Part 43 (2/2)
For the same reason, I have written the account of the conspiracy with certain reserves. I hope I have not thrown any needless difficulties in your way?”
”Certainly not, sir. But I should wish to ask, what you propose to do, in case I discover the people concerned in the conspiracy?”
Amelius owned, very reluctantly, that he could do nothing with the old woman who had been the accomplice. ”Unless,” he added, ”I can induce her to a.s.sist me in bringing the man to justice for other crimes which I believe him to have committed.”
”Meaning the man named Jervy, sir, in this statement?”
”Yes. I have reason to believe that he has been obliged to leave the United States, after committing some serious offence--”
”I beg your pardon for interrupting you, sir. Is it serious enough to charge him with, under the treaty between the two countries?”
”I don't doubt it's serious enough. I have telegraphed to the persons who formerly employed him, for the particulars. Mind this! I will stick at no sacrifice to make that scoundrel suffer for what he has done.”
In those plain words Amelius revealed, as frankly as usual, the purpose that was in him. The terrible remembrances a.s.sociated with Mrs.
Farnaby's last moments had kindled, in his just and generous nature, a burning sense of the wrong inflicted on the poor heart-broken creature who had trusted and loved him. The unendurable thought that the wretch who had tortured her, robbed her, and driven her to her death had escaped with impunity, literally haunted him night and day. Eager to provide for Sally's future, he had followed Mrs. Farnaby's instructions, and had seen the lawyer privately, during the period that had elapsed between the death and the inquest. Hearing that there were formalities to be complied with, which would probably cause some delay, he had at once announced his determination to employ the interval in attempting the pursuit of Jervy. The lawyer--after vainly pointing out the serious objections to the course proposed--so far yielded to the irresistible earnestness and good faith of Amelius as to recommend him to a competent man, who could be trusted not to deceive him. The same day the man had received a written statement of the case; and he had now arrived to report the result of his first proceedings to his employer.
”One thing I want to know, before you tell me anything else,” Amelius resumed. ”Is my written description of Jervy plain enough to help you to find him?”
”It's so plain, sir, that some of the older men in our office have recognized him by it--under another name than the name you give him.”
”Does that add to the difficulty of tracing him?”
”He has been a long time away from England, sir; and it's by no means easy to trace him, on that account. I have been to the young woman, named Phoebe in your statement, to find out what she can tell me about him. She's ready enough, in the intervals of crying, to help us to lay our hands on the man who has deserted her. It's the old story of a fellow getting at a girl's secrets and a girl's money, under pretence of marrying her. At one time, she's furious with him, and at another she's ready to cry her eyes out. I got some information from her; it's not much, but it may help us. The name of the old woman, who has been the go-between in the business, is Mrs. Sowler--known to the police as an inveterate drunkard, and worse. I don't think there will be much difficulty in tracing Mrs. Sowler. As to Jervy, if the young woman is to be believed, and I think she is, there's little doubt that he has got the money from the lady mentioned in my instructions here, and that he has bolted with the sum about him. Wait a bit, sir, I haven't done with my discoveries yet. I asked the young woman, of course, if she had his photograph. He's a sharp fellow; she had it, but he got it away from her, on pretence of giving her a better one, before he took himself off.
Having missed this chance, I asked next if she knew where he lived last.
She directed me to the place; and I have had a talk with the landlord.
He tells me of a squint-eyed man, who was a good deal about the house, doing Jervy's dirty work for him. If I am not misled by the description, I think I know the man. I have my own notion of what he's capable of doing, if he gets the chance--and I propose to begin by finding our way to him, and using him as a means of tracing Jervy. It's only right to tell you that it may take some time to do this--for which reason I have to propose, in the mean while, trying a shorter way to the end in view.
Do you object, sir, to the expense of sending a copy of your description of Jervy to every police-station in London?”
”I object to nothing which may help to find him. Do you think the police have got him anywhere?”
”You forget, sir, that the police have no orders to take him. What I'm speculating on is the chance that he has got the money about him--say in small banknotes, for convenience of changing them, you know.”
”Well?”
”Well, sir, the people he lives among--the squint-eyed man, for instance!--don't stick at trifles. If any of them have found out that Jervy's purse is worth having--”
”You mean they would rob him?”
”And murder him too, sir, if he tried to resist.”
Amelius started to his feet. ”Send round to the police-stations without losing another minute,” he said. ”And let me hear what the answer is, the instant you receive it.”
”Suppose I get the answer late at night, sir?”
”I don't care when you get it, night or day. Dead or living, I will undertake to identify him. Here's a duplicate key of the garden gate.
Come this way, and I'll show you where my bedroom is. If we are all in bed, tap at the window--and I will be ready for you at a moment's notice.”
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