CHAPTER III
A LADY IN THE CASE
When I arrived at Thorndyke's chambers on the following morning, I foundmy friend already hard at work. Breakfast was laid at one end of thetable, while at the other stood a microscope of the pattern used forexamining plate-cultures of micro-organisms, on the wide stage of whichwas one of the cards bearing six thumb-prints in blood. A condenserthrew a bright spot of light on the card, which Thorndyke had beenexamining when I knocked, as I gathered from the position of the chair,which he now pushed back against the wall.
"I see you have commenced work on our problem," I remarked as, inresponse to a double ring of the electric bell, Polton entered with thematerials for our repast.
"Yes," answered Thorndyke. "I have opened the campaign, supported, asusual, by my trusty chief-of-staff; eh! Polton?"
The little man, whose intellectual, refined countenance and dignifiedbearing seemed oddly out of character with the tea-tray that he carried,smiled proudly, and, with a glance of affectionate admiration at myfriend, replied--
"Yes, sir. We haven't been letting the grass grow under our feet.There's a beautiful negative washing upstairs and a bromide enlargementtoo, which will be mounted and dried by the time you have finished yourbreakfast."
"A wonderful man that, Jervis," my friend observed as his assistantretired. "Looks like a rural dean or a chancery judge, and was obviouslyintended by Nature to be a professor of physics. As an actual fact hewas first a watchmaker, then a maker of optical instruments, and now heis mechanical factotum to a medical jurist. He is my right-hand, isPolton; takes an idea before you have time to utter it--but you willmake his more intimate acquaintance by-and-by."
"Where did you pick him up?" I asked.
"He was an in-patient at the hospital when I first met him, miserablyill and broken, a victim of poverty and undeserved misfortune. I gavehim one or two little jobs, and when I found what class of man he was Itook him permanently into my service. He is perfectly devoted to me, andhis gratitude is as boundless as it is uncalled for."
"What are the photographs he was referring to?" I asked.
"He is making an enlarged _facsimile_ of one of the thumb-prints onbromide paper and a negative of the same size in case we want the printrepeated."
"You evidently have some expectation of being able to help poor Hornby,"said I, "though I cannot imagine how you propose to go to work. To mehis case seems as hopeless a one as it is possible to conceive. Onedoesn't like to condemn him, but yet his innocence seems almostunthinkable."
"It does certainly look like a hopeless case," Thorndyke agreed, "and Isee no way out of it at present. But I make it a rule, in all cases, toproceed on the strictly classical lines of inductive inquiry--collectfacts, make hypotheses, test them and seek for verification. And Ialways endeavour to keep a perfectly open mind.
"Now, in the present case, assuming, as we must, that the robbery hasactually taken place, there are four conceivable hypotheses: (1) thatthe robbery was committed by Reuben Hornby; (2) that it was committed byWalter Hornby; (3) that it was committed by John Hornby, or (4) that itwas committed by some other person or persons.
"The last hypothesis I propose to disregard for the present and confinemyself to the examination of the other three."
"You don't think it possible that Mr. Hornby could have stolen thediamonds out of his own safe?" I exclaimed.
"I incline at present to no one theory of the matter," repliedThorndyke. "I merely state the hypotheses. John Hornby had access to thediamonds, therefore it is possible that he stole them."
"But surely he was responsible to the owners."
"Not in the absence of gross negligence, which the owners would havedifficulty in proving. You see, he was what is called a gratuitousbailee, and in such a case no responsibility for loss lies with thebailee unless there has been gross negligence."
"But the thumb-mark, my dear fellow!" I exclaimed. "How can you possiblyget over that?"
"I don't know that I can," answered Thorndyke calmly; "but I see you aretaking the same view as the police, who persist in regarding afinger-print as a kind of magical touchstone, a final proof, beyondwhich inquiry need not go. Now, this is an entire mistake. Afinger-print is merely a fact--a very important and significant one, Iadmit--but still a fact, which, like any other fact, requires to beweighed and measured with reference to its evidential value."
"And what do you propose to do first?"
"I shall first satisfy myself that the suspected thumb-print isidentical in character with that of Reuben Hornby--of which, however,I have very little doubt, for the finger-print experts may fairly betrusted in their own speciality."
"And then?"
"I shall collect fresh facts, in which I look to you for assistance,and, if we have finished breakfast, I may as well induct you into yournew duties."
He rose and rang the bell, and then, fetching from the office foursmall, paper-covered notebooks, laid them before me on the table.
"One of these books," said he, "we will devote to data concerning ReubenHornby. You will find out anything you can--anything, mind, no matterhow trivial or apparently irrelevant--in any way connected with him andenter it in this book." He wrote on the cover "Reuben Hornby" and passedthe book to me. "In this second book you will, in like manner, enteranything that you can learn about Walter Hornby, and, in the third book,data concerning John Hornby. As to the fourth book, you will keep thatfor stray facts connected with the case but not coming under either ofthe other headings. And now let us look at the product of Polton'sindustry."
He took from his assistant's hand a photograph ten inches long by eightbroad, done on glazed bromide paper and mounted flatly on stiff card. Itshowed a greatly magnified _facsimile_ of one of the thumb-prints, inwhich all the minute details, such as the orifices of the sweat glandsand trifling irregularities in the ridges, which, in the original, couldbe seen only with the aid of a lens, were plainly visible to the nakedeye. Moreover, the entire print was covered by a network of fine blacklines, by which it was divided into a multitude of small squares, eachsquare being distinguished by a number.
"Excellent, Polton," said Thorndyke approvingly; "a most admirableenlargement. You see, Jervis, we have photographed the thumb-print incontact with a numbered micrometer divided into square twelfths of aninch. The magnification is eight diameters, so that the squares are hereeach two-thirds of an inch in diameter. I have a number of thesemicrometers of different scales, and I find them invaluable in examiningcheques, doubtful signatures and such like. I see you have packed up thecamera and the microscope, Polton; have you put in the micrometer?"
"Yes, sir," replied Polton, "and the six-inch objective and thelow-power eye-piece. Everything is in the case; and I have put 'specialrapid' plates into the dark-slides in case the light should be bad."
"Then we will go forth and beard the Scotland Yard lions in their den,"said Thorndyke, putting on his hat and gloves.
"But surely," said I, "you are not going to drag that great microscopeto Scotland Yard, when you only want eight diameters. Haven't you adissecting microscope or some other portable instrument?"
"We have a most delightful instrument of the dissecting type, ofPolton's own make--he shall show it to you. But I may have need of amore powerful instrument--and here let me give you a word of warning:whatever you may see me do, make no comments before the officials. Weare seeking information, not giving it, you understand."
At this moment the little brass knocker on the inner door--the outeroak being open--uttered a timid and apologetic rat-tat.
"Who the deuce can that be?" muttered Thorndyke, replacing themicroscope on the table. He strode across to the door and opened itsomewhat brusquely, but immediately whisked his hat off, and I thenperceived a lady standing on the threshold.
"Dr. Thorndyke?" she inquired, and as my colleague bowed, she continued,"I ought to have written to ask for an appointment but the matter israther urgent--it concerns Mr. Reuben Hornby and I only learn
ed from himthis morning that he had consulted you."
"Pray come in," said Thorndyke. "Dr. Jervis and I were just setting outfor Scotland Yard on this very business. Let me present you to mycolleague, who is working up the case with me."
Our visitor, a tall handsome girl of twenty or thereabouts, returned mybow and remarked with perfect self-possession, "My name is Gibson--MissJuliet Gibson. My business is of a very simple character and need notdetain you many minutes."
She seated herself in the chair that Thorndyke placed for her, andcontinued in a brisk and business-like manner--
"I must tell you who I am in order to explain my visit to you. For thelast six years I have lived with Mr. and Mrs. Hornby, although I am norelation to them. I first came to the house as a sort of companion toMrs. Hornby, though, as I was only fifteen at the time, I need hardlysay that my duties were not very onerous; in fact, I think Mrs. Hornbytook me because I was an orphan without the proper means of getting alivelihood, and she had no children of her own.
"Three years ago I came into a little fortune which rendered meindependent; but I had been so happy with my kind friends that I askedto be allowed to remain with them, and there I have been ever since inthe position of an adopted daughter. Naturally, I have seen a great dealof their nephews, who spend a good part of their time at the house, andI need not tell you that the horrible charge against Reuben has fallenupon us like a thunderbolt. Now, what I have come to say to you is this:I do not believe that Reuben stole those diamonds. It is entirely out ofcharacter with all my previous experience of him. I am convinced that heis innocent, and I am prepared to back my opinion."
"In what way?" asked Thorndyke.
"By supplying the sinews of war," replied Miss Gibson. "I understandthat legal advice and assistance involves considerable expense."
"I am afraid you are quite correctly informed," said Thorndyke.
"Well, Reuben's pecuniary resources are, I am sure, quite small, so itis necessary for his friends to support him, and I want you to promiseme that nothing shall be left undone that might help to prove hisinnocence if I make myself responsible for any costs that he is unableto meet. I should prefer, of course, not to appear in the matter, if itcould be avoided."
"Your friendship is of an eminently practical kind, Miss Gibson," saidmy colleague, with a smile. "As a matter of fact, the costs are noaffair of mine. If the occasion arose for the exercise of yourgenerosity you would have to approach Mr. Reuben's solicitor through themedium of your guardian, Mr. Hornby, and with the consent of theaccused. But I do not suppose the occasion will arise, although I amvery glad you called, as you may be able to give us valuable assistancein other ways. For example, you might answer one or two apparentlyimpertinent questions."
"I should not consider any question impertinent that you considerednecessary to ask," our visitor replied.
"Then," said Thorndyke, "I will venture to inquire if any specialrelations exist between you and Mr. Reuben."
"You look for the inevitable motive in a woman," said Miss Gibson,laughing and flushing a little. "No, there have been no tender passagesbetween Reuben and me. We are merely old and intimate friends; in fact,there is what I may call a tendency in another direction--WalterHornby."
"Do you mean that you are engaged to Mr. Walter?"
"Oh, no," she replied; "but he has asked me to marry him--he has askedme, in fact, more than once; and I really believe that he has a sincereattachment to me."
She made this latter statement with an odd air, as though the thingasserted were curious and rather incredible, and the tone was evidentlynoticed by Thorndyke as well as me for he rejoined--
"Of course he has. Why not?"
"Well, you see," replied Miss Gibson, "I have some six hundred a year ofmy own and should not be considered a bad match for a young man likeWalter, who has neither property nor expectations, and one naturallytakes that into account. But still, as I have said, I believe he isquite sincere in his professions and not merely attracted by my money."
"I do not find your opinion at all incredible," said Thorndyke, with asmile, "even if Mr. Walter were quite a mercenary young man--which, Itake it, he is not."
Miss Gibson flushed very prettily as she replied--
"Oh, pray do not trouble to pay me compliments; I assure you I am by nomeans insensible of my merits. But with regard to Walter Hornby, Ishould be sorry to apply the term 'mercenary' to him, and yet--well, Ihave never met a young man who showed a stronger appreciation of thevalue of money. He means to succeed in life and I have no doubt hewill."
"And do I understand that you refused him?"
"Yes. My feelings towards him are quite friendly, but not of such anature as to allow me to contemplate marrying him."
"And now, to return for a moment to Mr. Reuben. You have known him forsome years?"
"I have known him intimately for six years," replied Miss Gibson.
"And what sort of character do you give him?"
"Speaking from my own observation of him," she replied, "I can say thatI have never known him to tell an untruth or do a dishonourable deed. Asto theft, it is merely ridiculous. His habits have always beeninexpensive and frugal, he is unambitious to a fault, and in respect tothe 'main chance' his indifference is as conspicuous as Walter'skeenness. He is a generous man, too, although careful and industrious."
"Thank you, Miss Gibson," said Thorndyke. "We shall apply to you forfurther information as the case progresses. I am sure that you will helpus if you can, and that you can help us if you will, with your clearhead and your admirable frankness. If you will leave us your card, Dr.Jervis and I will keep you informed of our prospects and ask for yourassistance whenever we need it."
After our fair visitor had departed, Thorndyke stood for a minute ormore gazing dreamily into the fire. Then, with a quick glance at hiswatch, he resumed his hat and, catching up the microscope, handed thecamera case to me and made for the door. "How the time goes!" heexclaimed, as we descended the stairs; "but it hasn't been wasted,Jervis, hey?"
"No, I suppose not," I answered tentatively.
"You suppose not!" he replied. "Why here is as pretty a little problemas you could desire--what would be called in the jargon of the novels, apsychological problem--and it is your business to work it out, too."
"You mean as to Miss Gibson's relations with these two young men?"
Thorndyke nodded.
"Is it any concern of ours?" I asked.
"Certainly it is," he replied. "Everything is a concern of ours at thispreliminary stage. We are groping about for a clue and must let nothingpass unscrutinised."
"Well, then, to begin with, she is not wildly infatuated with WalterHornby, I should say."
"No," agreed Thorndyke, laughing softly; "we may take it that the cannyWalter has not inspired a grand passion."
"Then," I resumed, "if I were a suitor for Miss Gibson's hand, I think Iwould sooner stand in Reuben's shoes than in Walter's."
"There again I am with you," said Thorndyke. "Go on."
"Well," I continued, "our fair visitor conveyed to me the impressionthat her evident admiration of Reuben's character was tempered bysomething that she had heard from a third party. That expression ofhers, 'speaking from my own observation,' seemed to imply that herobservations of him were not in entire agreement with somebody else's."
"Good man!" exclaimed Thorndyke, slapping me on the back, to theundissembled surprise of a policeman whom we were passing; "that is whatI had hoped for in you--the capacity to perceive the essentialunderneath the obvious. Yes; somebody has been saying something aboutour client, and the thing that we have to find out is, what is it thathas been said and who has been saying it. We shall have to make apretext for another interview with Miss Gibson."
"By the way, why didn't you ask her what she meant?" I asked foolishly.
Thorndyke grinned in my face. "Why didn't you?" he retorted.
"No," I rejoined, "I suppose it is not politic to appear too discerning.Let me carry th
e microscope for a time; it is making your arm ache, Isee."
"Thanks," said he, handing the case to me and rubbing his fingers; "itis rather ponderous."
"I can't make out what you want with this great instrument," I said. "Acommon pocket lens would do all that you require. Besides, a six-inchobjective will not magnify more than two or three diameters."
"Two, with the draw-tube closed," replied Thorndyke, "and the low-powereye-piece brings it up to four. Polton made them both for me forexamining cheques, bank-notes and other large objects. But you willunderstand when you see me use the instrument, and remember, you are tomake no comments."
We had by this time arrived at the entrance to Scotland Yard, and werepassing up the narrow thoroughfare, when we encountered a uniformedofficial who halted and saluted my colleague.
"Ah, I thought we should see you here before long, doctor," said hegenially. "I heard this morning that you have this thumb-print case inhand."
"Yes," replied Thorndyke; "I am going to see what can be done for thedefence."
"Well," said the officer as he ushered us into the building, "you'vegiven us a good many surprises, but you'll give us a bigger one if youcan make anything of this. It's a foregone conclusion, I should say."
"My dear fellow," said Thorndyke, "there is no such thing. You mean thatthere is a _prima facie_ case against the accused."
"Put it that way if you like," replied the officer, with a sly smile,"but I think you will find this about the hardest nut you ever triedyour teeth on--and they're pretty strong teeth too, I'll say that. Youhad better come into Mr. Singleton's office," and he conducted us alonga corridor and into a large, barely-furnished room, where we found asedate-looking gentleman seated at a large writing table.
"How-d'ye-do, doctor?" said the latter, rising and holding out his hand."I can guess what you've come for. Want to see that thumb-print, eh?"
"Quite right," answered Thorndyke, and then, having introduced me, hecontinued: "We were partners in the last game, but we are on oppositesides of the board this time."
"Yes," agreed Mr. Singleton; "and we are going to give you check-mate."
He unlocked a drawer and drew forth a small portfolio, from which heextracted a piece of paper which he laid on the table. It appeared to bea sheet torn from a perforated memorandum block, and bore the pencilledinscription: "Handed in by Reuben at 7.3 p.m., 9.3.01. J. H." At one endwas a dark, glossy blood-stain, made by the falling of a good-sizeddrop, and this was smeared slightly, apparently by a finger or thumbhaving been pressed on it. Near to it were two or three smaller smearsand a remarkably distinct and clean print of a thumb.
Thorndyke gazed intently at the paper for a minute or two, scrutinisingthe thumb-print and the smears in turn, but making no remark, while Mr.Singleton watched his impassive face with expectant curiosity.
"Not much difficulty in identifying that mark," the official at lengthobserved.
"No," agreed Thorndyke; "it is an excellent impression and a verydistinctive pattern, even without the scar."
"Yes," rejoined Mr. Singleton; "the scar makes it absolutely conclusive.You have a print with you, I suppose?"
"Yes," replied Thorndyke, and he drew from a wide flap-pocket theenlarged photograph, at the sight of which Mr. Singleton's facebroadened into a smile.
"You don't want to put on spectacles to look at that," he remarked; "notthat you gain anything by so much enlargement; three diameters is amplefor studying the ridge-patterns. I see you have divided it up intonumbered squares--not a bad plan; but ours--or rather Galton's, for weborrowed the method from him--is better for this purpose."
He drew from the portfolio a half-plate photograph of the thumb-printwhich appeared magnified to about four inches in length. The print wasmarked by a number of figures written minutely with a fine-pointed pen,each figure being placed on an "island," a loop, a bifurcation or someother striking and characteristic portion of the ridge-pattern.
"This system of marking with reference numbers," said Mr. Singleton, "isbetter than your method of squares, because the numbers are only placedat points which are important for comparison, whereas your squares orthe intersections of the lines fall arbitrarily on important orunimportant points according to chance. Besides, we can't let you markour original, you know, though, of course, we can give you a photograph,which will do as well."
"I was going to ask you to let me take a photograph presently," saidThorndyke.
"Certainly," replied Mr. Singleton, "if you would rather have one ofyour own taking. I know you don't care to take anything on trust. Andnow I must get on with my work, if you will excuse me. Inspector Johnsonwill give you any assistance you may require."
"And see that I don't pocket the original," added Thorndyke, with asmile at the inspector who had shown us in.
"Oh, I'll see to that," said the latter, grinning; and, as Mr. Singletonreturned to his table, Thorndyke unlocked the microscope case and drewforth the instrument.
"What, are you going to put it under the microscope?" exclaimed Mr.Singleton, looking round with a broad smile.
"Must do something for my fee, you know," replied Thorndyke, as he setup the microscope and screwed on two extra objectives to the triplenose-piece. "You observe that there is no deception," he added to theinspector, as he took the paper from Mr. Singleton's table and placed itbetween two slips of glass.
"I'm watching you, sir," replied the officer, with a chuckle; and he didwatch, with close attention and great interest, while Thorndyke laid theglass slips on the microscope stage and proceeded to focus.
I also watched, and was a good deal exercised in my mind by mycolleague's proceedings. After a preliminary glance with the six-inchglass, he swung round the nose-piece to the half-inch objective andslipped in a more powerful eye-piece, and with this power he examinedthe blood-stains carefully, and then moved the thumb-print into thefield of vision. After looking at this for some time with deepattention, he drew from the case a tiny spirit lamp which was evidentlyfilled with an alcoholic solution of some sodium salt, for when he litit I recognised the characteristic yellow sodium flame. Then he replacedone of the objectives by a spectroscopic attachment, and having placedthe little lamp close to the microscope mirror, adjusted thespectroscope. Evidently my friend was fixing the position of the "D"line (or sodium line) in the spectrum.
Having completed the adjustments, he now examined afresh theblood-smears and the thumb-print, both by transmitted and reflectedlight, and I observed him hurriedly draw one or two diagrams in hisnotebook. Then he replaced the spectroscope and lamp in the case andbrought forth the micrometer--a slip of rather thin glass about threeinches by one and a half--which he laid over the thumb-print in theplace of the upper plate of glass.
Having secured it in position by the clips, he moved it about, comparingits appearance with that of the lines on the large photograph, which heheld in his hand. After a considerable amount of adjustment andreadjustment, he appeared to be satisfied, for he remarked to me--
"I think I have got the lines in the same position as they are on ourprint, so, with Inspector Johnson's assistance, we will take aphotograph which we can examine at our leisure."
He extracted the camera--a quarter-plate instrument--from its case andopened it. Then, having swung the microscope on its stand into ahorizontal position, he produced from the camera case a slab of mahoganywith three brass feet, on which he placed the camera, and which broughtthe latter to a level with the eye-piece of the microscope.
The front of the camera was fitted with a short sleeve of thin blackleather, and into this the eye-piece end of the microscope was nowpassed, the sleeve being secured round the barrel of the microscope by astout indiarubber band, thus producing a completely light-tightconnection.
Everything was now ready for taking the photograph. The light from thewindow having been concentrated on the thumb-print by means of acondenser, Thorndyke proceeded to focus the image on the ground-glassscreen with extreme care and then, slipping a small lea
ther cap over theobjective, introduced the dark slide and drew out the shutter.
"I will ask you to sit down and remain quite still while I make theexposure," he said to me and the inspector. "A very little vibration isenough to destroy the sharpness of the image."
We seated ourselves accordingly, and Thorndyke then removed the cap,standing motionless, watch in hand, while he exposed the first plate.
"We may as well take a second, in case this should not turn out quiteperfect," he said, as he replaced the cap and closed the shutter.
He reversed the dark slide and made another exposure in the same way,and then, having removed the micrometer and replaced it by a slip ofplain glass, he made two more exposures.
"There are two plates left," he remarked, as he drew out the second darkslide. "I think I will take a record of the blood-stain on them."
He accordingly made two more exposures--one of the larger blood-stainand one of the smaller smears.
"There," said he, with an air of satisfaction, as he proceeded to packup what the inspector described as his "box of tricks." "I think we haveall the data that we can squeeze out of Scotland Yard, and I am verymuch obliged to you, Mr. Singleton, for giving so many facilities toyour natural enemy, the counsel for the defence."
"Not our natural enemies, doctor," protested Mr. Singleton. "We work fora conviction, of course, but we don't throw obstacles in the way of thedefence. You know that perfectly well."
"Of course I do, my dear sir," replied Thorndyke, shaking the officialby the hand. "Haven't I benefited by your help a score of times? But Iam greatly obliged all the same. Good-bye."
"Good-bye, doctor. I wish you luck, though I fear you will find it 'nogo' this time."
"We shall see," replied Thorndyke, and with a friendly wave of the handto the inspector he caught up the two cases and led the way out of thebuilding.