Part 27 (1/2)

”First,” she said, glancing at him curiously through her half-raised veil, ”first describe to me in detail the whole of the circ.u.mstances in which poor Nelly Bridson was killed.”

”What!” he exclaimed quickly. ”Has her fear any connection with that tragic incident?”

In an instant he remembered the finding of a hairpin near the spot, a pin which had been proved conclusively not to belong to the murdered girl.

”I know it was you who discovered the body,” she went on, disregarding his inquiry. ”Tell me the whole of the sad affair as far as your knowledge extends. I have, of course, read the accounts of the inquest which appeared in the papers at the time, but I am anxious to ascertain some further details.”

”Of what nature?”

”I want you to tell me, if you will,” she replied with an interested look, ”the exact position of the body when you discovered it.”

Her question brought to his memory his ghastly discovery in all its hideousness. There arose before his vision the blanched upturned face of the girl prostrate in the dust, the fallen cycle, and the white, deserted English lane, silent and gloomy in the evening mist.

”Why do you desire me to recall an event so painful?” he asked in a calm tone.

”Because it is necessary that you should tell me exactly how you discovered her,” she replied. ”You had an appointment with Liane at that very spot on that same evening, had you not?”

”Yes,” he answered. ”I was, unfortunately, late in keeping it, and rode to the railway bridge at full gallop, expecting to find her still waiting, but instead, found Nelly dead.”

”She was lying in the centre of the road?”

”Almost. But a little to the right,” he answered. ”The road pa.s.sing beneath the railway takes an abrupt but short incline just where I found her. She was evidently mounting the hill on her cycle when she was shot down.”

”Tell me exactly how you discovered her, and how you acted immediately afterwards,” she urged. ”Begin at the beginning, and tell me all. It may be that you can a.s.sist me in releasing Liane from her bondage.”

Her words puzzled him, nevertheless, in obedience to her wish, he related in their proper sequence each of the events of that memorable evening; how he had made the appalling discovery, how he had found the long-lost miniature of Lady Anne, had ridden with all speed down to the village for a.s.sistance, and how he had subsequently discovered the mysterious hairpin among the long gra.s.s by the gateway.

”Have you been able to determine how the missing miniature came into Nelly's possession?” she asked.

”No,” he said. ”It is entirely a mystery. It almost seems as if she had carried it in her hand, and it fell from her fingers when she was struck.”

”The papers also mentioned a brooch which was missing from Nelly's dress,” she observed.

”Yes,” he replied. ”It was no doubt stolen by the murderer.”

”Why are you so certain the a.s.sa.s.sin was also the thief?” she inquired.

”Well, everything points to such being the case,” he said.

”When you first discovered the crime are you certain that the brooch was not still at her throat?” his mysterious visitor asked, eyeing him seriously.

He paused, reflecting deeply for a moment.

”I took no notice,” he answered. ”I was too much upset by the startling discovery to take heed what jewellery the victim wore.”

”Cannot you sufficiently recall the appearance of the unfortunate girl when first you saw her to say positively whether or not she was still wearing the ornament? Try; it is most important that this fact should be cleared up,” she urged. Her gay carelessness had left her, and she was full of serious earnestness.

Again he reflected. Once more before his vision rose the tragic scene just as he had witnessed it, and somehow, he felt a growing consciousness that this woman's suggestion was correct. Yes, he felt certain that Nelly, although her eyes were sightless and her heart had ceased to beat, still wore the brooch which her admirer had given her.

Again and again he strove to decide, and each time he found himself convinced of the one fact alone--that at that moment the brooch was still there.

”Well,” she exclaimed at last, after intently watching every expression of his face, ”what is your reply?”