Part 56 (2/2)
”Your brother.”
”Douglas?” he e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed, in abject amazement.
”Yes.”
”Surely you must be mistaken,” cried Egerton incredulously.
”I said I would convince you. Here is the letter,” and she handed the missive for their inspection.
”Did you meet as arranged?” Hugh asked breathlessly, recognising his brother's handwriting.
”No. Long before the enactment of the tragedy, this woman and her myrmidons, Victor Berard and Pierre Rouillier, _alias_ Chavoix, had discovered who Glanville was, and also that he had a brother who would inherit the estate in the event of his decease. Yet the plot does not seem to have occurred to them until after his imprisonment. My husband arrived in England several days earlier than I expected--”
”And they murdered him?”
”Yes. From place to place they followed him until a fitting opportunity occurred, and, as you are aware, they carried out their evil design in an omnibus in a clever, audacious manner that baffled the police. The murder remained a mystery, and it was not until several months afterwards that I succeeded in obtaining conclusive evidence proving that either Valerie or her accomplice, Berard, a.s.sa.s.sinated him. They were unaware that I had married him, for I had returned to Paris and gone upon the stage again. But I afterwards accepted a London engagement, and set myself to watch the development of their skilfully concocted plans.”
”But what was their object in taking his life?” Hugh inquired, bewildered by the extraordinary narrative.
”It was quite plain. Immediately after our marriage, before we left the chapel, I told Douglas that it was Valerie who had killed Nicholson, and not himself, as he believed. The reason I did so was in order that he should see how he had been tricked, and the announcement, I feel sure, transformed his love for her into deadly hate. Before he left `La Nouvelle' I believe he managed to write to her explaining that he had discovered her treachery, and announcing his intention of seeking revenge. It was the knowledge that he had discovered her secret that first prompted them to murder him. Their design was a deep one, to ultimately obtain your money. They saw that it was impossible for Valerie to marry Douglas after what had occurred, while on the other hand it was obvious that if they killed him the estate would pa.s.s to you, and Valerie could afterwards marry you for the sole object of obtaining possession of the money. They believed, too, that if Douglas died, Valerie's secret would be safe, therefore what greater incentive to commit the murder could there have been?”
”Could they not have obtained his money without taking his life?” asked Hugh.
”No. The preservation of the secret of Valerie's guilt was to them of vital importance, for while Douglas lived he would always have her in his power. She little thought, however, that it was I who had witnessed her crime and told Douglas the truth. She felt confident that by killing him she would be free.”
”And that she did, alas!” Trethowen added bitterly. ”Ah! you have little idea of the terrible extremities to which they resorted in order to ensure the success of their nefarious plot. Indeed, the conspiracy was a devilish one; they hesitated at nothing. They had no money when Valerie commenced to allure you by her crafty smiles, and you would never imagine how they obtained sufficient to make you believe she was wealthy.”
”How did they? Tell me.”
”Rouillier--whom you know as Chavoix--is an adroit swindler, and to his ingenuity the credit for it is due. Some months previously he had insured his life for a large amount, and having made a holograph will bequeathing the money to an imaginary person named Chavoix, he then succeeded in finding a poor, dest.i.tute Frenchman in Soho who slightly resembled himself. Aided by Berard and Holt he drugged his victim, placed his own card-case and letters in his pocket, and flung him from a train on the District Railway. The insensible man was run over and killed. The body was discovered much mutilated, and the insurance company, believing that he had fallen from the train, paid the money over to Pierre, who was already living in a secluded village in Belgium, and who had taken the name of Chavoix.”
”How horrible to sacrifice a life for a paltry sum!” Hugh exclaimed, unable even then to fully realise the truth of the extraordinary story of conspiracy and crime.
”The manner in which they got rid of you was quite as ingenious as their dealings with that old scoundrel Graham, and all their other plans. You remember, you were in Paris when arrested?”
”Yes.”
”Well, it was your wife who informed the police. She represented that you were Douglas Trethowen, who had escaped from `La Nouvelle.' You were identified by the photograph in the _dossier_ at Monsieur Goron's bureau, hence your arrest. The police had already discovered Valerie's _liaison_ with the murdered man Nicholson, and when you were interrogated you admitted that you were her husband. This strengthened their suspicions that you were guilty of complicity in the murder, even if you did not actually kill your wife's lover. Again, they had previously obtained evidence that Douglas Trethowen was seen to leave the house on the night of the tragedy accompanied by Valerie, therefore it was not surprising that the heavy sentence was pa.s.sed upon you, especially as Pierre Rouillier gave d.a.m.ning information against you in secret.”
”This is all so strange, mademoiselle, that I can scarcely believe it,”
Trethowen remarked. ”Yet my brother's connection with this woman--this murderess--accounts for the picture and letters of hers which I found among his papers. I remember now that one of the letters contained the words `Boulevard' and `Montabello.' Yes,” he cried, suddenly realising the truth; ”what you have told me tallies with the facts. My brother has been murdered, and I have been victimised by this vile, debased creature, in a manner that has almost cost me my life. I believe you have spoken the truth. My lifelong thanks are due to you for your self-denial in watching the complicated game of these wretches, and rest a.s.sured I shall not overlook your claim upon me as my poor brother's widow.” Turning to Valerie, who still stood ashen pale and trembling, he paused, looking straight into her unflinching eyes with a terrible expression of loathing and hatred.
”You!” he cried. ”As for you--you know what punishment a murderess deserves! I little dreamed that such a fair form could hide so black a heart; yet it seems that while pretending to reciprocate my love you were planning my destruction--”
”No,” she cried wildly. ”I--I loved you--once,” and she stretched out her hand as if to grasp his arm. He stepped back quickly, saying--
”Keep away! Your touch is polluting!”
Her submissive and resigned att.i.tude instantly changed as he uttered this reproach. Her look was menacing and full of hate. She turned furiously upon Gabrielle, and poured forth a torrent of abuse.
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