Detective and mystery stories; London (England) -- Fiction; Murder -- Investigation -- Fiction
She passed out of the room shaking as with the ague. Fanks nodded in a
satisfied way, and beckoning to Crate, he went upstairs. A frightened
housemaid on the landing indicated the room of which they were in
search; and they entered it to come face to face with the doctor
summoned by the zealous landlady. He introduced himself as Dr.
Renshaw, and made this announcement with a bland smile and a
condescending bow. Fanks eyed his tall and burly figure; his
Napoleonic countenance; his smooth, brown beard and his perfect dress.
There was a look about the man which he did not like; and he
mistrusted the uneasy glance of the hard, grey eyes. The detective
relied largely on his instinct. In this case it warned him against the
false geniality of Dr. Renshaw.
"The representatives of the law, I believe," said the medical man in a
deep and rolling voice. "I was about to take my departure; but if I
can be of service in the interests of justice, pray command me."
"I suppose there is no doubt that our friend there is dead," said
Fanks.
"Dead as Caesar, sir," said the magnificent doctor, waving his arm.
"Caesar died by steel," remarked Fanks significantly. "It appears that
this man died in an easier manner."
"There is another parallel," said the doctor, condescending to add to
the historical knowledge of the detective. "If we may believe Brutus,
the great Julius was slain as a traitor to the republic. This unknown
man," added Renshaw, pointing to the body, "also died the death of a
traitor."
"If, as you say, the dead man is unknown," said Fanks quickly, "how
can you tell that he was a traitor?"
"By inference and deduction," was the reply. "You can judge for
yourself. Far be it from me that I should set my opinion against that
of the law; but I have a theory. Would you care to hear it? If I may
venture on a jest," said Renshaw with ponderous playfulness, "the
medical mouse may help the legal lion."
"Let us hear your theory by all means," said Fanks easily, "but first
permit me to speak with my assistant."
The doctor bowed and passed over to the other side of the bed; while
Fanks went with Crate to the door. Here he hesitated, glanced at the
doctor, and finally led his subordinate into the passage.
"Crate!" he said in a rapid whisper, "I mistrust that man. He will
shortly leave this place. Follow him and find out where he lives. Then
set someone to watch the place, and return to me."
"Do you think that he has anything to do with it?" asked Crate.
"I can't say at present. I may be wrong about him and about Mrs.
Boazoph; all the same I mistrust the pair of them. Now off with you."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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