TWENTY-FIFTH CHAPTER
THE MAN CATALDI
On the day that Hugh was travelling in hot haste to Paris, CharlesBenton arrived in Nice early in the afternoon.
Leaving the station it was apparent he knew his way about the town,for passing down the Avenue de la Gare, with its row of high eucalyptustrees, to the Place Massena, he plunged into the narrow, ratherevil-smelling streets of the old quarter.
Before a house in the Rue Rossette he paused, and ascending to a flaton the third floor, rang the bell. The door was slowly opened by anelderly, rather shabbily-attired Italian.
It was Yvonne's late servant at the Villa Amette, Giulio Cataldi.
The old man drew back on recognizing his visitor.
"Well, Cataldi!" exclaimed the well-dressed adventurer cheerily. "I'mquite a stranger--am I not? I was in Nice, and I could not leave withoutcalling to see you."
The old man, with ill-grace scarcely concealed, invited him into hisshabby room, saying:
"Well, Signor Benton, I never thought to see you again."
"Perhaps you didn't want to--eh? After that little affair in Brussels.But I assure you it was not my fault. Mademoiselle Yvonne made theblunder."
"And nearly let us all into the hands of the police--including TheSparrow himself!" growled the old fellow.
"Ah! But all that has long blown over. Now," he went on, after he hadoffered the old man a cigar. "Now the real reason I've called is to askyou about this nasty affair concerning Mademoiselle Yvonne. You werethere that night. What do you know about it?"
"Nothing," the old fellow declared promptly. "Since that night I'veearned an honest living. I'm a waiter in a cafe in the Avenue de laGare."
"A most excellent decision," laughed the well-dressed man. "It is noteveryone who can afford to be honest in these hard times. I wish I couldbe, but I find it impossible. Now, tell me, Giulio, what do you knowabout the affair at the Villa Amette? The boy, Henfrey, went there todemand of Mademoiselle how his father died. She refused to tell him,angry words arose--and he shot her. Now, isn't that your theory--thesame as that held by the police?"
The old man looked straight into his visitor's face for a few moments.Then he replied quite calmly:
"I know nothing, Signor Benton--and I don't want to know anything. I'vetold the police all I know. Indeed, when they began to inquire into myantecedents I was not very reassured, I can tell you."
"I should think not," laughed Benton. "Still, they never suspected youto be the man wanted for the Morel affair--an unfortunate matter thatwas."
"Yes," sighed the old fellow. "Please do not mention it," and he turnedaway to the window as though to conceal his guilty countenance.
"You mean that you _know_ something--but you won't tell it!" Bentonsaid.
"I know nothing," was the old fellow's stubborn reply.
"But you know that the young fellow, Henfrey, is guilty!" exclaimedBenton. "Come! you were there at the time! You heard high words betweenthem--didn't you?"
"I have already made my statement to the police," declared the oldItalian. "What else I know I shall keep to myself."
"But I'm interested in ascertaining whether Henfrey is innocent orguilty. Only two persons can tell us that--Mademoiselle, who is, alas!in a hopeless mental state, and yourself. You know--but you refuse toincriminate the guilty person. Why don't you tell the truth? You knowthat Henfrey shot her!"
"I tell you I know nothing," retorted the old man. "Why do you come hereand disturb me?" he added peevishly.
"Because I want to know the truth," Benton answered. "And I mean to!"
"Go away!" snapped the wilful old fellow. "I've done with you all--allthe crowd of you!"
"Ah!" laughed Benton. "Then you forget the little matter of the manMorel--eh? That is not forgotten by the police, remember!"
"And if you said a word to them, Signor Benton, then you would implicateyourself," the old man growled. Seeing hostility in the Englishman'sattitude he instantly resented it.
"Probably. But as I have no intention of giving you away, my dearGiulio, I do not think we need discuss it. What I am anxious to do is toestablish the guilt--or the innocence--of Hugh Henfrey," he went on.
"No doubt. You have reason for establishing his guilt--eh?"
"No. Reasons for establishing his innocence."
"For your own ends, Signor Benton," was the shrewd old man's reply.
"At one time there was a suspicion that you yourself had fired atMademoiselle."
"What!" gasped the old man, his countenance changing instantly. "Whosays that?" he asked angrily.
"The police were suspicious, I believe. And as far as I can gather theyare not yet altogether satisfied."
"Ah!" growled the old Italian in a changed voice. "They will have toprove it!"
"Well, they declare that the shot was fired by either one or theother of you," Benton said, much surprised at the curious effect theallegation had upon the old fellow.
"So they think that if the Signorino Henfrey is innocent I am guilty ofthe murderous attack--eh?"
Benton nodded.
"But they are seeking to arrest the signorino!" remarked the Italian.
"Yes. That is why I am here--to establish his innocence."
"And if I were to tell you that he was innocent I should condemnmyself!" laughed the crafty old man.
"Look here, Giulio," said Benton. "I confess that I have long agoregretted the shabby manner in which I treated you when we were all inBrussels, and I hope you will allow me to make some little amend." Then,taking from his pocket-book several hundred-franc notes, he doubled themup and placed them on the table.
"Ah!" said the old man. "I see! You want to _buy_ my secret! No, takeyour money!" he cried, pushing it back towards him contemptuously. "Iwant none of it."
"Because you are now earning an honest living," Benton sneered.
"Yes--and Il Passero knows it!" was Cataldi's bold reply.
"Then you refuse to tell me anything you know concerning the events ofthat night at the Villa Amette?"
"Yes," he snapped. "Take your money, and leave me in peace!"
"And I have come all the way from England to see you," remarked thedisappointed man.
"Be extremely careful. You have enemies, so have I. They are the same asthose who denounced the signorino to the police--as they will no doubt,before long, denounce you!" said the old man.
"Bah! You always were a pessimist, Giulio," Benton laughed. "I do notfear any enemies--I assure you. The Sparrow takes good care that weare prevented from falling into any traps the police may set," he addedafter a moment's pause.
The old waiter shook his head dubiously.
"One day there may be a slip--and it will cost you all very dearly," hesaid.
"You are in a bad mood, Giulio--like all those who exist by beinghonest," Benton laughed, though he was extremely annoyed at his failureto learn anything from the old fellow.
Was it possible that the suspicions which both Molly and he hadentertained were true--namely, that the old man had attempted to killhis mistress? After all, the hue-and-cry had been raised by the policemerely because Hugh Henfrey had fled and successfully escaped.
Benton, after grumbling because the old man would make no statement, andagain hinting at the fact that he might be the culprit, left with veryill grace, his long journey from London having been in vain.
If Henfrey was to be free to marry Louise, then his innocence must firstbe proved. Charles Benton had for many weeks realized that his chance ofsecuring old Mr. Henfrey's great fortune was slowly slipping from him.Once Hugh had married Louise and settled the money upon her, then therest would be easy. He had many times discussed it with Molly, and theywere both agreed upon a vile, despicable plot which would result in theyoung man's sudden end and the diversion of his father's fortune.
The whole plot against old Mr. Henfrey was truly one of the mostelaborate and amazing ones ever conceived by criminal minds.
Charles Benton was a little too
well known in Nice, hence he took careto leave the place by an early train, and went on to Cannes, where hewas a little less known. As an international crook he had spent severalseasons at Nice and Monte Carlo, but had seldom gone to Cannes, as itwas too aristocratic and too slow for an _escroc_ like himself.
Arrived at Cannes he put up at the Hotel Beau Site, and that night atean expensive dinner in the restaurant at the Casino. Then, next day, hetook the _train-de-luxe_ direct for Calais, and went on to London, allunconscious of the sensational events which were then happening.
On arrival in London he found a telegram lying upon his table among someletters. It was signed "Shaw," and urged him to meet him "at the usualplace" at seven o'clock in the evening. "I know you are away, but I'lllook in each night at seven," it concluded.
It was just six o'clock, therefore Benton washed and changed, andjust before seven o'clock entered a little cafe off Wardour Street,patronized mostly by foreigners. At one of the tables, sitting alone,was a wiry-looking, middle-aged man--Mr. Howell, The Sparrow's friend.
"Well?" asked Howell, when a few minutes later they were walking alongWardour Street together. "How did you get on in Nice?"
"Had my journey for nothing."
"Wouldn't the old man tell anything?" asked Howell eagerly.
"Not a word," Benton replied. "But my firm opinion is that he himselftried to kill Yvonne--that he shot her."
"Do you really agree with me?" gasped Howell excitedly. "Of course,there has, all along, been a certain amount of suspicion against him.The police were once on the point of arresting him. I happen to knowthat."
"Well, my belief is that young Henfrey is innocent. I never thought sountil now."
"Then we must prove Cataldi guilty, and Henfrey can marry Louise,"Howell said. "But the reason I wanted to get in touch with you is thatthe police went to Shapley."
"To Shapley!" gasped Benton.
"Yes. They went there the night you left London. Evidently somebody hasgiven you away!"
"Given me away! Who in the devil's name can it be? If I get to know whothe traitor is I--I'll--by gad, I'll kill him. I swear I will!"
"Who knows? Some secret enemy of yours--no doubt. Molly has beenarrested and has been up at Bow Street. They also arrested Louise, butthere being no charge against her, she has been released. I've sent herup to Cambridge--to old Mrs. Curtis. I thought she'd be quite quiet andsafe there for a time."
"But Molly arrested! What's the charge?"
"Theft. An extradition warrant from Paris. That jeweller's affair in theRue St. Honore, eighteen months ago."
"Well, I hope they won't bring forward other charges, or it will goinfernally bad with her. What has The Sparrow done?"
"He's abroad somewhere--but I've had five hundred pounds from an unknownsource to pay for her defence. I saw the solicitors. Brigthorne, thewell-known barrister, appeared for her."
"But all this is very serious, my dear Howell," Benton declared, muchalarmed.
"Of course it is. You can't marry the girl to young Henfrey until he isproved innocent, and that cannot be until the guilt is fixed upon thecrafty old Giulio."
"Exactly. That's what we must do. But with Molly arrested we shallbe compelled to be very careful," said Benton, as they turned towardPiccadilly Circus. "I don't see how we dare move until Molly is eitherfree or convicted. If she knew our game she might give us away. Rememberthat if we bring off the Henfrey affair Molly has to have a share in thespoils. But if she happens to be in a French prison she won't get muchchance--eh?"
"If she goes it will be ten years, without a doubt," Howell remarked.
"Yes. And in the meantime much can happen--eh?" laughed Benton.
"Lots. But one reassuring fact is that, as far as old Henfrey's fateis concerned, Mademoiselle's lips are closed. Whoever shot her did us avery good turn."
"Of course. But I agree we must fix the guilt upon old Cataldi. Healmost as good as admitted it by his face when I taxed him with it. Whynot give him away to the Nice police?"
"No, not yet. Certainly not," exclaimed Howell.
"It's a pity The Sparrow does not know about the Henfrey business. Hemight help us. Dare we tell him? What do you think?"
"Tell him! Good Heavens! No! Surely you are fully aware how he alwayssets his face against any attempt upon human life, and no one who hastaken life has ever had his forgiveness," said Howell. "The Sparrow isour master--a fine and marvellous mind which has no equal in Europe. Ifhe had gone into politics he could have been the greatest statesmanof the age. But he is Il Passero, the man who directs affairs of everykind, and the man at the helm of every great enterprise. Yet his onefixed motto is that life shall not be taken."
"But in old Henfrey's case we acted upon our own initiative," remarkedBenton.
"Yes. Yours was a wonderfully well-conceived idea. And all workedwithout a hitch until young Henfrey's visit to Monte Carlo, and hisaffection for that girl Ranscomb."
"We are weaning him away from her," Benton said. "At last the girl'ssuspicions are excited, and there is just that little disagreementwhich, broadening, leads to the open breach. Oh! my dear Howell, howcould you and I live if it were not for that silly infection calledlove? In our profession love is all-conquering. Without it we could makeno progress, no smart coups, no conquests of women who afterwards shedout to us money which at the assizes they would designate by the uglyword 'blackmail.'"
"Ah! Charles. You were always a philosopher," laughed his companion--theman who was a bosom friend of The Sparrow. "But it carries us no nearer.We must, at all costs, fix the hand that shot Yvonne."
"Giulio shot her--without a doubt!" was Benton's quick reply.
They were standing together on the kerb outside the Tube station atPiccadilly Circus as Benton uttered the words.
"Well, my dear fellow, then let us prove it," said Howell. "But not yet,remember. We must first see how it goes with Molly. She must be watchedcarefully. Of course, I agree that Giulio Cataldi shot Yvonne. Later wewill prove that fact, but the worst of it is that the French police arehot on the track of young Henfrey."
"How do you know that?" asked his companion quickly.
"Well," he answered, after a second's hesitation, "I heard so two daysago."
Then Howell, pleading an urgent meeting with a mutual friend, also acrook like themselves, grasped the other's hand, and they parted.