by G. A. Henty
CHAPTER XII.
DR. LEEDS SPEAKS.
After reading John Simcoe's letter, Hilda threw it down with anexclamation of contempt.
"Read it!" she said to Netta, who was alone with her.
"The letter is good enough as it stands," Netta remarked, as shefinished it.
"Good enough, if coming from anyone else," Hilda said scornfully,"perhaps better than most men would write, but I think that a rogue cangenerally express himself better than an honest man."
"Now you are getting cynical--a new and unpleasant phase in yourcharacter, Hilda. I have heard you say that you do not like this man,but you have never given me any particular reason for it, beyond, in oneof your letters, saying that it was an instinct. Now do try to give me amore palpable reason than that. At present it seems to be only a case ofDr. Fell. You don't like him because you don't."
"I don't like him because from the first I distrusted him. Personally, Ihad no reason to complain; on the contrary, he has been extremely civil,and indeed willing to put himself out in any way to do me smallservices. Then, as I told you, Walter disliked him, too, although he wasalways bringing chocolates and toys for him; so that the child's dislikemust have been also a sort of instinct. He felt, as I did, that the manwas not true and honest. He always gave me the impression of acting apart, and I have never been able to understand how a man of his classcould have performed so noble and heroic an act as rushing in almostunarmed to save another, who was almost a stranger to him, from thegrip of a tiger. So absolutely did I feel this that I have at timeseven doubted whether he could be the John Simcoe who had performed thisgallant action."
"My dear Hilda, you are getting fanciful! Do you think that your unclewas likely to be deceived in such a matter, and that he would not have avivid remembrance of his preserver, even after twenty years?"
"That depends on how much he saw of him. My uncle told me that Mr.Simcoe brought some good introductions from a friend of his at Calcuttawho came out in the same ship with him. No doubt he dined at my uncle'stwo or three times--he may even have stayed a few days in thehouse--possibly more; but as commanding the district my uncle must havebeen fully occupied during the day, and can have seen little of himuntil, I suppose, a week or so after his arrival, when he invited him tojoin in the hunt for a tiger. Although much hurt on that occasion,Simcoe was much less injured than my uncle, who lay between life anddeath for some time, and Simcoe had left before he was well enough tosee him. If he had dined with my uncle a few times after this affair,undoubtedly his features would have been so impressed on him that hewould have recognized him, even after twenty years; but, as it was, hecould have no particular interest in this gentleman, and can haveentertained but a hazy recollection of his features. In fact, theGeneral did not recognize him when he first called upon him, until hehad related certain details of the affair. It had always been a sorepoint with my uncle that he had never had an opportunity of thanking hispreserver, who had, as he believed, lost his life at sea before hehimself was off his sick bed, and when he heard the man's story he wasnaturally anxious to welcome him with open arms, and to do all in hispower for him. I admit that this man must either have been in Benaresthen, or shortly afterwards, for he remembered various officers who werethere and little incidents of cantonment life that could, one wouldthink, be only known to one who had been there at the time."
"But you say he was only there a week, Hilda?"
"Only a week before this tiger business; but it was a month before hewas able to travel. No doubt all the officers there would make a gooddeal of a man who had performed such a deed, and would go and sit withhim and chat to while away the hours; so that he would, in that time,pick up a great deal of the gossip of the station."
"Well, then, what is your theory, Hilda? The real man, as you say, nodoubt made a great many acquaintances there; this man seems to have beenbehind the scenes also."
"He unquestionably knew many of the officers, for uncle told me that herecognized several men who had been out there when he met them at theclub, and went up and addressed them by name."
"Did they know him also?"
"No; at first none of them had any idea who he was. But that is notsurprising, for they had seen him principally when he was greatly pulleddown; and believing him to be drowned, it would have been strange indeedif they had recalled his face until he had mentioned who he was."
"Well, it seems to me that you are arguing against yourself, Hilda.Everything you say points to the fact that this man is the John Simcoehe claims to be. If he is not Simcoe, who can he be?"
"Ah! There you ask a question that I cannot answer."
"In fact, Hilda, you have nothing beyond the fact that you do not likethe man, and believe that he is not the sort of man to perform an heroicand self-sacrificing action, on behalf of this curious theory of yours."
"That is all at present, but I mean to set myself to work to find outmore about him. If I can find out that this man is an impostor we shallrecover Walter; if not, I doubt whether we shall ever hear of himagain."
Netta lifted her eyebrows.
"Well, at any rate, you have plenty of time before you, Hilda."
The next morning Dr. Leeds, who had not called for the last three orfour days, came in to say that he was arranging a partnership with adoctor of considerable eminence, but who was beginning to find thepressure of work too much for him, and wanted the aid of a younger andmore active man.
"It is a chance in a thousand," he said. "I owe it largely to the kindmanner in which both Sir Henry Havercourt and Dr. Pearson spoke to himas to my ability. You will excuse me," he went on, after Hilda hadwarmly congratulated him, "for talking of myself before I have asked anyquestions, but I know that, had you obtained any news of Walter, youwould have let me know at once."
"Certainly I should; but I have some news, and really important news, togive you." And she related the production of the new will and gave himthe details of its provisions.
He looked very serious.
"It is certainly an ugly outlook," he said. "I have never seen thisSimcoe, but I know from the tone in which you have spoken of him, atleast two or three times, that he is by no means a favorite of yours.Can you tell me anything about him?"
"Not beyond the fact that he saved the General's life from a tiger agreat many years ago. Shortly after that he was supposed to be lost atsea. Certainly the vessel in which he sailed went down in a hurricanewith, as was reported, all hands. He says that he was picked up clingingto a spar. Of his life for the twenty years following he has never givena very connected account, at least as far as I know; but some of thestories that I have heard him tell show that he led a very wild sort oflife. Sometimes he was working in a small trader among the islands ofthe Pacific, and I believe he had a share in some of these enterprises.Then he claims to have been in the service of a native prince somewhereup beyond Burmah, and according to his account took quite an activepart in many sanguinary wars and adventures of all sorts."
The doctor's face grew more and more serious as she proceeded.
"Do I gather, Miss Covington, that you do not believe that this man iswhat he claims to be?"
"Frankly that is my opinion, doctor. I own that I have no groundwhatever for my disbelief, except that I have naturally studied the manclosely. I have watched his lips as he spoke. When he has been talkingabout these adventures with savages he spoke without effort, and I haveno doubt whatever that he did take part in such adventures; but when hewas speaking of India, and especially when at some of the bachelordinners uncle gave there were officers who had known him out there, itwas clear to me that he did not speak with the same freedom. He weighedhis words, as if afraid of making a mistake. I believe that the man wasplaying a part. His tone was genial and sometimes a little boisterous,as it might well be on the part of a man who had been years away fromcivilization; but I always thought from his manner that all this wasfalse. I am convinced that he is a double-faced man. When he spoke Iobserved that he watched in a fu
rtive sort of way the person to whom hewas speaking, to see the effect of his words; but, above all, I formedmy opinion upon the fact that I am absolutely convinced that this mancould never have performed the splendid action of facing a wounded tigerunarmed for the sake of one who was, in fact, but a casualacquaintance."
"You will excuse me if I make no comment on what you have told me, MissCovington. It is a matter far too serious for any man to form a hastyopinion upon. I myself have never seen this man, but I am content totake your estimate of his character. One trained, as you were for years,in the habit of closely watching faces cannot but be a far better judgeof character than those who have not had such training. I will take twoor three days to think the matter over; and now will you tell me whatsteps you are taking at present to discover Walter?"
She told him of what was being done.
"Can you suggest anything else, Dr. Leeds?"
"Nothing. It seems to me that the key to the mystery is in the hands ofthis man, and that it is there it must be sought, though at present Ican see no way in which the matter can be set about. When one entersinto a struggle with a man like this, one must be armed at all points,prepared to meet craft with craft, and above all to have awell-marked-out plan of campaign. Now I will say good-morning. I supposeMiss Purcell and her niece will stay on with you, at any rate for atime?"
"For a long time, I hope," she said.
"May I ask if you have stated the view that you have given me to MissNetta Purcell?"
"Yes, I have told her. She is disposed to treat it as an absurd fancy onmy part, but if I can get anything to go upon which will convince herthat there is even a faint possibility of my being right, she will gothrough fire and water to assist me."
"I can well believe that," the doctor said. "I am sure that she has astrong character, although so lively and full of fun. Of course, havingbeen thrown with her for four months, I am able to form a very fairopinion of her disposition."
After Dr. Leeds had left, Hilda began to build castles for her friend.
"It would be a splendid thing for her," she said. "He is certainly not aman to speak in the way he did unless he thoroughly meant it. I shouldthink that they were just suited to each other; though it would bereally a pity that the scheme I had set my mind upon for getting herover here as head of an institution for teaching deaf and dumb childrenon Professor Menzel's plan should come to nothing. Perhaps, though, hemight be willing that she should act as the head of such anestablishment, getting trained assistants from those she knows inHanover and giving a few hours a day herself to the general supervision,if only for the sake of the good that such an institution would doamong, perhaps the most unfortunate of all beings. I am quite sure that,so far, she has no thought of such a thing. However, perhaps I amrunning on too fast, and that he only means what he said, that headmired her character. I suppose there is no reason that because a manadmires a girl's character he should fall in love with her, and yetNetta is so bright and cheerful, and at the same time so kind andthoughtful, I can hardly imagine that any man, thrown with her as he hasbeen, could help falling in love with her."
Netta was surprised when Hilda told her that Dr. Leeds had been inclinedto view her theory seriously.
"Really, Hilda? Certainly he is not the sort of man to be carried awayby your enthusiasm, so please consider all that I have said upon thesubject as unspoken, and I will stand neutral until I hear further whathe says."
"He did not say very much, I admit, Netta; but he said that he wouldtake the matter seriously into consideration and let me know what hethinks in two or three days."
"I am afraid that he wants to let you down gently," Netta said. "Well,well, don't looked vexed! I will say no more about it until this solemnjudgment is delivered."
Netta was in the room when Dr. Leeds called, two days later.
"Netta is in all my counsels, Dr. Leeds," Hilda said, "and she is, as arule, a capital hand at keeping a secret, though she did let mine slipout to you."
There was no smile on the doctor's face, and both girls felt at oncethat the interview was to be a serious one.
"I am well aware that I can speak before Miss Purcell," he said,"although there are very few people before whom I would repeat what I amgoing to say. I have two questions to ask you, Miss Covington. What isthe date of this last will of your uncle's?"
"It is dated the 16th of May."
"About a fortnight before the General's alarming seizure?"
Hilda bowed her head in assent. The next question took her quite bysurprise.
"Do you know whether this man Simcoe was one of the party when theseizure took place?"
"He was, doctor. My uncle told me that he was going to dine with him,and Dr. Pearson mentioned to me that he was next to the General andcaught him as he fell from his chair."
Dr. Leeds got up and walked up and down the room two or three minutes.
"I think that now things have come to the present pass you ought to knowwhat was the opinion that I originally formed of General Mathieson'sillness. Dr. Pearson and Sir Henry Havercourt both differed from me andtreated my theory as a fanciful one, and without foundation; and ofcourse I yielded to such superior authority, and henceforth kept myideas to myself. Nevertheless, during the time the General was under mycharge I failed altogether to find any theory or explanation for hisstrange attack and subsequent state, except that which I had firstformed. It was a theory that a medical man is always most reluctant todeclare unless he is in a position to prove it, or at least to give somevery strong reason in its favor, for a mistake would not only cost himhis reputation, but might involve him in litigation and ruin his careeraltogether. But I think that I ought to tell you what my opinion is,Miss Covington. You must not take it for more than it is worth, namelyas a theory; but it may possibly set you on a new track and aid you inyour endeavor to discover the missing child."
The surprise of the two girls increased as he continued, after a pause:
"Ever since the day when I was first requested to act as the General'sresident medical man I have devoted a considerable time to the study ofbooks in which, here and there, could be found accounts of the action ofthe herbs in use among the Obi women, fetich men, and so-called wizardson the West Coast of Africa, also in India, and among the savage tribesof the Malay Archipelago and the Pacific Islands. What drugs they usehas never been discovered, although many efforts have been made toobtain a knowledge of them, both in India and on the West Coast; butdoctors have found it necessary to abandon the attempt, several of themhaving fallen victims of the jealousy of these people because of theresearches they were making. But at the least the effects of theadministration of these drugs have been frequently described, and insome respects these correspond so closely to those noticeable in theGeneral's case that I say now, as I said at first, I believe theGeneral's illness was caused by the administration of some drugabsolutely unknown to European science."
"You think that my uncle was poisoned?" Hilda exclaimed in a tone ofhorror, while Netta started to her feet with clenched hands and flushedface.
"I have not used the word 'poisoned,' Miss Covington, though in fact itcomes to that. It may not have been administered with the intention ofkilling; it may have been intended only to bring on a fit, which, in duetime, might have been attended by others; but the dose may have beenstronger than its administrator intended."
"And you think, Dr. Leeds--you think that it was administered by----"
"No, Miss Covington; I accuse no one. I have no shadow of proof againstanyone; but taking this illness, with the abduction of the child, itcannot be denied that one's suspicions must, in the first case, fallupon the man who has profited by the crime, if crime it was. On May 16this will was drawn up, bequeathing the property to a certain person.The circumstances of the will were curious, but from what I learned fromyou of the explanation given by the lawyers who drew it up, it seemsfair and above-board enough. The General was certainly greatly under theinfluence of this man, who had rendered him the greate
st service one mancan render another, and that at the risk of his own life. Therefore I donot consider that this will, which was, so to speak, sprung upon you, isin itself an important link in the chain. But when we find that twelveor fourteen days afterwards the General was, when at table, seized witha terrible fit of an extraordinary and mysterious nature, and that theman who had an interest in his death was sitting next to him, thecoincidence is at least a strange one. When, however, the General's heiris abducted, when the General is at the point of death, the matter forthe first time assumes a position of the most extreme gravity.
"At first, like you, I thought that Walter had either been stolen bysome woman for the sake of his clothes, or that he had been carried offby someone aware that he was the General's heir, with a view toobtaining a large sum of money as his ransom. Such things have been donebefore, and will, no doubt, be done again. The first hypothesis appearsto have failed altogether; no woman who had robbed a child of hisclothes would desire to detain him for an hour longer than wasnecessary. The inquiries of the police have failed altogether; thepeople you have employed have ascertained that neither at the workhousesof London nor in the adjacent counties has any child at all answering toWalter's description been left by a tramp or brought in by the police orby someone who had found him wandering about. It cannot be said that thesecond hypothesis is also proved to be a mistaken one; the men who tookhim away would be obliged to exercise the greatest caution when openingnegotiations for his release, and it might be a month or more before youheard from them.
"Therefore, it would be unfair to this man Simcoe to assume that he isthe author of the plot until so long a period has passed that it ismorally certain that the boy was not stolen for the purpose ofblackmail. However, we have the following suspicious circumstances:first, that, as I believe, the General was drugged by some poison ofwhose nature we are ignorant beyond that we read of very similar casesoccurring among natives races in Africa and elsewhere. Then we have thepoint that no one would have had any interest in the General's death,with the exception of the man he had named as his heir in the event ofthe child's death. We know by the man's statement that he was for manyyears living among tribes where poisons of this kind are used by thewizards and fetich men to support their authority and to remove personsagainst whom they have a grudge. Lastly, we have the crowning fact ofthe abduction of the child, who stood between this man and the estates.All this is at best mere circumstantial evidence. We do not know forcertain what caused the General's fit, we have no proof that Simcoe hadany hand in the abduction, and whatever our opinion may be, it isabsolutely necessary that we do not breathe a hint to anyone."
Hilda did not speak; the shock and the horror of the matter were toomuch for her. She sat with open lips and blanched face, looking at Dr.Leeds. Netta, however, leaped to her feet again.
"It must be so, Dr. Leeds. It does not seem to me that there can be ashadow of doubt in the matter, and anything that I can do to bring thetruth to light I will do, however long a time it takes me."
"Thank you, Netta," Hilda said, holding out her hand to her friend; "asfor me, I will devote my life to clearing up this mystery."
"I am afraid, Miss Covington, that my engagements henceforth willprevent my joining actively in your search, but my advice will always beat your service, and it may be that I shall be able to point out methodsthat have not occurred to you."
"But, oh, Dr. Leeds!" Hilda exclaimed suddenly; "if this villainpoisoned my uncle, surely he will not hesitate to put Walter out of hispath."
"I have been thinking of that," Dr. Leeds exclaimed, "but I have come tothe conclusion that it is very unlikely that he will do so. In the firstplace, he must have had accomplices. The man who spoke to the nurse andthe cabman who drove the child away must both have been employed by him,and I have no doubt whatever that the child has been placed with somepersons who are probably altogether ignorant of his identity. Walter wasa lovable child, and as soon as he got over his first grief he would nodoubt become attached to the people he was with, and although thesemight be willing to take a child who, they were told, had lost itsparents, and was homeless and friendless, without inquiring too closelyinto the circumstances, it is unlikely in the extreme that they wouldconnive at any acts of violence. It is by no means easy to murder andthen to dispose of the body of a child of seven, and I should doubtwhether this man would attempt such a thing. He would be perfectlycontent that the boy would be out of his way, that all traces of himshould be lost, and that it would be beyond the range of probabilitythat he could ever be identified, and, lastly, even the most hardenedvillains do not like putting their necks in a noose. Moreover, if in thelast extremity his confederates, believing that he had made away withthe child, tried to blackmail him, or some unforeseen circumstancebrought home to him the guilt of this abduction, he would be in aposition to produce the child, and even to make good terms for himselffor doing so. You yourself, whatever your feelings might be as to theman whom you believe to be the murderer of your uncle, would still bewilling to pay a considerable sum and allow him to leave the country, oncondition of his restoring Walter. Therefore I think that you may makeyour mind easy on that score, and believe that whatever has happened tohim, or wherever he may be, there is no risk of actual harm befallinghim."
"Thank you very much, doctor. That is indeed a relief. And now have youthought of any plan upon which we had best set to work?"
"Not at present, beyond the fact that I see that the power you bothpossess of reading what men say, when, as they believe, out of earshot,ought to be of material advantage to you. As Miss Purcell has promisedto associate herself with you in the search, I should say that she wouldbe of more use in this direction than you would. You have told me thathe must be perfectly aware of your dislike for him, and would certainlybe most careful, were you in his presence, although he might not dreamof this power that you possess. But he has never seen your friend, andwould not be on his guard with her. I have at present not thought overany plan by which she could watch him--that must be for afterconsideration--but it seems to me that this offers some chance ofobtaining a clew."
"I am ready to do anything, Dr. Leeds," Netta said firmly. "You onlyhave to find out a way, and I will follow out your instructions to theletter. First we must find out whether Hilda's theory about this man,which I scoffed at when she first spoke of it to me, is correct."
"You mean the theory that this man is not John Simcoe at all, butsomeone who, knowing the facts of the rescue from the tiger, and beingalso well acquainted with people and things in Benares, has personatedhim? I will not discuss that now. I have an appointment to meet acolleague for consultation in a difficult case, and have already run thetime very close. You shall see me again shortly, when I have had time tothink the whole matter over quietly."