"I am going to," said Morgan grimly. "I have my eye on him. He is
nearly always drunk, and frightens children and insults women and
threatens men. Sooner or later he will be locked up. And the strength
the man has! Why, do you know, Mr. Macandrew, that he knocked down the
river wall of the Pixy's House--that portion overhanging the pool. I
wanted to run him in for that, but Major Rebb will not prosecute, for
some reason."
"He has a sneaking regard for his old servant, I suppose," said Tod,
smiling. "But this wall, Morgan? How the dickens could one man knock
it down?"
"Oh, the wall has been in a shaky condition for years and years," said
the inspector. "It was only held together by the ivy--the bricks and
mortar were rotten."
"But even then----"
"A good strong push would have sent it over, and Geary gave it that
push. He was climbing over, I believe, as he wanted, mad with drink,
to get into the Pixy's House, and because of the ladies Major Rebb had
ordered the gates to be closed and locked. However, he found that the
wall leaned a trifle towards the cliff, and managed to knock it down.
The man has an immense strength naturally, and when drink is added to
that----" Morgan shrugged his big shoulders. "I have known drunken men
do some wonderful things in the way of superhuman strength," he
finished.
"I think Geary must have been superhuman to have pushed that wall
over, rotten as it was. If you remember, Mr. Haskins climbed it."
"I remember, and a good thing it was that it didn't fall and drop him
into the pool below. However, it's down now, and on that side the
grounds of the Pixy's House lie open to the world. By the way, how is
Mr. Haskins? Has he got over the death of that crazy girl?"
Tod laughed. "I don't think myself that she was crazy, Morgan, or that
she killed that wretched Italian woman. Nor do I believe that she is
dead," and he looked straightly at the officer's red face.
"Have you any reason to think she is alive, sir?"
"Her body has not been found," rejoined Tod evasively.
"What of that? Plenty of bodies are not found. But the girl was never
outside the Pixy's House before that time she fled after the murder.
Not knowing the lie of the country, it is more than probable that she
tumbled into some river, or water hole, and was drowned. If alive, she
certainly would have been caught by now. We have had constables all
over the place for weeks."
"Even now?"
"Well, no. The men have been withdrawn, as so long a time has elapsed
since the commission of the crime. We'll hear no more of the matter."
"Never prophesy until you know, Mr. Inspector."