“I’m not quite happy in my mind about the roof and the fire escapes,” said De Richleau thoughtfully. “I concede Aron’s point about Frederick, it’s unlikely that he would adhere so strictly to the time of Eaton’s departure and Aron’s arrival if he were involved in any way. In fact his evidence is at present our one hope that we may be able to clear Eaton of this terrible charge. But we must all admit that some unknown person did get into that flat, and if not by the main entrance past the porter—how?”
“The Superintendent said the fire escapes were quite impracticable,” Mr. Schatz tapped the table with his fat forefinger, “and,” he added, “that was before he had settled on Eaton. He ought to know.”
“Don’t you believe it.” Van Ryn’s eyes shone brightly. “I’ve yet got to find the fire-ladder that’ll get me beat, and I’m telling you; I’ll take a look at Errol House myself, just to show those boys at Scotland Yard.”
“For God’s sake don’t you go and get yourself locked up,” Simon expostulated.
“Not on your life. The Duke’s got a flat in the block. What’s easier than for him to take me round the back, and I’m telling you, I’m with the Duke all the time. A guy’s got into that flat somehow, and if the porter’s not a crook the killer must have come down off the roof or up from the yard.”
“No harm in making a thorough examination of the premises ourselves,” Mr. Schatz allowed. “I think, too, we should have a detailed account of the occupants of the other flats and as far as possible their movements during the time concerned.”
“That should not be difficult,” said De Richleau. “From certain observations which I have made I’ve come to the conclusion that my man is upon somewhat more than friendly terms with the unfortunate Frederick’s wife. I’ll speak to him tonight and I don’t doubt that we shall receive quite a mass of information regarding the other occupants of Errol House; and there are, after all, only ten flats.”
There was a short silence, then Simon Aron said with his habitual hesitation: “I wonder now if any of you have thought about Miss Eaton?”
“What, that poor old dame!” Rex sat back at the end of the table and roared with laughter. “Don’t be silly. She just wouldn’t know how to begin.”
“You remember,” Simon went on, “she could have seen the maids go down the passage past her room, but they couldn’t see if she left her room—and she found the body.”
De Richleau shrugged. “How is it possible? Blows like that can only be given by a strong man. You’ve seen her, a frail little woman; I shouldn’t think she weighs more than eighty to eighty-five pounds. No, that idea is absurd, my friend.”
“Now are there any other suggestions,” Mr. Schatz inquired, “because I don’t know if you realise it, but it’s nearly five o’clock? I want to get home.”
“Ner.” Simon Aron shook his head; the others said nothing.
“All right, I’ll get hold of Ring tonight, and I’ll put the agency people on right away, to find out what they can about the porter, the parlourmaid, and the cook. I shall see Eaton tomorrow morning, with Ring, of course, and I’ll let you know,” he looked at De Richleau; “that is if Eaton can tell us his mother’s jeweller. I shall have to attend the inquest. That reminds me”—he turned again to the Duke—“the Superintendent asked me to tell you that you and Van Ryn will not be required; only evidence of identity will be taken and they will ask for a postponement. However, I think I ought to be there just in case they play us any tricks. After that I’ll see the family lawyer. What was his name? Gubbins was it, or Mudd? and get a sight of the will; I can get their address from Eaton in the morning.”
“I’ll—er—find out about that telephone call at the Club,” Simon volunteered, “and I’ll talk to one or two people about the pearls.”
“For our part,” said the Duke, “Van Ryn and I will make a thorough examination of all the approaches to the flat, also I will visit Lady Shoesmith’s jeweller—if Mr. Schatz is sufficiently fortunate as to secure the name—and I will employ my man to secure from his chère-amie an extensive account of all the inhabitants of Errol House. And, gentlemen, if you’re agreeable, I suggest that you should join me for dinner tomorrow night, which will give us all an opportunity of listening to any news of interest which any one of us may have secured during the day.”
“That’s awfully nice of you,” said Simon. “I was going to suggest that you all dined with me, but the Club’s too public, it would have meant a private room somewhere.”
“What this case is going to cost young Eaton, with me working on Sundays and dining out at night, I don’t like to think. But I’ll be there,” Mr. Schatz smiled.
De Richleau stood up. “I am enchanted,” he said. “Shall we say, eight o’clock, and black tie?”
The smile on Mr. Schatz’s face broadened to a grin as he said: “So I’ve got to dress, eh? Well, that’ll be another tenner on Richard Eaton’s bill!”
Simon put his hand on the little man’s shoulder. “That’s it,” he said. “And if Richard couldn’t afford it you’d be briefing Ring out of your own pocket, wouldn’t you?” At which they all laughed.
“Well,” said Rex, “you’ve ruined my Sunday golf, and now, for your party, I’ve got to high hat a date with the prettiest girl in England. Still, I’ll do that cat burglar on the Duke’s iron ladder all right—and a lot more, too, if need be, to get Eaton out.” He moved over to the side table. “And now, boys, would you believe it, it’s cocktail time again!”
18
News Out of Hatton Garden
At dinner the following evening the same rule was observed as at the Sunday luncheon, and by mutual agreement the subject of the murder was banned throughout the meal.
It was a longish affair, since the Duke prided himself upon his table and disliked the modern fashion of snatching a few brief courses between cocktails and the play; but the time slipped away rapidly, as they skimmed from one topic to another, and almost before they were aware of it dinner was over and coffee upon the table.
“A cigar, my friends, then we will get to business.” As the Duke spoke his man carried round a long cedar cabinet offering it to each in turn.
“Now that’s what I call a cigar,” remarked Mr. Schatz appreciatively, taking one of the long golden-brown cylinders from the box and holding it under his nose. “Look at the oil in that leaf.”
“I am happy that you should like them,” said his host. “I always think that Hoyo de Monterray is the finest factory in Havana, and these Anillo d’Oros are of their best.”
“Um,” Simon Aron nodded. “I think you’re right, Hoyo’s are the best cigars in the world.”
The Duke carefully put out his match and waved the lighted end of the cigar quickly beneath his aquiline nose, savouring the fragrant scent of the burning tobacco. “May I suggest,” he said, “that Mr. Schatz should be the first to give us an account of his activities.”
“By all means,” the lawyer leaned forward with both arms on the table. “Well, first I secured Ring. I regarded that as very important. I spoke to him on the telephone last night and he agreed to see me at his private house this morning. I had a long talk with him and there’s no doubt he’s by far the best man we could have. I took him straight down to see Eaton and he was very impressed with the boy. Eaton liked him, too, I could see that, and at a time like this it is very essential he should have every confidence in his advisers; after that I had to go to the coroner’s court.
“As we expected, only formal evidence was taken, and they’ve got an adjournment until next Monday; then I went on to Rathbone, Lobin & Rudd. I’d ‘phoned them earlier to say that I should want a sight of the will. I saw old Rudd. I gathered he had only just finished with Sir Gideon. A nice old gentleman, he looked very much over his spectacles at me though; said ‘he didn’t think he had the pleasure of knowing my firm, but then of course they never touched police court work.’ I agreed, and added that ‘we never went in for the Chancery side.’ He didn’t quite kn
ow how to take that.
“However, to come to the point, there’s no doubt that Richard Eaton is the principal beneficiary. The late Mr. Eaton left everything in trust, with income to his wife for life. At her death a sum of five thousand pounds was to be utilised in the purchase of an annuity for Miss Winifred Eaton, and remainder absolutely to young Richard.
“Now, as regards Lady Shoesmith’s will, you realise, of course, that her own estate is quite a separate matter, apart altogether from the trust in which she only had interest for life. She leaves a number of bequests, of which the principal are—five hundred pounds to a nephew, who is a lieutenant in the navy, and two hundred and fifty to Susan Brent, if still remaining in her service; after that there are a number of charities mentioned for sums of fifty and a hundred pounds, and a few gifts of jewellery to friends—the residue of her estate then goes to Sir Gideon.”
“Of what—er—does her estate consist?” asked Simon.
“There are certain securities and personal effects, but the principal item will, of course, be the Slough property, which the late Mr. Eaton made over to her absolutely in her lifetime.”
“When was this will drawn, d’you know?”
“Last April, upon Lady Shoesmith marrying again; that, as you know, is usual.”
“Tell me,” Simon inquired again, “is Richard mentioned in his mother’s will?”
“Yes and no,” Mr. Schatz replied quickly. “Neither he nor Miss Eaton benefit, but in one clause Lady Shoesmith says: ‘Knowing my son Richard Elmsdale Eaton and my sister-in-law Winifred Lucy Eaton both to be adequately provided for under the will of my first husband, etc., etc.,’ then she goes on to make various dispositions of her property.”
“Are there any other beneficiaries under the late Mr. Eaton’s trust?” asked the Duke.
“No, none whatever. The five thousand to purchase an annuity for Miss Eaton and remainder to his son. Had Richard predeceased his mother, upon her death the whole would have gone to Miss Eaton, and in the event of her also having predeceased Lady Shoesmith, the money would have gone in equal portions to three distant relatives. It was, of course, for that reason that it would have been impossible for Eaton to have got an order of the Court enabling him to participate.”
“What do you figure Eaton’ll come into under this trust?” Rex inquired.
“Rudd tells me not less than three hundred and fifty thousand pounds.”
“And what’s he reckon Lady Shoesmith’s personal estate will pan out at?”
“Eighteen thousand, if the Slough property sells at a reasonable figure; that is, after the various legacies are paid and exclusive of the pearls.”
“Then to sum up, as it were,” Simon carefully laid the long ash from his cigar in the onyx ash-tray at his side, “by Lady Shoesmith’s death Richard stands to gain £350,000, Sir Gideon £18,000, Miss Eaton £5,000, the nephew £500, and the maid £250. Go on, Mr. Schatz, did you get anything else out of old Rudd?”
“No, nothing. I gathered that the old chap was deeply shocked about the whole affair. It seems he’s very fond of Richard Eaton, known him since he was a boy, and considers him quite incapable of such a thing. He expressed approval when I told him we’d secured Ring, and offered to help in any way that he could; but I fancy Rudd’s very glad he hasn’t got to act in this affair. It’s a bit out of his depth.” Mr. Schatz drew with an air of satisfaction at his Hoyo. “And now I’d like to hear what you people have been up to all day?”
“Mr. Aron,” the Duke proffered.
“Ner—I haven’t done much—you go ahead.”
“As you wish—I can speak for myself and Van Ryn, since we have been together most of the day. When we received Mr. Schatz’s message over the telephone we went round to Collingwood’s in Conduit Street and discussed the matter of the pearls with the manager there. It seems that Lady Shoesmith has not had her pearls restrung since the beginning of August.”
“Did she—er—take them in herself?” Simon interrupted.
“No, Sir Gideon brought them in. The man remembered the occasion because they usually take two days to restring such a large necklace, and Sir Gideon was most insistent that they should be ready the following day, because the day after that he and his wife were going to Deauville.”
“What—er—date was this?”
“August 9th, and at that date there is no doubt whatever but that she was still in possession of the genuine pearls. Collingwood’s are quite positive that they have never restrung any imitation pearls on her behalf, neither have they at any time had copies made of the originals on her instructions.”
“Then she must have had the copies made elsewhere or else the imitations have been substituted without her knowledge, during the last four months,” said Mr. Schatz.
“That is precisely the situation,” agreed De Richleau. “We then returned here and carried out a most exhaustive examination of the fire escapes and galleries at the back of these flats. Perhaps Van Ryn would like to report to you upon that, personally.”
“No,” Rex shook his head. “Go right on, you know all there is to it.”
“Just as you wish. The escapes then are definitely constructed with a view to making burglary difficult, if not impossible, controlled from the inside as they are. This in no way interferes with their use in time of emergency. If the lever is put over in the main hall or in any individual flat, the gates open outward with the greatest ease, and as they open a section of the steel ladder falls automatically into position; therefore, if you approach from below, not only are the gates locked against you, but it would be difficult even to reach the lock for the purpose of attempting to pick or force it. Given the height and the muscles of our friend Van Ryn, an escalade is admittedly possible, but it would be difficult even for him, and we both regard it as beyond the powers of any ordinary individual. And, of course, as you will recall, no trace of any such attempt was discovered by the police.”
“Saying there was someone inside,” said Simon, “someone who switched the gates open, could it be done then?”
“Undoubtedly,” De Richleau nodded. “We tested that by releasing the spring in this flat. If that is done, it becomes the essence of simplicity; the person who desires to come up seizes the lowest rung of the ladder with the crook of a stick or umbrella and pulls it towards him, the short length of ladder will slide down into place and the gate of the gallery swings open at the same time; they are worked by one movement.”
“And that brings us right back to the porter, the house-girl and the cook,” said Rex.
“Yes,” Mr. Schatz nodded. “Well, I’ve put the inquiry people on to them. I shall get a first report tomorrow, I expect, just giving general information, previous situations, family history and so on.”
“It also raises the question of the other occupants of Errol House,” the Duke went on. “Max, my man, an intelligent fellow whom I have had with me for a number of years, had a long conversation with his chère-amie, the porter’s wife, last night, thereby supplementing the original knowledge which I do not doubt he possessed, and he gives me the following particulars as to the occupants of these flats.
“No. 1—myself and my staff; No. 2—Sir Gideon Shoesmith; No. 3—Mr. and Mrs. Vidal—French people, I believe—an old couple who have been here since the flats were built. He is over seventy and his butler is said to be as old as his master, if not older; No. 4—the Dowager Lady Lancastle, she has no male staff; No. 5 is empty; No. 6—Captain Cedric Brockenberg, the racing motorist. He has a manservant, age about forty years; in No. 7 there is Miss Fayette de Lancy, she has no male servants, but for the purpose of our inquiry I think we should include a certain Mr. Schuster who is said to pay the rent of her flat; he can be considered as half resident; No. 8 is again unoccupied; No. 9—Mr. and Mrs. Julian Hazelwode, young people quite recently married. He is Lord Notary’s son, they employ only maids; and lastly, No. 10—Sascha Marrowitz, the portrait painter.”
Simon ticked them off on his fingers.
“Captain Brockenberg, his valet, Miss de Lancy’s friend, Julian Hazelwode and Sascha Marrowitz; that’s five. Has Marrowitz got a man to help him out around the place?”
“No, he took the flat because it was at the top of the building and he largely replaced the roof with glass to form a studio; he lives completely alone. But, in any case, I learn that he is at present in Germany.”
“Did you get any information regarding the movements of the others on Saturday night?” asked Mr. Schatz.
“Frederick’s wife made certain further inquiries during the course of today and was able to furnish Max with some particulars before we met this evening.” The Duke smiled.
“Miss de Lancy, as you may know, delights a certain section of the public by her art each evening at the Palladium. She never returns home, therefore, until a little before midnight and Mr. Schuster has never been known to visit her flat when she is absent, although he often brings her home. The Julian Hazelwodes entertained friends to dinner on Saturday, six or eight young people, our informant thinks. They arrived in the neighbourhood of eight-fifteen, and all went out together a little before eleven, including the host and hostess, to dance somewhere, perhaps—possibly to the Ingram party that Van Ryn attended later. This little dinner also accounts for the movements of Captain Brockenberg’s man. It seems that the Hazelwodes have a friendly understanding with his master by which they borrow him when they entertain; he must therefore have been fully occupied during the period under review.”
“And Brockenberg?” asked Simon.
“Since his man was with the Hazelwodes, it’s probable that he dined out late. Frederick reports that he came down in the lift with a lady a little after nine.”
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