CHAPTER XXIII
A STARTLING THEORY
When Diana declared that her father yet lived, Lucian drew back from herin amazement, for of all impossible things said of this impossible casethis saying of hers was the strangest and most incredible. Hitherto, nota suspicion had entered his mind but that the man so mysteriously slainin Geneva Square was Mark Vrain, and, for the moment, he thought thatDiana was distraught to deny so positive a fact.
"It is impossible," said he, shaking his head, "quite impossible. Mrs.Vrain identified the corpse, and so did other people who knew yourfather well."
"As to Mrs. Vrain," said Diana contemptuously, "I quite believe shewould lie to gain her own ends. And it may be that the man who wasmurdered was like my father in the face, but--"
"He had the mark on his cheek," interrupted Lucian, impatient of thisobstinate belief in the criminality of Lydia.
"I know that mark well," replied Miss Vrain. "My father received it in aduel he fought in his youth, when he was a student in a Germanuniversity; but the missing finger." She shook her head.
"He might have lost the finger while you were in Australia," suggestedthe barrister.
"He might," rejoined Diana doubtfully, "but it is unlikely. As to otherpeople identifying the body, they no doubt did so by looking at the faceand its scar. Still, I do not believe the murdered man was my father."
"If not, why should Mrs. Vrain identify the body as that of herhusband?"
"Why? Because she wanted to get the assurance money."
"She may have been misled by the resemblance of the dead man to yourfather."
"And who provided that resemblance? My dear Lucian, I would not be atall surprised to learn that there was conspiracy as well as murder inthis matter. My father left his home, and Lydia could not find him. Iquite believe that. As she cannot prove his death, she finds itimpossible to obtain the assurance money; so what does she do?"
"I cannot guess," said Lucian, anxious to hear Diana's theory.
"Why, she finds a man who resembles my father, and sets him to play thepart of the recluse in Geneva Square. She selects a man in ill healthand given to drink, that he may die the sooner; and, by being buried asMark Vrain, give her the money she wants. When you told me of this manBerwin's coughing and drinking, I thought it strange, as my father hadno consumptive disease when I left him, and never, during his life, washe given to over-indulgence in drink. Now I see the truth. This dead manwas Lydia's puppet."
"Even granting that this is so, which I doubt, Diana, why should the manbe murdered?"
"Why?" cried Diana fiercely. "Because he was not dying quickly enoughfor that woman's purpose. She did not kill him herself, if her alibi isto be credited, but she employed Ferruci to murder him."
"You forget Signor Ferruci also proved an alibi."
"A very doubtful one," said Miss Vrain scornfully. "You did not ask thatDr. Jorce the questions you should have done. Go up to London now,Lucian, see him at Hampstead, and find out if Ferruci was at his houseat eight o'clock on Christmas Eve. Then I shall believe him guiltless;till then, I hold him but the creature and tool of Lydia."
"Jorce declares that Ferruci was with him at the house when the murderwas committed?"
"Can you believe that? Ferruci may have made it worth the while of thisdoctor to lie. And even granting that much, the presence of Ferruci atthe Jersey Street house shows that he knew what was going to take placeon that night, and perhaps arranged with another man to do the deed.Either way you look at it, he and Lydia are implicated."
"I tell you it is impossible, Diana," said Lucian, finding it vain tocombat this persistent belief. "All this plotting of crime is such asis found in novels, not in real life----"
"In real life," cried Diana, taking the words out of his mouth, "moreincredible things take place than can be conceived by the most fantasticimagination of an author. Look at this talk of ours--it began with wordsof love and marriage speeches, and it ends with a discussion of murder.But this I say, Lucian, that if you love me, and would have me marryyou, you must find out the truth of these matters. Learn if this deadman is my father--for from what you have told me of the lost finger I donot believe that he is. Hunt down the assassin, and discover if he iswhom I believe him to be--Ferruci himself; and learn, if you can, whatLydia has to do with all these evil matters. Do this, and I am yours.Refuse, and I shall not marry you!"
"You set me a hard task," said Lucian, with a sigh, "and I hardly knowhow to set about it."
"Be guided by me," replied Diana. "Go up to London and put anadvertisement in the papers offering a reward for the discovery of myfather. He is of medium height, with grey hair, and has a clean-shavenface, with a scar on it----"
"You describe the dead man, Diana."
"But he has not lost a finger," continued Diana, as though she had notheard him. "If my father, for fear of Lydia, is in hiding, he will cometo you or me in answer to that advertisement."
"But he must have seen the report of his death by violence in thepapers, if indeed he is alive," urged Lucian, at his wit's end.
"My father is weak in the head, and perhaps was afraid to come out inthe midst of such trouble. But if you put in the advertisement thatI--his daughter--am in England, he will come to me, for with me he knowshe is safe. Also call on Dr. Jorce, and find out the truth about SignorFerruci."
"And then?"
"Then when you have done these two things we shall see what will come ofthem. Promise me to do what I ask you."
"I promise," said Lucian, taking her hand, "but you send me on awild-goose chase."
"That may be, Lucian, but my heart--mypresentiment--my--instinct--whatever you like to call it--tells meotherwise. Now let us go inside."
"Shall we tell Miss Barbar of our engagement?" asked Denzil timidly.
"No; you will tell no one of that until we learn the truth of thisconspiracy. When we do, Lucian, you will find that my father is not deadbut is alive, and will be at our wedding."
"I doubt it--I doubt it."
"I am sure of it," answered Diana, and slipping her hand within the armof her lover she walked with him up to the house. It was the strangestof wooings.
Miss Barbar, with a true woman's interest in love affairs, was inclinedto congratulate them both when they entered, deeming--as the chance hadbeen so propitious--that Lucian had proposed. But Diana looked sostern, and Lucian so gloomy, that she held her peace.
Later on, when her curiosity got the better of her desire not to offendher pupil, she asked if Denzil had spoken.
"Yes," replied Diana, "he has spoken."
"And you have refused him?" cried the old lady in dismay, for she didnot relish the idea that Lucian should have lost by her counsel.
"No; I have not refused him."
"Then you have said 'yes,' my dear!"
"I have said sufficient," replied Diana cautiously. "Please do notquestion me any further, Miss Barbar. Lucian and I understand oneanother very well."
"She calls him by his Christian name," thought the wise old dame, "thatis well. She will not speak of her happiness, that is ill," and invarious crafty ways Miss Barbar tried to learn how matters actuallystood between the pair.
But if she was skilful in asking questions, Diana was equally skilful inbaffling them, and Miss Barbar learned nothing more than her pupil choseto tell her, and that was little enough. To perplex her still further,Lucian departed for London the next day, with a rather disconsolate lookon his handsome face, and gave his adviser no very satisfactoryexplanation at parting.
So Miss Barbar was forced to remain in ignorance of the success orfailure of her counsel, and could by no means discover if the marriageshe was so anxious to bring about was likely to take place. And so endedDenzil's visit to Berwin Manor.
In the meantime, Lucian went back to London with a heavy heart, for hedid not see how he was to set about the task imposed on him by Diana. Atfirst he thought it would be best to advertise, as she advised, but thishe considered would do no good
, as if Vrain--supposing him to be aliveand in hiding--would not come out at the false report of his murder, hecertainly would not appear in answer to an advertisement that might be asnare.
Then Lucian wondered if it would be possible to have the grave opened asecond time that Diana might truly see if the corpse was that of herfather or of another man. But this also was impossible, and--to speakplainly--useless, for by this time the body would not be recognisable;therefore, it would be of little use to exhume the poor dead man,whomsoever he might be, for the second time. Finally, Lucian judged itwould be wisest of all to call on Dr. Jorce, and find out why he wasfriendly with Ferruci, and how much he knew of the Italian's doings.
While the barrister was making up his mind to this course he wassurprised to receive a visit from no less a person than Mr. Jabez Clyne,the father of Lydia.
The little man, usually so bright and merry, now looked worried and illat ease. Lucian--so much as he had seen of him--had always liked himbetter than Lydia, and was sorry to see him so downcast. Nor when helearned the reason was he better pleased. Clyne told it to him in aroundabout way.
"Do you know anything against Signor Ferruci?" he asked, when the firstgreetings were over.
"Very little, and that bad," replied Denzil shortly.
"Do you refer to the horrible death of my son-in-law?"
"Yes, I do, Mr. Clyne. I believe Ferruci had a hand in it, and if youbring him here I'll tell him so."
"Can you prove it?" asked Clyne eagerly.
"No. As yet, Ferruci has proved that he was not in Geneva Square on thenight of the crime--or rather," added Lucian, correcting himself, "atthe hour when the murder was committed."
Clyne's face fell. "I wish you could discover if he is guilty or not,"he said. "I am anxious to know the truth."
"Why?" asked Lucian bluntly.
"Because if he is guilty, I don't want my daughter to marry a murderer."
"What! Is Mrs. Vrain going to marry him?"
"Yes," said the little man disconsolately, "and I wish she wasn't."
"So do I--for her own sake. I thought she did not like him. She said asmuch to me."
"I can't make her out, Mr. Denzil. She grew tired of him for a time, butnow she has taken up with him again, and nothing I can say or do willstop the marriage. I love Lydia beyond words, as she is my only child,and I don't want to see her married to a man of doubtful reputation likeFerruci. So I thought I'd call and see if you could help me."
"I can't," replied Lucian. "As yet I have found out nothing likely toimplicate Ferruci in the crime."
"But you may," said Clyne hopefully.
Lucian shrugged his shoulders.
"If I do, you shall know at once," he said.