Detective and mystery stories; Fiction; Love stories
"No. She was rather excited and I asked no questions."
"Had she ever before visited Newhaven to your knowledge?"
"Never."
"Then she did not know the late Lord Wilmersley?"
"No."
"Was there any reason for this?" inquired the detective, looking keenly
at Cyril.
"I was never very friendly with my cousin, and we sailed for South
Africa immediately after our marriage. Neither of us has been home since
then."
"I must find out where she spent the night of the murder," murmured the
Inspector. He seemed to have forgotten Cyril's presence.
"If you think her Ladyship had anything to do with the tragedy, I assure
you, you are on the wrong track," cried Cyril, forgetting for a moment
his pose of polite aloofness. "She has never been at all violent. It is
chiefly her memory that is affected. Until the last few days what she
did one minute, she forgot the next."
"You think, therefore, that she would not be able to tell me how she
spent her time in Newhaven?"
"I am sure of it."
"That is most unfortunate! By the way, how has she taken the news of
Lord Wilmersley's murder?"
"She has not been told of it. She does not even know that he is dead."
"Ah!"
"I see I must explain her case more fully, so that you may be able to
understand my position. Her Ladyship's mind became affected about six
months ago, owing to causes into which I need not enter now. Since her
arrival in England her improvement has been very rapid. Her memory is
growing stronger, but it is essential that it should not be taxed for
the present. The doctor assures me that if she is kept perfectly quiet
for a month or so, she will recover completely. That is why I want her
to remain in absolute seclusion. An incautious word might send her off
her balance. She must be protected from people, and I will protect her,
I warn you of that. Six weeks from now, if all goes well, you can
cross-question her, if you still think it necessary, but at present I
not only forbid it, but I will do all in my power to prevent it. Of
course," continued Cyril more calmly, "I have neither the power nor the
desire to hamper you in the exercise of your profession; so if you doubt
my statements just ask Dr. Stuart-Smith whether he thinks her Ladyship
has ever been in a condition when she might have committed murder. He
will laugh at you, I am sure."
"I don't doubt it, my lord; all the same--" Griggs hesitated.
"All the same you would like to know what her Ladyship did on the night
of the murder. Well, find out, if you can. I assure you that although
our motives differ, my curiosity equals yours."
"Thank you, my lord. I shall certainly do my best to solve the riddle,"
said the Inspector as he bowed himself out.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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