Part 34 (1/2)

”What?” I said, starting up and glaring at him. ”Under arrest--for what?”

”For murder.”

”That's interesting, at any rate,” I exclaimed, half inclined to treat the matter as a joke. ”And whom have I murdered, pray?”

”A woman.”

”Well,” I said, ”if you will tell me where and how I was found I may perhaps be able to throw some light on the affair. If not, perhaps you will send for the British Consul, and I'll make a statement to him.”

At first the detective seemed disinclined to tell me anything, but finding the unconcerned manner in which I took the serious charge, he at last told me certain facts that held me utterly dumb with astonishment.

”You were found insensible by some workmen who went to do some repairs in an apartment in a house beyond the Monforte gate--you and the woman.

The knife with which you struck her was lying beside you, and we also have the hatchet with which she struck you on the head in self-defence.”

”What!” I gasped, amazed. ”Do you allege that I killed the woman?”

”You are guilty until you prove yourself innocent,” was the man's cold reply, regarding me with a keen quick glance in his dark eyes.

”Well, just tell me a little more about it,” I urged. ”You say that some workmen found me in the same room as the woman, and between us was a knife and a hatchet. Whose house was it?”

”Ah! you are unaware of whose place it was? You broke into it during the absence of the proprietor and took up your quarters there, of course,” was the man's reply. ”You are a foreigner--English?”

”I am. And I think before we go any further you'd better send for the Consul and let me put a different complexion upon your story. Your theory is, of course, the natural and only one, if, as you say, a knife and a hatchet have been found. But you have not told me to whom the apartments belonged,” I said.

”They were rented by a man named Rondani, manager of the silk factory in the Via della Stella. He, however, locked up the place about a month ago, having been sent by his firm on a commission to Berlin. The other day a builder received the key by post, with orders to enter and effect certain repairs, and when the men went there they discovered you both in the dining-room and at once informed us. At first you were believed to be dead, but as the doctor declared that you were still alive you were brought here and placed under arrest.”

”But I'm innocent!” I declared dismayed. ”I was attacked from behind in the open street.” And then I told him of my midnight vigil, and of the weird scene of which I had been witness. It seemed plain that having been recognised and struck down by the a.s.sa.s.sins they suddenly changed their plans, taking back the body of the young Countess as well as myself, ingeniously placing us in such a position as to make it appear that I was the actual murderer. No doubt they were under the belief that I had died from the effects of the blow.

I expressed anxiety to visit the scene of the a.s.sa.s.sination, to which the man replied--

”By all means. Indeed, we shall be compelled to take you there as soon as you are well enough.”

”Let me go now,” I urged. ”I can drive there all right.”

”No--to-morrow,” he said.

”What have you found upon the woman?” I inquired.

”Several things--letters in English and other things. They are being translated.”

”Letters in English. May I see them?”

”At the trial,” he said. ”Instead of gloating over your crime as you seem to be doing, would it not be better to try and establish your innocence?” he suggested.

”Why should I? I'm not guilty. Therefore I fear nothing. Only take me to the scene of the crime.”

”To-morrow you shall go. I promise you,” was his reply, and then he left, one of his a.s.sistants mounting guard over me, in fear, I suppose, that I might try and escape them.

The murder of Lady Stanchester was an appalling _denouement_ of the mystery, and increased it rather than threw any light upon the extraordinary circ.u.mstances. It was evident that she had been deliberately enticed there to her doom, and had I not fortunately followed her, her end would have remained a complete enigma.