The Illustrious Prince

by E. Phillips Oppenheim

  CHAPTER XXI. A CLUE

  By midday on the following morning London was placarded with notices,the heading of which was sensational enough to attract observation fromevery passer-by, young or old, rich or poor. One thousand pounds' rewardfor the apprehension of the murderer of either Hamilton Fynes or RichardVanderpole! Inspector Jacks, who was amongst the first to hear the news,after a brief interview with his chief put on his hat and walked roundto the Home Office. He sought out one of the underlings with whom hehad some acquaintance, and whom he found ready enough, even eager, todiscuss the matter.

  "There wasn't a word about any reward," Inspector Jacks was told, "untilthis morning. We had a telephone message from the chief's bedroom andphoned you up at once. It's a pretty stiff amount, isn't it?"

  "It is," the Inspector admitted. "Our chief seems to be taking quite apersonal interest in the matter all at once."

  "I'll lay two to one that some one was on to him at Sir EdwardBransome's reception last night," the other remarked. "I know very wellthat there was no idea of offering a reward yesterday afternoon. Wemight have come out with a hundred pounds or so, a little later on,perhaps, but there was nothing of this sort in the air. I've no desireto seem censorious, you know, Jacks," the young man went on, leaningback in his chair and lighting a cigarette, "but it does seem adashed queer thing that you can't put your finger upon either of thesefellows."

  Inspector Jacks nodded gloomily.

  "No doubt it seems so to you," he admitted. "You forget that we haveto have a reasonable amount of proof before we can tap a man on theshoulder and ask him to come with us. It isn't so abroad or in America.There they can hand a man up with less than half the evidence we haveto be prepared with, and, of course, they get the reputation of beingsmarter on the job. We may learn enough to satisfy ourselves easily, butto get up a case which we can put before a magistrate and be sure of notlosing our man, takes time."

  "So you've got your eye on some one?" The young man asked curiously.

  "I did not say so," the Inspector answered warily. "By the bye, do youthink there would be any chance of five minutes' interview with yourchief?"

  The young man shook his head slowly.

  "What a cheek you've got, Jacks!" he declared. "You're not serious, areyou?"

  "Perfectly," Inspector Jacks answered. "And to tell you the truth,my young friend, I am half inclined to think that when he is given tounderstand, as he will be by you, if he doesn't know it already, that Iam in charge of the investigations concerning these two murders, he willsee me."

  The young man was disposed to consider the point.

  "Well," he remarked, "the chief does seem plaguy interested, all of asudden. I'll pass your name in. If you take a seat, it's just possiblethat he may spare you a minute or two in about an hour's time. He won'tbe able to before then, I'm sure. There's a deputation almost due, andtwo other appointments before luncheon time."

  The Inspector accepted a newspaper and an easy chair. His young frienddisappeared and returned almost immediately, looking a little surprised.

  "I've managed it for you," he explained. "The chief is going to spareyou five minutes at once. Come along and I'll show you in."

  Inspector Jacks took up his hat and followed his acquaintance to theprivate room of the Home Secretary. That personage nodded to him uponhis entrance and continued to dictate a letter. When he had finished, hesent his clerk out of the room and, motioning Mr. Jacks to take a seatby his side, leaned back in his own chair with the air of one preparedto relax for a moment. He was a man of somewhat insignificant presence,but he had keen gray eyes, half the time concealed under thick eyebrows,and flashing out upon you now and then at least expected moments.

  "From Scotland Yard, I understand, Mr. Jacks?" he remarked.

  "At your service, sir," the Inspector answered. "I am in charge of theinvestigations concerning these two recent murders."

  "Quite so," the Home Secretary remarked. "I am very glad to meetyou, Mr. Jacks. So far, I suppose, you are willing to admit thatyou gentlemen down at Scotland Yard have not exactly distinguishedyourselves."

  "We are willing to admit that," Inspector Jacks said.

  "I do not know whether the reward will help you very much," the HomeSecretary continued. "So far as you people personally are concerned, Iimagine that it will make no difference. The only point seems to bethat it may bring you outside help which at the present time is beingwithheld."

  "The offering of the reward, sir," Inspector Jacks said, "can do noharm, and it may possibly assist us very materially."

  "I am glad to have your opinion, Mr. Jacks," the Home Secretary said.

  There was a moment's pause. The Minister trifled with some papers lyingon the desk before him. Then he turned to his visitor and continued,--

  "You will forgive my reminding you, Mr. Jacks, that I am a busy man andthat this is a busy morning. You had some reason, I presume, for wishingto see me?"

  "I had, sir," the Inspector answered. "I took the liberty of waitingupon you, sir, to ask whether the idea of a reward for so large a sumcame spontaneously from your department?"

  The Home Secretary raised his eyebrows.

  "Really, Mr. Jacks," he began,--

  "I hope, sir," the Inspector protested, "that you will not think I amasking this question through any irrelevant curiosity. I am beginning toform a theory of my own as to these two murders, but it needs buildingup. The offering of a reward like this, if it emanates from the sourcewhich I suspect that it does, gives a solid foundation to my theories.I am here, sir, in the interests of justice only, and I should beexceedingly obliged to you if you would tell me whether the suggestionof this large reward did not come from the Foreign Office?"

  The Minister considered for several moments, and then slowly inclinedhis head.

  "Mr. Jacks," he said, "your question appears to me to be a pertinentone. I see not the slightest reason to conceal from you the fact thatyour surmise is perfectly accurate."

  A flash of satisfaction illuminated for a moment the detective'sinexpressive features. He rose and took up his hat.

  "I am very much obliged to you, sir," he said. "The information whichyou have given me is extremely valuable."

  "I am glad to hear you say so," the Home Secretary declared. "Youunderstand, of course, that it is within the province of my departmentto assist at all times and in any possible way the course of justice. Isthere anything more I can do for you?"

  Inspector Jacks hesitated.

  "If you would not think it a liberty, sir," he said, "I should bevery glad indeed if you would give me a note which would insure me aninterview with Sir Edward Bransome."

  "I will give it you with pleasure," the Secretary answered, "although Iimagine that he would be quite willing to see you on your own request."

  He wrote a few lines and passed them over. Inspector Jacks saluted, andturned towards the door.

  "You'll let me know if anything turns up?" the Home Secretary said.

  "You shall be informed at once, sir," the Inspector assured him, a as heleft the room.

  Sir Edward Bransome was just leaving his house when Inspector Jacksentered the gate. The latter, who knew him by sight, saluted andhesitated for a moment.

  "Did you wish to speak to me?" Sir Edward asked, drawing back from thestep of his electric brougham.

  The Inspector held out his letter. Sir Edward tore it open and glancedthrough the few lines which it contained. Then he looked keenly for amoment at the man who stood respectfully by his side.

  "So you are Inspector Jacks from Scotland Yard," he remarked.

  "At your service, sir," the detective answered.

  "You can get in with me, if you like," Sir Edward continued, motioningtoward the interior of his brougham. "I am due in Downing Street now,but I dare say you could say what you wish to on the way there."

  "Certainly, sir," Inspector Jacks answered. "It will be very good of youindeed if you can spare me those few minutes."

  The brougha
m glided away.

  "Now, Mr. Jacks," Sir Edward said, "what can I do for you? If you wantto arrest me, I shall claim privilege."

  The Inspector smiled.

  "I am in charge, sir," he said, "of the investigations concerning themurder of Mr. Hamilton Fynes and Mr. Richard Vanderpole. The news of thereward came to us at Scotland Yard this morning. Its unusual amount ledme to make some injuries at the Home Office. I found that what I partlyexpected was true. I found, sir, that your department has shown someinterest in the apprehension of these two men."

  Sir Edward inclined his head slowly.

  "Well?" he said.

  "Sir Edward Bransome," the Inspector continued, "I have a theory of myown as to these murders, and though it may take me some time to work itout, I feel myself day by day growing nearer the truth. These were notordinary crimes. Any one can see that. They were not even crimes forthe purpose of robbery--not, that is to say, for robbery in the ordinarysense of the word. That is apparent even to those who write for thePress. It has been apparent to us from the first. It is beginningto dawn upon me now what the nature of the motive must be which wasresponsible for them. I have in my possession a slight, a very slightclue. The beginning of it is there, and the end. It is the way betweenwhich is tangled."

  Sir Edward lit a cigarette and leaned back amongst the cushions. Witha little gesture he indicated his desire that Inspector Jacks shouldproceed.

  "My object in seeking for a personal interview with you, sir," InspectorJacks continued, "is to ask you a somewhat peculiar question. If I findthat my investigations lead me in the direction which at present seemsprobable, it is no ordinary person whom I shall have to arrest when thetime comes. The reward which has been offered is a large one, and it isnot for me to question the bona fide nature of it. I would not presume,sir, even to ask you whether it was offered by reason of any outsidepressure, but there is one question which I must ask. Do you reallywish, sir, that the murderer or murderers of these two men shall bebrought to justice?"

  Sir Edward looked at his companion in steadfast amazement.

  "My dear Inspector," he said, "what is this that you have in yourmind? I hold no brief for any man capable of such crimes as these.Representations have been made to us by the American Government that themurder of two of her citizens within the course of twenty-four hours,and the absence of any arrest, is somewhat of a reflection upon ourpolice service. It is for your assistance, and in compliment to ourfriends across the Atlantic, that the reward was offered."

  Inspector Jacks seemed a little at a loss.

  "It is your wish, then, sir," he said slowly, "that the guilty person orpersons be arrested without warning, whoever they may be?"

  "By all means," Sir Edward affirmed. "I cannot conceive, Inspector, whatyou have in your mind which could have led you for a moment to suspectthe contrary."

  The brougham had come to a standstill in front of a house in DowningStreet. Inspector Jacks descended slowly. It was hard for him to decideon the spot how far to take into his confidence a person whose attitudewas so unsympathetic.

  "I am exceedingly obliged to you for your answer to my question, sir,"he said, saluting. "I hope that in a few days we shall have some newsfor you."

  Sir Edward watched him disappear as he mounted the steps of the PrimeMinister's house.

  "I wonder," he said to himself thoughtfully, "what that fellow can havein his mind!"

  Inspector Jacks did not at once return to Scotland Yard. On his waythere he turned into St. James' Square, and stood for several momentslooking at the corner house on the far side. Finally, after a hesitationwhich seldom characterized his movements, he crossed the road and rangthe bell. The door was opened almost at once by a Japanese butler.

  "Is your master at home?" the Inspector asked.

  "His Highness does not see strangers," the man replied coldly.

  "Will you take him my card?" the Inspector asked.

  The man bowed, and showed him into an apartment on the ground floor.Then with the card in his hand, he turned reluctantly away.

  "His Highness shall be informed that you are here," he said. "I fear,however, that you waste your time. I go to see."

  Inspector Jacks subsided into a bamboo chair and looked out of thewindow with a frown upon his forehead. It was certain that he was notproceeding with altogether his usual caution. As a matter of tactics,this visit of his might very well be fatal!