Part 16 (2/2)
”That man,” Fraschini told me, ”is as honest as the day. I've had him longer than any of my other waiters, and he has never said or done anything to make me doubt his accuracy. I believe, Mr. Calhoun, that Luigi saw exactly what he said he saw.”
”Might he not have been mistaken in the ident.i.ty of the woman?”
”Not likely. I'll call him, and you can question him.”
This was what I wanted, to question the waiter alone, and I welcomed the opportunity.
”I know it was Miss Van Allen,” was the quiet response of the Italian to my inquiry. ”I cannot be mistaken. I had seen her many times during the evening. I, therefore, recognized the gown she wore, of light yellow gauzy stuff and an over-dress of long gold bead fringes. I saw her stand above the fallen body, looking down at it with a horrified face. I saw stains of blood on her gown--”
”Where?” I interrupted. ”What part of her gown?”
Luigi thought a moment. ”On the lower flounces, as if her skirts had brushed against the--the victim, when she stooped over him.”
”Did she herself observe these stains?”
”Yes; she looked at them, and looked frightened and then she ran to the hall.”
”And you saw no other person near?”
”None.”
”And heard n.o.body?”
”I heard only the voices from the parlor. There was much noise of laughter and talk there.”
No amount of questioning could change or add to Luigi's story. It was quite evident that he was telling just what he saw, and had no interest in coloring it to make it appear different in any way. He admired Miss Van Allen, he said she was a pleasant lady and not hard to please if her orders were faithfully carried out. He expressed no personal interest in the question of her guilt or innocence, he simply told what he had seen. I didn't altogether like his stolid indifference, it seemed impossible there should be so little humanity in a fellow-being, but I knew he was a good and conscientious waiter, and I concluded he was nothing more.
I went home, and, of course, was met by Aunt Lucy and Winnie with a perfect storm of questions.
”After dinner,” I begged. ”Let me get a little rest and food, and then I'll tell you all I know.”
But after a few spoonfuls of soup, Winnie declared I was too nervous to eat and I might as well talk.
”Well, I will,” I said. ”But, look here, you two. To begin with, I want you to understand that I'm involved in this matter in a business way, and I'm also interested in a personal way. And I don't want any silly talk about it's being unfortunate or regrettable that I should be. It's a business case, Aunt Lucy, as far as the settlement of Mr.
Schuyler's estate is concerned, and it's a personal affair that I'm acquainted with Miss Van Allen; and I propose to make more or less effort to find some trace of that girl, and to see if there is any possible chance that she may not be the guilty one after all.”
”Good for you, Lord Chesterton!” cried Winnie. ”I always knew you were the soul of chivalry, and now you're proving it! What are you going to do--to find out things, I mean?”
”I don't know yet, Win. But if you want to help me, you can do a lot.”
”Indeed, she won't!” declared Aunt Lucy. ”If you have to do these things as a matter of business, I can't object. But I won't have Winnie dragged into it.”
”No dragging, Aunt Lu, and nothing very desperate for Winnie to do.
But, I'd be jolly glad if both of you would just glance out of the window occasionally and see if you see anything going on at the Van Allen house, that's all.”
”Oh, I'll do that!” Winnie cried. ”n.o.body can see me, I'll keep behind our curtains, and I can see that house perfectly well.”
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