'Then in that case Mr. Montagu Babbacombe wasn't the Marquis of
Twickenham.'
This was Dr. Clinton. When he spoke, the old gentleman looked at him
and knew him.
'Is that you, Clinton? I didn't catch what it was you said.'
Mr. FitzHoward put himself forward before Dr. Clinton had a chance of
answering. He handed the old gentleman the photograph.
'May I ask, sir, if you know who is the original of that?'
'Certainly; very well. It's the late Marquis--as I used to know him.'
'That's a portrait of Mr. Montagu Babbacombe, as he appeared on the
morning of the day on which the late Marquis is stated to have died.'
'Of whom?'
'Of Mr. Montagu Babbacombe.'
'Mr. Montagu Babbacombe? Then in that case--but I don't understand.'
He turned to the young gentleman. 'Surely this is a portrait of your
lordship's brother?'
'Undoubtedly.'
Dr. Clinton spoke.
'The point, Sir Gregory, is this. The idea is that Montagu Babbacombe
was only another name for the Marquis of Twickenham; but before that
can be admitted there's a difficulty to be got over. I knew Montagu
Babbacombe, and I'm ready to testify that he never had anything the
matter with his heart in the whole of his life, and that on the
morning of the day on which the Marquis died he was in excellent
health.'
'Then your Babbacombe wasn't my Marquis. The Marquis of Twickenham
inherited a weak heart from his father; and as for being in excellent
health on the morning of his death, he'd been dying for months.'
The young gentleman appealed to Mr. Howarth.
'Douglas, I really do believe that the solution of the puzzle is in
your hands. Did Leonard masquerade as Montagu Babbacombe?'
'My dear Reggie, I don't propose to furnish any information.'
'But that's an impossible position, one for which I can't conceive
your justification. Can't you answer Yes or No?'
'Your brother's dead. That's enough for me. It ought to be enough for
you.'
'But don't you see the difficulties which must inevitably arise if you
refuse to answer?'
'I confess I don't.'
'Then you must be more short-sighted than I supposed. If my brother
called himself Babbacombe, then this lady is his wife; and here's her
son. Everything is theirs, and I have nothing.'
'I assure you that this lady is not your brother's wife, and that the
young gentleman is no relation of yours.'
'Then do you say that Leonard wasn't Babbacombe?'
'I don't see how it matters if he was or wasn't.'
'Not if this lady was his wife?' Mr. Howarth shrugged his shoulders.
'The attitude of your mind is altogether beyond my comprehension. I
thought I knew you; but it seems I don't. During the last few days you
have been a different man.'
'Don't talk such nonsense.'
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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