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"He knows that he has failed, Madame de Staemer," I replied, "but his absence is due to the fact that at this hour he is hot upon the trail of the assassin." "What!" she exclaimed, "what!" and bending forward touched my arm. "Tell me again! Tell me again!" "He is following a clue, Madame de Staemer, which he hopes will lead to the truth."
"I will tell you in a moment," I said, quietly, rendered cool, as one always is, by the need of others. "But first tell me how did Madame de Staemer get here?" "I don't know, I don't know! I was startled by the shot. It has awakened everybody. And just as I opened my door to listen, I heard Madame cry out in the hall below. I ran down, turned on the light, and found her lying here.
Conundrums!" muttered Harley, irritably. "Where am I to begin, upon what am I to erect any feasible theory?" He turned abruptly to Val Beverley. "Does Madame de Staemer know?" "Yes," she answered, nodding her head; "and hearing the others depart, she asked me to tell you that sleep is impossible until you have personally given her the details of your discovery."
Therefore I shall pass lightly over the walk back to Cray's Folly, during which I contrived to learn much about Val Beverley's personal history but little to advance the investigation which I was there to assist. As I had surmised, Miss Beverley had been amply provided for by her father, and was bound to Madame de Staemer by no other ties than those of friendship and esteem.
Inspector Aylesbury had not returned from his investigations at the Guest House, and learning that Miss Beverley was remaining with Madame de Staemer, I declined to face the ordeal of a solitary luncheon in the dining room, and merely ate a few sandwiches, walking over to the Lavender Arms for a glass of Mrs. Wootton's excellent ale.
"None, Madame de Staemer." "So Dr. Rolleston assures me. He died in his sleep? You do not think he was awake, eh?" "Most certainly he was not awake." "It is the best way to die," she said, simply.
I cried, "have the ladies been awakened?" "Yes, yes! there is terrible trouble, sir. What has happened? What has happened?" "A tragedy," I said, shortly. "Pull yourself together. Where is Madame de Staemer?" Pedro uttered some exclamation in Spanish and stood, pale-faced, swaying before me, a dishevelled figure in a dressing gown. And now in the background Mrs. Fisher appeared.
Especially, no woman was safe from him, and in the old days, when his power had been great, he had used it for wickedness. "My father was afraid when he heard he was coming. He would have sent me away, but before it could be arranged Senor the Colonel arrived. He had in his company a French lady. I thought her very beautiful and elegant. It was Madame de Staemer.
Senor Menendez had a revolver, but my father knocked it from his grasp. Then they fought with their bare hands. I was too frightened even to cry out. It was all a horrible dream. What Madame de Staemer did, I do not know. I could see nothing but two figures twined together on the floor. At last one of them arose. I saw it was my father, and I remember no more."
"Thirdly: Madame de Staemer. Regarding this suspect, in the first place she could not have gained access to the tower room without assistance, and in the second place she was so passionately devoted to the late Colonel Menendez that Dr. Rolleston is of opinion that her reason may remain permanently impaired by the shock of his death. Fourthly and lastly: Miss Val Beverley."
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