Chapter 7 – Tuesday morning November 2nd 1841 – All hallows / All saints day
After a night wracked with fear and apprehension about his future, Sylvanus arose at 7.30 and wandered the busy beach trying to unravel the pieces of the murder jigsaw he was involved in. Today was the day that the poor lady’s body was to return to London. He was to remain behind for an indefinite period.
After walking past the chain pier again and back he reached the fishermen’s beach just after 9.00.
‘Henry how’s the catch today?’ called out Sylvanus.
‘Very good. I missed you yesterday – are you wanting your brace of mackerel and a sole again? Or I have some sea bream as sweet as the dawn.’
‘Give me the mackerel and a bream then. I only hope I am free to eat them.’
‘Free to eat? What do you mean?’
‘Well I came across a dying woman and as I have no better alibi than I was there I am the leading suspect.’
‘That is crazy. I will vouch for you. Where shall I go?’ said Henry.
‘Well thank you very much and I will let you know if I need a character witness.’
‘I will do anything I can.’ Henry thrust the wrapped fish into Sylvanus’ hand.
‘And I want nothing for the fish – put the money to helping you. Think! Fish are good for the brain you know. I know you will come up with the answer as you eat your mackerel.’
‘I do hope so Henry.’
Sylvanus reached the hotel a little after 9.30 and presented the waiter with his fish.
‘Same as usual please my good man.’
‘Yes Sir. With toast and coffee?’
‘Yes please. I need to think.’
After breakfast Sylvanus stayed in his breakfast seat staring at the waves and pawing through his papers until suddenly sometime after 10.30 he was struck by a sudden vivid revelation.
‘How long will it take to reach the station?’ He asked the waiter who was finishing up clearing the tables.
‘Maybe 20 minutes by cab.’
‘Thank you young man. Here for your trouble.’
Sylvanus rushed to the doorman.
‘Quickly a cab for the station.’
‘Cabbie the station and as fast as you can. I mean as fast as humanly possible.’
‘The cab set off East clattering along the seafront before turning and skidding North up Queens Road toward the station. The cabbie paid heed to Sylvanus’ words and sent several pedestrians scattering in fear.
As they neared the station Sylvanus could see a ring of police around the entrance.
‘Stop at nothing cabbie. I will make it worth your while. Stop at nothing until you reach the platform.’ said Sylvanus thrusting a handful of notes in his hand.
As they broke through the police cordon the police turned to give chase and were hot on his heels as he jumped from the cab and headed for the last door as the train whistle signalled its’ imminent departure.
He managed to scramble aboard just as the train started moving and found himself immediately in the guards van facing a coffin and two policemen soon followed by two more police officers who leapt aboard.
‘I know who the murderer is. I know who the murderer is.’ Repeated Sylvanus as the train continued to gather speed. The policemen hurriedly restrained him and handcuffed him.
‘I know who it is.’
‘Who is it then?’ replied one of the policemen who he recognised was there on the night of the murder and who was accompanying the coffin to London.
‘I need you to assemble the suspects and all those implicated in any way and I will reveal the culprit.’
‘Let’s humour him, we have no better lead. Collect up the others. I believe Lord Lytton and John Benson are in first class with Charles Reynolds and Elizabeth Gaunt.’
As they all assembled in the guards van the train plunged into darkness of a tunnel.
‘It’s only a short Tunnel at Patcham.’ said the guard.
Soon they were out of the tunnel and into the cutting and light again.
As the train continued to chuff north Sylvanus Kent began to address the assembly.
‘Someone here would stand to gain a great fortune if Lady Isabella were to die and would loose a fortune if she were to marry Lord Lytton.’
He paused and scoured the faces of the assembly for signs of emotion.
Lord Lytton sputtered a retort. ‘I am not being spoken to like this by some upstart.’
‘Only one person here can look very different with a cloak and a slight change to their appearance.
Only one person can run like a gazelle at will.’
The policemen tightened their grip on Sylvanus as the train lurched.
‘Only one person has a name that sounds like her dying breath.’
Sylvanus approached slowly and snatched away the stick of Charles Reynolds.
‘Only one person has a concealed small blade weapon.’ said Sylvanus slipping the knob from the walking cane gently and revealing a blade.
‘And still with traces of her blood on it.’
Suddenly the train plunged into the darkness again of the even longer Clayton tunnel and all was dark and silent in the guards van.
As the train emerged Charles was nowhere to be seen.
‘Quickly find him.’ shouted the policeman.
As two of the policemen headed for the door another policeman in the next carriage entered with Charles Reynolds by the scruff of his neck.
‘I caught this one trying to escape Sir. He was nimble as the proverbial gazelle.’ said the officer.
Sylvanus continued. ‘I believe you will find in his bag some documents showing that as her cousin he would stand to inherit the Reynolds fortune and title as there were no other descendants of Lady Isabella’s parents.
I believe it also grieved him that his Lordship was a catholic and not a protestant. Chaaarrrr……..les. (her dying breath) would inherit the family fortune with her gone otherwise it would go to a catholic family leaving him destitute.’
‘I am arresting you on suspicion of murder.’ said the leading police officer taking hold of Reynolds.
‘But I was at the mannequin club all night.’ said Charles Reynolds.
‘You could have easily slipped out like me and committed the evil deed before returning to spend time with your dancer.’
Just then the locomotive started to slow.
‘Hassocks station approaching.’ said the guard.
‘We will be taking you off here Mr. Reynolds.’
‘And if I may I would like to disembark here.’ added Sylvanus.
‘Yes you are free to go.’ said the policeman.
‘Thank you Mr. Kent for solving this terrible crime and hopefully bringing the guilty man to justice. Hanging is not good enough for him.’ said Lord Lytton.
‘Thank you for helping to solve the crime which may well be see the first ever murderer to be apprehended on board a moving steam train.’ added the policeman.
As the train stopped at Hassocks, two officers got off followed by a handcuffed Reynolds and one other officer.
Then Sylvanus stepped triumphantly from the train.
‘Thank you again Mr. Sylvanus Kent. I am sure we will be calling on your analytical powers again if you should be in Brighton.’
‘I believe I may, but hopefully my next visit may start out a little less traumatically exciting. Talking of exciting are we in easy reach of the village of Poynings?’
‘Yes I would say it is no more than four miles away, an easy journey by cab.’