CHAPTER V
Six months later T. X. Meredith was laboriously tracing an elusive linewhich occurred on an ordnance map of Sussex when the Chief Commissionerannounced himself.
Sir George described T. X. as the most wholesome corrective a publicofficial could have, and never missed an opportunity of meeting hissubordinate (as he said) for this reason.
"What are you doing there?" he growled.
"The lesson this morning," said T. X. without looking up, "is maps."
Sir George passed behind his assistant and looked over his shoulder.
"That is a very old map you have got there," he said.
"1876. It shows the course of a number of interesting little streams inthis neighbourhood which have been lost sight of for one reason orthe other by the gentleman who made the survey at a later period. Iam perfectly sure that in one of these streams I shall find what I amseeking."
"You haven't given up hope, then, in regard to Lexman?"
"I shall never give up hope," said T. X., "until I am dead, and possiblynot then."
"Let me see, what did he get--fifteen years!"
"Fifteen years," repeated T. X., "and a very fortunate man to escapewith his life."
Sir George walked to the window and stared out on to busy Whitehall.
"I am told you are quite friendly with Kara again."
T. X. made a noise which might be taken to indicate his assent to thestatement.
"I suppose you know that gentleman has made a very heroic attempt to getyou fired," he said.
"I shouldn't wonder," said T. X. "I made as heroic an attempt to get himhung, and one good turn deserves another. What did he do? See ministersand people?"
"He did," said Sir George.
"He's a silly ass," responded T. X.
"I can understand all that"--the Chief Commissioner turned round--"butwhat I cannot understand is your apology to him."
"There are so many things you don't understand, Sir George," said T. X.tartly, "that I despair of ever cataloguing them."
"You are an insolent cub," growled his Chief. "Come to lunch."
"Where will you take me?" asked T. X. cautiously.
"To my club."
"I'm sorry," said the other, with elaborate politeness, "I have lunchedonce at your club. Need I say more?"
He smiled, as he worked after his Chief had gone, at the recollectionof Kara's profound astonishment and the gratification he strove sodesperately to disguise.
Kara was a vain man, immensely conscious of his good looks, conscious ofhis wealth. He had behaved most handsomely, for not only had he acceptedthe apology, but he left nothing undone to show his desire to create agood impression upon the man who had so grossly insulted him.
T. X. had accepted an invitation to stay a weekend at Kara's "littleplace in the country," and had found there assembled everything thatthe heart could desire in the way of fellowship, eminent politicianswho might conceivably be of service to an ambitious young AssistantCommissioner of Police, beautiful ladies to interest and amuse him. Karahad even gone to the length of engaging a theatrical company to play"Sweet Lavender," and for this purpose the big ballroom at Hever Courthad been transformed into a theatre.
As he was undressing for bed that night T. X. remembered that he hadmentioned to Kara that "Sweet Lavender" was his favorite play, and herealized that the entertainment was got up especially for his benefit.
In a score of other ways Kara had endeavoured to consolidate thefriendship. He gave the young Commissioner advice about a railwaycompany which was operating in Asia Minor, and the shares of which stooda little below par. T. X. thanked him for the advice, and did not takeit, nor did he feel any regret when the shares rose 3 pounds in as manyweeks.
T. X. had superintended the disposal of Beston Priory. He had thefurniture removed to London, and had taken a flat for Grace Lexman.
She had a small income of her own, and this, added to the largeroyalties which came to her (as she was bitterly conscious) inincreasing volume as the result of the publicity of the trial, placedher beyond fear of want.
"Fifteen years," murmured T. X., as he worked and whistled.
There had been no hope for John Lexman from the start. He was in debtto the man he killed. His story of threatening letters was notsubstantiated. The revolver which he said had been flourished at himhad never been found. Two people believed implicitly in the story, and asympathetic Home Secretary had assured T. X. personally that if he couldfind the revolver and associate it with the murder beyond any doubt,John Lexman would be pardoned.
Every stream in the neighbourhood had been dragged. In one case a smallriver had been dammed, and the bed had been carefully dried and sifted,but there was no trace of the weapon, and T. X. had tried methods moreeffective and certainly less legal.
A mysterious electrician had called at 456 Cadogan Square in Kara'sabsence, and he was armed with such indisputable authority that hewas permitted to penetrate to Kara's private room, in order to examinecertain fitments.
Kara returning next day thought no more of the matter when it wasreported to him, until going to his safe that night he discovered thatit had been opened and ransacked.
As it happened, most of Kara's valuable and confidential possessionswere at the bank. In a fret of panic and at considerable cost he hadthe safe removed and another put in its place of such potency that themakers offered to indemnify him against any loss from burglary.
T. X. finished his work, washed his hands, and was drying them whenMansus came bursting into the room. It was not usual for Mansus toburst into anywhere. He was a slow, methodical, painstaking man, with adeliberate and an official, manner.
"What's the matter?" asked T. X. quickly.
"We didn't search Vassalaro's lodgings," cried Mansus breathlessly. "Itjust occurred to me as I was coming over Westminster Bridge. I was ontop of a bus--"
"Wake up!" said T. X. "You're amongst friends and cut all that 'bus'stuff out. Of course we searched Vassalaro's lodgings!"
"No, we didn't, sir," said the other triumphantly. "He lived in GreatJames Street."
"He lived in the Adelphi," corrected T. X.
"There were two places where he lived," said Mansus.
"When did you learn this?" asked his Chief, dropping his flippancy.
"This morning. I was on a bus coming across Westminster Bridge, andthere were two men in front of me, and I heard the word 'Vassalaro' andnaturally I pricked up my ears."
"It was very unnatural, but proceed," said T. X.
"One of the men--a very respectable person--said, 'That chap Vassalaroused to lodge in my place, and I've still got a lot of his things. Whatdo you think I ought to do?'"
"And you said," suggested the other.
"I nearly frightened his life out of him," said Mansus. "I said, 'I am apolice officer and I want you to come along with me.'"
"And of course he shut up and would not say another word," said T. X.
"That's true, sir," said Mansus, "but after awhile I got him to talk.Vassalaro lived in Great James Street, 604, on the third floor. In fact,some of his furniture is there still. He had a good reason for keepingtwo addresses by all accounts."
T. X. nodded wisely.
"What was her name?" he asked.
"He had a wife," said the other, "but she left him about four monthsbefore he was killed. He used the Adelphi address for business purposesand apparently he slept two or three nights of the week at Great JamesStreet. I have told the man to leave everything as it is, and that wewill come round."
Ten minutes later the two officers were in the somewhat gloomyapartments which Vassalaro had occupied.
The landlord explained that most of the furniture was his, but thatthere were certain articles which were the property of the deceasedman. He added, somewhat unnecessarily, that the late tenant owed him sixmonths' rent.
The articles which had been the property of Vassalaro included a tintrunk, a small writing bureau, a secretaire bookcase and a few clo
thes.The secretaire was locked, as was the writing bureau. The tin box, whichhad little or nothing of interest, was unfastened.
The other locks needed very little attention. Without any difficultyMansus opened both. The leaf of the bureau, when let down, formedthe desk, and piled up inside was a whole mass of letters opened andunopened, accounts, note-books and all the paraphernalia which an untidyman collects.
Letter by letter, T. X. went through the accumulation without findinganything to help him. Then his eye was attracted by a small tin casethrust into one of the oblong pigeon holes at the back of the desk. Thishe pulled out and opened and found a small wad of paper wrapped in tinfoil.
"Hello, hello!" said T. X., and he was pardonably exhilarated.