CHAPTER V
IMPORTANT DISCOVERIES
As the attorney, in response to the summons from Mr. Thornton,hastened from the corridor into the main hall, five gentlemen wereslowly ascending the broad stairway, conversing together in subduedtones. One, younger than the others and evidently more familiarwith the surroundings at Fair Oaks, stepped quickly in advance ofthe rest and extended his hand to Mr. Whitney in silent greeting.This was Dr. Hobart, Hugh Mainwaring's physician and one of his mostintimate friends, although a number of years his junior. Followinghim were Mr. Elliott and Mr. Chittenden, of the firm of Mainwaring& Co., while bringing up the rear were the coroner and a gentleman,somewhat below medium size and of modest appearance, whom theattorney greeted very cordially and afterwards introduced to Mr.Thornton as Mr. Merrick. Proceeding at once to the library, theywere joined a moment later by Ralph Mainwaring and his son. Thenecessary introductions followed, and Mr. Mainwaring having giventhe butler instructions to admit no one into the library, Mr. Whitneymade a brief statement regarding the discovery of the murder, andall passed into the room in the tower.
Dr. Hobart at once bent over the prostrate form with genuine sorrow.The millionaire broker had been one of his earliest patrons, andtheir acquaintance had soon ripened into a mutual attachment,notwithstanding the disparity in their ages. After a long look atthe face of his friend, he gave place to the coroner, who was alsoa physician. They partially lifted the body and both examined thewound, the small man who had accompanied the coroner looking onsilently. It was found that the bullet had entered just above theright eye and had passed through the brain in a slightly downwarddirection, coming out near the base upon the same side. The mostcareful search failed to disclose the bullet, and attention wasnext directed to the revolver lying upon the floor near the righthand. It was a Smith & Wesson, thirty-two calibre, with but oneempty chamber, that from which the fatal bullet had probablybeen discharged.
"Can any of you gentlemen tell me whether or not this belonged tothe deceased?" inquired the coroner, holding up the revolver.
There was an instant's pause, and Mr. Whitney replied, "I knowthat Mr. Mainwaring owned a revolver, but, having never seen it,am unable to answer your inquiry. Perhaps his secretary couldgive you the desired information."
"I have often seen a revolver lying in Mr. Mainwaring's desk,"said the secretary; "but I doubt whether I could identify it, asI never observed it closely. I should judge, however, that thiswas the same size and make."
"Would it not be well to see if it is still there?" suggestedthe attorney. "I suppose you have a key to the desk."
"I have, sir," he replied, at the same time producing it. Crossingthe room, he unlocked and opened the desk. An instant later, heannounced, as he closed the desk, "It is not here."
There was a subdued murmur, and Mr. Thornton was heard to exclaim,"Suicide! That has been my impression all along."
Ralph Mainwaring glanced inquiringly at the attorney, who shookhis head emphatically, while the coroner once more inspected thewound with an air of perplexity.
"Doctor," inquired Ralph Mainwaring, "in your opinion, how long haslife been extinct?"
"I should judge about eight or nine hours," replied Dr. Hobart."What would you say, Dr. Westlake?"
"That would be my judgment, also."
"You would say that death was instantaneous?" questioned theattorney.
"Without a doubt. It could not have been otherwise?" RalphMainwaring consulted his watch. "It is now half after nine; in yourjudgment, then, this must have occurred about one o'clock thismorning?"
"About that time."
"At what hour was Mr. Mainwaring last seen by any one in thishouse?" asked the coroner.
"As nearly as we have ascertained thus far, at about twelve o'clock."
"Twelve? Indeed! By whom? and where?"
"By his private secretary, and in the library adjoining."
"Very well," said the coroner, after a pause, during which he hadmade a memorandum of certain details which he considered of specialimportance; "the undertaker can now be summoned as I believe he iswaiting below, and we seem to have ascertained all the facts possiblein this direction; and, Mr. Whitney, I will next see the valet, whomyou say was the one to discover the situation this morning."
In the slight confusion and delay which ensued, Mr. Elliott and Mr.Chittenden took their departure, with the usual expressions ofcondolence and regret, followed a few moments later by Dr. Hobart,who was accompanied downstairs by young Mainwaring.
Meanwhile, Mr. Merrick, having made a close scrutiny of the lifelessform, had been slowly walking back and forth in the tower-room andlibrary, his hands in the pockets of his short sacque coat and hiseyes apparently riveted on the floor. Several times in the libraryhe paused and, bending downward, seemed to be intently studying thecarpet; then, after two or three turns about the room, he saunteredtowards the windows and doors, examining the fastenings of each inturn, and, on reaching the door opening into the southern hall,suddenly disappeared.
"A very mysterious case!" commented the coroner, when he had finishedhis interview with the valet. "Thus far nothing can be learned whichthrows much actual light on the subject one way or another, but ifanybody can unravel the mystery, Merrick can."
"Merrick!" repeated Mr. Thornton, turning to Mr. Whitney in surprise."Is Mr. Merrick a detective?"
"He is. I did not introduce him as such, for the reason that in acase of this kind he usually prefers to make his first visit incognitoif possible."
"Very well; you have taken the responsibility in this matter. Youunderstand, of course, Mr. Whitney, that we want no amateur work ina case like this."
"Mr. Merrick is no amateur," said the attorney, quietly; "he is oneof the most trusted and one of the surest men on the force."
"Before we go any farther," interposed Ralph Mainwaring, "I suggestthat we ascertain whether or not there has been a robbery. We canat least satisfy ourselves on that point."
"Acting on your suggestion, we will examine the safe," said Mr.Whitney; "though I, for one, am not inclined to think there has beenany robbery. Without a knowledge of the combination, the safe couldnot be opened unless force were employed; and it certainly bears noevidence of having been tampered with."
"Proceed with your investigation, Mr. Whitney," said the quiet voiceof the detective, who had entered unobserved from the smoking-room;"unless I am greatly mistaken, the person we are after is some onepretty familiar with various 'combinations' in these apartments."
There was a general expression of surprise, and all turned towardsMr. Merrick for an explanation, but a glance at his impassive faceconvinced them that questions would be useless.
With a few swift turns the secretary unlocked the safe and theponderous doors swung open, showing books and papers in theiraccustomed places. Everything appeared in perfect order; but as theattorney began a rapid examination of the interior, he suddenlyuttered a sharp exclamation, while, as he continued his search, hismanner betrayed considerable excitement.
"Anything wrong, Mr. Whitney? anything missing?" queried RalphMainwaring.
"Everything is missing!" the other exclaimed, after a moment's pause,turning around with a pale face and holding in his hand an emptycash box; "there is absolutely nothing left but an old cheque-book,a few drafts, and some other papers of no value whatever except toHugh Mainwaring himself!"
Half a score of questions were instantly raised: "Was there a largeamount of money in the safe?" "Did it contain anything of greatvalue?"
Scott, standing silently in the background, seemed to seeagain the brilliant gems flashing in the sunlight, as he hadseen them in his search on the preceding day, but he saidnothing.
"There was a considerable amount of cash," the attorney was saying."Mr. Mainwaring deposited a large sum there when he last came outfrom the city, and," he added more slowly, "the old family jewelswere kept in the safe."
"The Mainwaring jewels!" echoed both the Englishmen
. "Impossible!incredible!" While Ralph Mainwaring exclaimed, "Why, they wereworth a fortune several times over in themselves!"
"I am aware of that," answered the attorney. "I often remonstratedwith Mr. Mainwaring, but to no purpose; for some reason which henever explained he always kept them there."
"I would never have believed him capable of such recklessness," saidMr. Thornton.
"Recklessness!" exclaimed Ralph Mainwaring; "it was the biggestpiece of imbecility I ever heard of! What is your opinion now, Mr.Whitney, regarding a robbery in connection with this case?"
"That there has been a robbery I am forced to admit," the attorneyreplied, courteously but firmly; "but my opinion of the matter isstill unchanged. I regard the robbery as only incident to themurder. I do not yet believe it to have led to the deeper crime."
"Do you know, Mr. Scott, whether any one beside yourself understoodthe combination of the safe?" Ralph Mainwaring inquired.
"I do not, sir," the secretary replied, conscious that all eyes hadturned upon him at the inquiry and that the detective was observinghim closely.
Meanwhile Ralph Mainwaring loudly lamented the missing jewels, untilit was evident to all that their loss, for the time at least, hadcompletely overshadowed all thought of the tragedy they wereinvestigating.
"They must be recovered at all hazards and at any price," he said,addressing the detective. "There were single gems in thatcollection which cost a fortune and which have been heirlooms inthe family for generations."
After further search which failed to disclose anything of importance,or any clue regarding either the murder or the robbery, arrangementswere made for the inquest to be held at three o'clock that afternoon,and the party was about to leave the apartments, when Mr. Whitneypaused.
"One moment, gentlemen; there is one more point I would likeinvestigated. I maintain that we have not yet discovered the mostessential clue to this case--something to throw light on thepossible motive which prompted the murder of Hugh Mainwaring. Inow wish to make a final trial. Mr. Scott, will you once more openMr. Mainwaring's desk for us and take out the will that was depositedthere yesterday?"
Ralph Mainwaring started. "The will? You surely do not think--"
"I think it might be safer in our own possession," said the attorney,with a peculiar smile.
"And right you are!" added Mr. Thornton, approvingly. "I wonder youhad not thought of that yourself, Mainwaring."
Meanwhile, Scott, having opened the desk in compliance with theattorney's request, had looked for the will where he had last seen iton the preceding day, and, failing to find it, was searching throughthe numerous receptacles containing Mr. Mainwaring's private papers.The silence around him became oppressive, and suddenly looking up,he encountered the glance of both Mr. Whitney and the detective, theformer with an expression of triumph in his keen eyes. Perplexed andbewildered, Scott exclaimed in a mechanical tone,--
"The will is gone; it is nowhere to be found!"
"I thought as much," said the attorney, quietly.
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