Spellbound, Harding listened.
‘Go on,’ he said.
‘The result of my experiments was that I felt convinced I should succeed. But the difficulties in the way were enormous. I wanted to lead the life of a beautiful woman. It was necessary for me to find an unknown girl. It was necessary that I should have practically two houses. My preparations occupied a long time. I purchased the house in King Street, I purchased this house. I rebuilt this house. After an enormous amount of trouble I managed, by the assistance of obscure builders, to construct a secret passage between this house and the ground floor of King Street.’
‘Then these two houses are back to back,’ Harding interposed.
‘Yes,’ she replied. ‘No one, apparently, has ever noticed that. In each house there is a black oak cupboard, the lock of which is concealed in the woodwork. I had arranged everything. My servants in this house are all people on whom I have conferred benefits. I had, let us say, fascinated them. They are willing to do anything for me. In King Street I installed Reggie Pardell. Everything was ready, except the woman. But something told me that I should find her. One day Miss Mingey came. Instantly I knew that she would suit my purpose.
‘The girl—well—the body you see before you is Miss Mingey. I ascertained that the body was perfectly healthy. Her practice of wearing spectacles was, I gathered, due to the fact that she wished to give herself an intellectual appearance. At any rate, her eyes, which you see, are fairly good eyes. But Miss Mingey made the worst of herself. I had no trouble in curing her of her ailment. There was little difficulty in inducing her to come and visit me at King Street. When she appeared on the eventful evening I mesmerised her. I triumphed.’
Miriam sat up, the light of enthusiasm kindling in her eyes. ‘I became Sarah Mingey. On the sofa lay the limp, practically lifeless body of Clifford Oakleigh. There was only one identity in that room where previously there had been two. Then a terrible thing occurred. I had forgotten the key of the secret cupboard. What was I to do? For a moment I thought of reincarnating myself as Clifford. But my eagerness to enjoy my womanhood overcame me. I would risk anything. The street was deserted. There was no one in the house. I took off my spectacles, they seemed to fidget me; my skirts also were a nuisance. I ran clumsily out of the house to look for a four-wheeler. I could not find one. How long I was away I don’t know, but it must have been during my absence that Reggie came in and found the body. When I returned I bundled Clifford into a cab, telling the driver that he was drunk, and drove here. I let myself in with my latchkey and half carried Clifford along the hall. You have noticed that I am a strong woman. I placed him in the secret cupboard and went upstairs. Previously, through Mudge, the servants had been informed that the new tenant would arrive that night. I had ordered some dresses and things which would more or less fit Miss Mingey. They were in my bedroom. Now remember this, that the servants were devoted to me, that the entirely reliable Mudge had informed them that the new tenant was a wealthy woman who could afford her whims, that she desired to take up her new abode as if she had always lived there, and that she would enter her house with her latchkey as though she had only left it in the morning.’
‘Did Mudge know?’ inquired Harding.
‘No,’ she answered. ‘Mudge was mystified but he didn’t suspect. After all, how can one suspect? Even now that you are having the facts put before you, you can hardly believe the truth.’
‘With difficulty,’ gasped Harding, ‘go on.’
‘There is not much more,’ she answered. ‘Most of the rest you can imagine for yourself. You can see the frightful obstacles I had to get over. I provided for every contingency. I made a will as Miriam Clive, leaving everything to Clifford Oakleigh. I made a will, as Clifford Oakleigh, leaving everything to Miriam Clive. It was only possible for me to be Miriam Clive for three days or Clifford Oakleigh for three days. I was playing a sort of battledore and shuttlecock with souls. I always had a fear that some disaster might occur, and that corruption would take place in the body I was not using at the time. Hence, I would not go to Badschwerin. Also, I would not marry you. When I began, I thought that I would only keep up the experiment for a week or two. But I was fascinated with being a woman. I loved it. Often and often I wondered, should the worst come to the worst, should something occur like the accident, which I would prefer to be, a man or a woman. For the life of me, George, I couldn’t decide. But Fate has decided. And, I think, wisely.’
He sat with his face between his hands, paralysed with horror.
Reflectively she said:
‘I have come out of it very well. I have only lost a leg, and…Miss Mingey’s soul—which was scarcely an asset. But I have got you, George, haven’t I?’
‘Yes…damn it,’ he replied.
THE END
THE DETECTIVE STORY CLUB
‘THE DETECTIVE STORY CLUB is a clearing house for the best detective and mystery stories chosen for you by a select committee of experts. Only the most ingenious crime stories will be published under the THE DETECTIVE STORY CLUB imprint. A special distinguishing stamp appears on the wrapper and title page of every THE DETECTIVE STORY CLUB book—the Man with the Gun. Always look for the Man with the Gun when buying a Crime book.’—Wm. Collins Sons & Co. Ltd., 1929
Now the Man with the Gun is back in this series of COLLINS CRIME CLUB reprints, and with him the chance to experience the classic books that influenced the Golden Age of crime fiction.
LIST OF TITLES
THE PERFECT CRIME • ISRAEL ZANGWILL
CALLED BACK • HUGH CONWAY
THE MAYFAIR MYSTERY • FRANK RICHARDSON
THE GRELL MYSTERY • FRANK FROEST
DR JEKYLL AND MR HYDE • R. L. STEVENSON
FURTHER TITLES IN PREPARATION
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The Mayfair Mystery Page 22
