Berwin--so called--was dead; he was buried under his a.s.sumed name, and there, so far as the obtainable evidence went, was an end to the strange tenant of the Silent House. Gordon Link, the detective charged with the conduct of the case, confessed as much to Denzil.
"I do not see the slightest chance of tracing Berwin"s past," said he to the barrister. "We are as ignorant about him as we are of the name of the a.s.sa.s.sin."
"Are you sure there is no clue, Mr. Link?"
"Absolutely none; even the weapon with which the crime was committed cannot be found."
"You have searched the house?"
"Every inch of it, and with the result that I have found nothing. The surroundings of the case are most mysterious. If we do not identify the dead we cannot hope to trace the murderer. How the wretch got into the house is more than I can discover."
"It is strange," admitted Lucian thoughtfully, "yet in some secret way people were in the habit of entering the house, and Berwin knew as much; not only that, but he protected them from curiosity by denying that they even existed."
"I don"t quite follow you, Mr. Denzil."
"I allude to the shadows on the blind, which I saw myself a week before the murder took place. They were those of a man and a woman, and must have been cast by bodies of flesh and blood. Therefore, two people must have been in Berwin"s sitting-room on that night; yet when I met Berwin who was absent at the time--he denied that anyone could have entered his house without his knowledge. More, he actually insisted that I should satisfy myself as to the truth of this by examining the house."
"Which you did?"
"Yes, but found nothing; yet," said Lucian, with an air of conviction, "however the man and woman entered, they were in the house."
"Then the a.s.sa.s.sin must have come in by the same way; but where that way can be, or how it can be found, is more than I can say."
"Does the landlord know of any secret pa.s.sages?"
"No; I asked him," replied the detective, "but he stated that houses nowadays were not built with secret pa.s.sages. When Berwin denied that anyone was in the house, was he afraid, Mr. Denzil?"
"Yes, he seemed to be nervous."
"And he told you he had enemies?"
"He hinted that there were people who wished to see him dead. From the way he spoke and the language he used I am satisfied that he was hiding from the vengeance of some one."
"Vengeance!" repeated Link, raising his eyebrows. "Is not that word a trifle melodramatic?"
"Perhaps; but to my mind there is more melodrama in actual life than people fancy. However, Mr. Link," added Lucian, "I have come to certain conclusions. Firstly, that Berwin was in hiding; secondly, that he saw people secretly who entered in some way we cannot discover; and thirdly, that to solve the problem it will be necessary to look into the past life of the dead man."
"Your third conclusion brings us round to the point whence we started,"
retorted Link. "How am I to discover the man"s past?"
"By learning who he is, and what is his real name."
"An easy task," said the detective sarcastically, "considering the meagre material upon which we have to work. And how is the business to be accomplished?"
"By advertis.e.m.e.nt."
"Advertis.e.m.e.nt!"
"Yes. I wonder the idea did not strike you before, seeing how often it is used in similar cases. Advertise a full description of the man who called himself Berwin, note his physical peculiarities and looks, and circulate such description by means of handbills and newspapers."
Link looked angry, and laughed rather contemptuously, as his professional pride was touched by the fact of being advised by an individual not of his calling.
"I am not so ignorant of my business as you think," he said sharply.
"What you suggest has already been done. There are handbills describing the appearance of Berwin in every police office in the kingdom."
"In the newspapers, also?" asked Lucian, nettled by the detective"s tone.
"No; it is not necessary."
"I don"t agree with you. Many people in private life are not likely to see your handbills. I don"t pretend to advise, Mr. Link," he added in soothing tones, "but would it not be wise to use the medium of the daily papers?"
"I"ll think of it," said Link, too jealous of his dignity to give way at once.
"Oh, I quite rely on your discretion," said Denzil hastily. "You know your own business best. But if you succeed in identifying Berwin, will you let me know?"
Link looked keenly at the young man.
"Why do you wish to know about the matter?" he asked.
"Out of simple curiosity. The case is so mysterious that I should like to watch you unravel it."
"Well," said Link, rather gratified by this tribute to his power, "I shall indulge your fancy."
The result of this conversation was that Lucian observed in the newspapers next day an advertis.e.m.e.nt describing the looks and name, and physical peculiarities of the deceased, with special mention of the loss of the left hand"s little finger, and the strange cicatrice on the right cheek. Satisfied that the only way to learn the truth had been adopted by the authorities, Lucian impatiently waited for the development of the scheme.
Within the week he received a visit from the detective.
"You were right and I was wrong, Mr. Denzil," admitted Link generously.
"The newspapers were of more use than the handbills. Yesterday I received a letter from a lady who is coming to see me to-morrow at my office. So if you care to be present at the interview you have only to say so."
"I should like it above all things," said Lucian eagerly. "Who is the lady?"
"A Mrs. Vrain, who writes from Bath."
"Can she identify the dead man?"
"She thinks she can, but, of course, she cannot be certain until she sees the body. Going by the description, however," added Link, "she is inclined to believe that Berwin was her husband."
CHAPTER VI
MRS. VRAIN"S STORY
Denzil was much pleased with the courtesy of the detective Link in permitting him to gain, at first hand, further details of this mysterious case. With a natural curiosity, engendered by his short acquaintance with the unfortunate Berwin, he was most anxious to learn why the man had secluded himself from the world in Geneva Square; who were the enemies he hinted at as desirous of his death; and in what manner and for what reason he had met with so barbarous a fate at their hands. It seemed likely that Mrs. Vrain, who a.s.serted herself to be the wife of the deceased, would be able to answer these questions in full; therefore, he was punctual in keeping the appointment at the office of Link.
He was rather astonished to find that Mrs. Vrain had arrived, and was deep in conversation with the detective, while a third person, who had evidently accompanied her, sat near at hand, silent, but attentive to what was being discussed. As the dead man had been close on sixty years of age, and Mrs. Vrain claimed to be his wife, Denzil had quite expected to meet with an elderly woman. Instead of doing so, however, he beheld a pretty young lady of not more than twenty-five, whose raiment of widow"s weeds set off her beauty to the greatest advantage.