A Coin of Edward VII: A Detective StoryHume, Fergus
Philosophy
A Coin of Edward VII: A Detective Story
Hume, Fergus
Detective and mystery stories; Fiction
"Yes. I didn't say anything much at the inquest beyond that he was a
visitor, and I was relieved when I found that no questions were asked.
But I walked with him to the end of the terrace and saw him go down the
avenue. Then I returned to this room, and found Miss Denham waiting by
the desk. I asked her what she wanted. She asked for her wages, as she
was leaving the next day. I had no ready money, and promised to see to
it before she departed. Then she went out, and shortly afterwards Miss
Kent came in to say she had seen the man go down the avenue. She asked
me who he was, and I was rather short with her, poor creature!" and
Morley sighed.
"I wonder why the man went to church."
"I can't say that; but I can guess that when he knew who Daisy was he
wanted to speak to her."
"What about?" asked Steel eagerly.
"About me and the summons. You see, Steel, there is a half-uncle of
Daisy Kent's who went to Australia. He said that if he made his fortune
he would leave the money to her. Whether he is dead or alive I don't
know, but certainly she did not get any money left to her. Powell's
solicitors are Asher, Son, and Asher----"
"Powell? I thought the uncle would be called Kent, unless, of course, he
was uncle by the mother's side."
"I said half-uncle," said Morley dryly. "Powell is his name--William
Powell--and his solicitors are those who issued that judgment summons. I
expect the clerk wanted to tell Daisy about my position and warn her
against lending me money. As though I should have asked the girl for
sixpence!"
"I don't see why this clerk should warn Miss Kent."
"Well, you see, Daisy had a hundred a year, and they pay it to her. As
she might one day be an heiress, I suppose they think it as well to keep
an eye on her. This man could not have known that Daisy was in church,
and may have just gone there to kill time. But when he saw her and knew
who she was, I daresay he wrote that note asking her to come outside and
be told all about me."
"It might be so. Was the note found?"
"Not to my knowledge. But you should know, being a detective."
"I'm not omniscient," replied Steel good-humoredly; "it is only in
novels that you get the perfect person who never makes a mistake. Well,
to resume. I don't see why the clerk should have killed Miss Kent."
"He did not kill her," insisted Morley. "I was in the room with him from
the time he entered by the door to the time he left by that middle
window. He had no chance of stealing the stiletto. Now Miss Denham had,
for she was in the room alone for a few moments."
"But why should she have taken the clerk with her on the car? If she
killed the girl her object must have been to escape herself?"
"I can't explain. Perhaps this clerk saw the crime and hoped to make
money out of it. Had he given the alarm he wouldn't have gained any
reward. So I suppose he mounted the car with her, so that she should not
escape him."
"A wild theory."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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