Part 59 (2/2)
Even yesterday they had a violent dispute; and who knows but what the attorney had to repent it in his last moments? And what is still more suspicious is, that they quarrelled again yesterday evening. The cook himself has said so. Make a note of that!” said the justice, turning to Mr. Kenihazy.
The cook could not deny this; and Mrs. Kata, thinking to benefit the notary, and make amends for her former imprudence, related the quarrel of the previous evening, with the addition of all the scandal and t.i.ttle-tattle of the village.
”Most strange! most suspicious!” exclaimed the justice, turning to Mr.
Kenihazy; ”that my friend should be found murdered in his bed the very night on which he had had a deadly quarrel with the notary. This woman's evidence proves beyond a doubt that my friend died by the notary's hand.
I hope you have taken down every word,” said he, still addressing his clerk.
The cook wished to speak; but, finding the justice would not listen to him, he said to Mr. Kenihazy, in a subdued voice, ”If the Jew didn't do it, what business had he in the chimney?”
Mr. Skinner, instead of replying to the cook, addressed the Jew: ”Who has bribed you to this horrid act? Who are your accomplices, you scurvy hound? For it's you who struck the blow, you vagabond!” continued the justice. ”Confess this instant! Say who employed you to murder the attorney! If you are candid, and tell everything, you may do yourself some good; but if you hesitate, I'll----” Here he raised his hand in such a way as made the Jew instinctively throw his arm over his head to protect it; and no doubt he would have suited the blow to the att.i.tude, had not a carriage at that instant driven up to the door.
The arrival of the sheriff and his family changed the scene at the Castle entirely.
Mr. and Lady Rety proceeded directly from the carriage to the room where the witnesses were examined. The justice gave them the full details of the murder, the news of which had reached them during the night. The sheriff and his wife seemed much afflicted.
”It is atrocious!” exclaimed Lady Rety, when the justice had finished, ”that such a murder should take place in my house, and under the eyes and ears of so many people!”
”My poor wife is quite overwhelmed!” said the sheriff; ”she had a presentiment of something dreadful all day yesterday; I never saw her so excited and feverish in my life!”
”Do not talk so,” said Lady Rety, whose lip was pale and quivering; ”people will take me for a lunatic. I only felt indisposed, as, indeed, I do to-day.”
The justice endeavoured to condole with her ladys.h.i.+p, while Dr. Sherer hastened to feel her pulse; but the Jew, whose eye encountered Lady Rety's, looked at her with a glance full of meaning.
”It's quite certain,” remarked the sheriff, ”that he who committed the crime is well acquainted with the ways of the house, but, what is most strange, nothing is stolen!”
”We are not quite sure of that yet,” said the justice; ”the servants say that they found Mr. Catspaw's watch and pocket-book in his room. I should have had a closer search of the premises; but as Mr. Catspaw was your attorney, I thought it probable that he had in his possession papers and doc.u.ments which you would not like interfered with, and I therefore resolved to seal the door, and wait your decision.”
”You did quite right, sir,” interposed Lady Rety; ”Mr. Catspaw had in his possession many doc.u.ments and law papers belonging to me. I'll go myself and look after them.”
”My lady!” exclaimed the doctor, ”you would not think of such a thing in your present delicate state of health?”
”It is my pleasure to do it,” said the lady.
”Your ladys.h.i.+p had better not go,” interposed the cook, with humility; ”the body is in the room, and----”
”The body?” said Lady Rety, striving to suppress a shudder; ”you must take it away. I know better than any one else where the attorney kept my papers, and I cannot be easy until I have satisfied myself that they are safe.”
In obedience to her ladys.h.i.+p's commands, Dr. Sherer and Mr. Kenihazy left the room with some servants. Lady Rety was in deep thought, when Mr. Skinner, who stood just by her, said, ”Thank G.o.d! we have at least the man who committed the deed in our hands;” and, dragging the Jew forward, he continued: ”We found this fellow in the chimney immediately after the act was perpetrated.”
”What, Jants.h.i.+ the glazier!” exclaimed Lady Rety; ”impossible! Mr.
Catspaw was his best friend, and----”
”My love!” interposed the sheriff, ”that doesn't prove any thing; unfortunately, there are many instances wherein men have committed the vilest acts against their benefactors.”
”There can be no doubt,” said the justice, ”that this Jew is the instrument of some vile person.”
Lady Rety turned ghastly pale at these words, and Mr. Rety and the justice asked at the same moment if she was ill; but, instead of answering them, she inquired if the Jew had confessed his crime.
”No!” replied the justice; ”not exactly confessed; but that doesn't signify. This fellow is devilish stiff-necked, but I'll bring it out of him. Moreover, the circ.u.mstances are of such a nature, that not a doubt can be entertained that----” Then he went on to relate, with great self-satisfaction, his suspicions against Tengelyi.
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