CHAPTER VII
BERNARD'S FRIENDS
The report of the murder caused great excitement in London. It seemedterrible that so old a man, and a titled man at that, should be murderedin his own house and by his profligate grandson. The general opinion wasthat Bernard should not only be hanged, but drawn and quartered, as hiscrime amounted to parricide. But this vengeful demand was made only bythe extreme people, and the newspapers were on the whole very fair intheir statements. Although it seemed quite certain that young Gore wasguilty, yet the journals gave him the benefit of the doubt. Not tillafter the inquest did any newspaper venture to state that the man hadreally committed the crime. But this was as it should be, if the fairplay instinct of the English race is to be lived up to.
Durham attended the inquest as Sir Simon's lawyer and executor, and MissPlantagenet attended it with him. She saw the solicitor only for a fewminutes and they had little time to exchange opinions. But Durhamassured Miss Berengaria that he was certain Bernard was innocent, uponwhich the old gentlewoman clapped him on the back. Her good opinion wasstrengthened at the inquest by the sturdy way in which the lawyermaintained this point.
Beryl was also present with Inspector Groom. He looked pale and somewhatworried, and when his eyes fell on the withered, resolute face of MissBerengaria, he winced, knowing she was a firm friend to his cousin. Asyet the body of the young man had not been found, and both Durham andMiss Plantagenet were certain that Bernard was still alive. But thegeneral opinion was that he had been drowned while escaping. Mrs. Gilroywas also present with Lucy, and these sat in the body of the court nearMiss Berengaria. That old dame knew well that the housekeeper was nofriend to the accused man, but she was not certain as regards Lucy. AsMiss Randolph was engaged to Beryl, whom Miss Berengaria dislikedheartily, she was prepared to think badly of the girl, going by theproverb that like draws to like. She therefore waited to hear Lucy'sevidence before speaking to her, and although she was quite near hernever turned her head to look or make any sign of recognition.
Inspector Groom, who was called first, detailed how he had been summonedin to see the dead body of the baronet, and related what evidence he hadgathered, and gave also the names of the witnesses he proposed to call.Amongst these were Jane and the cook, also the page, for these threedomestics had frequently seen the soldier who had courted Jane, and whowas believed to be Bernard Gore. Durham, on the authority of Bernard,did not believe this, but he waited his time before contradicting theevidence.
After Groom came a doctor, who deposed to having examined the body, andgave it as his opinion that the deceased had been strangled some timeafter ten o'clock. Before being strangled he had been renderedunconscious by chloroform, thus had fallen an easy victim to theassassin. Mention was made of the bandana handkerchief with which thestrangulation had been effected, and it was produced in court; but thehandkerchief steeped in chloroform which had been bound round the mouthwas missing. It was a white one according to the evidence of thehousekeeper, and had been loosened from the mouth by Bernard himselfwhen she brought him up to look on his victim. Groom expressed annoyanceat this, as the handkerchief was an important piece of evidence. Beingwhite it could not have belonged to the deceased, who used only coloredbandana handkerchiefs. Therefore it was probable that the assassin hadused his own, and the name on the corner would have settled the questionbeyond doubt. But the handkerchief was lost, and there was no more to besaid. Groom hoped to prove Gore's guilt by the evidence of his otherwitnesses.
Julius Beryl deposed that Bernard and Sir Simon were at variance, andMrs. Gilroy gave evidence about the quarrel which had taken place at theHall when the young man had been turned away. She swore that Bernardthen made use of threatening language and had hinted he would throw hisgrandfather out of the window. She also explained the cause of thequarrel and the name of Alice was mentioned, much to the wrath of MissPlantagenet. Afterwards the housekeeper went on to state that Bernardhad visited in Crimea Square. She had never seen him, as he was alwayssmuggled out of sight by Jane when she was heard approaching thekitchen. But on the night of the murder Gore had presented himself atthe door after ten o'clock and had intimated that Sir Simon desired tosee him, having sent down a message to the kitchen to that effect.
Coroner: "Who carried the message?"
Mrs. Gilroy: "The page, William. Mr. Gore was alarmed and left the houseat once, refusing to come up. Afterwards he had apparently changed hismind, for he came to the door. I took him up to Sir Simon and left themalone."
Coroner: "Did you see the meeting?"
Mrs. Gilroy: "No. I pushed Mr. Gore into the room then went down towait. But I think Sir Simon was disposed to be friendly. Mr. Goreremained upstairs for about fifteen minutes, then left the househurriedly. I saw him go out of the door. I called after him. He did notanswer. I then ran upstairs, and found Sir Simon dead. I came down againand ran out in pursuit of Mr. Gore, crying out, 'Murder!' He was almoston the doorstep and came into the house with me. He denied that he hadkilled his grandfather and loosened the two handkerchiefs. Then thepolice came and he escaped."
She persisted in her statements, and said calmly that young Gore hadcertainly killed the old man. At the interview at the Hall, she hadheard him use the word "strangle," and Sir Simon had been murdered inthat way.
Lucy Randolph also gave evidence as to the quarrel. "Bernard had a fierytemper," she said, weeping, "and when Sir Simon spoke badly of MissMalleson, he threatened to throw Sir Simon out of the window. I did nothear him use the word strangle. I never saw him when he came to thekitchen at Crimea Square, and it was only two days before the murderthat Mrs. Gilroy recognized him by the description given by thehousemaid. I am quite friendly with Bernard."
This evidence led to that of Jane, the housemaid. She was shown aphotograph of Gore and swore positively that it was the face of theyoung soldier who had courted her. Before Sir Simon came to CrimeaSquare she had met him in the Park. He was in the uniform of thenewly-formed Imperial Yeomanry. He made love to her, and asked if hemight come to the house. He also seemed to be very inquisitive about SirSimon. He came many times, and was introduced to the cook. Also William,the page, saw him. He called himself Bernard, nothing more, and did notmake use of his name of Gore. Whenever Mrs. Gilroy was heard coming healways hid himself. He seemed afraid to meet her. Both witness and cookconnived at the concealment as they feared the rebuke of thehousekeeper. On the night of the crime a message came from Sir Simon bythe page, William, asking Bernard to step upstairs. He displayed greatalarm, and went away at once, saying he might return to see Sir Simonafter ten. Witness gave other evidence, but the important point was,that she identified the photograph as that of Bernard Gore. Also thename was the same.
The cook and the page also identified the photograph as that of Mr.Gore. Evidence was then given by an officer of the Imperial Yeomanry asto Gore calling himself Bernard alone. He was known as Corporal Bernard.On the night of the murder he had obtained leave of absence to dine witha friend and had left the barracks before five. It was between five andsix, according to the cook, that Bernard was in the kitchen. Bernard,added the officer, was not expected back till close on midnight. Sincethen nothing had been heard of him.
Durham then stepped into the box and stated that Gore had dined with himat his house on Camden Hill. There was another mutual friend present.Bernard had arrived at seven at the house and had left it at teno'clock. Witness produced Sir Simon's letter stating that Gore wascourting the housemaid Jane. But Durham swore that Bernard had deniedthis, and said that he had not been near the house. "Indeed," added thewitness, "he did not know the whereabouts of the house till I told him."
Coroner: "Then he must have gone from your house direct to CrimeaSquare."
Durham: "I can't understand why he should do so. He had no intention ofgoing, and certainly he had no idea of killing Sir Simon. I am quiteconvinced that he is innocent."
This expression produced incredulou
s smiles, as by this time everyonepresent was certain that Gore was the culprit. Thanks to Durham'srepresentations Dick West (_alias_ Lord Conniston) was not called. It isneedless to say that the real name of this witness was not known. Had itbeen public the Coroner would have doubtless insisted on his production,if only to swell the scandal of the case by the addition of a title.
In summing up the Coroner was quite on the side of the prosecution andpublic opinion was with him. He pointed out that the evidence of thecook, the housemaid, the page and the officer all showed that BernardGore and Corporal Bernard were one and the same. Also there was theevidence of Mrs. Gilroy, who opened the door at ten o'clock to the manhimself. Without doubt Gore was the person who had called to see hisgrandfather. As to the motive for the commission of the crime, the jurycould see for themselves that there was a strong one. Mr. Beryl'sevidence showed that a bitter quarrel existed, and this was confirmedboth by Miss Randolph and Mrs. Gilroy. Even the word "strangled" hadbeen used, and in that way Sir Simon had met with his death. Withoutdoubt Gore, furious at being disinherited, had called to see Sir Simon,to see if he could be reinstated. Doubtless, as both had fiery tempers,a quarrel had taken place, and then the younger man, having rendered theolder one unconscious by means of chloroform, had murdered him. It wascertainly inexplicable that he should have returned to the house, butthen the jury must take into consideration that perhaps Gore thoughtsuch a bold course might prove his innocence. Finally, his escape showedthat he was guilty, as had he been an innocent man, he would have facedthe matter out. It would seem that the criminal was dead. He had falleninto the hands of God, and thus had not escaped punishment. But on thefacts before them the jury would have to give their verdict.
Biased both by the evidence and by the Coroner's speech, the jurybrought in a verdict of guilty against Bernard Gore. Durham expected theverdict and so did Miss Plantagenet, but both of them, being Bernard'sfirm friends, felt a pang when they heard him thus condemned of wilfulmurder.
"Fools," said Miss Berengaria, as she drove back in her brougham withDurham to the office of the lawyer.
"I don't think that," expostulated Durham. "Under the circumstances thejury could hardly bring in a different verdict."
"You know that Bernard is innocent," snapped the lady.
"Certainly! But on the evidence before them--"
"A fig for the evidence!" interrupted Miss Berengaria. "I go by my ownknowledge of the boy. He wouldn't kill a fly."
"Ah! But you see, the men on the jury never met Bernard."
Finding the lawyer too strong for her, Miss Berengaria changed thesubject, being determined not to acknowledge defeat. "Have you heardfrom young Gore?" she asked.
"No. He may be drowned for all I know."
"For all you know, and you know nothing."
"More's the pity, Miss Plantagenet. Did I know anything I might be ableto satisfy myself that Gore is alive."
"Of course he is alive."
"On what ground do you say that?" asked Durham, surprised.
"On the grounds of common sense. Bernard is not the man to die when hisliving is needed to prove his innocence."
This was so truly a feminine argument that Durham, with a shrug, heldhis tongue. "There's no more to be said," he remarked.
"I know that," snapped Miss Berengaria in a bad humor. "I am quite upsetby all the rubbish those fools have been talking. What's to be donenext?"
"I shall go down to Gore Hall and read the will."
"Ha!" said the old lady, brightly. "Can you do that until you are sureof the death of Bernard?"
"Yes. He may be dead after all--"
"He isn't, I tell you."
"Then it is all the better he should be thought to be so," said Durham,giving up the point in the face of this firm opposition.
"Why?" asked Miss Berengaria promptly.
"Because no search will be made for Gore should he be alive and inhiding. Yet I fear Beryl will search."
"I don't see why he should. Oh, I see what you mean. Sir Simon, thehorrid old--Well, we'll say nothing about that. But he has left themoney to Beryl, after disinheriting Bernard for keeping faith with mypoor Alice."
"Not exactly that," said Durham, hesitating. "I can't tell you thecontents of the will, Miss Plantagenet, as--"
"I know," she snapped. "You needn't tell me that. I'll come to the Halland hear it read. But, of course, I know it already."
"In that case there's no more to be said," replied the solicitor,suppressing a smile. Miss Berengaria saw it.
"Ha!" said she, sharply and pondering. "So Bernard's not disinheritedafter all."
"I never said so."
"You smiled. That's quite enough for me. 'A nod's as good as a wink to ablind horse.' Not that I'm a horse or blind. Thank God I have myeyesight and can read print with glasses. Well, keep your professionalsecrets, but tell me this: Will Beryl--the deuce take him--hunt forBernard?"
"Not if he thinks he is drowned, as is probable," said Durham, rathersurprised at hearing strong language from the lips of the lady.
"And if he thinks otherwise?"
"He will certainly hunt," replied the lawyer determinedly.
"Ha!" said Miss Berengaria, rubbing her nose. "So that's it, is it?"
"What do you mean, Miss Plantagenet?"
"That Bernard has not been disinherited. That old scamp--no, we musttalk better of him--that the good old man who is dead repented and leftthe money to his rightful heir. What a joke!" Miss Berengaria chuckled."There! there!" she went on, catching Durham's eyes. "It's all right.You have told me nothing. I can guess. Well, well, we must wait till thewill is read. Then we shall see what is to be done to prove Bernard'sinnocence."
"That will be a hard task," said Durham, with a sigh; then added, withsome little hesitation, "Miss Plantagenet, should Beryl make advances toyou in the way of friendship receive them."
"Hum," said the lady. "I detest the fellow."
"But for Bernard's sake--"
"What plan have you in your head?" she asked sharply and peering intohis troubled face.
"None. But I think that after the reading of the will--"
Miss Plantagenet chuckled. "After the reading--well?"
"Beryl may make advances to you."
"I will receive them. But if he thinks I will tell him where Bernard isto be found he is mistaken."
"You don't know where he is, or if he is alive," said Durham, astonishedto find how quickly she fathomed his thoughts.
"True enough. But I will know before many days are over my head. I quiteexpect that Bernard will communicate with Alice, and of course she willtell me. As Beryl will find that the money is left to--"
"I did not say that," interrupted Durham, quickly, as the broughamstopped at the office door.
"To Bernard," went on Miss Berengaria, coolly, "he will try and learn ifhe is dead or alive. If dead he will--no, I can't say what he will do asI don't know if the money, failing Bernard, is left to him. But if hethinks Bernard is alive he will hunt him down so as to get the money."
Durham stepped out of the brougham rather afraid of the old dame. Shewas so clever that she seemed to read his most secret thoughts. He wasglad the drive was at an end, and held out his hand to say good-bye. Tohis surprise and vexation Miss Berengaria stepped out at his heels. "I'mcoming in to talk," she said, and marched up the steps. "I go downto-night to Hurseton, and I want to arrange what is to be done. Not aword, young man. I am Bernard's friend and so are you. If we don'tcombine it's all up with the poor fool." Durham followed the energeticlady with a feeling of helplessness, not knowing very well how to getrid of her. And he had particular reasons for not having her in theoffice. Conniston was coming to see him, and a meeting between him andhis aunt might be productive of trouble. Not that Miss Plantagenet washis aunt, as she was only a distant relative. But she always styledherself so, and would answer to no other term. Durham regretted that hehad accepted the lady's offer to be driven to his office. But it was toolate by this time, for Miss
Berengaria was in the room. And in the roomalso sat Lord Conniston, now out of uniform, and looking much excited.
"Ha!" said Miss Plantagenet, not recognizing the young man, "and who isthis?" She turned to Durham, who shot past her, making a sign of silenceto his friend.
"A client of mine. Will you leave us for a moment, Conniston?"
The name slipped out before he was aware, and he could have stamped withvexation to see how quickly Miss Berengaria grasped the situation. Witha grim smile she looked at the astonished young man. "So you are Dick,"she said looking at him through a double eyeglass. "I haven't seen yousince you made yourself sick in my garden. Bernard told Alice by letterthat he met you. Where are you staying?"
"I don't understand," stammered Conniston, while Durham, giving up MissPlantagenet as impossible, sat shuffling his papers.
"You ought not to be dense. Don't you remember me boxing your ears?"
Conniston burst out laughing. "Oh! by Jove! It's Cousin Berengaria."
"Aunt Berengaria," reproved Miss Plantagenet, giving him her hand. "Idon't like league-long names. Come and sit down and tell me all aboutyourself."
"Miss Plantagenet," said Durham, hastily. "Lord Conniston and I have metto talk of Bernard."
"Then I'll form a third," said the old lady, sitting. "Dick--I shallcall you Dick," she interpolated--"you are Bernard's friend, as hisletter to Alice was all about you. Are you going to desert him?"
"No," said Conniston, taking her entirely into his confidence. "I havechucked the service to see him through his trouble."
"Chucked what service?"
"The army. I was going to the front. But I'll stop till I prove theinnocence of Bernard, Aunt Berengaria."
"You don't know that he is alive, Conniston," said the lawyer.
"Ah, but I do," replied Dick. "Here's a letter from Bernard. He is safeand sound hiding at Cove Castle."