CHAPTER XXII
THE HANDCUFFS PLAY AN IMPORTANT PART
That was just what Gerald was unable to do.
He knew Todd was dead. His suspicions about Loide were in a measureconfirmed.
He was convinced now that the lawyer was involved in this crime--but howfar? To know that was what troubled him.
The red haired man was the mystery--a mystery which looked clueless.
Loide had booked a passage after Todd had done so. Todd was found in aparcel, and the other man in the berth with his throat cut, and yet thelawyer was alive!
It was a problem which needed a deal of thought.
Gerald gave it that. He thought all the time.
So far, he still filled the role of clerk, but he got no nearer asolution. He waded through the evidence again and again in the hope ofspotting a hole which the lawyer would fit.
To run through the disguise shops of London in the hope of tracing a manwho had bought a red wig, he knew would be as sensible a task asendeavoring to find the needle in the proverbial stack of hay.
He read again and again the description of the spruce, smartly dressed,jaunty looking, raucous voiced, red haired missing man, and for the lifeof him, he could not make it fit in with the present appearance of thelawyer.
He started rehearsing his bogus detective from New York idea. Thoughthow best he could so surprise the lawyer as to force the truth from him.
He knew him to be a cute old fox, and that if he gleaned anything itwould be at a time when the lawyer's shrewdness was overclouded by fear.
His business was to bring on that cloud--to inspire that fear.
It took him a long while to formulate his scheme. He knew that a falsemove in it would upset everything--that the lawyer would snap it up in amoment, and save himself.
When he had got his idea as near perfection as he thought he could get,he walked into Loide's private room, ostentatiously turned the key inthe door, and seated himself opposite the astonished lawyer.
"What the devil does this mean, sir?"
"It means, Mr. Loide, that the game is up."
As he spoke, he drew from his pocket a pair of handcuffs he had hiredfor a shilling at a theatrical costumer's in the neighboringHoundsditch.
Even yet, so surprised was he, the lawyer did not understand thesituation. He spluttered out:
"What does this play acting business mean in office hours?"
"I'm afraid your office hours, Mr. Loide, are all over. I throw off thedisguise of clerk, and appear as Detective Crayle of the New Yorkpolice."
"Detective!"
"There is a warrant out for your arrest in connection with the murder onthe Europia."
The livid face of the lawyer told Gerald all he wanted to know--he hadhit the right nail on the head, despite the red hair.
He continued:
"There's been a little trouble in trailing this scent, Mr. Loide, butwe've got it all mapped out from the moment of your entrance of theEldon Street agent's office, and your subsequent purchase of the otherhalf of the berth, down to the present moment. You have been watchedright through, Mr. Loide."
The lawyer groaned.
"The American system of police work is different from the English. Everyman to his department. Now, mine is not to arrest you. There's a man onthe Atlantic now, in response to my cable, on his way here to dothat--no, don't look at the door; don't play at silly fools--you know Icould put you in the custody of the first policeman we met."
"If not to arrest me, what is your business, then?"
The hoarse voice of the lawyer showed how deeply he was affected.
"Well, I've been deputed to hunt up that missing nineteen thousandpounds."
The lawyer looked up. Gerald continued:
"Oh, I know you don't know where it is, but if I heard the whole storyfrom your lips, I might be able to find a clue. Now, bargain forbargain--I've told you my business isn't to arrest you.
"I don't personally care whether you go to eternity via our recentlyinvented electrocution chair, or whether you scoot. See? Just tell methe whole story from beginning to end without missing a singledetail--and remember, I know the facts, so if you lie or attempt todeceive me, I shall consider the bargain off--do this, and you'll getthree days start. I'll leave you to do what you like--go where youlike."
"I can believe--rely--on that?"
"I'm no liar in straight business, Mr. Loide. Follow my example, tell methe truth, and we'll say good-bye. If we meet again, it will be yourown fault."
"Very well, I will tell you, then."
"Good. I've my note-book here containing an account of every movement ofyours since----"
"Oh, I'll tell the truth. On the day of the settlement with Depew, Ihanded him nineteen thousand pounds in notes. The numbers----"
"I know them," interposed Gerald--he had got them from the lawyer'sletter book--"get on with the story."
"After that we went to the Great Eastern Hotel opposite and had lunch.He did not know where the passenger agent's was, so I showed him. It wasthe agent saying he had the other half berth which confirmed me in myidea of robbing him, which, as you know, I did not do."
"I know all about it," said Gerald, "but all the same, you tell me thewhole thing complete."
"Well, after Depew had bought his ticket, we came outside, shook hands,and parted, and I never saw him again until I saw his cut upremains"--the lawyer shuddered at the recollection--"in the Europia'scabin."
"After you parted, you went back to the agent's, and got the otherberth. Where did Depew go; do you know that?"
"No. I fancy to his hotel. He was staying during his visit to England atArmfield's."
"Did he go in that direction?"
"No. Now I come to think of it, I remember he spoke of an aching tooth,and said he was going to a dentist's in Finsbury Circus to have one--ashe called it--'yanked out.'"
The lawyer faithfully detailed every other incident which had occurred,and with which the reader who has followed this narrative will beacquainted.
When he had finished, Gerald said:
"Just write me a letter to the Bank of England, withdrawing that stop onthe notes, will you?"
"What?" inquired the lawyer eagerly. "Have you found the missing notes,then?"
"I came over to Europe for that purpose," answered Gerald shortly. "Giveme that letter. That'll do, and now good-bye. You deserve a shove intoKingdom Come, but it's not my business to push you."
He put the handcuffs into his pockets and opened the door.
"Now put your hat on and mizzle. I'll take charge of this office. Don'tset foot near it again, or you'll have yourself to blame for theconsequences."
The lawyer gathered up a few letters, and cramming them into hispocket, walked to the hat rail.
"This isn't a trap," he inquired; "they are not waiting for me at thebottom of the stairs?"
"I've told you I'm not a liar. You can walk straight away and no soulwill attempt to stop you."
"Good-bye."
"Good-bye."
Left to himself, Gerald locked the outer door, and sat down to think.
So far, he had arrived at very little. He knew now that Todd had stoppedat Armfield's, that when he left the lawyer he had gone into a dentist'sin Finsbury Circus, that when next seen he was unrolled from a newspaperparcel on the boat.
He took down the post-office directory from the shelf and turned upFinsbury Circus.
Surgeons and doctors abounded. That set Gerald thinking.
At the inquest, medical evidence had been given that only a medicalexpert could have dismembered the body so neatly. He went down the namesin the directory carefully.
One thing struck him. There was a Mr. Charles Lennox, a dentist, and adoor or two off a Mr. Arthur Lennox, surgeon. There might be nothing init, but it was worth looking into. The combination was suggestive.
Gerald made up his mind to have his teeth seen to at one place, and toattend at the other with some imaginary complaint.
He then took the whole of the Depew papers from the tin box, and madethem into a compact parcel. They might be useful to the farmer.
Then he put on his hat, and with the parcel under his arm left thebuilding.