Bathurst, Anthony (Fictitious character) -- Fiction; Detective and mystery stories; England -- Fiction
“I knew then that I had solved the puzzle! Take the initial letters of
each word—I’ll put them in English form to help you—I—CH—TH—S. You
have there four of the five Greek letters that make up the Greek word
for ‘Fish’! ’ICHTHUS! In relation to that—the Early Christians in the
agonizing days of their first bitter persecutions used to signify
their secret allegiance to the Christ by drawing a fish upon the
ground when they encountered a stranger of whose Faith they were
doubtful. He was tested by that sign. When I thought of that fish on
the other screen I knew I was home at last. It then remained for me to
entice the murdering devils here—I thought the empty house would lure
them—it was all so beautifully convenient with Butterworth left
behind. Mortimer brought the tapestry screen down by car, and
Butterworth, who induced him down, of course, had the other in safe
hiding somewhere. They were desperately impatient to turn their
knowledge to account and profit. The rest you know! When I saw the
screens for the first time to-night I guessed the fish had a secret
cavity somewhere—luckily at the second attempt I found it.”
Stewart and Goodall advanced to him with outstretched hands. “A
wonderful piece of work, Mr. Bathurst,” said the former, “and worthy
of the heartiest congratulations.”
“Mine also,” grunted the Inspector. “I’m very much in your debt—like
Mr. Stewart here.”
Anthony, flushed with triumph, waved their praise on one side.
“There’s one thing I _can_ take credit for,” added Peter. “I told you
he was a liar when he tried to implicate Miss Lennox—I was certain of
it.”
Goodall laughed at Daventry’s plea for recognition—then turned to
Anthony.
“One last point, Mr. Bathurst. What made you state to me that the
woman we were looking for suffered from hay fever?”
“Come, Goodall,” replied Mr. Bathurst. “Remember Druce’s
evidence—continuous sneezing—Atkins’ evidence—the occasional use of
dark spectacles by a woman possessed of excellent sight—a few
fragments of ‘Asthma Cure’ on the mantelpiece of the room at
Blanchard’s Hotel—Rabjohns’ story of the odor in the bedroom—the time
of the year, June—it was a comparatively easy matter to deduce a
hay-fever patient—any more questions?”
“No more,” said the Inspector promptly and decisively. “I’m perfectly
satisfied.”
“There’s still that awkward will,” put in Charles Stewart. “That’s got
to be faced.”
“Quite easy, Mr. Stewart,” said Anthony. “Miss Lennox will marry a
very rich man, so that forfeiting her share of your father’s money
will matter little to her. That will leave you free and unhampered to
marry Miss Armitage—I think that’s the lady’s name, isn’t it? And
when we remember that the metal-work screen—_your_ property, Mr.
Stewart—was the one that contained the ‘Cardinal’s Great Gift’—what
better wedding present could you give Miss Marjorie Lennox than
the ‘Black Twenty-Two’?” He pointed to the table. “Splendid
compensation—you know.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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