CHAPTER XXXV
CHRIS HAS AN IDEA
Lord Littimer polished his rarely used eye-glass carefully and favouredChris with a long, admiring stare. At the same time he was wondering whythe girl should have taken such a vivid interest in Reginald Henson andhis doings. For some years past it had been Littimer's whim to hold upHenson before everybody as his successor, so far as the castle went. Heliked to see Henson's modest smirk and beautiful self-abasement, for insooth his lordship had a pretty contempt for the man who hoped to succeedhim. But the will made some time ago by Littimer would have come as apainful shock to the philanthropist.
"It is a very pretty tangle as it stands," he said. "Miss Lee, let mecompliment you upon your astuteness in this matter. Only don't tell meyou schemed your way here, and that you are a lady detective. I read agood many novels, and I don't like them."
"You may be easy on that score," Chris laughed. "I am not a ladydetective. All the same, I have defeated Mr. Reginald Henson."
"You think he is at the bottom of the mystery of the other Rembrandt."
"I am certain of it; unless you like to believe in the truth of hischarming scheme to give you a lesson, as he called it. As a matter offact, Mr. Henson discovered the existence of the other print; hediscovered that Dr. Bell possessed it--the rest I leave to your ownastuteness. You saw his face just now?"
"Oh, yes. It was a fine study in emotions. If you could find the otherpicture--"
"I hope to restore it to you before the day has passed."
Littimer applauded, gently. He was charmed, he said, with the wholecomedy. The first two acts had been a brilliant success. If the third wasonly as good he would regard Miss Lee as his benefactor for ever. It wasnot often that anybody intellectually amused him; in fact, he must addMiss Lee to his collection.
"Then you must play a part yourself," Chris said, gaily. "I am going intoMoreton Wells, and Dr. Bell accompanies me. Mr. Henson is not to knowthat we have gone, and he is not to leave the house for a good hour or soafter our departure. What I want is a fair start and the privilege ofbringing a guest home to dinner."
"Vague, mysterious, and alluring," Littimer said. "Bring the guest by allmeans. I will pledge my diplomacy that you have a long start. Really, Idon't know when I have enjoyed myself so much. You shall have the bigwaggonette for your journey."
"And join it beyond the lodge-gates," Chris said, thoughtfully. "Dr.Bell, you shall stroll through the park casually; I will follow ascasually later on."
A little later Henson emerged from his room dressed evidently for ajourney. He looked flabby and worried; there was an expression very likefear in his eyes. The corridor was deserted as he passed the place wherethe Rembrandt hung. He paused before the picture in a hesitating,fascinated way. His feet seemed to pull up before it involuntarily.
"What does it mean?" he muttered. "What in the name of fate has happened?It is impossible that Merritt could have played me a trick like that; hewould never have dared. Besides, he has too much to gain by following myinstructions. I fancy--"
Henson slipped up to the picture as a sudden idea came to him. If thepicture had not been removed at all the stays would still be intact. Andif they were intact Merritt was likely to have a bad quarter of an hourlater on. It would be proof that--
But the stays were not intact. The heads had been shaved off with somecutting instrument; the half of the stays gleamed like silver in themorning light. And yet the Rembrandt was there. The more Henson dweltupon it the more he was puzzled. He began to wonder whether some deeptrap was being laid for him.
But, no, he had seen no signs of it. In some way or another Bell hadmanaged to ingratiate himself with Littimer again, but not necessarilyfor long, Henson told himself, with a vicious grin. Nor was Littimer thekind of man who ever troubled himself to restrain his feelings. If he hadgot to the bottom of the whole business he would have had Henson kickedout of the house without delay.
But Littimer suspected nothing. His greeting just now showed that Bellsuspected nothing, because he had shaken hands in the heartiest mannerpossible. And as for Miss Lee, she was no more than a smart Yankee girl,and absolutely an outsider.
Still, it was dreadfully puzzling. And it was not nice to be puzzled at atime when the arch-conspirator ought to know every move of the game.Therefore it became necessary to go into Moreton Wells and see Merrittwithout delay. As Henson crossed the hall the cheerful voice of Littimerhailed him.
"Reginald," he cried, "I want your assistance and advice."
With a muttered curse Henson entered the library. Littimer was seatedat a table, with a cigarette in his mouth, his brows drawn over a massof papers.
"Sit down and have a cigar," he said. "The fact is I am setting myaffairs in order--I am going to make a fresh will. If you hadn't comedown last night I should probably have sent for you. Now take mybank-book and check those figures."
"Shall we be long?" Henson asked, anxiously.
Littimer tartly hoped that Henson could-spare him an hour. It was notusual, he said, for a testator to be refused assistance from the chiefbenefactor under his will. Henson apologized, with a sickly smile. He hadimportant business of a philanthropic kind in Moreton Wells, but he hadno doubt that it could wait for an hour. And then for the best part ofthe morning he sat fuming politely, whilst Littimer chattered in the mostamiable fashion. Henson had rarely seen him in a better mood. It wasquite obvious that he suspected nothing. Meanwhile Chris and Bell werebowling along towards Moreton Wells. They sat well back in the roomywaggonette, so that the servants could not hear them. Chris regarded Bellwith a brilliant smile on her face.
"Confess," she said, "confess that you are consumed with curiosity."
"It would be just as well to acknowledge it at once," Bell admitted. "Inthe happy old days your sister Enid always said that you were the cleverand audacious one of the family. She said you would do or dare anything."
"I used to imagine so," Chris said, more quietly. "But the life of thelast few years tried one's nerves terribly. Still, the change has done mea deal of good--the change and the knowledge that Reginald Henson regardsme as dead. But you want to know how I am going to get the Rembrandt?"
"That is what is consuming me at present," Bell said.
"Well, we are going to see the man who has it," Chris explained, coolly."I have his address in Moreton Wells at the present moment, and for therest he is called the Rev. James Merritt. Between ourselves he is no morea reverend than you are."
"And if the gentleman is shy or refuses to see us?"
"Then he will be arrested on a charge of theft."
"My dear young lady, before you can get a warrant for that kind of thingyou have to prove the theft, you have to swear an information to theeffect that you believe the property is in the possession of the thief,and that is not easy."
"There is nothing easier. I am prepared to swear that cheerfully."
"That you actually know that the property is in the possession ofthe thief?"
"Certainly I do. I saw him put it in his pocket."
Bell looked at the speaker with blank surprise. If such was the fact,then Chris's present statement was exactly opposed to all that she hadsaid before. She sat opposite to Bell, with a little gleam of mischief inher lovely eyes.
"You saw that man steal the Rembrandt?" Bell gasped.
"Certainly not. But I did see him steal my big diamond star and put it inhis pocket. And I can swear an information on _that_."
"I see that you have something interesting to tell me," Bell said.
"Oh, indeed, I have. We will hark back now to the night before last,when Reginald Henson made his personal attempt to obtain the Rembrandtand then played the trick upon you that was so very near to being abrilliant success."
"It would have been but for you," Bell murmured.
"Well, really, I am inclined to think so. And perhaps Lord Littimer wouldhave given you in custody on a second charge of theft. If he had done soit would have gone hard with you to prove y
our innocence. But I amwandering from the point. Henson failed. But he was going to try again. Iwatched him carefully yesterday and managed to see his letters andtelegrams. Then I found that he had telegraphed to James Merritt, whoseaddress in Moreton Wells I carefully noted down. It did not require muchintellect to grasp the fact that this Merritt was to be the accomplice inthe new effort to steal the picture, Mr. Merritt came over and saw hischief, with whom he had a long conversation in the grounds. I also forcedmyself on Mr. Merritt's notice.
"He was introduced to me as a brand plucked from the burning, aconverted thief who had taken orders of some kind. He is a sorry-lookingscoundrel, and I took particular note of him, especially the horriblesmashed thumb."
"The what!" Bell exclaimed. "A thumb like a snake's head with a littlepink nail on it?"
"The same man. So you happen to have met him?"
"We met on our way here," Bell said, drily. "The rascal sent the dogcartaway from the station so that I should have to walk home, and he attackedme in the road. But I half-expected something of the kind, and I wasready for him. And he was the man with the thumb. I should have told youall this before, but I had forgotten it in watching your fascinatingdiplomacy. When the attack was defeated the rascal bolted in thedirection of the cliffs. Of course, he was off to tell Henson of thefailure of the scheme and to go on with the plot for getting the otherpicture. If he had stolen my Rembrandt then the other would haveremained. I couldn't have turned up with a cock-and-bull story of havingstarted with the picture and being robbed of it by a total stranger inthe road ... But I am interrupting you."
"Well, I marked that thumb carefully. I have already told you that thethief passed me on his way to the house when he came up the cliff. I wasleaning over the terrace when I saw him emerge into a band of lightcaused by the big arc in the castle tower. I forgot that I was in deepshadow and that he could not possibly see me. I jerked my head backsuddenly, and my diamond star fell out and dropped almost at the feet ofthe intruder. Then he saw it, chuckled over it--placed it in his pocket.I was going to call out, but I didn't. I had a sudden idea, Dr. Bell--Ihad an idea that almost amounted to an inspiration."
Chris paused for a moment and her eyes sparkled. Bell was watching herwith the deepest interest and admiration.
"I let the man keep it," Chris went on, more slowly, "with an eye to thefuture. The man had stolen the thing and I was in a position to proveit. He would be pretty sure to pawn the star--he probably has done so bythis time, and therefore we have him in our power. We have only todiscover where the diamonds have been 'planted'--is that the correctexpression?--I can swear an information, and the police willsubsequently search the fellow's lodgings. When the search is made themissing Rembrandt will be found there. Mr. Merritt would hardly dare topawn that."
"Even if he knew its real value, which I doubt," Bell said, thoughtfully."Henson would not tell his tool too much. Let me congratulate you uponyour idea, Miss Chris. That diamond star of yours is a powerful factor inour hands, and you always have the consciousness of knowing that you canget it back again. Now, what are we going to do next?"
"Going to call upon Mr. Merritt, of course," Chris said, promptly. "Youforget that I have his address. I am deeply interested in the welfare ofthe criminal classes, and you are also an enthusiast. I've looked up thenames of one or two people in the directory who go in for that kind ofthing, and I'm going to get up a bazaar at Littimer Castle for thebenefit of the predatory classes who have turned over a new leaf. I amparticularly anxious for Mr. Merritt to give us an address. Don't youthink that will do?"
"I should think it would do very well indeed," Bell said.
The quaint and somewhat exclusive town of Moreton Wells was reached indue course and the street where the Rev. James Merritt resided located atlength. It was a modest two-storeyed tenement, and the occupier of therooms was at home. Chris pushed her way gaily in, followed by Bell,before the occupant could lay down the foul clay pipe he was smoking andbutton the unaccustomed stiff white collar round his throat. Merrittwhipped a tumbler under the table with amazing celerity, but no cunningof his could remove the smell of gin that hung pungently on the murkyatmosphere.
Merritt dodged his head back defiantly as if half expecting a blow. Hiseyes were strained a little anxiously over Bell's shoulder as if fearfulof a shadow. Bell had seen the type before--Merritt was unconsciouslylooking for the police.
"I am so glad to find you at home," Chris said, sweetly.
Merritt muttered something that hardly sounded complimentary. It wasquite evident that he was far from returning the compliment. He hadrecognised Bell, and was wondering fearfully if the latter was as sureof his identity. Bell's face betrayed nothing. All the same he wasfollowing Merritt's uneasy eye till it rested on a roll of dirty paperon the mantelshelf. That roll of paper was the missing Rembrandt, andhe knew it.
"Won't you offer me a chair?" Chris asked, in the sweetestpossible manner.
Merritt sulkily emptied a chair of a pile of cheap sporting papers, anddemanded none too politely what business the lady had with him. Chrisproceeded to explain at considerable length. As Merritt listened hiseyes gleamed and a broadening grin spread over his face. He had done agreat deal of that kind of thing, he admitted. Since Henson had takenhim up the police had not been anything like so inquisitive, and hispresent pose was fruitful of large predatory gains. The latter factMerritt kept to himself. On the whole the prospect appealed to hisimagination. Henson wouldn't like it, but, then, Henson was not in aposition to say too much.
"I thought perhaps if you came over with us and dined at the castle,"Chris suggested. She spoke slowly and thoughtfully, with her eyes on theground. "Say to-night. Will you come?"
Merritt grinned extensively once more. The idea of his dining at thecastle appealed to his own peculiar sense of humour. He was at his ease,seeing that Bell failed to recognise him. To dine at the castle, to notethe plate, and get a minute geographical knowledge of the place frompersonal observation! ... His mouth watered at the thought.
"They ought to be more careful yonder," he suggested. "There's plate andthere's pictures."
"Nothing has ever been stolen from Littimer Castle," Bell said, crisply.He read the leer in Merritt's eyes as he spoke of pictures. "Nothingwhatever."
"What, not lately?" Merritt asked. "Didn't I hear tell of a--"
He paused, conscious of saying too much. Bell shook his head again. Anutterly puzzled expression crept over Mr. Merritt's engaging countenance.At the present moment an art treasure of price stood in that very room,and here was a party from the castle utterly innocent of the robbery.Chris glanced at Bell and smiled.
"I love the pictures," she said, "especially the prints. That Rembrandt,'The Crimson Blind,' for instance. I found a fresh light in it thismorning and called Lord Littimer's attention to it before we started. Ishould lock that up if it were mine."
Merritt's eyes fairly bulged as he listened. Had he not half-suspectedsome deep "plant" he would have been vastly amused. But then he had gotthe very picture these people were speaking about close to hand at thevery moment.
"Tell you what," he said, suddenly. "I ain't used to swell society ways,but I'm always ready to sacrifice myself to the poor fellows who ain'tfound the straight path like me. And if you gets up your bazaar, I'll dowhat I can to 'elp."
"Then you will dine with us to-night?" Chris asked, eagerly. "Don't sayno, I met a man once with a past like yours at Lady Roslingham's, and hewas so interesting. We will call for you in an hour's time with thewaggonette. Then we can settle half our plans before dinner."
Merritt was graciously pleased to be agreeable. Moreover, he was utterlypuzzled and absolutely consumed with an overpowering curiosity. It seemedalso to him to be a sheer waste of providence to discard such an offer.And the plate at Littimer Castle was superb!
Meanwhile Chris and Bell walked down the street together. "He was puzzledover the Rembrandt," Chris said. "Seeing that he has our picture--"
"No doubt abou
t it. The picture was rolled up and stood on themantelshelf. I followed Merritt's gaze, knowing perfectly well that itwould rest presently on the picture if it was in the room. At the sametime, our interesting friend, in chuckling over the way he has deceivedus, clean forgot the yellow pawnticket lying on the table."
"Dr. Bell, do you mean to say that--"
"That I know where your diamond star was pledged. Indeed I do. Merritthad probably just turned out his pockets as we entered. The pawnticketwas on the table and related to a diamond aigrette pawned by one JamesMerritt--mark the simple cunning of the man--with Messrs. Rutter and Co.,117, High Street. That in itself is an exceedingly valuable discovery,and one we can afford to keep to ourselves for the present. At the sametime I should very much like to know what Rutter and Co. are like. Let mego down to the shop and make some simple purchase."
Rutter and Co. proved to be a very high-class shop indeed, despite thefact that there was a pawnbroking branch of the business. The place wasquite worthy of Bond Street, the stock was brilliant and substantial, theassistants quite above provincial class. As Bell was turning over somesleeve-links, Chris was examining a case of silver and goldcigarette-cases and the like. She picked up a cigar-case at length andasked the price. At the mention of fifty guineas she dropped the triflewith a little _moue_ of surprise.
"It looks as if it had been used," she said.
"It is not absolutely new, madam," the assistant admitted, "thereforethe price is low. But the gentleman who sold it to us proved that he hadonly had it for a few days. The doctor had ordered him not to smoke infuture, and so--"
Chris turned away to something else. Bell completed his purchase, andtogether they left the shop. Once outside Chris gripped her companion'sarm excitedly.
"Another great discovery," she said. "Did you see me looking at thatcigar-case--a gun-metal one set with diamonds? You recollect that RuthGates purchased a case like that for that--that foolishness we thought ofin connection with Mr. Steel. The case had a little arrow shaped scratchwith the head of the arrow formed of the biggest diamond. Enid told meall this the night before I left Longdean Grange. Dr. Bell, I amabsolutely certain that I have had in my hand just now the very casebought by Ruth from Lockhart's in Brighton!"