Darrel went away little satisfied with his visit. He had obtained
certain historical information, but none likely to throw any light on
the mystery of the double crime. The Blue Mummy was connected with the
murders in some concealed way, independent of its archæological
merits; and it was this hidden connection which Darrel desired to
discover. At present, however, he could not see the slightest chance
of gaining the necessary information; therefore, this especial clue
was absolutely useless--at all events for the time being. Later on its
value might be discovered and utilised; but in the meantime, Frank
dismissed it, to follow up the clue of the initials on the linen of
the dead man. To accomplish this he drove directly to Bond-street.
The mere fact that the red-haired man--as in the absence of an actual
name it is convenient to call him--was in the habit of dealing with
Harcot and Harcot, shewed that he must have been, if not rich, at
least fairly well off. The shop, as Darrel knew, was a very expensive
one, and the goods it supplied were sold at much above their market
value, from the fact that they were supposed to be particularly
fashionable. Darrel carried with him the shirt of the dead man which
had been confided to him by Torry; and this he displayed to the eyes
of the senior partner. Mr. Harcot was a tall, stately-looking man,
more like a Duke than a shopkeeper, and after examining the shirt
through his _pince-nez_, he inquired loftily what it was Mr. Darrel
desired to know. Darrel promptly supplied the information.
"I wish to learn what those initials stand for," said he, laying his
forefinger on the letters 'J.G.'
"May I ask why!"
Darrel reflected. "I see no reason why you should not know," he
remarked; "but you must respect my confidence."
"Certainly, sir, certainly," replied Harcot, whose curiosity was now
excited. "Please come this way where we shall not be disturbed."
The tradesman led the way into a small room partitioned off from the
shop by a glass screen and on closing the door of this, he handed
Darrel a chair with great politeness.
"I await your explanation, sir," he said, smoothing out the shirt on
the table.
"One moment," said Frank quickly. "If I tell you my reason for asking
this question, and you agree to answer it, can I rely on your being
able to give me the desired information?"
"Assuredly, sir. You will observe that under these letters 'J.G.'
there is a number, one thousand four hundred and twenty. Well, sir, we
index, so to speak, all shirts of our manufacture in that way;
and--should your reason for seeking information satisfy me--I have
only to look up that number in our books to learn for whom this shirt
was made."
"Then you had better do so at once, Mr. Harcot; for thereby you may be
able to capture a criminal."
The tradesman looked amazed. "Capture a criminal?" he repeated.
"Yes. On Sunday morning last, after one o'clock, the man to whom that
shirt belonged was murdered."
"Murdered, sir!"