Part 26 (1/2)
Denzil started. He had not sent up his name, merely describing himself as a gentleman.
”That is my name,” he murmured.
”You were one of the witnesses at the inquest on the body of the late Arthur Constant. I have your evidence there.” He pointed to a file. ”Why have you come to give fresh evidence?”
Again Denzil started, flus.h.i.+ng in addition this time. ”I want money,” he said, almost involuntarily.
”Sit down.” Denzil sat. Wimp stood.
Wimp was young and fresh-coloured. He had a Roman nose, and was smartly dressed. He had beaten Grodman by discovering the wife Heaven meant for him. He had a bouncing boy, who stole jam out of the pantry without any one being the wiser. Wimp did what work he could do at home in a secluded study at the top of the house. Outside his chamber of horrors he was the ordinary husband of commerce. He adored his wife, who thought poorly of his intellect but highly of his heart. In domestic difficulties Wimp was helpless. He could not tell even whether the servant's ”character” was forged or genuine. Probably he could not level himself to such petty problems. He was like the senior wrangler who has forgotten how to do quadratics, and has to solve equations of the second degree by the calculus.
”How much money do you want?” he asked.
”I do not make bargains,” Denzil replied, his calm come back by this time. ”I came here to tender you a suggestion. It struck me that you might offer me a fiver for my trouble. Should you do so, I shall not refuse it.”
”You shall not refuse it--if you deserve it.”
”Good. I will come to the point at once. My suggestion concerns--Tom Mortlake.”
Denzil threw out the name as if it were a torpedo. Wimp did not move.
”Tom Mortlake,” went on Denzil, looking disappointed, ”had a sweetheart.”
He paused impressively.
Wimp said, ”Yes?”
”Where is that sweetheart now?”
”Where, indeed?”
”You know about her disappearance?”
”You have just informed me of it.”
”Yes, she is gone--without a trace. She went about a fortnight before Mr.
Constant's murder.”
”Murder? How do you know it was murder?”
”Mr. Grodman says so,” said Denzil, startled again.
”H'm! Isn't that rather a proof that it was suicide? Well, go on.”
”About a fortnight before the suicide, Jessie Dymond disappeared. So they tell me in Stepney Green, where she lodged and worked.”
”What was she?”
”She was a dressmaker. She had a wonderful talent. Quite fas.h.i.+onable ladies got to know of it. One of her dresses was presented at Court. I think the lady forgot to pay for it; so Jessie's landlady said.”
”Did she live alone?”