I Say No

by Wilkie Collins

  CHAPTER XVII. DOCTOR ALLDAY.

  Absorbed in the effort to overcome his patient's reserve, the doctor hadforgotten Emily's letter. He opened it immediately.

  After reading the first sentence, he looked up with an expression ofannoyance. "She has begun the examination of the papers already," hesaid.

  "Then I can be of no further use to you," Miss Jethro rejoined. She madea second attempt to leave the room.

  Doctor Allday turned to the next page of the letter. "Stop!" he cried."She has found something--and here it is."

  He held up a small printed Handbill, which had been placed between thefirst and second pages. "Suppose you look at it?" he said.

  "Whether I am interested in it or not?" Miss Jethro asked.

  "You may be interested in what Miss Emily says about it in her letter."

  "Do you propose to show me her letter?"

  "I propose to read it to you."

  Miss Jethro took the Handbill without further objection. It wasexpressed in these words:

  "MURDER. 100 POUNDS REWARD.--Whereas a murder was committed on thethirtieth September, 1877, at the Hand-in-Hand Inn, in the villageof Zeeland, Hampshire, the above reward will be paid to any person orpersons whose exertions shall lead to the arrest and conviction of thesuspected murderer. Name not known. Supposed age, between twenty andthirty years. A well-made man, of small stature. Fair complexion,delicate features, clear blue eyes. Hair light, and cut rather short.Clean shaven, with the exception of narrow half-whiskers. Small, white,well-shaped hands. Wore valuable rings on the two last fingers ofthe left hand. Dressed neatly in a dark-gray tourist-suit. Carrieda knapsack, as if on a pedestrian excursion. Remarkably good voice,smooth, full, and persuasive. Ingratiating manners. Apply to the ChiefInspector, Metropolitan Police Office, London."

  Miss Jethro laid aside the Handbill without any visible appearance ofagitation. The doctor took up Emily's letter, and read as follows:

  "You will be as much relieved as I was, my kind friend, when you look atthe paper inclosed. I found it loose in a blank book, with cuttings fromnewspapers, and odd announcements of lost property and other curiousthings (all huddled together between the leaves), which my aunt no doubtintended to set in order and fix in their proper places. She must havebeen thinking of her book, poor soul, in her last illness. Here is theorigin of those 'terrible words' which frightened stupid Mrs. Mosey! Isit not encouraging to have discovered such a confirmation of my opinionas this? I feel a new interest in looking over the papers that stillremain to be examined--"

  Before he could get to the end of the sentence Miss Jethro's agitationbroke through her reserve.

  "Do what you proposed to do!" she burst out vehemently. "Stop her atonce from carrying her examination any further! If she hesitates, insiston it!"

  At last Doctor Allday had triumphed! "It has been a long time coming,"he remarked, in his cool way; "and it's all the more welcome on thataccount. You dread the discoveries she may make, Miss Jethro, as I do.And _you_ know what those discoveries may be."

  "What I do know, or don't know, is of no importance." she answeredsharply.

  "Excuse me, it is of very serious importance. I have no authority overthis poor girl--I am not even an old friend. You tell me to insist. Helpme to declare honestly that I know of circumstances which justify me;and I may insist to some purpose."

  Miss Jethro lifted her veil for the first time, and eyed himsearchingly.

  "I believe I can trust you," she said. "Now listen! The oneconsideration on which I consent to open my lips, is consideration forMiss Emily's tranquillity. Promise me absolute secrecy, on your word ofhonor."

  He gave the promise.

  "I want to know one thing, first," Miss Jethro proceeded. "Did she tellyou--as she once told me--that her father had died of heart-complaint?"

  "Yes."

  "Did you put any questions to her?"

  "I asked how long ago it was."

  "And she told you?"

  "She told me."

  "You wish to know, Doctor Allday, what discoveries Miss Emily may yetmake, among her aunt's papers. Judge for yourself, when I tell you thatshe has been deceived about her father's death."

  "Do you mean that he is still living?"

  "I mean that she has been deceived--purposely deceived--about the_manner_ of his death."

  "Who was the wretch who did it?"

  "You are wronging the dead, sir! The truth can only have been concealedout of the purest motives of love and pity. I don't desire to disguisethe conclusion at which I have arrived after what I have heard fromyourself. The person responsible must be Miss Emily's aunt--and the oldservant must have been in her confidence. Remember! You are bound inhonor not to repeat to any living creature what I have just said."

  The doctor followed Miss Jethro to the door. "You have not yet told me,"he said, "_how_ her father died."

  "I have no more to tell you."

  With those words she left him.

  He rang for his servant. To wait until the hour at which he wasaccustomed to go out, might be to leave Emily's peace of mind at themercy of an accident. "I am going to the cottage," he said. "If anybodywants me, I shall be back in a quarter of an hour."

  On the point of leaving the house, he remembered that Emily wouldprobably expect him to return the Handbill. As he took it up, the firstlines caught his eye: he read the date at which the murder had beencommitted, for the second time. On a sudden the ruddy color left hisface.

  "Good God!" he cried, "her father was murdered--and that woman wasconcerned in it."

  Following the impulse that urged him, he secured the Handbill in hispocketbook--snatched up the card which his patient had presented as herintroduction--and instantly left the house. He called the first cab thatpassed him, and drove to Miss Jethro's lodgings.

  "Gone"--was the servant's answer when he inquired for her. He insistedon speaking to the landlady. "Hardly ten minutes have passed," he said,"since she left my house."

  "Hardly ten minutes have passed," the landlady replied, "since thatmessage was brought here by a boy."

  The message had been evidently written in great haste: "I amunexpectedly obliged to leave London. A bank note is inclosed in paymentof my debt to you. I will send for my luggage."

  The doctor withdrew.

  "Unexpectedly obliged to leave London," he repeated, as he got into thecab again. "Her flight condemns her: not a doubt of it now. As fastas you can!" he shouted to the man; directing him to drive to Emily'scottage.