The Crime and the Criminal
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"I will bring Archie to call on you-if I may."
This Lord Archibald Beaupré was a son of the Duke of Glenlivet, and, so far as blood went, not very distant from the Throne itself.
"I shall be very glad to see him, or, indeed, any of your friends. Is this Sir Haselton Jardine, with whom you have been staying, a married man?"
"He is a widower."
"Has he any family?"
"He has a daughter."
I don't know what there was in his tone, but there was something when he said "He has a daughter" which made it almost seem as if he had slapped my face. I felt almost as if he had taken my breath away. I found myself echoing his words.
"A daughter? I see."
There was silence. Something seemed, all at once, to have taken the heart out of the conversation. It floundered, fell flat; seemed, for a time, to die. I knew very well what that something was just as plainly as if it had been told to me.
It was that daughter of Sir Haselton Jardine.
It may seem odd. I had never seen the girl. I had never heard of her before. But, all the same, I hated her right then. She spoilt my dinner. That's a fact. And, straight on the spot, she made me stand to arms.
I knew he loved her. And it made me feel-well, I had never thought that a little thing like that could have made me feel so queer.
I had meant to talk to him about my plans for the future. To have asked his advice upon points on which I wished him to think I needed it. I wanted to beguile him into showing interest in what I had set my heart upon, until he had drifted, though but a little, into the current of my affairs. But, somehow, after all, I did not seem to care to try. At least, not then. I let him go.
He was very nice. I was conscious that the man was almost like a woman in the quickness of his intuition. That, if it came to shooting I should have to move like lightning to get my shot in first. That he would detect any intended movement towards my gun even before the intention was wholly formed. And instinct told me that he was aware that I had perceived the intonation with which he had said "He has a daughter," and that it rankled. I do believe that for the first time in my life I had given myself away. And to a man. But this man could read the stars. And after dinner, he was particularly nice, because he happened to have read them.
After he was gone I sat for ever so long in the drawing-room forming plans. The first wild notion had come to me before. I gave it form and fashion then. I, too, would buck the tiger. Why not? Who would have more cause than I? It is a peculiarity of my constitution that, whatever the game, I always play better when the stakes are high.
I would win my friend, the gentleman. I would go the limit every time until I did.
In winning him I should win all. Everything my soul desired. At a single coup, the game.
First of all, I should win the man. He was well worth winning-just the man.
Then I should win social recognition. By becoming Mrs. Reginald Townsend I should be spared years of struggling-struggling, too, which might only bring failure at the end. He wanted a clever wife, and he should have her. He wanted a good wife, and he should have her too. He wanted a wife who believed in him; he would never meet one who believed in him more than I did. He wanted a wife with money; probably there was not in England half a dozen possible women who had as much as I had. Given a wife who had all these things I doubted if there was a drawing-room in which he could not make her welcome-from the Queen's own drawing-room, downwards or upwards. Practically he could place Society-with a big S! – at her feet, to do with as she chose.
To think of it! What a realisation of one's dream. What a short and what an easy cut to the Kingdom of the Blest!
Again, in making him the captive of my sword and of my bow, I should be giving one to the daughter of Sir Haselton Jardine. That, also, would be worth the doing. To dislike any one is a mistake. I reminded myself of that over and over again. But I knew I hated her.
As to whether I should be able to win him-on that point I had no shadow of doubt. It was true that the overtures might have to come from me, but they should come. And when they came they should come in a guise which he would find resistless.
Or we should see!
I slept very well that night-soothed by my own fancies. I remember very well that, when I was in my bedroom, just before I got between the sheets, I looked at the hand which he had held in his, and, just where his hand pressed it, I kissed it. It was a silly thing to do, but it did me good.
I wondered if, when he had held her hand in his, she was silly too. But, no doubt, she had freehold rights-or she thought that she had freehold rights-to what was much better worth the kissing.
Never mind! But bide a wee!
Days slipped by. At his next examination before the magistrates things began to look very black indeed against poor Tommy. I suppose the witnesses supposed they spoke the truth-so far as I could see, there was no possible cause for their wishing to do otherwise. But how they lied! Unconsciously, we will hope, and in their haste. It was becoming plainer and plainer that unless something, as yet wholly unsuspected, turned up in his favour, Tommy bade fair to hang.
Well, I have seen a man hung on suspicion of stealing a horse, and directly he was hung the horse in question has turned up underneath the thief that really stole him. As Mr. Townsend observed, sometimes it seems as if the innocent were born to hang. If everything in life were certain, where would be the sport, and what would be the use of betting?
It is the element of chance that makes the game!
One afternoon something happened which struck me as being distinctly curious. It was after lunch. I was thinking of taking the air. I had just gone into the drawing-room for a moment, when there came a knocking at the door.
"Now, who's that, I wonder?" I stopped the servant on her way to answer the door. "Eliza, let me know who it is before you say I'm in."
I knew who it was directly she opened the door. It was no good telling him that I was not in. He did not even ask. He came himself to see. It was old Jack Haines, and with him was a stranger.
It was the stranger who made me open my eyes. I had to stare. For he was-and yet he wasn't-the living, breathing image of my friend, the gentleman. He was Reginald Townsend, with a difference. And the difference-which was all the difference-was this: Reginald Townsend was a gentleman; this man was emphatically quite another kind of thing.
And Jack Haines treated him as if he was quite another kind of thing. He treated him as if he had been nothing but a cur, and the man bore himself as if he was used to being treated like a cur.
Mr. Haines strode into the middle of the room. He pointed to the stranger.
"You see this creature?"
It was an awkward sort of introduction. I scarcely knew what to make of it. The more I looked at him, the more I wondered who the man could be.
"He's a detective-a private detective. That's what he calls himself. If he is, he's the English kind. When first I landed on this darned old island I went to him, like the fool I was, and I said, 'I want to find my girl.' And he said, 'I'm the man to find her.' And I said, 'You are?' And he said, 'You bet. It's only a question of money, that's all it is.' And that's all it has been ever since-a question of money. That's the only time he told the truth. If you knew the amount of money he's had out of me you would laugh. He kept thinking that he's found a clue, and wanting twenty pounds to find out if he'd found it, and every time he got that twenty pounds he found out he hadn't. And now he thinks he's found another clue, and I've brought him along with me in here to find out what sort of clue he thinks he has found."
The man coughed behind his hand. He puffed out his chest. He drew himself upright. He tried to think himself a man.
"You are severe, Mr. Haines, uncommonly severe. Even detectives are but fallible. But, on this occasion I do not only think I have a clue, I am positive-quite positive."
"What's the figure?"
"Figure? Expenses-merely!"
"And what's the clue?"
The man seemed a trifle fidgety.
"I am afraid that I am scarcely in a position at present-"
Mr. Haines cut him uncivilly short.
"Stow that! You don't touch a nickel till you tell me what's the clue."
The man cleared his throat. He looked round and round the room, as though looking for the clue. Mr. Haines's inquisition seemed more than he had bargained for.
"As you are aware, Mr. Haines, I have searched all England for Miss Louise O'Donnel."
"Judging from the amount of money you've had I should think you've searched all Europe."
Again the stranger cleared his throat, as if he deprecated the allusion.
"You probably have it in your recollection that at one time I believed that I had traced her to Liverpool. Circumstances have recently occurred which have brought to me the knowledge that in so believing I was right. She is in Liverpool."
Mr. Haines began to tremble like a leaf. I saw how easily this man, or any other man, could play upon what seemed to have become the dominating passion of his existence.
"Whereabouts in Liverpool? Tell me that!"
"Unfortunately, at this moment, that is beyond the limit of my power. But this I will undertake to do. If you are disposed to expend a further sum of fifty pounds I will undertake to place you in communication with her within, yes, certainly, within fourteen days."
"You swear it?"
The man threw himself into an attitude which he, no doubt, intended to be sublime. "As one gentleman to another I undertake, sir, to do what I have said."
"You shall have your fifty pounds. I will go and get it. Stay here." Mr. Haines turned to me. "Do you mind my leaving him here while I go and cash a cheque? I want to give him the money in your presence, and on conditions which you shall hear."
"I have no objection."
I had not. Indeed, I had been wondering how I might find the opportunity to ask the man a question which should be entirely between ourselves. Whether he was as willing to be left alone with me as I was to be left alone with him, is more than I can say. He ought to have been. Mr. Haines took me at my word. He stamped through the hall and from the house. The stranger and I were tête-à-tête.
He did not seem to be exactly at his ease. Mr. Haines had not offered him a chair. He seemed to think that he would like one. Indeed, he said as much.
"With your permission, madam, I will sit down."
"I would rather you did not."
He was about to act on his own suggestion when my words arrested him. He seemed disconcerted, looking at me as if wondering what it was that I might mean. I went on, "Of course you are lying again?"
The man drew himself up with what he intended to be an air of dignity.
"Lying? – Again? – Madam! May I inquire what you mean?"
"Pray don't put on that sort of air with me. I understand you very well, my man. You are too common a type not to be understood. Of course, you are lying again and of course I shall tell Mr. Haines so when he returns." He looked as if he felt that in exchanging Mr. Haines' society for mine he had made a change for the worse. "Or, rather, I shall tell Mr. Haines unless you give me satisfactory answers to the questions I am about to put to you."
"I assure you, madam, that, as a gentleman-"
"Stop! Confine yourself to answering my questions. On your answers will depend whether or not I shall keep silence. What is your name?"
CHAPTER XXVI
ANNOUNCED!
The man twiddled his hat round and round between his hands, as if he sought inspiration from its brim. I sat and watched him. He was a poor kind of scamp. He was so easily nonplussed.
"My name, madam? Yes." He struck himself with the palm of his hand upon his chest, affably, as it were. "My name is Trevannion-Stewart Trevannion."
"Have you ever heard of Mr. Reginald Townsend?"
Mr. Trevannion went all of a heap. He looked at me like a startled rabbit. He turned, as if to obey an impulse which suggested that he should make a rush from the room. But he thought better of it. Instead, he put his hand up to his chin, appearing, all at once, to be plunged into a sea of contemplation.
"Townsend? Townsend? No! I don't seem to remember the name." He glanced at me out of the corner of his eye. He saw that it would not do. "Stay. I had a client of the name of Townsend-he was a merchant in the West Indies-but his name was John."
"You won't get that fifty pounds."
Again he drew himself up, with an attempt at that air of dignity which he seemed so anxious to assume.
"I haven't the honour, madam, of being acquainted with your name-excuse me, you must permit me to conclude-but I have to assure you that you appear to altogether misunderstand my character."
After all, Mr. Trevannion was amusing. I laughed at him.
"I should be sorry to do that. In proof of it, if you could manage to tell the truth, just once in a way, should it not be too great a strain upon your constitution, I shall be happy to add twenty guineas of my own to Mr. Haines's fifty."
He appeared to be more startled than ever. This time his amazement seemed to be of a pleasurable kind.
"How much?"
"Twenty guineas."
"Honour?"
"Straight."
He adjusted his coat upon his shoulders.
"I'll do it. Hanged if I won't. Why shouldn't I? I'm not afraid of him! He's nothing to me! What is it that you desire to know, madam-for your twenty guineas?"
"Have you heard of Mr. Reginald Townsend?"
"I have."
"I thought you had. What relation is he to you?"
"Relation?" He sought for inspiration from the ceiling. "Cousin."
"Cousin? I see. You're sure he's not your father?"
"Father? No, certainly not! Absolutely not! There's not the slightest ground for any presumption of the kind."
"You won't get the twenty guineas."
"Madam!"
"Lied again."
"I will be candid with you, madam. I will tell you the truth. Why should I conceal it?" Mr. Trevannion shot his cuffs. They were a trifle soiled. "The fact is that, for reasons of his own-what they are I have not the slightest notion! I think it possible that they may not be wholly to his credit! Mr. Reginald Townsend does not appear anxious to advertise the particular degree of consanguinity which binds us to each other-or, rather, which ought to bind us to each other-because, as a matter of fact, so far as he is concerned, with me affection never dies! I never can forget that the same heart nourished us both! – the binding is merely theoretical I'm his brother-his elder brother-and, as such, qualified to take my place beside him in all the salons of the land."
He looked his brother. I had guessed he was a sort of Corsican brother from the first. He was like a caricature-all alive, oh! – of my friend the gentleman; reminding me of nothing so much as a picture I once saw in "Cassell's Popular Educator." It was called "The Child: What shall become of Him?" On the top line they showed you portraits of the child at various periods of his life, as he advanced towards honoured age. While, on the bottom line, were portraits of the child, also at various periods of his life, as he advanced towards the other kind of age. Mr. Trevannion recalled the portraits of the child advanced towards the other kind of age.
While he still continued in the pose which he had done his best to strike, and before either of us had spoken again, Mr. Haines came in.
Mr. Haines made short work of this brother whose affection did not die. He counted nine five-pound notes and five separate sovereigns on the table.
"There are fifty pounds. You mark it?"
"I certainly do observe that there appear to be fifty pounds."
"Appear to be! There are!"
Mr. Haines raised his voice to a roar, which made Mr. Trevannion jump.
"Exactly-as you say-there are."
"You can have that fifty pounds on the understanding that you undertake to place me in communication with my girl within fourteen days. If you don't, next time I find myself in communication with you I'll have value for my fifty pounds. You hear?"
"While you continue, Mr. Haines, to speak so loudly, I can hardly fail to hear."
Mr. Haines covered the money with his hand.
"Swear that you will find my girl for me within fourteen days."
I had noticed Mr. Trevannion's eyes begin to glisten directly the money appeared. He seemed to fear that he might find such an oath a little difficult of digestion. Still he swallowed it.
"I swear."
Mr. Haines turned to me.
"You hear? He says he swears." He removed his hand. "Take the money. If you're lying to me again, when next we meet there'll one of us have fits."
Mr. Trevannion took the money in rather a hurry, as if he feared that, after all, Mr. Haines might change his mind.
"I may truly say, Mr. Haines, that I never saw a father's love which equalled yours. It is a rare, noble spectacle. It will be my pride, as well as my pleasure, to restore, in the shortest possible space of time, your child to her father's arms."
"Mind you do."
Mr. Trevannion had disposed of the money. He turned to me.
"Eh, madam, might I have the pleasure of saying one word to you in private?"
"Certainly not."
He seemed surprised.
"With reference to that little matter-"
I interrupted him.
"Mr. Haines, if you are finished with this person might I ask you to relieve me of his society?"
Jack Haines chose to fly into a rage.
"What the devil, sir, do you mean by wanting to speak in private to a lady who's a friend of mine! Outside!"
Mr. Trevannion went outside, Mr. Haines accompanying him to the door to see him go.
The very next day the Corsican brother obliged me with a call-my friend, the gentleman. He came accompanied by a friend-none other than that Lord Archibald Beaupré, of whom he had spoken.
My lord was long and thin and a little weedy. His hair was sandy, and parted, with mathematical exactness, precisely in the middle. It would not be many years before he went bald. His eyes were light blue-the kind of eyes which not only suggest a bad temper, but a senseless temper too. It is excusable-though foolish-to fly into a fury about something. But people with those sort of eyes are apt, when they feel that way disposed, to get into a rage about nothing at all, and to go blind with passion when they are at it. Milord's manner was very well. Only he struck me as being the least bit condescending-as if he was conscious of what a well-born man he was.
It was very kind of Mr. Townsend to bring him, and so I told him.
By the way, all the time I was looking at Mr. Townsend, I could not help my thoughts travelling to Mr. Stewart Trevannion. How alike they were, and yet how different. How came the two lives to be lived on such different roads? Sometime it might be worth my while to improve my acquaintance with Mr. Trevannion. One might acquire from them a scrap or two of gossip which might prove useful by and by. Could this man ever be like that man? I doubted it. This had what the other had not-the courage of Old Nick. He would never crouch, whatever else he did.
But, as I was saying, it was very kind of Mr. Townsend to bring his friend. Although there was something about the fashion of his introduction which, instinctively, put my back up. I wondered what he had said to milord before he came. Nothing could exceed Mr. Townsend's courtesy, but I had a kind of suspicion that he was seeking to recommend his friend to my notice as a substitute, as it were, for himself. I almost felt as if he were throwing us, with all the delicacy and grace conceivable, at each other's heads. I could have sworn that he told milord, before he brought him on the scene, that I was a rich American widow, and that he had dropped, perhaps, something stronger than a hint that I was just the sort of woman whom it might be worth his lordship's while to marry.
If he had, he had thrown his hint away. He was trying to travel along the wrong line of rails. That bird would not fight. There was only one man's wife I meant to be, and he was himself that man.
They went away together. When they had gone, somehow or other I felt a trifle sore. I was beginning to get into a funny frame of mind. I was half disposed to feel that I should be willing to get my friend the gentleman-to get just him, and nothing more. I had never thought that I should fool like that for any man; or that I could. It puzzled me.
Things went on worse and worse for Tommy. At the close of his next examination before the magistrates, he looked as much like hanging as any man cared to do. As I read, I could scarcely believe my eyes. I stared and I stared. I almost began myself to believe that he must be guilty-that I must be dead. It just showed that things are not always what they quite seem.
A new witness went into the box. He said his name was Taunton. I soon saw that if Tommy was to be hanged it would be Mr. Taunton who would hang him.
It was Mr. Taunton, after all, who had given the police the office. It was he who had delivered Tommy into their hands. He had travelled in the same train with Tommy from Brighton. He had been in the next compartment. He had heard all the argument. And, from what he said, he must have been listening for all that he was worth.
But there! When I read all that was in the paper, I gasped for breath. In imagination I already saw the rope round Tommy's neck.
Who would have thought that it ever would have come to that?
Two or three days afterwards I received a shock. I was looking through the morning paper when I came upon a paragraph which sent all the blood running out of my finger-ends-or it seemed to. It was in the column of daily gossip. Here it is: -
"An engagement is announced between Mr. Reginald Townsend, one of the best known and most popular society figures, and Dora, daughter and only child of Sir Haselton Jardine. We understand that the marriage will take place very shortly. This announcement will be received with the wider public interest in view of the position of counsel for the Crown which Sir Haselton Jardine will occupy, should Mr. Thomas Tennant have to stand his trial for the Three Bridges murder. It is understood that the trial will be set down for the next Lewes Assizes. In that case the judge will be Mr. Justice Hunter."
When first I saw the thing all that struck me was the bold fact of the engagement-that it was announced. On a re-perusal, it began to occur to me that the announcement was rather oddly worded. It might almost have been done with malicious intent. Beginning with marriage, it ended with murder.
A comfortable juxtaposition!
What was more, there seemed to be more murder in it than marriage. The stress seemed to be laid upon the murder. Certainly the impression likely to be left upon the imagination of the average reader was a combination of blood with orange blossoms.
I wondered who had inspired the paragraph in that peculiar form, and what would be my friend the gentleman's sensations if, as I had done, he should chance to happen on it unexpectedly.
But, still, the engagement was announced.
That thing was sure!
The more I thought of it, the more I went all hot and cold. No wonder I had hated her directly he had told me that such a creature was in the world. Her name was Dora! What a name! It sounded Dolly. It must be her money he was after. He could not care for a woman with a name like that. She must be brainless!
Well, other women had money; and brains as well.
So the newspaper man had been given to understand that the marriage was going to take place very shortly. Was it? A marriage was going to take place very shortly. But not that one. We should see!
I pranced about the room; I worked myself into a rage. I felt that I must have it out with some one.
And I had. I had it out with Tommy's wife!
It was all that paragraph.
The day before a servant had offered herself as a candidate to fill the place of the one I had dismissed. She referred me for her character to her late mistress. When she told me who her late mistress was I stared. It was Mrs. Tennant. It occurred to me, very forcibly, that one of Tommy's servants would hardly do for me. Things might get about, and tales be told. I gave her application scant consideration.