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The inspector glanced at Crewe rather enviously.
"You are fortunate in being able to enjoy yourself just now," he said
meaningly.
"I won't drop work altogether," remarked Crewe. "I'll make a few
inquiries there."
"About the Riversbrook affair?"
"Yes."
With the murderer practically arrested, Inspector Chippenfield perm... | The Hampstead Mystery | Rees, Arthur J. (Arthur John) | 1872 | 1942 | ['en'] | 31 | {'Detective and mystery stories', 'England -- Fiction'} | PG10082 | |
"Are you Miss Fanning?" he asked.
"Yes," she replied.
"Then you are the young woman we wish to see, and, with your permission,
we'll come inside," said Inspector Chippenfield, recovering from his
first surprise and speaking briskly.
They followed the girl into the hall, and into a room off the hall to
which she led th... | The Hampstead Mystery | Rees, Arthur J. (Arthur John) | 1872 | 1942 | ['en'] | 31 | {'Detective and mystery stories', 'England -- Fiction'} | PG10082 | |
"A few days," repeated the inspector. "And you parted on good terms?"
"Yes, on very good terms." She met his glance frankly.
Inspector Chippenfield was silent for a moment. Then, fixing his fiercest
stare on the girl, he remarked abruptly:
"Where's Birchill?"
"Birchill?" She endeavoured to appear surprised, but her su... | The Hampstead Mystery | Rees, Arthur J. (Arthur John) | 1872 | 1942 | ['en'] | 31 | {'Detective and mystery stories', 'England -- Fiction'} | PG10082 | |
"The bird's flown!" were his first words, addressed to Rolfe. "I've
hunted high and low, but I cannot find a sign of him. It beats me how
he's managed it. He couldn't have gone out the front way without my
seeing him go past the door, and the back windows are four stories high
from the ground."
"Perhaps he wasn't here... | The Hampstead Mystery | Rees, Arthur J. (Arthur John) | 1872 | 1942 | ['en'] | 31 | {'Detective and mystery stories', 'England -- Fiction'} | PG10082 | |
Rolfe glanced keenly around the kitchen. There were no cooking appliances
visible, or pots or pans, but there was much lumber and odds and ends, as
though the place were used as a store-room. Presumably Miss Fanning
obtained her meals from the restaurant on the ground floor of the
mansions and had no use for a kitchen... | The Hampstead Mystery | Rees, Arthur J. (Arthur John) | 1872 | 1942 | ['en'] | 31 | {'Detective and mystery stories', 'England -- Fiction'} | PG10082 | |
"I wonder where that infernal ledge goes to?" said Inspector
Chippenfield, vainly twisting his neck and protruding his body through
the window to a dangerous extent to see round the corner of the building.
"I daresay it leads to the water-pipe, and the scoundrel, knowing that,
has been able to get round, shin down, an... | The Hampstead Mystery | Rees, Arthur J. (Arthur John) | 1872 | 1942 | ['en'] | 31 | {'Detective and mystery stories', 'England -- Fiction'} | PG10082 | |
"You needn't bother about using that thing," said the young man
contemptuously. "I'm not a fool; I realise you've got me."
"We'll not give you another chance." Inspector Chippenfield dexterously
snapped a pair of handcuffs on the young man's wrists.
"What are these for?" said the captive, regarding them sullenly.
"You... | The Hampstead Mystery | Rees, Arthur J. (Arthur John) | 1872 | 1942 | ['en'] | 31 | {'Detective and mystery stories', 'England -- Fiction'} | PG10082 | |
"Burglary?" said Birchill "Anything else?"
"That will do for the present," replied the inspector. "We may find it
necessary to charge you with a more serious crime later."
"Well, all I can say is that you've got the wrong man. But that is
nothing new for you chaps," he added with a sneer.
"Surely you are not going to ... | The Hampstead Mystery | Rees, Arthur J. (Arthur John) | 1872 | 1942 | ['en'] | 31 | {'Detective and mystery stories', 'England -- Fiction'} | PG10082 | |
"You!" he exclaimed. "What in God's name has brought you here? I told you
on no account to come to the shop. How do you know somebody hasn't
followed you?"
"I could not help it, Kincher," the girl responded piteously. "I'm
distracted about Fred, and I had to come over to ask your advice."
"You women are all fools," th... | The Hampstead Mystery | Rees, Arthur J. (Arthur John) | 1872 | 1942 | ['en'] | 31 | {'Detective and mystery stories', 'England -- Fiction'} | PG10082 | |
The girl sank into the chair and began to cry.
"I can't help it, Kincher," she said. "I don't know what to say or do.
Fancy Fred being charged with murder! Oh, it's too dreadful to think
about. And yet I can think of nothing else."
"Crying your eyes out won't help matters much," replied the
unsympathetic Kemp.
The gir... | The Hampstead Mystery | Rees, Arthur J. (Arthur John) | 1872 | 1942 | ['en'] | 31 | {'Detective and mystery stories', 'England -- Fiction'} | PG10082 | |
"I don't want any woman in the place," retorted Kemp. "There is no peace
for a man when a woman is about. But let us have no more of this idle
chatter. What's brought you over here? I suppose it's about Fred."
"Poor Fred!" The girl looked downcast for a moment, then she tossed her
head, puffed out some smoke, and excl... | The Hampstead Mystery | Rees, Arthur J. (Arthur John) | 1872 | 1942 | ['en'] | 31 | {'Detective and mystery stories', 'England -- Fiction'} | PG10082 | |
"I gave Fred his message next morning--I wish to God that I hadn't," she
continued. "I asked Fred not to keep the appointment, but he insisted on
doing so. He said that he and Field had been good friends in the gaol,
and that Field had told him that if he ever got on to anything he would
let him know. He seemed quite ... | The Hampstead Mystery | Rees, Arthur J. (Arthur John) | 1872 | 1942 | ['en'] | 31 | {'Detective and mystery stories', 'England -- Fiction'} | PG10082 | |
"We sat there scarcely speaking, and heard the clock strike the hours.
After midnight I began to get restless, for I thought something must have
happened to Fred. Hill said in a low voice: 'It's time Fred was back.'
The words were scarcely out of his mouth when I heard Fred's step
outside, and I ran to let him in. He ... | The Hampstead Mystery | Rees, Arthur J. (Arthur John) | 1872 | 1942 | ['en'] | 31 | {'Detective and mystery stories', 'England -- Fiction'} | PG10082 | |
"Fred doesn't know what to think," she replied. "But it must have been
this woman or Hill who killed him. I feel sure myself that it was Hill."
"This woman puzzles me," said Kemp thoughtfully. "She must have been a
cool hand if she went round turning out the lights after finding his dead
body. About half-past ten, you... | The Hampstead Mystery | Rees, Arthur J. (Arthur John) | 1872 | 1942 | ['en'] | 31 | {'Detective and mystery stories', 'England -- Fiction'} | PG10082 | |
"When he left, Fred and I sat there thinking. Suddenly it came to me as
clear as daylight that Hill had committed the murder, and had fixed up
things so as to throw suspicion on Fred. He must have known Sir Horace
was coming back from Scotland that night, and he had laid in wait for him
and shot him. Then he had come ... | The Hampstead Mystery | Rees, Arthur J. (Arthur John) | 1872 | 1942 | ['en'] | 31 | {'Detective and mystery stories', 'England -- Fiction'} | PG10082 | |
He spoke in such an uncompromising tone that the girl saw it was useless
to pursue the matter further.
"Suppose I went to the police and told them that Hill is the murderer?"
she suggested.
Kemp shook his head slowly.
"There is only your word for it that Hill killed him," he said. "It
doesn't look to me as if he did, ... | The Hampstead Mystery | Rees, Arthur J. (Arthur John) | 1872 | 1942 | ['en'] | 31 | {'Detective and mystery stories', 'England -- Fiction'} | PG10082 | |
"Wouldn't he be very expensive?" asked the girl.
"Not so expensive as getting hanged," said Kemp grimly. "You take my
advice and have him if you can get him. Never mind what he costs, if you
can raise the money. You've got some money saved up, haven't you?"
"Yes, I've nearly £200. Sir Horace put £100 in the Savings Ba... | The Hampstead Mystery | Rees, Arthur J. (Arthur John) | 1872 | 1942 | ['en'] | 31 | {'Detective and mystery stories', 'England -- Fiction'} | PG10082 | |
"Yes," said Rolfe meditatively. "There is nothing wrong about that as far
as I can see. But I would like to know for certain how it got there."
Inspector Chippenfield was satisfied with his subordinate's testimony to
his perspicacity.
"That is all right, Rolfe," he said in a tone of kindly banter. "But
don't make the ... | The Hampstead Mystery | Rees, Arthur J. (Arthur John) | 1872 | 1942 | ['en'] | 31 | {'Detective and mystery stories', 'England -- Fiction'} | PG10082 | |
Crewe did not reply directly to Rolfe's summary of the case.
"I see that they've briefed Holymead for the defence," he said
after a pause.
"A waste of good money," said the police officer. Something appealed to
his sense of humour, for he broke out into a laugh.
"What are you laughing at?" asked Crewe.
"I was wonderin... | The Hampstead Mystery | Rees, Arthur J. (Arthur John) | 1872 | 1942 | ['en'] | 31 | {'Detective and mystery stories', 'England -- Fiction'} | PG10082 | |
"It's a one-sided wager, but I'll take the cigars because I could do
with a box of these," said Rolfe. "You might as well give them to me now,
Mr. Crewe."
"No, no," said Crewe with a smile. "Put a couple in your pocket now,
because you won't win the box."
"Of course, I understand, Mr. Crewe, why you say Birchill is th... | The Hampstead Mystery | Rees, Arthur J. (Arthur John) | 1872 | 1942 | ['en'] | 31 | {'Detective and mystery stories', 'England -- Fiction'} | PG10082 | |
"Hill explained that," interposed Rolfe. "He pointed out that, though Sir
Horace knew his past, he couldn't afford to have any scandal about it."
"Quite so. But could Birchill afford to threaten a man who was under the
protection of Sir Horace Fewbanks? Would Birchill pit himself against Sir
Horace? I think that Sir H... | The Hampstead Mystery | Rees, Arthur J. (Arthur John) | 1872 | 1942 | ['en'] | 31 | {'Detective and mystery stories', 'England -- Fiction'} | PG10082 | |
"Then Birchill's confidence in Hill is remarkable, any way you look at
it. He sends for Hill, whom he had known in gaol, and whom he hadn't seen
since, to confide in him that it is his intention to burgle his
employer's house. He rashly assumes that Hill will do all that he wishes,
and he proceeds to lay his cards on ... | The Hampstead Mystery | Rees, Arthur J. (Arthur John) | 1872 | 1942 | ['en'] | 31 | {'Detective and mystery stories', 'England -- Fiction'} | PG10082 | |
"Let us take Birchill's attitude when Hill tells him that Sir Horace has
unexpectedly returned from Scotland. Birchill is suspicious that Hill
has played him false, and naturally so, but Hill, instead of letting him
think so, and thus preventing the burglary from taking place, does all
he can to reassure him, while at... | The Hampstead Mystery | Rees, Arthur J. (Arthur John) | 1872 | 1942 | ['en'] | 31 | {'Detective and mystery stories', 'England -- Fiction'} | PG10082 | |
"I don't see why," said Rolfe.
Crewe fixed his deep eyes intently on Rolfe as he replied:
"Because, if Birchill had committed this murder, he would never have
admitted immediately on his returning, least of all to Hill, anything
about the dead body."
"But he told Hill that he didn't commit the murder," protested Rolfe... | The Hampstead Mystery | Rees, Arthur J. (Arthur John) | 1872 | 1942 | ['en'] | 31 | {'Detective and mystery stories', 'England -- Fiction'} | PG10082 | |
"Do you think that Hill did it?" asked Rolfe.
"That is more than I'd like to say. As a matter of fact I have been so
obtuse as to neglect Hill somewhat in my investigations. In fact, I
didn't know until I got hold of a copy of his statement to the police
that he was an ex-convict. Inspector Chippenfield omitted to inf... | The Hampstead Mystery | Rees, Arthur J. (Arthur John) | 1872 | 1942 | ['en'] | 31 | {'Detective and mystery stories', 'England -- Fiction'} | PG10082 | |
"That's according to Hill's statement," said Rolfe.
Inspector Chippenfield glanced at his subordinate in some surprise.
"Of course it's Hill's statement," he said. "Isn't he our principal
witness, and doesn't his statement fit in with all the facts we have been
able to gather? Well, the murder of Sir Horace, no matter... | The Hampstead Mystery | Rees, Arthur J. (Arthur John) | 1872 | 1942 | ['en'] | 31 | {'Detective and mystery stories', 'England -- Fiction'} | PG10082 | |
That night, while walking home, the idea occurred to Rolfe of going over
to Camden Town after supper to see if by questioning Hill again he could
throw a little more light on what had taken place at Doris Tanning's
flat the night Sir Horace Fewbanks was murdered. Hill had been
questioned and cross-questioned at Scotla... | The Hampstead Mystery | Rees, Arthur J. (Arthur John) | 1872 | 1942 | ['en'] | 31 | {'Detective and mystery stories', 'England -- Fiction'} | PG10082 | |
The little shop kept by the Hills was empty when Rolfe entered it, but
Mrs. Hill appeared from the inner room in answer to his knock. The
faded little woman did not recognise the police officer at first, but
when he spoke she looked into his face with a start. She timidly said,
in reply to his inquiry for her husband,... | The Hampstead Mystery | Rees, Arthur J. (Arthur John) | 1872 | 1942 | ['en'] | 31 | {'Detective and mystery stories', 'England -- Fiction'} | PG10082 | |
"No, sir," she replied, with trembling lips, "Mr. Hill hasn't gone
over there."
"How can you be certain, if he didn't tell you where he was going?"
asked Rolfe.
"Because it's the last place in the world he'd think of going to," gasped
Mrs. Hill. "Such a thought would never enter his head. I do assure you,
sir, Mr. Hil... | The Hampstead Mystery | Rees, Arthur J. (Arthur John) | 1872 | 1942 | ['en'] | 31 | {'Detective and mystery stories', 'England -- Fiction'} | PG10082 | |
When Rolfe arrived at Hampstead he set out at a rapid walk for
Riversbrook. It was quite dark when he reached Tanton Gardens. He turned
into the rustling avenue of chestnut trees, and strode swiftly down till
he reached the deserted house of the murdered man.
The gate was locked as he had left it, but Rolfe climbed ov... | The Hampstead Mystery | Rees, Arthur J. (Arthur John) | 1872 | 1942 | ['en'] | 31 | {'Detective and mystery stories', 'England -- Fiction'} | PG10082 | |
Rolfe hurriedly retraced his steps to the edge of the plantation, and
raced across the Italian garden, feeling for his revolver as he ran. Some
instinct told him that he would find entrance through the French windows
on the west side of the morning room, and thither he directed his steps.
He pulled out his electric to... | The Hampstead Mystery | Rees, Arthur J. (Arthur John) | 1872 | 1942 | ['en'] | 31 | {'Detective and mystery stories', 'England -- Fiction'} | PG10082 | |
"You came here after dark, and let yourself in with a private key after
you had been strictly ordered not to come near the place? You have the
audacity to admit you have done this?"
"Well, it's this way, sir. I was a trusted servant of Sir Horace's. I
knew a great deal about his private life, if I may say so. I know h... | The Hampstead Mystery | Rees, Arthur J. (Arthur John) | 1872 | 1942 | ['en'] | 31 | {'Detective and mystery stories', 'England -- Fiction'} | PG10082 | |
"Do you mean to suggest that Inspector Chippenfield stole them?"
"Oh, no, sir, I don't think he saw them. Sir Horace kept them in this
little place at the back of the desk. Look at it, sir. It's a sort of
secret drawer."
Rolfe went over to the desk, and Hill explained to him how the hiding
place could be closed and op... | The Hampstead Mystery | Rees, Arthur J. (Arthur John) | 1872 | 1942 | ['en'] | 31 | {'Detective and mystery stories', 'England -- Fiction'} | PG10082 | |
"Who could have taken them? Who had access to the room?"
"Well, sir, Mr. Chippenfield had some visitors that morning."
"Yes. There were about a dozen newspaper reporters during the day at
various times. There were Dr. Slingsby and his assistant, who came out to
make the post-mortem: Inspector Seldon, who came to arran... | The Hampstead Mystery | Rees, Arthur J. (Arthur John) | 1872 | 1942 | ['en'] | 31 | {'Detective and mystery stories', 'England -- Fiction'} | PG10082 | |
Rolfe was silent for a moment.
"What would you have done with the papers if you had found them?" he
asked suddenly.
"I would have handed them over to the police, sir," said the butler, who
obviously had been prepared for a question of the kind.
"And what explanation would you have given for having found them--for
havi... | The Hampstead Mystery | Rees, Arthur J. (Arthur John) | 1872 | 1942 | ['en'] | 31 | {'Detective and mystery stories', 'England -- Fiction'} | PG10082 | |
CHAPTER XVI
The day fixed for the trial of Frederick Birchill was wet, dismal, and
dreary. The rain pelted intermittently through a hazy, chilly atmosphere,
filling the gutters and splashing heavily on the slippery pavements. But
in spite of the rain a long queue, principally of women, assembled
outside the portals ... | The Hampstead Mystery | Rees, Arthur J. (Arthur John) | 1872 | 1942 | ['en'] | 31 | {'Detective and mystery stories', 'England -- Fiction'} | PG10082 | |
"There's that scoundrel Bob Rogers, who slipped through our hands over
the Ealing case, and his pal, Breaker Jim, who's just done seven years,
looking down and grinning at us," he angrily whispered. "I'll give them
something to grin about before they're much older. You'd think Breaker
would have had enough of the Old ... | The Hampstead Mystery | Rees, Arthur J. (Arthur John) | 1872 | 1942 | ['en'] | 31 | {'Detective and mystery stories', 'England -- Fiction'} | PG10082 | |
He had come to court with the object of witnessing Birchill's behaviour
in the dock and the efforts of any of his criminal friends to communicate
with him. As a man who had had considerable experience in criminal trials
he knew the irresistible desire of the criminal in the gallery of the
court to encourage the man in... | The Hampstead Mystery | Rees, Arthur J. (Arthur John) | 1872 | 1942 | ['en'] | 31 | {'Detective and mystery stories', 'England -- Fiction'} | PG10082 | |
Mr. Walters was a long-winded Counsel who had detested the late Mr.
Justice Fewbanks because of the latter's habit of interrupting the
addresses of Counsel with the object of inducing them to curtail their
remarks. This practice was not only annoying to Counsel, who necessarily
knew better than the judge what the jury... | The Hampstead Mystery | Rees, Arthur J. (Arthur John) | 1872 | 1942 | ['en'] | 31 | {'Detective and mystery stories', 'England -- Fiction'} | PG10082 | |
Mr. Walters made no attempt to conceal or extenuate the black page in
Hill's past, but he asked the jury to believe that Hill had bitterly
repented of his former crime, and would have continued to lead an honest
life as Sir Horace Fewbanks's butler, if ill fate had not forged a cruel
chain of circumstances to link him... | The Hampstead Mystery | Rees, Arthur J. (Arthur John) | 1872 | 1942 | ['en'] | 31 | {'Detective and mystery stories', 'England -- Fiction'} | PG10082 | |
Hill, who dreaded nothing so much as an exposure of that past life of his
which he hoped was a secret between his master and himself, kept the
appointment. Birchill told him he intended to rob the judge's house in
order to revenge himself on Sir Horace for cutting off the girl's
allowance, and he asked Hill to assist ... | The Hampstead Mystery | Rees, Arthur J. (Arthur John) | 1872 | 1942 | ['en'] | 31 | {'Detective and mystery stories', 'England -- Fiction'} | PG10082 | |
"It's a lie! It's a lie! You're trying to hang him, you wicked man. Oh,
Fred, Fred!"
The cry proceeded from the girl Doris Fanning. Her unbalanced temperament
had been unable to bear the strain of sitting there and listening to Mr.
Walters' cold inexorable construction of a legal chain of evidence
against her lover. S... | The Hampstead Mystery | Rees, Arthur J. (Arthur John) | 1872 | 1942 | ['en'] | 31 | {'Detective and mystery stories', 'England -- Fiction'} | PG10082 | |
The first witness called was Inspector Seldon, who gave evidence as to
his visit to Riversbrook shortly before 1 p. m. on the 19th of August as
the result of information received, and his discovery of the dead body of
Sir Horace Fewbanks. He described the room in which the body was found;
the position of the body; and... | The Hampstead Mystery | Rees, Arthur J. (Arthur John) | 1872 | 1942 | ['en'] | 31 | {'Detective and mystery stories', 'England -- Fiction'} | PG10082 | |
"Quite possible," replied Dr. Slingsby, with the prim air of a
professional man who valued his reputation too highly to risk it by
committing himself to anything definite.
Dr. Slingsby was allowed to leave the box, and Inspector Chippenfield
took his place. Inspector Chippenfield did not display any professional
retic... | The Hampstead Mystery | Rees, Arthur J. (Arthur John) | 1872 | 1942 | ['en'] | 31 | {'Detective and mystery stories', 'England -- Fiction'} | PG10082 | |
CHAPTER XVII
"James Hill!" called the court crier.
The butler stepped forward, mounted the witness-stand, and bowed his head
deferentially towards the judge. He was neatly dressed in black, and his
sandy-grey hair was carefully brushed. His face was as expressionless as
ever, but a slight oscillation of the Court Bi... | The Hampstead Mystery | Rees, Arthur J. (Arthur John) | 1872 | 1942 | ['en'] | 31 | {'Detective and mystery stories', 'England -- Fiction'} | PG10082 | |
"I put it to you, witness, that the reason Sir Horace Fewbanks engaged
you as butler in his household at Riversbrook was because he knew you to
be a man of few scruples, who would be willing to do things that a more
upright honest man would have objected to?"
"That is not true," replied Hill.
"Is it not true that your... | The Hampstead Mystery | Rees, Arthur J. (Arthur John) | 1872 | 1942 | ['en'] | 31 | {'Detective and mystery stories', 'England -- Fiction'} | PG10082 | |
"And sometimes there were quarrels between your late master and these
visitors, were there not?" continued Holymead.
"Quarrels, sir?"
"Surely you know that under the influence of wine some people become
quarrelsome?"
"Yes, sir."
"Well, did your late master's nocturnal visitors ever become
quarrelsome?"
"Sometimes, sir... | The Hampstead Mystery | Rees, Arthur J. (Arthur John) | 1872 | 1942 | ['en'] | 31 | {'Detective and mystery stories', 'England -- Fiction'} | PG10082 | |
"Yes, sir."
"Were you afraid of physical violence from him, or only that he would
expose your past to the other servants?"
"I was afraid of him both ways," said Hill.
"Was it because of this fear that you made out for him a plan of
Riversbrook to assist him in the burglary?"
"Yes, sir."
"When did you make out this pla... | The Hampstead Mystery | Rees, Arthur J. (Arthur John) | 1872 | 1942 | ['en'] | 31 | {'Detective and mystery stories', 'England -- Fiction'} | PG10082 | |
CHAPTER XVIII
The second day of the trial began promptly when Mr. Justice Hodson took
his seat. Mr. Holymead's opening statement to the jury was brief. He
reminded them that the life of a fellow creature rested on their verdict.
If there was any doubt in their minds whether the prisoner had fired the
shot which kill... | The Hampstead Mystery | Rees, Arthur J. (Arthur John) | 1872 | 1942 | ['en'] | 31 | {'Detective and mystery stories', 'England -- Fiction'} | PG10082 | |
"It is my place," added Mr. Holymead, in concluding his address, "to
convince you that my client is not guilty, or, in other words, to
convince you that the murder was committed before he reached the house.
It is only with the greatest reluctance that I take upon myself the
responsibility of pointing an accusing finge... | The Hampstead Mystery | Rees, Arthur J. (Arthur John) | 1872 | 1942 | ['en'] | 31 | {'Detective and mystery stories', 'England -- Fiction'} | PG10082 | |
The judge's Associate handed it to Mr. Holymead, who passed it to
the witness.
"Is this it?" he asked.
"Yes," she replied emphatically, almost without inspecting it.
"I want you to look at it closely," said Counsel. "When Birchill showed
you the plan immediately after Hill's departure, what impression did you
get rega... | The Hampstead Mystery | Rees, Arthur J. (Arthur John) | 1872 | 1942 | ['en'] | 31 | {'Detective and mystery stories', 'England -- Fiction'} | PG10082 | |
The next witness was a representative of the firm of Holmes and Jackson,
papermakers, who was handed the plan of Riversbrook which Hill had drawn.
He stated that the paper on which the plan was drawn was manufactured by
his firm, and supplied to His Majesty's Stationery Office. He identified
it by the quality of the p... | The Hampstead Mystery | Rees, Arthur J. (Arthur John) | 1872 | 1942 | ['en'] | 31 | {'Detective and mystery stories', 'England -- Fiction'} | PG10082 | |
"We admit that he went there the night Sir Horace Fewbanks returned from
Scotland," he continued. "Counsel for the prosecution will make the most
of those admissions in the course of his address to you, but the point to
which I wish to direct your attention is that we make this damaging
admission so that you may decid... | The Hampstead Mystery | Rees, Arthur J. (Arthur John) | 1872 | 1942 | ['en'] | 31 | {'Detective and mystery stories', 'England -- Fiction'} | PG10082 | |
"Let us test the credibility of the man who has tried to swear away the
life of the prisoner. You saw him in the witness-box, and I have no doubt
formed your own conclusions as to the type of man he is. Did he strike
you as a man who would stand by the truth above all things, or a man who
would lie persistently in ord... | The Hampstead Mystery | Rees, Arthur J. (Arthur John) | 1872 | 1942 | ['en'] | 31 | {'Detective and mystery stories', 'England -- Fiction'} | PG10082 | |
"Now, gentlemen, you have all seen the plan which this tainted witness
declares was drawn by him because Birchill terrorised him and stood over
him while he drew it. Is there anything in that plan to suggest that it
was drawn by a man in a state of nervous terror? Why, the lines are as
firmly drawn as if they had been... | The Hampstead Mystery | Rees, Arthur J. (Arthur John) | 1872 | 1942 | ['en'] | 31 | {'Detective and mystery stories', 'England -- Fiction'} | PG10082 | |
"Birchill, an experienced criminal, would not break into the house while
there was anybody moving about. He would wait until the house was in
darkness and the inmates asleep. To do otherwise would increase
enormously the risks of capture. But the fact that the police found the
body of the murdered man fully dressed sh... | The Hampstead Mystery | Rees, Arthur J. (Arthur John) | 1872 | 1942 | ['en'] | 31 | {'Detective and mystery stories', 'England -- Fiction'} | PG10082 | |
"The rest of the story from that point can be constructed without
difficulty. The murderer's first thought was to divert suspicion from
himself, and the best way to do that was to divert suspicion elsewhere.
He locked up the house and went to see Birchill. He urged Birchill to
break into Riversbrook, in which the dead... | The Hampstead Mystery | Rees, Arthur J. (Arthur John) | 1872 | 1942 | ['en'] | 31 | {'Detective and mystery stories', 'England -- Fiction'} | PG10082 | |
A short discussion arose between the bench and bar on the question of
adjourning the court or continuing the case in the hope of finishing it
in a few hours. Sir Henry Hodson wanted to finish the case that night,
but Counsel for the prosecution intimated that his address to the jury
would take nearly two hours. As it ... | The Hampstead Mystery | Rees, Arthur J. (Arthur John) | 1872 | 1942 | ['en'] | 31 | {'Detective and mystery stories', 'England -- Fiction'} | PG10082 | |
As to what took place at the flat, they had a choice between the
evidence of Hill and the evidence of the girl Fanning. Hill had told
them that he had tried to dissuade the prisoner from going to
Riversbrook to burgle the premises, because his master had returned
unexpectedly; Fanning had told them that the prisoner w... | The Hampstead Mystery | Rees, Arthur J. (Arthur John) | 1872 | 1942 | ['en'] | 31 | {'Detective and mystery stories', 'England -- Fiction'} | PG10082 | |
Counsel for the defence had endeavoured to make much of the fact that the
dead body of Sir Horace Fewbanks was fully dressed when the police
discovered it. He endeavoured to persuade them that such a fact
established the complete innocence of the prisoner and that because of it
they must bring in a verdict of "not gui... | The Hampstead Mystery | Rees, Arthur J. (Arthur John) | 1872 | 1942 | ['en'] | 31 | {'Detective and mystery stories', 'England -- Fiction'} | PG10082 | |
"I want you to keep in mind, when arriving at your verdict, that there
are certain material facts which have been admitted by the defence," said
Mr. Walters in concluding his address to the jury. "It has been admitted
that the prisoner was a party to a proposal to break into Riversbrook. As
far as that goes, there is ... | The Hampstead Mystery | Rees, Arthur J. (Arthur John) | 1872 | 1942 | ['en'] | 31 | {'Detective and mystery stories', 'England -- Fiction'} | PG10082 | |
The junior bar agreed that the case was one which might go either way. If
they had possessed any money the betting market would have shown scarcely
a shade of odds. Everything depended on the way the jury looked at the
case, on the particular bits of evidence to which they attached most
weight, on the view the most ar... | The Hampstead Mystery | Rees, Arthur J. (Arthur John) | 1872 | 1942 | ['en'] | 31 | {'Detective and mystery stories', 'England -- Fiction'} | PG10082 | |
The defence had contended that Hill had drawn the plan at his leisure
at a time when he had access to a special quality of paper supplied to
his master. If that were so, Hill's version of how he came to draw the
plan was deliberately false and had been concocted for the purpose of
exculpating himself. But they would n... | The Hampstead Mystery | Rees, Arthur J. (Arthur John) | 1872 | 1942 | ['en'] | 31 | {'Detective and mystery stories', 'England -- Fiction'} | PG10082 | |
The occupants of the gallery, who had no difficulty in coming to an
immediate decision on the guilt or innocence of the prisoner, could not
understand what was keeping the jury away so long. They failed to
understand the jury's point of view. These gentlemen had sat in court for
three days listening intently to procee... | The Hampstead Mystery | Rees, Arthur J. (Arthur John) | 1872 | 1942 | ['en'] | 31 | {'Detective and mystery stories', 'England -- Fiction'} | PG10082 | |
There was a muffled cheer from the gallery, which was suppressed by the
stentorian cry of the ushers, "Silence in the court!"
"A pack of damned fools," said the exasperated Inspector Chippenfield.
Rolfe understood that his chief referred to the jury, and he nodded the
assent of a subordinate.
CHAPTER XX
"Hill has bo... | The Hampstead Mystery | Rees, Arthur J. (Arthur John) | 1872 | 1942 | ['en'] | 31 | {'Detective and mystery stories', 'England -- Fiction'} | PG10082 | |
"Dear Mary:
"I have got to leave you. I have thought it out and this is the only
thing to do. I am too frightened to stay after what took place in the
court to-day. I'll make a fresh start in some place where I am not known,
and as soon as I can send a little money I will send for you and Daphne.
Keep your heart up an... | The Hampstead Mystery | Rees, Arthur J. (Arthur John) | 1872 | 1942 | ['en'] | 31 | {'Detective and mystery stories', 'England -- Fiction'} | PG10082 | |
"I didn't notice that," replied Inspector Chippenfield impassively.
"Perhaps you'll point out the passage to me, Rolfe."
Rolfe hastily produced the note again.
"Look here!"--his finger indicated the place--"'I'm frightened to stay
after what took place in the court to-day,' Doesn't that mean, clearly
enough, that Hill... | The Hampstead Mystery | Rees, Arthur J. (Arthur John) | 1872 | 1942 | ['en'] | 31 | {'Detective and mystery stories', 'England -- Fiction'} | PG10082 | |
"You are still convinced that Birchill did it?" said Rolfe
questioningly.
"I have never wavered from that opinion," said his superior. "If I had,
this note of Hill's would restore my conviction in Birchill's guilt."
"Why, how do you make out that?" replied Rolfe blankly.
"Hill says he's clearing out of the country bec... | The Hampstead Mystery | Rees, Arthur J. (Arthur John) | 1872 | 1942 | ['en'] | 31 | {'Detective and mystery stories', 'England -- Fiction'} | PG10082 | |
Rolfe departed, to do his chief's bidding, a little crestfallen. He was
at first inclined to think that he had made a bit of a fool of himself in
his desire to prove to Inspector Chippenfield that he had been hoodwinked
by Hill into arresting Birchill. But that night, as he sat in his bedroom
smoking a quiet pipe, and... | The Hampstead Mystery | Rees, Arthur J. (Arthur John) | 1872 | 1942 | ['en'] | 31 | {'Detective and mystery stories', 'England -- Fiction'} | PG10082 | |
Underneath his entries of the case Rolfe had written finally:
Points to be remembered:
(1) Crewe said before the trial that Birchill was not the murderer and
would be acquitted. Birchill was acquitted.
(2) Crewe suggested we had not got the whole truth out of Hill. Hill
disappears the night after the trial. Is... | The Hampstead Mystery | Rees, Arthur J. (Arthur John) | 1872 | 1942 | ['en'] | 31 | {'Detective and mystery stories', 'England -- Fiction'} | PG10082 | |
After long consideration, Rolfe decided to go and see Mrs. Holymead and
question her about the packet of letters which Hill declared she had
removed from Riversbrook after the murder. He realised that this was
rather a risky course to pursue, for Mrs. Holymead was highly placed and
could do him much harm if she got he... | The Hampstead Mystery | Rees, Arthur J. (Arthur John) | 1872 | 1942 | ['en'] | 31 | {'Detective and mystery stories', 'England -- Fiction'} | PG10082 | |
"What is it, Trappon?"
The servant turned quickly in the direction of the voice. "It's a
er--er--party who wants to see Madam, mademoiselle," he replied.
"_Parti?_ What mean you by _parti_? Explain yourself, Trappon."
"A person--a gentleman, mademoiselle," replied Trappon, determined to be
on the safe side.
"Open the ... | The Hampstead Mystery | Rees, Arthur J. (Arthur John) | 1872 | 1942 | ['en'] | 31 | {'Detective and mystery stories', 'England -- Fiction'} | PG10082 | |
"Scotland? You come from Scotland? Madame will regret much that she has
missed you."
"Scotland Yard, I said," corrected Rolfe, "not Scotland."
"Is it not the same?" Mademoiselle Chiron looked at him helplessly.
"Scotland Yard--is it not in Scotland? What is the difference?"
Rolfe, with a Londoner's tolerance for forei... | The Hampstead Mystery | Rees, Arthur J. (Arthur John) | 1872 | 1942 | ['en'] | 31 | {'Detective and mystery stories', 'England -- Fiction'} | PG10082 | |
"I cannot disclose my business to you, mademoiselle," he said
courteously. "I must see Mrs. Holymead personally, so I shall call again
when she has returned."
"But, monsieur, why will you not tell me?" she asked coaxingly. "You are
a police agent? Have you therefore come to see Madame about the case?"
Rolfe showed tha... | The Hampstead Mystery | Rees, Arthur J. (Arthur John) | 1872 | 1942 | ['en'] | 31 | {'Detective and mystery stories', 'England -- Fiction'} | PG10082 | |
Then she hung up the receiver and turned to Rolfe.
"But, monsieur, you were saying--"
Rolfe handed the handkerchief to its owner with a courtly bow which he
flattered himself was equal to the best French school.
"I picked this up off the floor, mademoiselle. It is yours, I think?"
"This?" Mademoiselle Chiron touched t... | The Hampstead Mystery | Rees, Arthur J. (Arthur John) | 1872 | 1942 | ['en'] | 31 | {'Detective and mystery stories', 'England -- Fiction'} | PG10082 | |
"What did he want, Gabrielle?" she gasped. "What did he say? Has he come
about--_that_?"
Gabrielle nodded her head.
"Gabrielle!" Mrs. Holymead's voice rose almost to a cry. "Oh, what are we
to do? Did he come to arrest--"
"No, no! He was not so bad. He did not come to do dreadful things, but
just to have a little talk... | The Hampstead Mystery | Rees, Arthur J. (Arthur John) | 1872 | 1942 | ['en'] | 31 | {'Detective and mystery stories', 'England -- Fiction'} | PG10082 | |
"No, sir."
"Tell him to go to his dinner when he comes back. Show the lady in, Joe."
Crewe regarded his caller keenly as Joe ushered her in, placed a chair
for her, and went out, closing the door noiselessly behind him. She was a
tall, well-dressed, graceful woman, fairly young, with dark hair and
eyes. She looked qui... | The Hampstead Mystery | Rees, Arthur J. (Arthur John) | 1872 | 1942 | ['en'] | 31 | {'Detective and mystery stories', 'England -- Fiction'} | PG10082 | |
"I quite understand," replied Crewe.
"Monsieur Crewe," said Gabrielle hurriedly, "although I have not come
from Madame Holymead, it is for her sake that I come to see you--to save
her from the persecution of one of your police agents who wants to ask
her questions about this so sordid--so terrible a crime! He has come... | The Hampstead Mystery | Rees, Arthur J. (Arthur John) | 1872 | 1942 | ['en'] | 31 | {'Detective and mystery stories', 'England -- Fiction'} | PG10082 | |
"I am very sorry to hear that Mrs. Holymead has been subjected to this
annoyance," he said warily. "This police agent, did he come by himself?"
"But yes, monsieur, I have already said it."
"I know, but I thought he might have had a companion waiting for him in
a taxi-cab outside. Scotland Yard men frequently travel in... | The Hampstead Mystery | Rees, Arthur J. (Arthur John) | 1872 | 1942 | ['en'] | 31 | {'Detective and mystery stories', 'England -- Fiction'} | PG10082 | |
Gabrielle's voice vibrated with indignation as she concluded, and Crewe
regarded her closely. He decided that her affection for Mrs. Holymead
was not simulated, and that it would be best to handle her from that
point of view.
"I am sorry," he said coldly, "but I do not see how I can help you."
"Monsieur," said the Fre... | The Hampstead Mystery | Rees, Arthur J. (Arthur John) | 1872 | 1942 | ['en'] | 31 | {'Detective and mystery stories', 'England -- Fiction'} | PG10082 | |
"The Scotland Yard people are not likely to disclose anything about it,"
said Crewe.
"That may be so, but these things come out," retorted Gabrielle.
"Monsieur," she added, after a pause, and speaking in a low tone, "I
know that you can do much--very much--if you will, and can stop Madame
Holymead from being worried. ... | The Hampstead Mystery | Rees, Arthur J. (Arthur John) | 1872 | 1942 | ['en'] | 31 | {'Detective and mystery stories', 'England -- Fiction'} | PG10082 | |
Gabrielle relapsed into silence for some moments, looking at Crewe
earnestly.
"Monsieur," she said at length, "it is a terrible story I have to relate,
and it is difficult for me to tell a stranger what I know. Nevertheless,
I will begin. I knew the great judge well."
"You knew Sir Horace Fewbanks?" exclaimed Crewe.
"... | The Hampstead Mystery | Rees, Arthur J. (Arthur John) | 1872 | 1942 | ['en'] | 31 | {'Detective and mystery stories', 'England -- Fiction'} | PG10082 | |
"One afternoon I was out for a walk looking in the great shops in Regent
Street, when I felt a hand placed on my shoulder, and looking round I saw
Pierre, my husband. He was pleased at the meeting, but I was not pleased.
He took me to a café where we could talk. It was what he always did talk
about--money, money, mone... | The Hampstead Mystery | Rees, Arthur J. (Arthur John) | 1872 | 1942 | ['en'] | 31 | {'Detective and mystery stories', 'England -- Fiction'} | PG10082 | |
"I left him, monsieur, thinking of money. But I did not know how bad his
thoughts were. I returned home, and I told Madame Holymead I would go to
the theatre that night. I left the house at eight o'clock, and after
walking along Piccadilly and Regent Street took the train to Hampstead.
Then I walked up to the house of... | The Hampstead Mystery | Rees, Arthur J. (Arthur John) | 1872 | 1942 | ['en'] | 31 | {'Detective and mystery stories', 'England -- Fiction'} | PG10082 | |
"Monsieur, strange it may seem, but I do assure you that I became calm
again when he was dead. I rose to my feet and looked round me in the
room. On the floor near him I saw a revolver. I picked it up and hid it
in my bag. The tube of it was warm. Then I sat down in a chair and
thought what I must do. The police must ... | The Hampstead Mystery | Rees, Arthur J. (Arthur John) | 1872 | 1942 | ['en'] | 31 | {'Detective and mystery stories', 'England -- Fiction'} | PG10082 | |
She fumbled at the clasp of her hand-bag, as she spoke, and before she
had finished speaking she had torn it open and emptied its contents on
the table in front of Crewe--a dainty handkerchief and a revolver.
"See, monsieur!" she cried; "here is the handkerchief of which I told
you. It is that which the judge seized w... | The Hampstead Mystery | Rees, Arthur J. (Arthur John) | 1872 | 1942 | ['en'] | 31 | {'Detective and mystery stories', 'England -- Fiction'} | PG10082 | |
"You say that the corner was torn off when you wrenched the handkerchief
from the dead man's hold?" said Crewe. "But it was not found in his hand
by the police or anyone else. And he was not buried with it, for I
examined the body carefully. What became of it?"
Gabrielle looked at him quickly as though she suspected s... | The Hampstead Mystery | Rees, Arthur J. (Arthur John) | 1872 | 1942 | ['en'] | 31 | {'Detective and mystery stories', 'England -- Fiction'} | PG10082 | |
"And now, monsieur, any more questions?"
Crewe smiled back at her.
"You have told a remarkable story, mademoiselle, and corroborated it with
two important pieces of evidence, which are in themselves almost
sufficient to carry conviction," he said. "But the Scotland Yard police
are a suspicious lot, and it is necessary... | The Hampstead Mystery | Rees, Arthur J. (Arthur John) | 1872 | 1942 | ['en'] | 31 | {'Detective and mystery stories', 'England -- Fiction'} | PG10082 | |
"No, monsieur," she replied sadly. "If it had been ten o'clock I would
have been in time to save the life of my lover--to prevent this great
tragedy which brings grief to so many."
Crewe looked at her sharply, and then nodded his head in acquiescence of
the fact that much misery would have been averted if she had been... | The Hampstead Mystery | Rees, Arthur J. (Arthur John) | 1872 | 1942 | ['en'] | 31 | {'Detective and mystery stories', 'England -- Fiction'} | PG10082 | |
"And what became of the letter you wrote to Sir Horace Fewbanks at
Craigleith Hall, asking him to come to London and save you from your
husband's persecutions?"
She looked at him earnestly in the endeavour to ascertain if he had laid
a trap for her.
"Sir Horace destroyed it in Scotland, I suppose, if the police did
no... | The Hampstead Mystery | Rees, Arthur J. (Arthur John) | 1872 | 1942 | ['en'] | 31 | {'Detective and mystery stories', 'England -- Fiction'} | PG10082 | |
"Joe," said Crewe, "I'll see nobody for an hour at least--nobody. You
understand?"
Joe came out of the cinema world long enough to nod his head in emphatic
understanding of the instructions. In his own room Crewe pulled out his
notebook and once more gave himself up to the study of the baffling
Riversbrook mystery, in... | The Hampstead Mystery | Rees, Arthur J. (Arthur John) | 1872 | 1942 | ['en'] | 31 | {'Detective and mystery stories', 'England -- Fiction'} | PG10082 | |
This hobby would have excited the wondering contempt of Joe Leaver, whose
frequent attendance at cinema theatres had led him to the conclusion that
police detectives--who, unlike his master, had to take the rough with the
smooth--spent their spare time practising revolver shooting, and throwing
daggers at an ace of he... | The Hampstead Mystery | Rees, Arthur J. (Arthur John) | 1872 | 1942 | ['en'] | 31 | {'Detective and mystery stories', 'England -- Fiction'} | PG10082 | |
But Crewe seemed in no hurry to do so. He produced his cigar case and
offered Rolfe a cigar, which the latter accepted with a pleasant
recollection of the excellent flavour of the cigars the private detective
kept. When each of them had his cigar well alight, Crewe glanced at the
open stamp album and commenced talking... | The Hampstead Mystery | Rees, Arthur J. (Arthur John) | 1872 | 1942 | ['en'] | 31 | {'Detective and mystery stories', 'England -- Fiction'} | PG10082 | |
Rolfe, who thought he detected a suspicion of banter in Crewe's
remarks, evaded the latter question by answering the first part of
Crewe's inquiry.
"Why hardly that, Mr. Crewe. But the chief is not very keen on the case.
Birchill's acquittal was too much of a blow to him. He reckons that
nowadays juries are too soft-h... | The Hampstead Mystery | Rees, Arthur J. (Arthur John) | 1872 | 1942 | ['en'] | 31 | {'Detective and mystery stories', 'England -- Fiction'} | PG10082 | |
Crewe delivered his reproof with such good humour that Rolfe stared at
him, as if unable to make out what his visitor was driving at.
"I don't know what you are talking about, Mr. Crewe," he said at length.
"Oh, yes, you do. You know I'm speaking about your latest move in the
Riversbrook case, which you've been so bus... | The Hampstead Mystery | Rees, Arthur J. (Arthur John) | 1872 | 1942 | ['en'] | 31 | {'Detective and mystery stories', 'England -- Fiction'} | PG10082 | |
Crewe produced from his pocket a revolver and a lady's handkerchief, and
handed them to Rolfe without speaking.
Rolfe's embarrassment was almost equal to his astonishment as he examined
the articles. In the handkerchief with its missing corner, he speedily
recognised something for which he had searched in vain. He had... | The Hampstead Mystery | Rees, Arthur J. (Arthur John) | 1872 | 1942 | ['en'] | 31 | {'Detective and mystery stories', 'England -- Fiction'} | PG10082 | |
"Not in the least," said Crewe. "Why should you have told me? I don't
tell you everything that I find out. It's all part of the game. That
piece of the handkerchief was a good find, Rolfe, and I congratulate you
on getting it. How did you come to discover it?"
"I was trying to force open the murdered man's hand, and I... | The Hampstead Mystery | Rees, Arthur J. (Arthur John) | 1872 | 1942 | ['en'] | 31 | {'Detective and mystery stories', 'England -- Fiction'} | PG10082 | |
"That was not Mrs. Holymead," said Crewe.
"How do you know? If it was not her, who was it? Do you know?"
"I think I know, and when I am at liberty to speak I will tell you."
"Then there is a third point," continued Rolfe. "Look at this
handkerchief you brought. I saw a handkerchief of exactly similar pattern
at Mrs. H... | The Hampstead Mystery | Rees, Arthur J. (Arthur John) | 1872 | 1942 | ['en'] | 31 | {'Detective and mystery stories', 'England -- Fiction'} | PG10082 | |
"Not at all," was the reply. "Before I helped him to leave England I
satisfied myself that he had absolutely nothing to do with the murder. He
does not know who shot Sir Horace Fewbanks, though, of course, he still
half believes that it was Birchill. When I got in touch with him after
his disappearance he was in a pit... | The Hampstead Mystery | Rees, Arthur J. (Arthur John) | 1872 | 1942 | ['en'] | 31 | {'Detective and mystery stories', 'England -- Fiction'} | PG10082 | |
"What a damned cunning scoundrel he is," exclaimed Rolfe, in unwilling
admiration of the completeness of Hill's scheme. "Don't you think, Mr.
Crewe, that, after all, he may be the actual murderer--that he told you a
lot of lies just as he did to us? Holymead in his address to the jury
made out a pretty strong case aga... | The Hampstead Mystery | Rees, Arthur J. (Arthur John) | 1872 | 1942 | ['en'] | 31 | {'Detective and mystery stories', 'England -- Fiction'} | PG10082 |
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