Part 15 (1/2)

Those in Court stirred again uneasily. There had been breathless silence while the Coroner had been speaking save for the rustling of the paper and ”flimsies” used by the reporters, and the departure of one or two uniformed messenger-lads carrying ”copy” to the evening journals for use in their special editions.

The foreman of the jury turned to his fellow-jurymen and inquired whether they desired to consult in private. But all were of one opinion, and without leaving the room returned a verdict of ”Found dead.” At the club that night everybody read the evening papers, and in the smoking-room everybody propounded his own view of the mystery. Some were of opinion that their friend had fallen a victim of foul play, while others who, like myself, had noticed his recent depressed spirits and inert att.i.tude, were inclined to think that he had taken his own life in a fit of despondency. They declared that he had sent Ash out on a fool's errand in order to be alone, and that the blank note was really nothing at all. The only argument against that theory was the fact that I had found the door leading to his chambers open. This was incompatible with the idea that he had deliberately taken his own life.

As the person who had made the startling discovery, I was, of course, questioned on every hand regarding all the minor details of the terrible scene. The men who held the opinion that he had been murdered desired to make out that the furniture had been disturbed, but having very carefully noted everything, I was able to flatly contradict them. Thus the evening pa.s.sed with that one single subject under discussion--the murder of the man who had been so popular amongst us, and whom we had all held in such high esteem.

Next morning, near noon, while reading the paper beside my own fire, Simes entered, saying--

”There's Ash, sir, would like to see you.”

”Show him in,” I exclaimed at once, casting the paper aside, and an instant later the dead man's valet made his appearance, pale and agitated.

”Well, Ash,” I said, ”what's the matter?”

”I'm a bit upset, sir; that's all.” And he panted from the effort of ascending the stairs. Therefore, I motioned him to a seat.

”Well, have the police visited your master's rooms again?”

”No, sir. They haven't been again,” he replied. ”But I made a thorough examination last night, and I wish you'd come round with me, if you'd be so kind, sir. I know you were my master's best friend, and I'm sure you won't let this affair rest, will you?”

”Certainly not,” I answered in surprise. ”But why do you wish me to go with you?”

”I want to ask your opinion on something.”

”What have you discovered?”

”Well, sir, I don't know whether it is a discovery, or not. But I'd like you to see it,” he said, full of nervous impatience.

Therefore, I called Simes to bring my hat and coat, and we went out together, taking a cab along to poor Roddy's chambers. They seemed strangely silent and deserted now, as we let ourselves in with the latch-key. No cheery voice welcomed me from the sitting-room within, and there was no odour of Egyptian cigarettes or overnight cigars; no fire in the grate, for all was cheerless and rendered the more funereal because of the darkness of the rainy day.

”This morning,” explained Ash, ”when I thought I had made a thorough examination of the whole place last night, I chanced to be taking a turn around this room and made a discovery which seems to me very remarkable.” Then, pointing, he went on: ”You see in that cabinet there's some old china.”

”Yes,” I answered, for some of the pieces were very choice, and I had often envied them.

”From where we stand here we can see a small casket of chased bra.s.s-- Indian work, I think he called it.”

”Certainly.”

”Well, now, I chanced to pa.s.s this, and a thought occurred to me that I'd look what was in that box. I did so, and when I saw, I closed it up again and came to you to get your opinion.”

With that he opened the gla.s.s doors of the cabinet, took forth the little casket and opened it.

Inside there was nothing but ashes. They were white ashes, similar to those I had found in my own rooms after Aline had departed!

”Good G.o.d!” I gasped, scarcely believing my own eyes. ”What was in this box before?”

”When I opened it last week, sir, there was a rosary, such as the Roman Catholics use. It belonged to my master's grandmother, he once told me.

She was a Catholic.”

I turned the ashes over in my hand. Yes, there was no doubt whatever that it had been a rosary, for although the beads were consumed yet the tiny lengths of wire which had run through them remained unmelted, but had been blackened and twisted by the heat. There was one small lump of metal about the size of a bean, apparently silver, and that I judged to have been the little crucifix appended.