Black Widow

by S. Fowler Wright

  “I can tell you definitely that that is untrue.”

  “I am pleased to hear it. I have met Lady Denton socially, and the rumour appeared incredible. Can you tell me that it is a quite baseless report?”

  “I don’t know that I ought to say more than I now have. You will appreciate that I have not been on this case for more than twenty-four hours. At the present moment there is no accusation against Lady Denton of any kind. May I say that, if you eliminate the possibility of suicide, as I think you may, it is difficult to understand how it can be a question of such urgency, or how it can affect the validity of a policy on Sir Daniel’s life?”

  “I have not said that it would. But the legal position is somewhat complicated, and counsel’s opinion was being taken upon it in London this morning, the result of which I have not yet heard. You are doubtless aware of the principle that a man cannot profit from his own crime?”

  “Yes, I see.”

  As Inspector Pinkey said this, he rose up to go. He held out a hand which Mr. Fisher delayed to take. “If you would like to remain…,” he said tentatively.

  It was the Inspector’s turn to hesitate. If he resolved to stay, he might hear things which it would be very useful to know. But he could not discuss the case at this stage with the various gentlemen who were about to assemble there.

  “I should be pleased,” he said, “to remain, if it be understood that I shall not be asked to say more than I have already done.”

  “Very well, I will ask them in. I have no doubt that they are waiting now.”

  A minute later the three gentlemen entered the room.

  CHAPTER IX.

  The bank manager, Mr. Strange, was a man of middle age, slightly bald, slightly rotund, with a reputation for few words, and a placidity which remained outwardly unruffled by this unexpected disturbance in the smooth working of the largest account but one on the books of the branch he ruled.

  Mr. Borman, the acting head of a firm of solicitors who specialized in the higher ranges of banking law, and who drew an income therefrom about equal to that of three High Court judges, was a tall, well-groomed man with a natural air of dignified authority, and a cultivated suavity which was liable to turn to sarcastic curtness if his sense of logic were tried too far, or his dignity took offence.

  The other lawyer, Mr. Wheeler, was of a different type. He recruited clients on the golf course, or in the ten-shilling enclosure, who were handed over subsequently to the ministrations of his more industrious partners. He had a wide knowledge of men, and a sufficient knowledge of law. His usual joviality was now subdued to a wary reticence. Naturally of a more robustly combative temperament than were, perhaps, any of the four other gentlemen who were round him now, he had come prepared to express his mind with any necessary emphasis on behalf of a dead client, and one who lived.

  But it was not for him to begin. He had not called the meeting, for which he would have said that there was no reason at all. He came to listen, before he could have occasion to talk, and he had been careful to join the train at the last moment, travelling in a different compartment from that which was dignified by Mr. Borman’s occupation, and to order a vehicle in advance to meet his arrival, so that they should not be invited to enter a single taxi.

  “I think, Mr. Fisher,” Mr. Borman observed, “now that we are all together, if you would give us a short statement of the position, particularly for Mr. Wheeler’s benefit, it might be a convenient course to adopt. Unless, of course, you have obtained information since you phoned me this morning, of such a definite character that it is needless for us to pursue the subject at all.”

  “I’m afraid,” Mr. Fisher replied, “I cannot go quite that far. We have the benefit of the presence here of Chief Inspector Pinkey, of Scotland Yard, and he is prepared to tell us that the medical evidence is strongly opposed to the theory of suicide, and that the report which has unfortunately reached us regarding Mr. Wheeler’s client is without foundation. He does not wish to discuss the matter further at this moment, having only taken it up during the last twenty-four hours, but perhaps you may consider that that is all which we need, or are entitled to know.”

  “I would prefer, if I may,” the Inspector said, “to put it in my own words. The result of the post-mortem is such that, apart from any new evidence, which we do not anticipate, it is improbable that any jury would return a verdict of suicide—in fact, it would be an act of perversity on their part to do so.

  “I am told that you have heard a report that a warrant has been issued for Lady Denton’s arrest, which I think it my duty to contradict, as it is untrue.”

  Mr. Borman said: “Thank you, Inspector. That is quite clear. May I ask whether the date of the adjourned inquest has now been fixed?”

  “No, it has not.”

  “Do you anticipate that it will be held at an early date?”

  “I am sorry that I cannot answer that question.”

  Mr. Borman looked at Mr. Wheeler and the bank manager, rather requiring than asking their assent, as he gave his judgment on these replies: “Then I am afraid we are much where we were before. I’m afraid we must go on.”

  “Gentlemen,” Mr. Wheeler interposed, “I think I ought to say one word before you begin. I have come to listen, which I am prepared to do, but it must not therefore be understood that I consider that there was any proper occasion to ask me here.

  “I heard of this suicide suggestion from you before, and I told you, from my knowledge of Sir Daniel’s character, you needn’t give it another thought. I now hear, for the first time, that you’ve been entertaining another rumour of a grossly slanderous kind, and we’ve all heard that it’s as false as you might have guessed it to be. I don’t say that this isn’t a privileged occasion, and I won’t ask you where it began, but if I catch anyone repeating it outside this room, they’ll have a writ just as quickly as we can get it issued.”

  “Perhaps, Mr. Wheeler,” Mr. Borman suggested, with an air of suave authority which approached rebuke, “if you would kindly hear Mr. Fisher’s statement first, so that we should be clear as to what we have to discuss—”

  “Well, I’ve said I’ll do that. But I should like to point out first that the obligations of the bank are under a deed which is not impeached by my client’s death, and of which the covenants on our side have been fully performed.”

  Mr. Borman did not offer any comment on this. He gave a slight sign to Mr. Fisher, who understood that the conversation was not to be continued on their side. He commenced his statement accordingly:

  “Sir Daniel Denton, as we are all aware, has been engaged during the last few years in financial transactions of a somewhat extensive and decidedly speculative character, the means for which have been largely supplied by an overdraft, for which he arranged by the deposit of certain securities with the local branch of the London and Northern Bank.

  “Somewhat less than a year ago, he required not only additional accommodation at the time, but the assurance that some large sums would be contingently available at later dates. He had acquired a very large block of Medwin-Badcock shares, which were only partly paid up, and on which a further call, involving an immediate payment of thirty thousand pounds, was liable to be made at any time after the end of September of this year, and this call has, in fact, been made, and the money is now due.

  “Sir Daniel at that time had a large income—far beyond his expenditure—derived from the life interest in his mother’s Edgley estate, which, in the absence of more direct heirs, now passes absolutely to his cousin, Benjamin Sidmouth.

  “In purchasing these shares, Sir Daniel very naturally wished to be assured in advance that, if such a call should be made, he would have the necessary funds available for its satisfaction, and he therefore entered into an arrangement with Mr. Strange by which this money would be found, if and when it might be required, against a charge of five thousand pounds per annum upon the life interest I have mentioned.

  “But as that interest would cease—a
s, in fact, it has ceased—at his death, the bank very properly stipulated that they should have the additional security of an insurance upon his life for the full sum of thirty thousand pounds; for which purpose certain existing policies for smaller amounts were cancelled, and a single new one was issued for that sum. I am afraid that these details, which it is necessary to recite, can be of little interest to you, Inspector. If you have given us all the help you can, and would wish to withdraw—”

  “If you are reciting them for my benefit,” Mr. Wheeler interposed, in a tone less rude than the words suggested, “you are really wasting your breath, for I am already conversant with Sir Daniel’s affairs.”

  “Not at all,” Inspector Pinkey answered the previous speaker, “if I have your permission to stay. You are giving me information which I am glad to have. Do I understand rightly that Sir Daniel’s death was of no financial benefit to—to any members of his family?”

  Mr. Wheeler took the answer upon himself. “Yes, you certainly may. Very much the reverse. The larger part of his income ceased with his death.”

  Mr. Fisher did not approve the vicarious answering of a question which was addressed to himself. He ignored the interruption, and was precise in reply.

  “I believe that, under the terms of Sir Daniel’s will (for probate of which I understand that Mr. Wheeler has already applied), Lady Denton is his sole heir. But, as you have heard, the major part of his income has ended with his decease. So far as Mr. Gerard is con­cerned, an income which Sir Daniel was administering for his benefit now passes into his own control. There is no change beyond that.”

  “There is no suggestion,” the Inspector continued, “that Sir Daniel was financially embarrassed by his speculations? I should like to know whether he may have left a substantial estate, apart from the life interest which has now ceased.”

  The first question was answered by two voices at once.

  “No,” Mr. Fisher replied, in a coldly judicial manner, “I should say not.”

  “You may take it,” Mr. Wheeler said, with more emphasis, “that he was not embarrassed at all. His investments were very soundly made.”

  The second query caused Mr. Borman to break the impatient silence with which he had listened to this disorderly interruption of the business which brought him there.

  “That,” he said dryly, “is what I understand we had come here to decide.”

  Inspector Pinkey had the wisdom to become silent. He realized that the less his presence was emphasized, the more he was likely to learn. He had an instinctive perception that Mr. Wheeler was annoyed at his being there, and he was prepared to withdraw at once if any protest should be made. Mr. Wheeler’s feelings were just what he supposed them to be. Considering that the question of whether Adelaide Denton had murdered her husband could never be far below the surface of the discussion which was before them, it was natural that her solicitor should consider that few men could be less appropriately present than the Scotland Yard officer who had the official investigation in hand.

  But he considered also that the harm, if any, had now been done. It might be increased if any protest should come from him. Beyond that, he saw that the Inspector wished to remain, and he was too shrewdly aware of how much human prides and weaknesses enter into these matters to wish to antagonize him in any way.

  He had been conscious for some days of the peril of Lady Denton’s position. He had resolved, only a few minutes ago, that when that meeting was over he must not return to town without a call at Bywater Grange. He must form his own opinion of her guilt or innocence, must induce her to confide, if possible, in himself; and if it should appear that it was her own hand that had fired the shot, he must consider how suspicion could still be stifled, or how best he could contrive a line of defence which would bring her free. He realized that he might soon be meeting the Inspector again, though he did not know how very soon it would be.

  Meanwhile, the fact of the Inspector’s presence was causing him to take a more emphatic tone than he might have thought necessary had he been dealing with his fellow lawyers alone. In his own mind, he recognized the awkward position in which the bank was placed. But Mr. Borman was quite capable of protecting that institution without help from him. His duty was to watch Lady Denton’s interest, and assert her rights.

  Mr. Borman, having led the meeting back to the business which brought them there, came to the point at once.

  “The fact is, Mr. Wheeler,” he said, “I can’t advise the bank to find such a sum as thirty thousand pounds, unless there is a reasonable certainty that the insurance money will be paid; and, as Lady Denton’s interests as Sir Daniel’s heir are so deeply involved, I thought it no more than courteous to yourself to let you know how the case stands.”

  “I don’t want to be rude,” Mr. Wheeler replied “but I don’t see what option the bank has got. We’re not negotiating now. It’s a matter of reading the deed, and you’ll find there couldn’t be anything much clearer than that.”

  “I may tell you,” Mr. Borman replied, in more temperate words than those which Mr. Wheeler em­ployed, but with a formal aloofness of manner which tipped the scale to the other side, “that we have taken counsel’s opinion upon the points involved in our decision this morning, and it is upon that opinion that we are proceeding now.”

  “Then what,” Mr. Wheeler asked abruptly, “are you proposing to do?”

  “Unless substantial further security can be put forward, we have no option but to dispose of the shares. Even now, apart from the insurance policy, it appears that we are not fully secured.”

  “You mean, you’d knock the bottom out of the market by throwing all those shares on it, just as a call’s being made, and sell them for half what they’re worth, and then point to the wretched price you got to justify what you’d done.”

  “I mean that a security’s worth no more to a bank than it will fetch at a forced sale. I don’t need to tell you that.”

  “No. And the question doesn’t arise. You’ve got no right to sell; and I don’t see what I can do beyond sending you a formal protest, and a warning of the responsibility you incur.”

  “I am sorry you take it in that way. We had hoped that there might be other assets available with which to support the account. I suggest that it could be no loss to your client, under any circumstances, to take that course; unless you set up the position that the estate is insolvent, or think it preferable that the shares should be sold.”

  Mr. Wheeler declined to discuss these propositions, seeing to where they might lead.

  “You can’t ask me to do that,” he said. “The will isn’t even proved. You’ll find you’ll get the insurance money all right in the end. You’re going head on for an action for damages that’ll hurt you a lot more than paying the call, and all for no real reason at all.”

  “I’m afraid it’s a risk we must take,” Mr. Borman replied, in a tone that suggested that there would be no sleep lost over that decision. He added, in his suave manner: “I don’t want you to think that we’re inclined to act harshly in this matter. I think you should know that we’ve been in communication with the company’s solicitors already, and that we had arranged for some delay in paying the call, without formal default, if we could give a near and definite date on which the matter would finally be dealt with. You will appreciate that that was not a simple matter to arrange, with so large an amount involved.”

  “I wouldn’t be too sure about that. I don’t suppose they want all those shares thrown on the market just now.”

  “But,” Mr. Borman went on, ignoring this interruption, “it now appears that such a date cannot be given. I am afraid you must take it as definite that I cannot advise a course which might finally leave these shares on the bank’s hands. You must remember that, when this call is paid, there may be others to follow in future years. The bank does not normally care for securities of that nature.”

  Mr. Wheeler repressed an inclination to retort: “Oh, don’t they? What about their ow
n shares?” But he had been thinking quickly while these exchanges were made, and what he did utter was the laconic query: “Fifty-fifty?”

  Mr. Borman, experienced and adroit in his own way in such negotiations, had yet some difficulty in avoiding expressions of bewilderment and then surprise.

  “Do you mean,” he asked, “that you might be prepared to support the account with an additional fifteen thousand pounds, if we should accept that as sufficient?”

  “Well, I don’t say but I might. There’s some money of Lady Denton’s that’s not earning much now. And there’d be no risk that I see. It would have to be quite clear that there’s no bargain about the deed. The deed stands. It’s entirely a question of what interest it will save. It’s got to be an investment proposition, and nothing else.”

  “I don’t think,” Mr. Strange said, speaking for the first time, “that there need be any difficulty about that.”

  Mr. Wheeler rose to go without further words. He said briefly to Mr. Borman, who now shook hands in his most affable manner: “If you tell your office to get in touch with our Mr. Spencer in the morning, any time after ten-forty-five.” Then he said genially to Inspector Pinkey, who also had risen to go: “Coming my way?” To which that gentleman gave a ready assent, without asking what it might be.

  They walked out together, leaving the very capable representatives of the London and Northern Bank satisfied that they had found a better issue out of a worrying position than they had expected to reach.

  Mr. Wheeler was also well content. He knew that Adelaide Denton’s money would not be jeopardized unless the insurance policy were finally declared invalid, and possibly not even then. He was convinced that suicide could not be established. Only if she were accused and convicted of her husband’s murder.… What he had done was to throw her money into the scale as a demonstration of the absurdity of the idea. And how could it be used, in her interest, for a better purpose than that?