CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
MYERST EXPLAINS
It had been apparent to Spargo, from the moment of his entering thecottage, that the two old men were suffering badly from shock andfright: Cardlestone still sat in his corner shivering and trembling; helooked incapable of explaining anything; Elphick was scarcely morefitted to speak. And when Breton issued his peremptory invitation tohis guardian to tell the truth, Spargo intervened.
"Far better leave him alone, Breton," he said in a low voice. "Don'tyou see the old chap's done up? They're both done up. We don't knowwhat they've gone through with this fellow before we came, and it'scertain they've had no sleep. Leave it all till later--after all, we'vefound them and we've found him." He jerked his thumb over his shoulderin Myerst's direction, and Breton involuntarily followed the movement.He caught the prisoner's eye, and Myerst laughed.
"I daresay you two young men think yourselves very clever," he saidsneeringly. "Don't you, now?"
"We've been clever enough to catch you, anyway," retorted Breton. "Andnow we've got you we'll keep you till the police can relieve us ofyou."
"Oh!" said Myerst, with another sneering laugh. "And on what charge doyou propose to hand me over to the police? It strikes me you'll havesome difficulty in formulating one, Mr. Breton."
"Well see about that later," said Breton. "You've extorted money bymenaces from these gentlemen, at any rate."
"Have I? How do you know they didn't entrust me with these cheques astheir agent?" exclaimed Myerst. "Answer me that! Or, rather, let themanswer if they dare. Here you, Cardlestone, you Elphick--didn't yougive me these cheques as your agent? Speak up now, and quick!"
Spargo, watching the two old men, saw them both quiver at the sound ofMyerst's voice; Cardlestone indeed, began to whimper softly.
"Look here, Breton," he said, whispering, "this scoundrel's got somehold on these two old chaps--they're frightened to death of him. Leavethem alone: it would be best for them if they could get some rest. Holdyour tongue, you!" he added aloud, turning to Myerst. "When we want youto speak we'll tell you."
But Myerst laughed again.
"All very high and mighty, Mr. Spargo of the _Watchman_!" he sneered."You're another of the cock-sure lot. And you're very clever, but notclever enough. Now, look here! Supposing--"
Spargo turned his back on him. He went over to old Cardlestone and felthis hands. And he turned to Breton with a look of concern.
"I say!" he exclaimed. "He's more than frightened--he's ill! What's tobe done?"
"I asked the police to bring a doctor along with them," answeredBreton. "In the meantime, let's put him to bed--there are beds in thatinner room. We'll get him to bed and give him something hot todrink--that's all I can think of for the present."
Between them they managed to get Cardlestone to his bed, and Spargo,with a happy thought, boiled water on the rusty stove and put hotbottles to his feet. When that was done they persuaded Elphick to liedown in the inner room. Presently both old men fell asleep, and thenBreton and Spargo suddenly realized that they themselves were hungryand wet and weary.
"There ought to be food in the cupboard," said Breton, beginning torummage. "They've generally had a good stock of tinned things. Here weare, Spargo--these are tongues and sardines. Make some hot coffee whileI open one of these tins."
The prisoner watched the preparations for a rough and ready breakfastwith eyes that eventually began to glisten.
"I may remind you that I'm hungry, too," he said as Spargo set thecoffee on the table. "And you've no right to starve me, even if you'vethe physical ability to keep me tied up. Give me something to eat, ifyou please."
"You shan't starve," said Breton, carelessly. He cut an ample supply ofbread and meat, filled a cup with coffee and placed cup and platebefore Myerst. "Untie his right arm, Spargo," he continued. "I think wecan give him that liberty. We've got his revolver, anyhow."
For a while the three men ate and drank in silence. At last Myerstpushed his plate away. He looked scrutinizingly at his two captors."Look here!" he said. "You think you know a lot about all this affair,Spargo, but there's only one person who knows all about it. That's me!"
"We're taking that for granted," said Spargo. "We guessed as much whenwe found you here. You'll have ample opportunity for explanation, youknow, later on."
"I'll explain now, if you care to hear," said Myerst with another ofhis cynical laughs. "And if I do, I'll tell you the truth. I knowyou've got an idea in your heads that isn't favourable to me, butyou're utterly wrong, whatever you may think. Look here!--I'll make youa fair offer. There are some cigars in my case there--give me one, andmix me a drink of that whisky--a good 'un--and I'll tell you what Iknow about this matter. Come on!--anything's better than sitting heredoing nothing."
The two young men looked at each other. Then Breton nodded. "Let himtalk if he likes," he said. "We're not bound to believe him. And we mayhear something that's true. Give him his cigar and his drink."
Myerst took a stiff pull at the contents of the tumbler which Spargopresently set before him. He laughed as he inhaled the first fumes ofhis cigar.
"As it happens, you'll hear nothing but the truth," he observed. "Nowthat things are as they are, there's no reason why I shouldn't tell thetruth. The fact is, I've nothing to fear. You can't give me in charge,for it so happens that I've got a power of attorney from these two oldchaps inside there to act for them in regard to the money theyentrusted me with. It's in an inside pocket of that letter-case, and ifyou look at it, Breton, you'll see it's in order. I'm not even going todare you to interfere with or destroy it--you're a barrister, andyou'll respect the law. But that's a fact--and if anybody's got a caseagainst anybody, I have against you two for assault and illegaldetention. But I'm not a vindictive man, and----"
Breton took up Myerst's letter-case and examined its contents. Andpresently he turned to Spargo.
"He's right!" he whispered. "This is quite in order." He turned toMyerst. "All the same," he said, addressing him, "we shan't releaseyou, because we believe you're concerned in the murder of John Marbury.We're justified in holding you on that account."
"All right, my young friend," said Myerst. "Have your own stupid way.But I said I'd tell you the plain truth. Well, the plain truth is thatI know no more of the absolute murder of your father than I know ofwhat is going on in Timbuctoo at this moment! I do not know who killedJohn Maitland. That's a fact! It may have been the old man in therewho's already at his own last gasp, or it mayn't. I tell you I don'tknow--though, like you, Spargo, I've tried hard to find out. That's thetruth--I do not know."
"You expect us to believe that?" exclaimed Breton incredulously.
"Believe it or not, as you like--it's the truth," answered Myerst."Now, look here--I said nobody knew as much of this affair as I know,and that's true also. And here's the truth of what I know. The old manin that room, whom you know as Nicholas Cardlestone, is in realityChamberlayne, the stockbroker, of Market Milcaster, whose name was sofreely mentioned when your father was tried there. That's anotherfact!"
"How," asked Breton, sternly, "can you prove it? How do you know it?"
"Because," replied Myerst, with a cunning grin, "I helped to carry outhis mock death and burial--I was a solicitor in those days, and my namewas--something else. There were three of us at it: Chamberlayne'snephew; a doctor of no reputation; and myself. We carried it out verycleverly, and Chamberlayne gave us five thousand pounds apiece for ourtrouble. It was not the first time that I had helped him and been wellpaid for my help. The first time was in connection with theCloudhampton Hearth and Home Mutual Benefit Society affair--Aylmore, orAinsworth, was as innocent as a child in that!--Chamberlayne was theman at the back. But, unfortunately, Chamberlayne didn't profit--helost all he got by it, pretty quick. That was why be transferred hisabilities to Market Milcaster."
"You can prove all this, I suppose?" remarked Spargo.
"Every word--every letter! But about the Market Milcaster affair: Yourfather, Breton, was r
ight in what he said about Chamberlayne having allthe money that was got from the bank. He had--and he engineered thatmock death and funeral so that he could disappear, and he paid us whohelped him generously, as I've told you. The thing couldn't have beenbetter done. When it was done, the nephew disappeared; the doctordisappeared; Chamberlayne disappeared. I had bad luck--to tell you thetruth, I was struck off the rolls for a technical offence. So I changedmy name and became Mr. Myerst, and eventually what I am now. And it wasnot until three years ago that I found Chamberlayne. I found him inthis way: After I became secretary to the Safe Deposit Company, I tookchambers in the Temple, above Cardlestone's. And I speedily found outwho he was. Instead of going abroad, the old fox--though he was acomparatively young 'un, then!--had shaved off his beard, settled downin the Temple and given himself up to his two hobbies, collectingcuriosities and stamps. There he'd lived quietly all these years, andnobody had ever recognized or suspected him. Indeed, I don't see howthey could; he lived such a quiet, secluded life, with his collections,his old port, and his little whims and fads. But--I knew him!"
"And you doubtless profited by your recognition," suggested Breton.
"I certainly did. He was glad to pay me a nice sum every quarter tohold my tongue," replied Myerst, "and I was glad to take it and,naturally, I gained a considerable knowledge of him. He had only onefriend--Mr. Elphick, in there. Now, I'll tell you about him."
"Only if you are going to speak respectfully of him," said Bretonsternly.
"I've no reason to do otherwise. Elphick is the man who ought to havemarried your mother. When things turned out as they did, Elphick tookyou and brought you up as he has done, so that you should never know ofyour father's disgrace. Elphick never knew until last night thatCardlestone is Chamberlayne. Even the biggest scoundrels havefriends--Elphick's very fond of Cardlestone. He----"
Spargo turned sharply on Myerst.
"You say Elphick didn't know until last night!" he exclaimed. "Why,then, this running away? What were they running from?"
"I have no more notion than you have, Spargo," replied Myerst. "I tellyou one or other of them knows something that I don't. Elphick, Igather, took fright from you, and went to Cardlestone--then they bothvanished. It may be that Cardlestone did kill Maitland--I don't know.But I'll tell you what I know about the actual murder--for I do know agood deal about it, though, as I say, I don't know who killed Maitland.Now, first, you know all that about Maitland's having papers andvaluables and gold on him? Very well--I've got all that. The whole lotis locked up--safely--and I'm willing to hand it over to you, Breton,when we go back to town, and the necessary proof is given--as it willbe--that you're Maitland's son."
Myerst paused to see the effect of this announcement, and laughed whenhe saw the blank astonishment which stole over his hearers' faces.
"And still more," he continued, "I've got all the contents of thatleather box which Maitland deposited with me--that's safely locked up,too, and at your disposal. I took possession of that the day after themurder. Then, for purposes of my own, I went to Scotland Yard, asSpargo there is aware. You see, I was playing a game--and it requiredsome ingenuity."
"A game!" exclaimed Breton. "Good heavens--what game?"
"I never knew until I had possession of all these things that Marburywas Maitland of Market Milcaster," answered Myerst. "When I did knowthen I began to put things together and to pursue my own line,independent of everybody. I tell you I had all Maitland's papers andpossessions, by that time--except one thing. That packet of Australianstamps. And--I found out that those stamps were in the handsof--Cardlestone!"
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
THE FINAL TELEGRAM
Myerst paused, to take a pull at his glass, and to look at the twoamazed listeners with a smile of conscious triumph.
"In the hands of Cardlestone," he repeated. "Now, what did I argue fromthat? Why, of course, that Maitland had been to Cardlestone's roomsthat night. Wasn't he found lying dead at the foot of Cardlestone'sstairs? Aye--but who found him? Not the porter--not the police--notyou, Master Spargo, with all your cleverness. The man who foundMaitland lying dead there that night was--I!"
In the silence that followed, Spargo, who had been making notes of whatMyerst said, suddenly dropped his pencil and thrusting his hands in hispockets sat bolt upright with a look which Breton, who was watching himseriously, could not make out. It was the look of a man whose ideas andconceptions are being rudely upset. And Myerst, too, saw it and helaughed, more sneeringly than ever.
"That's one for you, Spargo!" he said. "That surprises you--that makesyou think. Now what do you think?--if one may ask."
"I think," said Spargo, "that you are either a consummate liar, or thatthis mystery is bigger than before."
"I can lie when it's necessary," retorted Myerst. "Just now it isn'tnecessary. I'm telling you the plain truth: there's no reason why Ishouldn't. As I've said before, although you two young bullies havetied me up in this fashion, you can't do anything against me. I've apower of attorney from those two old men in there, and that's enough tosatisfy anybody as to my possession of their cheques and securities.I've the whip hand of you, my sons, in all ways. And that's why I'mtelling you the truth--to amuse myself during this period of waiting.The plain truth, my sons!"
"In pursuance of which," observed Breton, drily, "I think you mentionedthat you were the first person to find my father lying dead?"
"I was. That is--as far as I can gather. I'll tell you all about it. AsI said, I live over Cardlestone. That night I came home very late--itwas well past one o'clock. There was nobody about--as a matter of fact,no one has residential chambers in that building but Cardlestone andmyself. I found the body of a man lying in the entry. I struck a matchand immediately recognized my visitor of the afternoon--John Marbury.Now, although I was so late in going home, I was as sober as a man canbe, and I think pretty quickly at all times. I thought at double extraspeed just then. And the first thing I did was to strip the body ofevery article it had on it--money, papers, everything. All these thingsare safely locked up--they've never been tracked. Next day, using myfacilities as secretary to the Safe Deposit Company, I secured thethings in that box. Then I found out who the dead man really was. Andthen I deliberately set to work to throw dust in the eyes of the policeand of the newspapers, and particularly in the eyes of young MasterSpargo there. I had an object."
"What?" asked Breton.
"What! Knowing all I did, I firmly believed that Marbury, or, rather,Maitland, had been murdered by either Cardlestone or Elphick. I put itto myself in this way, and my opinion was strengthened as you, Spargo,inserted news in your paper--Maitland, finding himself in the vicinityof Cardlestone after leaving Aylmore's rooms that night, turned intoour building, perhaps just to see where Cardlestone lived. He metCardlestone accidentally, or he perhaps met Cardlestone and Elphicktogether--they recognized each other. Maitland probably threatened toexpose Cardlestone, or, rather, Chamberlayne--nobody, of course, couldknow what happened, but my theory was that Chamberlayne killed him.There, at any rate, was the fact that Maitland was found murdered atChamberlayne's very threshold. And, in the course of a few days, Iproved, to my own positive satisfaction, by getting access toChamberlayne's rooms in his absence that Maitland had been there, hadbeen in those rooms. For I found there, in Chamberlayne's desk, therare Australian stamps of which Criedir told at the inquest. That wasproof positive."
Spargo looked at Breton. They knew what Myerst did not know--that thestamps of which he spoke were lying in Spargo's breast pocket, wherethey had lain since he had picked them up from the litter and confusionof Chamberlayne's floor.
"Why," asked Breton, after a pause, "why did you never accuseCardlestone, or Chamberlayne, of the murder?"
"I did! I have accused him a score of times--and Elphick, too," repliedMyerst with emphasis. "Not at first, mind you--I never let Chamberlayneknow that I ever suspected him for some time. I had my own game toplay. But at last--not so many days ago--I did. I accused them both.T
hat's how I got the whip hand of them. They began to be afraid--bythat time Elphick had got to know all about Cardlestone's past asChamberlayne. And as I tell you, Elphick's fond of Cardlestone. It'squeer, but he is. He--wants to shield him."
"What did they say when you accused them?" asked Breton. "Let's keep tothat point--never mind their feelings for one another."
"Just so, but that feeling's a lot more to do with this mystery thanyou think, my young friend," said Myerst. "What did they say, you ask?Why, they strenuously denied it, Cardlestone swore solemnly to me thathe had no part or lot in the murder of Maitland. So did Elphick.But--they know something about the murder. If those two old men can'ttell you definitely who actually struck John Maitland down, I'm certainthat they have a very clear idea in their minds as to who really did!They--"
A sudden sharp cry from the inner room interrupted Myerst. Breton andSpargo started to their feet and made for the door. But before theycould reach it Elphick came out, white and shaking.
"He's gone!" he exclaimed in quavering accents. "My old friend'sgone--he's dead! I was--asleep. I woke suddenly and looked at him.He----"
Spargo forced the old man into a chair and gave him some whisky; Bretonpassed quickly into the inner room; only to come back shaking his head.
"He's dead," he said. "He evidently died in his sleep."
"Then his secret's gone with him," remarked Myerst, calmly. "And now weshall never know if he did kill John Maitland or if he didn't. Sothat's done with!"
Old Elphick suddenly sat up in his chair, pushing Spargo fiercely awayfrom his side.
"He didn't kill John Maitland!" he cried angrily, attempting to shakehis fist at Myerst. "Whoever says he killed Maitland lies. He was asinnocent as I am. You've tortured and tormented him to his death withthat charge, as you're torturing me--among you. I tell you he'd nothingto do with John Maitland's death--nothing!"
Myerst laughed.
"Who had, then?" he said.
"Hold your tongue!" commanded Breton, turning angrily on him. He satdown by Elphick's side and laid his hand soothingly on the old man'sarm.
"Guardian," he said, "why don't you tell what you know? Don't be afraidof that fellow there--he's safe enough. Tell Spargo and me what youknow of the matter. Remember, nothing can hurt Cardlestone, orChamberlayne, or whoever he is or was, now."
Elphick sat for a moment shaking his head. He allowed Spargo to givehim another drink; he lifted his head and looked at the two young menwith something of an appeal.
"I'm badly shaken," he said. "I've suffered much lately--I've learntthings that I didn't know. Perhaps I ought to have spoken before, but Iwas afraid for--for him. He was a good friend, Cardlestone, whateverelse he may have been--a good friend. And--I don't know any more thanwhat happened that night."
"Tell us what happened that night," said Breton.
"Well, that night I went round, as I often did, to play piquet withCardlestone. That was about ten o'clock. About eleven Jane Baylis cameto Cardlestone's--she'd been to my rooms to find me--wanted to see meparticularly--and she'd come on there, knowing where I should be.Cardlestone would make her have a glass of wine and a biscuit; she satdown and we all talked. Then, about, I should think, a quarter totwelve, a knock came at Cardlestone's door--his outer door was open,and of course anybody outside could see lights within. Cardlestone wentto the door: we heard a man's voice enquire for him by name; then thevoice added that Criedir, the stamp dealer, had advised him to call onMr. Cardlestone to show him some rare Australian stamps, and thatseeing a light under his door he had knocked. Cardlestone asked himin--he came in. That was the man we saw next day at the mortuary. Uponmy honour, we didn't know him, either that night or next day!"
"What happened when he came in?" asked Breton.
"Cardlestone asked him to sit down: he offered and gave him a drink.The man said Criedir had given him Cardlestone's address, and that he'dbeen with a friend at some rooms in Fountain Court, and as he waspassing our building he'd just looked to make sure where Cardlestonelived, and as he'd noticed a light he'd made bold to knock. He andCardlestone began to examine the stamps. Jane Baylis said good-night,and she and I left Cardlestone and the man together."
"No one had recognized him?" said Breton.
"No one! Remember, I only once or twice saw Maitland in all my life.The others certainly did not recognize him. At least, I never knew thatthey did--if they did."
"Tell us," said Spargo, joining in for the first time, "tell us whatyou and Miss Baylis did?"
"At the foot of the stairs Jane Baylis suddenly said she'd forgottensomething in Cardlestone's lobby. As she was going out in to FleetStreet, and I was going down Middle Temple Lane to turn off to my ownrooms we said good-night. She went back upstairs. And I went home. Andupon my soul and honour that's all I know!"
Spargo suddenly leapt to his feet. He snatched at his cap--a sodden andbedraggled headgear which he had thrown down when they entered thecottage.
"That's enough!" he almost shouted. "I've got it--at last!Breton--where's the nearest telegraph office? Hawes? Straight down thisvalley? Then, here's for it! Look after things till I'm back, or, whenthe police come, join me there. I shall catch the first train to town,anyhow, after wiring."
"But--what are you after, Spargo?" exclaimed Breton. "Stop! What onearth----"
But Spargo had closed the door and was running for all he was worthdown the valley. Three quarters of an hour later he startled a quietand peaceful telegraphist by darting, breathless and dirty, into asleepy country post office, snatching a telegraph form and scribblingdown a message in shaky handwriting:--
_Rathbury, New Scotland Yard, London._ _Arrest Jane Baylis at once for murder of John Maitland._ _Coming straight to town with full evidence._
_Frank Spargo_.
Then Spargo dropped on the office bench, and while the wonderingoperator set the wires ticking, strove to get his breath, utterly spentin his mad race across the heather. And when it was got he set outagain--to find the station.
Some days later, Spargo, having seen Stephen Aylmore walk out of theBow Street dock, cleared of the charge against him, and in a fair wayof being cleared of the affair of twenty years before, found himself ina very quiet corner of the Court holding the hand of Jessie Aylmore,who, he discovered, was saying things to him which he scarcelycomprehended. There was nobody near them and the girl spoke freely andwarmly.
"But you will come--you will come today--and be properly thanked," shesaid. "You will--won't you?"
Spargo allowed himself to retain possession of the hand. Also he took astraight look into Jessie Aylmore's eyes.
"I don't want thanks," he said. "It was all a lot of luck. And if Icome--today--it will be to see--just you!"
Jessie Aylmore looked down at the two hands.
"I think," she whispered, "I think that is what I really meant!"
THE END
The Middle Temple Murder Page 35