclude the story which must have inspired every person here withpity and horror--except, I am constrained to add, those who will soonbe called upon to answer for their misdeeds. No words of mine canheighten the effect of a recital which has stirred every sympatheticheart. It is to me a marvel how this little heroine, as she has beenproperly called, could have sustained her courage through three longsleepless days and nights, with only cold water to drink, and a smallloaf of bread to eat. The indomitable spirit which sustained her isindeed remarkable, and I venture to say that a tale more thrilling hasnever been heard in a court of justice, and that the heroism displayedby this devoted child is unparalleled in the annals of noble deeds.Neither is Mr. Abel Death in a fit condition to give evidence. Yourworship will doubtless agree with me that what we have heard hasestablished the innocence of Mr. Reginald Boyd and Mr. RichardRemington, and that we have sufficiently laid bare the particulars ofone of the vilest conspiracies on record. But before asking for thedischarge of these gentlemen, and in view of the proceedings to betaken against Dr. Pye, alias Louis Lorenz, and his confederate, EzraLynn, alias Dr. Vinsen, for whose arrest on the charge of murderingMr. Samuel Boyd I shall apply for warrants, I propose, with theconcurrence of my learned friend, the counsel for the crown, to callDetective Lambert, who will give information of the discoveries he hasmade in the house of Dr. Pye, and will narrate the circumstances underwhich he has been enabled to bring Gracie Death into court."
The Magistrate: "Let it be so. Detective Lambert can go into thewitness box. In the meantime let Mr. and Mrs. Death and their child betaken into my room, and every attention paid to them."
When these three persons were conveyed to the small room at the rearof the courthouse, accompanied by a doctor who happened to be amongthe spectators, Lambert stepped into the witness box, and was sworn.
Mr. Pallaret: "We wish to hear from you an account of your proceedingsthis morning in connection with this case."
Detective Lambert: "From information received shortly after the casewas opened I proceeded to the house of Dr. Pye in Shore Street, whichhas been for some time under the observation of the police. The manstationed there took me to Catchpole Square, where I saw Gracie Death,who told me hurriedly what she had just given in evidence. From thenight of Friday, the 1st of March, when Mr. Abel Death went to Mr.Samuel Boyd's house to beg to be taken back into his service, he hasbeen imprisoned in the cellar of Dr. Pye's house. Upon leaving hishome to make his appeal he wandered about the streets for some time,and it was not until midnight that he
went into Catchpole Square. Anuntimely hour, but he was in a distracted state, and was scarcelyaccountable for his actions. He informed me that when he knocked atthe door of Mr. Samuel Boyd's house he was answered in a voice whichhe believed to be his late employer's; that the door was suddenlyopened, and he was dragged into the passage; that he saw the faces oftwo men whom he can identify; that one of the men struck him soviolent a blow that he fell to the ground in a state of insensibility;that when he recovered he found himself in the cellar in which he wasdiscovered by his little daughter; that he was tied to a bench fixedto the ground, and his arms fastened behind him, so that he could notrelease himself; that from time to time Dr. Pye visited him, andendeavoured to extract information as to where Mr. Samuel Boyd hadconcealed the jewels deposited with him by Lady Wharton, and as toother hiding places his late employer had for concealing treasure;that as he could not give the desired information he was threatenedwith death; that no person visited him except Dr. Pye; thatinsufficient food was given him; that he was regularly drugged intounconsciousness, and had passed nearly the whole of the time in astate of stupor; and that he was so weak and enfeebled by thistreatment and from the effects of the violent blow he had received,that he could scarcely raise his voice. I now take up the story fromthe point at which Gracie Death left it.
"She remained with her father all night, being afraid to leave himbecause Dr. Pye, when he passed through the cellar shortly before sheentered it, had threatened to come back and force him to takesomething which would send him into a sleep from which he would neverwake. In daytime very little light can penetrate the cellar, and bythis dim light Gracie Death saw the door which led to the upper partsof the house. She tried it, and found it was locked from the outside.She knew that Dr. Pye had to attend the police court to-day to giveevidence in this case, and she thought it best to wait till he wasgone, and then to get back to the house in Catchpole Square throughthe tunnel, and go for assistance to release her father. He was sosecurely tied, and the ropes that bound him were so thick, that shecould not undo them, and there was nothing in the cellar with whichshe could cut them. No food was brought to Mr. Death this morning,which perhaps was fortunate, as it would have led to the discovery ofGracie. The little girl had to judge the time at which Dr. Pye was duein this court, and it happens that she did so very accurately, for thedetective who was watching Dr. Pye's house informed me that it was alittle after eleven o'clock when he saw her running up and down ShoreStreet in search of a policeman. He went up to her and told her who hewas, and having heard her strange story, first sent me a note whichwas delivered to me in court shortly after I had given my evidence,and then endeavoured to obtain admission into Dr. Pye's house. To allappearance it was empty, for no one answered his knocks at the door,and matters were at a standstill until my arrival. As we could notbreak open the front door I obtained a ladder and set it against theback window that looks out on Catchpole Square, the window throughwhich Dr. Pye said he threw the flashlight. There was a shutter to thewindow which I forced open; Gracie had followed me up the ladder, andI assisted her into the room, in which I observed two new travellingtrunks. I did not stop to examine them, but ran down to the streetdoor, and admitted two constables I had sent for. I may state herethat there were no servants in the house. Then we hastened to thecellar, the door of which we forced, and found Mr. Abel Death, as hisdaughter has described. When we got him into one of the better rooms,and took the ropes off him, he was so weak that it was impossible tobring him to the court, and I despatched a line to the counsel for thedefence giving him certain information, and saying I hoped to be inattendance with the two new witnesses in the course of an hour or two.While restoratives were being given to Mr. Death I searched the house,and found a mass of account books and documents which had belonged toMr. Samuel Boyd. I found also some articles of clothing which Ibelieve will be found to have been worn by him. There was one completesuit of grey, and an overcoat with a fur collar. Lady Wharton willperhaps be able to say whether the man who visited her in Bournemouthwore a suit of that colour and a coat of that description."
Lady Wharton (from the body of the court): "He did." DetectiveLambert: "One of the trunks was packed and locked, and it appeared tome that preparations had been made for flight. The other trunk wasonly partly packed, and was not locked. This I opened and searched. Atthe top, in receptacles which must have been made expressly for them,were a number of works of art in bronze, ivory, and porcelain, which Ishould judge were very valuable. At the bottom of the trunk was apacket which I unfastened. It contained deeds and acceptances ofvarious kinds, some signed by Lord Wharton and Lord Fairfax, also somejewels answering to the description of those which were obtained fromLady Wharton by fraud at Bournemouth. By the time I had made thiscursory examination Mr. Death was sufficiently recovered to be broughtto the court with his daughter Gracie. I left two constables in chargeof the house, and hastened here at once." Mr. Pallaret (to themagistrates): "Upon the evidence presented to you I now apply for thedischarge of Mr. Reginald Boyd and Mr. Richard Remington."
The Magistrate: "Has the counsel for the Crown anything to say?"
Mr. Marlow: "I offer no opposition. There were circumstances of gravesuspicion against the accused which warranted their arrest, but thelight thrown upon the case appears to leave no doubt of theirinnocence."
Mr. Pallaret: "I thank my learned friend."
The Magistrate: "The accused are discharged."
Florence and Aunt Rob rose from their seats in joyful agitation, thetears streaming from their eyes, and their arms stretched forth toembrace the young men, whose progress was impeded by the throng ofsympathising spectators eager to shake hands with them. In the midstof the confusion the piercing voice of the French detective, JosephPitou, was heard, calling for a doctor. A sudden hush fell upon theCourt, and all eyes were turned upon the detective, who had resumedhis place behind Dr. Pye. Upon leaving the witness box DetectiveLambert had stepped to the side of Dr. Vinsen, and had laid his handupon the miscreant's arm. Detected, and in the power of the law, thewretch now stood in an attitude of abject fear.
One of the spectators recalled that while Detective Lambert was givinghis evidence he noticed that Dr. Pye gave a sudden start, and that amoment or two afterwards he shuddered and drooped his head. Heascribed this to the agitation caused by the revelations that werebeing made.
"A doctor--a doctor!" screamed Joseph Pitou.
The physician who had been attending Abel Death and Gracie pushed hisway with difficulty to the French detective, and raised Dr. Pye'shead. There was a faint smile on his lips, expressive both of triumphand contempt.
"Well? Well?" cried Joseph Pitou to the doctor.
The physician unclasped the silent man's fingers, and took from hishand a small bronze instrument in the shape of a ball. A pressure onone end of this ball released three needles, still slightly damp withthe liquid which had flowed to the points. With a grave look thephysician smelt the liquid, and, with his hand upraised for silence,placed his ear to the heart of the man. An examination of his wristshowed several minute punctures, caused by the needles. In this waythe deadly poison had been injected into his veins.
"Well, well?" cried Joseph Pitou again.
"He is dead," the physician replied.
* * * * *
Despite this tragic incident there was a scene of unparallelledenthusiasm when the principal actors in the day's proceedings wereleaving the Court. The news had spread with the rapidity of lightning,and crowds of people flocked to the spot; it was with difficulty thepolice kept the approaches from being congested. As regards Gracie theenthusiasm assumed the proportions of an ovation. Cheers were raisedfor her, men and women stood on tiptoe to obtain a glimpse of her.Lady Wharton stooped and kissed her, and pressed a bank note into herhand. Gracie lifted her eyes gratefully, and gave the note to hermother. Aunt Rob and Florence, the happy tears still in their eyes,with Uncle Rob and Reginald and Dick, fluttered about her.
; "Will you come home with us, Gracie?" asked Aunt Rob, with a tendercaress. "And you, Mr. and Mrs. Death?"
"No, thank you, ma'am," said Mrs. Death. "We must go to our littleones."
"They haven't seen father for ever so long, ma'am," added Gracie. "Didthey ask for me, mother?"
"Yes, my darling, every day, over and over again. How glad they'll be!How happy and grateful I am!"
"I will take you home in my carriage," said Lady Wharton, and thenenergetically to her brother, "Fairfax, what _do_ you think of her?"
"Little brick," said Lord Fairfax.
Lady Wharton turned to the men and women who were pressing round them."Do keep off, good people, and let the child have air. You'll be thedeath of her with your kindness."
"Dick!" said Gracie, putting her hand in his.
"God bless you, Gracie!" he said, kissing her.
"You'll come and see us, Dick."
"I am coming to-night, Gracie."
With her arms round his neck he carried her to the carriage.
A beautiful light shone in her eyes.
Samuel Boyd of Catchpole Square: A Mystery Page 65
