by Ashton, Hugh
“ In such circumstances, the will dictated that I should be the beneficiary.”
“ And is there a considerable sum of money involved ? ”
“ More than considerable, I would say. Somewhere in the region of six hundred thousand pounds.”
“ Dear me,” remarked my friend. “ That is indeed a substantial sum. You mentioned that Mr. Stevens was your first husband, though. You have married again ? ”
“ I have, and I wish I had never done so,” replied our visitor, with some show of indignation. “ Mr. Ferdinand Colethorpe has proved the worst of husbands, as my Richard was the best, and yet, by the damnable laws of England, I am unable to divorce him, much as I wish to do so. I feel so little attachment to him that I have ceased to use his name, and have reverted to the name under which I entered this world—that is to say, Montpensier, though with my advancing years, I feel that ‘ Madame’ rather than “ Mademoiselle’ is an appropriate form of address.”
“ Your husband treats you cruelly ? ” I enquired.
“ No, he does not. I almost wish to God that he did, for it would at least show that he recognised my existence. No, he ignores me completely. He leaves the house for months at a time, then suddenly re-appears. I have no advance knowledge of his comings and goings. One day he is here, and the next—pouf ! ” She spread her hands. “ And then it may be two months later, or even three, that I come down to breakfast and he is sitting at the table. And what does he say to me ? I will tell you. Nothing ! ” Her bosom heaved, her Gallic temperament seemingly roused at the memory of her husband, and it took a little time before she appeared to be composed enough to continue.
“ We will return to Mr. Colethorpe in good time,” remarked Holmes. “ But you told us that your daughter—your step-daughter, that is—is dead by your hand. How and when did that happen ? ”
“ It was just two days ago,” our fair guest told us. “ I went to her bed-room in the morning, as was our custom. I used to sit on her bed and we would talk about the day that had just passed, and the day to come, and—I may simply tell you that we had no secrets from each other. That fateful day, I entered her chamber and she appeared to be asleep, which was unusual. I shook her by the shoulder, but, my God, she was cold ! Cold as ice ! I put my ear to her nostrils to determine if I could detect any sign of life, but there was no breath in her body. I confess to you, Mr. Holmes, that I lost my head. I screamed, and the servants came running. At that point I must have fainted, for the next I knew was that I was in my own bed, with my maid beside me, bathing my temples.
“ She informed me that the doctor had been called, and that he had pronounced my dear Annabel to be deceased, but without having been able to ascertain the cause of death. But I know it was I who gave her the fatal drink that caused her death.”
“ Indeed ? ”
“ Yes, it was I who gave her the last drink to pass her lips. A cup of cocoa which she drank the previous evening before retiring. She was poisoned, I am sure of it, but I swear to you it was not I who introduced the fatal dose ! ”
“ Did the doctor give any indication of when the death might have occurred ? ” Holmes queried.
“ He judged that it might have happened any time after midnight. He is a fool. He says he has no idea of the cause of death.”
“ That takes us very little further forward. But the doctor tells you that the cause of death is still unknown. Why do you say poison ? ”
“ There were no visible marks of violence on the body. What can it be but poison ? There will be a post-mortem examination conducted tomorrow, they tell me. It is too terrible to think of.” Once again, she buried her face in her handkerchief, seemingly overcome by grief.
“ And you wish me to discover how she died ? ”
“ I do not wish you to tell me how she died, but you must determine whom it was who killed her ! It was murder, I tell you. Murder ! ”
The last words were pronounced in an almost hysterical shriek, and I feared that the good Mrs. Hudson, accustomed as she was to Holmes’ eccentricities, and those of his clients, would nonetheless be alarmed at the words and the tone of voice in which they were uttered.
“ What makes you say this, Madame ? ” asked Holmes calmly.
“ It is Colethorpe at his tricks, I am sure of it. He has poisoned her.”
“ You are making a very serious accusation without any proof,” remarked Holmes. “ I fail to see where I can be of use, though, should the autopsy fail to reveal anything that substantiates your words.”
“ But do you not see ? ” the wretched woman appealed to Holmes. “ If the examination should discover any sign of foul play, it is I who will be suspected, since I am the gainer under the terms of the will and it was I who administered the fatal dose.”
“ Indeed,” said Holmes, “ but it is not my business to invent crimes where none exist. Apart from your justifiable distaste for a boorish husband, what reason do you have for believing that your step-daughter was murdered ? ”
“ A piece of paper bearing these words was discovered on her dressing-table,” she responded, producing from her reticule a folded piece of notepaper, which she extended to Holmes. “ This is a copy that I made in my own hand.”
“ Take it, Watson, and read it,” he commanded me.
I did as I had been bidden, and began. “ ‘ I write this in haste, and I am in fear of my future. I have seen him again at my window. The drink tonight tasted bitter in my mouth. I am afraid to sleep, because I know he will come tonight.’ “
“ The original was in your step-daughter’s handwriting ? ” Holmes asked, and receiving a nod in reply, continued. “ The outpourings of a frightened soul, indeed. When was this note found, and by whom ? ”
“ As I said, this was written on a scrap of paper discovered on her dressing-table. It was found by my maid when the body was moved.”
“ Had she ever mentioned anything of which she writes here to you ? ”
“ No, never.”
“ This came as a complete surprise to you, then ? ”
“ Indeed.”
“ And the ‘ he’ who is mentioned here, you take to be your husband ? ”
“ Who else could it be ? ” was her response, uttered in tones of some surprise.
“ Who indeed ? ” mused Holmes. “ Did your step-daughter have admirers ? ”
“ Naturally she did, but I knew of none who would have dreamed of such an act as visiting her at night in such a fashion.”
“ Let us return to Mr. Colethorpe. When did you last see him ? ”
“ Over a month ago. He suddenly appeared in the house one morning, as is his fashion, and stayed, speaking to no-one except the servants, for three days before leaving.”
“ And you have had no communication with him since that time ? ”
Our guest gave a rueful smile. “ You do not know the man, Mr. Holmes, or you would not waste your time asking such a question.”
“ What were his relations with your step-daughter during the times when he was in the house ? ”
“ They were the same as his relations to me, and may best be described as complete indifference.”
“ Your case intrigues me, somewhat, Madame, but I feel unable to take the case unless the autopsy and the coroner’s jury deliver a verdict that hints at foul play.”
“ I beg of you, Mr. Holmes. Even if the English law finds nothing untoward, surely you wish to see justice prevail.”
“ Very well,” sighed Holmes. “ Please give me your address, and the name of the doctor who was called.”
She provided an address in Reigate, and the name of a medical practitioner, at which I started.
“ Would Dr. Clifford’s Christian name be Henry, by any chance ? ” I asked. “ And is he about my age, very tall and slim, with fair hair ? And a habit of stooping down when he addresses you ? ”
“ Yes, he corresponds to that description, and I believe his name is Henry. I take it you are acquainted with him ? ”
“ I am indeed. He was a fellow student at Barts, and I have memories of us walking the wards together.”
“ Capital,” exclaimed Holmes. “ Watson, I rely on you to revive those memories of student days in Dr. Clifford’s mind when you visit him, and ask questions on my behalf. If you can prevail on him to allow you to attend the procedure tomorrow, thereby allowing you to make a report to me on the matter, that would be of great value.”
“ Thank you, Mr. Holmes, and you too, Dr. Watson.” She rose to go, and I escorted her to the door. “ You will let me know of any developments as they occur ? ” she beseeched Holmes.
“ Believe me, Madame, I will treat this case as I treat all cases that I take up—with all the skill and diligence at my disposal for as long as it continues to present interesting aspects. My fees will be at the usual scale. A very good day to you.”
She seemed somewhat nonplussed by this rather curt dismissal, but gathered up her things and left, bidding us both a farewell.
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When the door had closed behind her, Holmes turned his penetrating gaze on me.
“ Describe our visitor,” he requested.
“ I feel she described herself adequately,” I replied. “ A former demi-mondaine, who has achieved a certain measure of respectability through marriage. But I am puzzled by her attitude. Why does she protest her innocence in that way when no accusation has been made against her, even if the cause of death is determined to be poison.”
“ Indeed so. ‘ The lady doth protest too much,’ do you not agree ? Of course she claims to have served the drink that caused her step-daughter’s death. There is always something strange about such a client, and it invariably puts me on my guard. I will throw up the case should the evidence conspire to point to her as a guilty party. It is of benefit to neither my conscience nor my reputation to serve a client whose guilt is beyond doubt.”
“ But there is still doubt, you feel ? ” I confess that my question was based somewhat on a prejudice in favour of our recent guest, whose appearance and general demeanour had impressed me favourably.
Holmes laughed. “ My dear fellow, naturally there is doubt. We know almost nothing about the facts of the case other than those of which we were informed just now. Naturally my suspicions are aroused by the denial of a crime of which the denier has yet to be accused. Indeed, we have yet to determine whether there has been a crime at all. All we know at present is that there has been a sudden death, and there is to be an autopsy. These two things may, but do not invariably, spell murder.”
“ There is a certain mystery that attaches to the errant Mr. Colethorpe, though, is there not ? ”
“ I hardly see this as a mystery,” laughed Holmes, but he failed to offer any further explanation, and I forbore to press him on the subject.
I continued, “ By the terms of the will as it was drawn up, the estate would pass to Mme. Montpensier should the step-daughter die, which would mean that he would be in effective possession of a very large sum of money indeed. Does this not seem of any significance in determining his guilt ? ”
“ I feel that you underestimate our client’s strength of mind, Watson. Perhaps you failed to notice the shape of her chin, and the set of her jaw, signifying a forcefulness and decisive nature that is not common in the sex, but when present, is present in full force, greater than that which obtains in the male of the species. I have my doubts as to whether her husband would be able to control her purse, no matter what promises may have been made at one time to love, honour and obey. No doubt you also failed to mark the fact that she plays the viola.”
“ How on earth– ? ”
“ Simple enough, my dear man. The mark on the collar of the plush dress where the instrument rests, the peculiar configuration of the fingertips of the left hand, and the difference between the length of the nails on that hand and those of the right make it obvious that either the violin or viola is her instrument, which she plays regularly, given the rosin dust from the bow which I observed on her left shoulder. Possibly she regards this as some consolation for the neglect from which she currently suffers. From the size of her hands, the viola seems more likely, but I could be mistaken. In any case, to return to your original question, I feel that Mr. Colethorpe would find it hard work to lay his hands on that money.”
“ But surely, that paper discovered by the servant points to his guilt ? ”
“ It points to no such thing. You are making an assumption that the ‘ he’ mentioned in that document is Colethorpe, simply because our client has told us this, and you were sufficiently impressed by her suggestion to believe it, at least as a possibility. I have more than a suspicion that our client’s personal financial circumstances may not be as comfortable as she led us to believe.”
“ What makes you say that ? ”
For answer, my friend picked up a pair of gold pince-nez lying in their case on the table. “ I expect a return visit soon, when our fair visitor realises that she has left them here. In the meantime, what can you make of her from examining these ? ”
I took the proffered spectacles and proceeded to scrutinise them. “ Remarkably little, I confess. They are of good quality, but a little worn.” I handed them back to Holmes.
“ They are indeed of excellent quality. The name of the opticians inside the case is that of the finest such business operating in Bond Street. The date on which they were sold, as we can see from the label affixed within the case, is more than three years ago, which we have been told was prior to the demise of the estimable Mr. Stevens. Therefore we may conclude that they were purchased using his money while he was alive. They are, as you so rightly remark, of the finest manufacture. However, the case is much worn and scuffed, and has on its surface significant traces of candle wax.”
“ And what can you conclude from that ? ”
“ Two or three major points. Firstly, that these spectacles are used frequently, and that therefore the eyesight of Madame Montpensier is perhaps not as perfect as she would like. Maybe she is significantly older than the age she would have us believe. The lenses are quite strong, which indicates that her eyesight, at least when she views objects close at hand, is somewhat less than perfect. Next, that as the case is likewise of good quality, but the lacquer has been adversely affected by the candle wax, and has not been replaced or even cleaned in a proper manner, there is a lack of money for such purposes. The fact that one of the cork nose-pieces has become detached and has not been replaced also tends to strengthen this theory. I would guess that Mr. Stevens’ will, pending the transfer of the principal, is in some way entailed so that the income goes towards the maintenance of the house, rather than towards the direct comfort of its inhabitants. Incidentally, we may also conclude that vanity prevents Mme. Montpensier from wearing these eyeglasses in public, since the exterior of the case is in such poor condition, and I cannot believe that a woman who pays so much attention to matters of dress would wish to appear with such an object exposed to public view.”
“ Remarkable ! ” I exclaimed.
“ Elementary,” he replied. “ It is simply a matter of drawing logical conclusions from the details that most people, such as yourself, see, but fail to observe the significance.”
“ Then whom do you believe is guilty of killing the step-daughter ? ” I enquired, impressed, as always, with Holmes’ deductive powers.
“ I have yet insufficient data to make any such pronouncement. We must visit the place and see the lie of the land for ourselves before casting such aspersions. First, I wish you to re-acquaint yourself with your old friend of student days. Return when you have learned what there is to learn from the doubtless admirable Dr. Clifford, the friend of your student days, although our client seems to think little of him, and let me know what you can discover. If, by some chance, you find yourself in a position to visit the mortuary and examine the body yourself at the autopsy, I will remind you once more that this would be of great value to me.”
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bsp; I had found no difficulty in locating Clifford’s address from the medical directory before I left London the next day, and on ringing the bell and sending in my card, I was admitted instantly.
“ Upon my word, Watson, it is good to see you. I had heard that you had been out East with the Army and had been wounded.” My erstwhile friend had changed little since the days when we assisted each other in the dissecting-rooms at Barts, and he greeted me with enthusiasm.
“ That is precisely the case,” I confirmed, and proceeded to tell him a little about my adventures in Afghanistan. “ However, I should tell you that I am here today at the request of Mr. Sherlock Holmes, of whom you may have heard.”
“ Naturally I have heard of him, but I must confess that I had not thought to associate you with the chronicler of his adventures. What is your particular interest ? ”
“ It concerns a death for which you signed the certificate only a few days ago. A Miss Annabel Stevens.”
“ Ah, yes. Naturally I remember the case. The poor girl had apparently died in the night from some unknown cause. A seizure or some such, but I could not be sure.”
“ There was no sign of violence, then ? ”
“ I was unable to detect any such. Indeed, there was no cause of death that I could ascertain. Has your friend attached some suspicion to the death ? Does he suspect foul play ? ”
“ That is what we wish to establish. You say there was no apparent cause of death that you observed ? ”
“ As I said, there was none that I could see. The autopsy will no doubt reveal more.”
“ Who is conducting the procedure ? ”
“ Our old anatomy professor, Dr. Menzies.”
“ Old Menzies,” I laughed. “ I can hardly believe he is still in harness.”
“ As fit and healthy as ever, and as much of a terror to his students as he was in our day.”
“ I take it you will be attending ? May I request that I might also be present ? ”
“ I will be attending, and I am sure there would be no objection to your presence. As it happens, you are just in time. It is scheduled for four this afternoon. Would you care to stay for luncheon ? ”
