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Particulars concerning Robert Redmayne were abundant; yet, during the whole course of the official inquiry, none was forthcoming concerning the supposed victim. Of him you had heard from his wife; and her original statement to you at Princetown when she invited you, doubtless at Pendean's direction, to take up the case was masterly because so nearly true in every respect.
The picture was fogged at certain points, but I had no doubt as to what it represented, and even the incredible details that seemed to contradict reason were composed and cleaned up when Michael Pendean's own temperament was brought as a solvent to them. "Here, I think, we may spare a tribute of admiration to Pendean's histrionics.
Pendean's murder made Redmayne a vagabond, deprived him of his income and resources, set every man's hand against him and left him a wanderer haunted by the gallows. Yet, while he evaded the law in a manner that can only be called miraculous, he made no attempt to avert suspicion from himself.
Once he received a note from Jenny telling him that she hoped to see him in London before leaving for Italy; and the fact that she had decided to join her uncle gave him some peace; but he heard nothing further and his reply to Mrs. Pendean's communication, which had come from "Crow's Nest," won no response.
He had turned at Jenny Pendean's voice and shown Mark a brown, bright, clean-shorn face of great beauty. It was of classical contour, but lacked the soulless perfection of the Greek ideal. The Italian's black eyes were brilliant and showed intelligence. "Giuseppe Doria has a wonderful story about himself," continued Mrs. Pendean.
"You can take it with you if you wish to do so. I have another copy," said Mrs. Pendean. "I shall remember very accurately," answered Brendon. "I am tolerably certain that poor Mr. Pendean's body was thrown into the sea and may already be recovered. That appears to have been Captain Redmayne's purpose. Can you tell me anything about the lady to whom your uncle is engaged?"
Perhaps he and not Robert Redmayne, or any other, cut Michael Pendean's throat?" "Impossible. Consider. Is not Michael's widow Doria's wife?" "What, then? I'm not saying she knew he was the murderer." "Another thing: Doria was the servant of Bendigo Redmayne at the time." "And how do you know even so much?" Brendon showed impatience. "My dear Ganns, that's common knowledge." "Common nothing!
"From that all-important fact I built my case, and you don't need to be told how every step of the way threw light upon the next until I had reached the goal. Robert Redmayne is seen on the night of Michael Pendean's supposed destruction. He is traced home again to Paignton. He leaves his diggings before anybody is up and, from that exit, vanishes off the face of the earth.
Mark Brendon murmured "damn" gently under his breath. Then he turned to Will. "Where is Mrs. Pendean's house?" he asked. "In Station Cottages, just before you come to the prison woods, sir." "Run over, then, and say I'll call in half an hour." "There!" Will grinned. "I told 'em you'd never keep out of it!"
It possessed a sort of glamour; but it failed of real distinction and the quality proper to greatness, even as the crimes it recorded and the man responsible for them. Pendean's confession revealed an insensibility, a faulty sense of humour, an affectation and a love for the glittering and the grandiose that robbed it of any supreme claim in the annals or literature of murder.
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