The White Room

CHAPTER XVIII

A STORY OF THE PAST

Fane and Derrick parted at the top of Achilles Avenue, the latter heartily thanking the former for the very handsome cheque. "And if that husband returns, sir," said Derrick, shaking hands, "you may be sure that I'll let you know straight off. By the way" – he drew near confidentially-"do you know that the motor-car in which the assassin is supposed to have escaped is in Madame Tussaud's?"

"No" – Fane laughed-"what possible interest can it have?"

"Well, sir, you see the mystery of the case makes it interesting. A lot of people will go there and look at it, and talk about the case."

"I hope they may stumble upon some evidence likely to give a clue to the assassin."

"Bless you, no one will do that, sir. The case has baffled me, so I do not think there's much chance of any one else getting at the truth. I think that American gentleman's a smart man of business, though. He sold the car to Tussaud's at a long price."

"H'm!" said Fane, pondering, "do you think he had anything to do with the crime?"

"No, sir. He missed his motor-car sure enough. Had he killed the woman, he would have escaped in it and proved an alibi."

"I think it was better what he did do. He met Mulligan and you, and with you surveyed the corpse. That daring would avert any suspicion."

"Have you an idea yourself, sir, that he might-"

"No, no!" interrupted Fane hurriedly; "it's simply an idea. But I have learned from Mr. Calvert that Tracey-that's his name, isn't it? – has taken the Hampstead house."

"I wonder what's that for?" asked Derrick, startled. "I want to find out. And I'll ask Mr. Calvert this very day."

"Are you seeing him to-day, sir?"

"Yes; I am going there now. He wrote asking me to call this afternoon. When I leave you I'll take a cab to his lodgings."

Derrick mused. "I'd like to come along with you," he said.

"No," replied Fane decisively, "better not just now. I am sure of nothing. I only fancy Tracey may have had something to do with the matter. Should I learn anything I shall let you know."

"Thank you, sir. I fancy the case is finished myself; but of course something unexpected may turn up. Good-day."

"Good-day," replied Fane, and hailed a cab.

Owing to his long conversation with Derrick, there was not much time to be lost if he wished to be punctual. Wondering if Arnold desired to see him about Laura, Fane told the cabman to drive as fast as possible to Bloomsbury. "I expect now that he has the money, Calvert will want to marry Laura at once," thought Fane, leaning back in the cab. "I'm sure Julia ought to be satisfied with such a match. But she is an impossible woman to deal with. I wish I hadn't married her. I shall never be my own master now."

It was lucky that things were as they were, for Fane was the last man in the world to take the initiative. He always required to be governed and guided, scolded and petted. The slack character of the man could be seen from his mouth, which was constantly half-open. A pleasant, handsome, kindhearted man was Fane, but his very good qualities added to his weakness. His languid good-nature was always getting him into trouble, and he was kindly not so much from a genuine feeling of the sort as from a desire not to be troubled. It is much easier to be yielding in this world than to hold one's own. But those who thus give way, always have constant troubles. The only way in this best of possible worlds to keep peace, is to be prepared for war. Human beings invariably take advantage of one another, and a kind heart is looked upon as a sign of weakness.

On arriving at the Bloomsbury lodgings, Fane saw Arnold looking out of the window, evidently on the watch for his arrival. After dismissing the cab Fane went up stairs, and on entering Calvert's sitting-room was greeted by its occupant with signs of restraint. Behind Arnold stood Tracey, whom Fane recognised from having seen him at the inquest. The American was also grave, and Fane wondered what was to be the subject of conversation. It could not be Arnold's engagement to Laura, or both the men would not look so serious as they did.

"I am glad to see you, Fane," said Calvert, pushing forward a chair. "Sit down. I hope you don't mind Mr. Tracey being present? You met him at the inquest, I believe?"

"We saw one another," said Fane. "I hope you are well, Mr. Tracey?"

"I thank you, sir," said Luther gravely, "I am well. And you?"

"Pretty well," said Fane fretfully; "but this murder has given me a lot of anxiety. Not a pleasant thing to happen in one's house."

"By no means, sir," replied Tracey, with a puzzled glance at Calvert. "Is it true that you are moving, as I have been informed by Miss Gerty B., the lady I'm engaged to?"

"Yes; I suppose Miss Mason told her. My wife doesn't like the place now that it has such a bad reputation. We intend to go abroad for a time to Switzerland."

"You'll miss your yachting," said Arnold, who was taking some papers out of his desk.

"I don't think I'll yacht any more," said Fane gloomily; "my sea days are over."

"Did you yacht much?" asked Tracey.

"A lot. I sometimes stopped away for a couple of months."

"What did Mrs. Fane say?"

Fane laughed. "Oh, she didn't mind. She never cared for the sea herself. Between you and me, Mr. Tracey, my wife is fonder of business than pleasure. I am the reverse."

"All the same, Fane, you must attend to business now."

"What, Calvert, do you call your engagement to Laura business?"

Arnold looked surprised. "I did not ask you here to talk about that," he replied still seriously.

"Oh," answered Fane carelessly, and taking out a cigarette, "I thought you wanted me to make things square with Julia."

"Laura and I understand one another," said Arnold, returning to his seat with a green-covered book in his hand. "I am now well off, and there is no bar to our marriage."

"I am glad of that. A lucky thing for you, the death of that woman."

"I would rather she had lived, poor soul," said Calvert with emotion.

Fane shrugged his shoulders. "We all have to die some time."

"But not by the knife," put in Tracey sharply. "The poor soul, as Calvert calls her, met with a terrible death."

"I know, I know," said Fane irritably. "I wish you wouldn't dwell on the matter, Mr. Tracey. It is excessively unpleasant for me, seeing I live in the house where she was killed. Why don't you offer a reward to clear up the mystery, Calvert?"

"I don't think there will be any need now," said Arnold with emphasis.

"What do you mean?" Fane sat up suddenly. "Because Tracey and I have reason to believe we have found the assassin."

"What!" Fane sprang to his feet much excited. "Who is it? Tell me his name."

"What would you do if you knew it?" asked Tracey, who was looking at Fane with great wonderment.

"Do," said the other, clenching his fist, "I would hang the man."

"How do you know it was a man? It may have been a woman."

"Why do you say that, Mr. Tracey?"

"Well, there was the singing, you know."

"Nonsense! I never thought of it at the time, but now I know that the singing proceeded from a phonograph."

"Phonograph!" cried both men, much astonished.

"Yes. Julia had an idea of getting records of her songs. She sings very well, you know, Calvert. She has had a phonograph for a long time, and amuses the child with it. That song, 'Kathleen Mavourneen,' is a favourite with my wife, and I wondered afterwards how it came to be sung, seeing she was at Westcliff-on-Sea. Then, when a description was given of the kind of voice, I knew it was the phonograph."

"Why didn't you say so at the inquest?" asked the American sharply.

"Because it never struck me till later. But that's enough about the matter. I'm weary of the murder. Let us talk of other things."

"I am afraid we cannot," said Arnold, holding up the book! "Do you know what this is, Fane?"

"No," said the other, staring; "what is it?"

"The diary of Mrs. Brand."

"How strange," said Fane, but his voice sounded nervously uncertain; "where did you find it?"

"It was concealed," said Tracey, with emphasis; "the man who removed all evidence of Mrs. Brand's past life could not find it. And by means of that diary, Mr. Fane, we are enabled to prove a lot."

"If you can prove who murdered the woman I shall be glad to hear."

"You really mean that?" asked Tracey, staring in his turn.

"Of course." Fane stared at Tracey in return, and then looked at Arnold. "I'm glad you sent for me, Calvert. Let us hear everything."

"It is the story of Mrs. Brand's life-"

"Oh! And has it to do with the murder?"

"I think so."

"Does it point to the assassin?"

"It may even do that. But we can't be sure."

Fane threw back his head and closed his eyes. "Read on," he said; "I will give you my opinion."

Tracey and Calvert glanced at one another again, and then the latter opened the book. Fane, hearing the rustle of the leaves, sat up.

"I say, you needn't read all that," he said; "I can't stand reading at any time, not even from an actor. Tell me the gist of the matter."

"From the beginning?" asked Arnold, closing the book.

"Certainly-from the very beginning."

"As you please," replied Calvert, and handed the book to Tracey. Fane, still smoking, again leaned back his head and closed his eyes. After a pause, Arnold commenced the story. But after a few words, he broke down irritably-

"I can't tell you the thing if you don't look at me."

"Thanks," said Fane lazily, "I can hear better with my eyes closed."

"Oh, don't bother!" cried Tracey roughly to Calvert. "Get along. The thing's getting on my nerves."

"I hope it won't get on mine," said Fane, with a sigh; "go on."

"Mrs. Brand," commenced Arnold, without further preamble, "was the daughter of my uncle-"

"Yes," murmured Fane, "I heard she was your cousin."

"I suppose you heard that from Laura," replied Arnold calmly. "Yes, she was my cousin, and left her fortune to me, although I saw very little of her. She is also-or rather, seeing she is dead, was also-the cousin of Professor Bocaros, whose aunt married my uncle."

"Never heard of him," said Fane.

"You will hear of him now," said Calvert tartly; "do not interrupt, please. Well, Flora-"

"Who is Flora?" asked Fane again.

"My cousin, Mrs. Brand. She was Flora Calvert. She kept a diary all these years, as she led a rather lonely life. The man she married was a commercial traveller, and was frequently away. His name was Brand, and with his wife he lived at Hampstead."

"In Coleridge Lane. I know."

"Tracey muttered something uncomplimentary, and went to the window. Fane's constant interruptions got on his nerves. During the rest of the story he occupied a chair, and amused himself with looking out. All the same he lost nothing of what passed. For such observation had he been asked by Arnold to be present at the interview.

"From the diary, which begins with her married life, it appears that Mrs. Brand was very happy with her husband," went on Calvert. "She met him at some open-air entertainment, where she was in danger of being crushed by the crowd. Brand rescued her, and afterwards called on Flora, who was then living with her mother. He called himself Adolphus Brand."

"Was that not his name?"

"It is hard to say. When he first came to see Flora he told her his name was Wentworth. She related her life, and how she expected to inherit a fortune from an uncle called Arthur Brand who lived in Australia. Wentworth thereupon said that he also had a cousin called Brand, from whom he expected money. It was probable, he said, that if he did get this money he would have to change his name. A few months later he proposed to marry Flora, but could not do so until he got the money."

"Was it a large fortune?" asked Fane.

"Not very large-a few thousand pounds. One day Brand stated that his cousin was dead, and that he had the money on condition that he changed his name. Now you see, Fane, how Wentworth came to be called Brand. It was curious that he should have the same name as the uncle from whom Flora hoped to get money."

"A coincidence," said Fane coolly; "these things happen in real life. It is only in fiction that coincidences appear to be absurd."

"Well, to continue the story," said Arnold, stealing a glance at the American, "Brand married my cousin after the death of her mother. He took her to live at Gunnersbury."

"I thought you said they lived at Hampstead."

"Later on they did, but not when they first married. Brand-as he said-was a commercial traveller."

"As he said; you doubt his statement then?"

"I have reason to," responded Calvert gravely. "Please let me tell the story in my own way. You can comment on it when it is done. Brand being, as he said, a commercial traveller, was often away for months at a time. Flora, suspecting nothing wrong-"

"Why should she?" asked Fane.

"Wait," said Arnold. "Flora, suspecting nothing wrong, was quite happy. Her husband was fond of her, and they lived in complete harmony. He had banked the money he received from his cousin, and proposed later, when his business affairs were more prosperous, to furnish a house for her. Especially did he promise to furnish a White Room."

Fane sat up, with a lively expression on his face. "Ah, now, this is becoming interesting. I have a White Room in my house."

"Yes. And poor Flora was murdered there."

"By whom?" asked Fane innocently.

"You'll hear that later. To resume the story. Things were arranged in this way, and husband and wife lived very comfortably, although neither had money. But Flora expected to get a large fortune from her Australian relative. He had promised to leave it to her, and corresponded constantly with her. Afterwards finding Gunnersbury inconvenient for his business, Brand removed to Hampstead. Flora took Fairy Lodge, and furnished it and attended to all that. The husband should have done that work," said Arnold with emphasis, "but for some reason he rarely showed himself. Flora's landlord, for instance, never set eyes on Mr. Brand."

"He seems to have been a mysterious person," said Fane coolly. "Go on, please. The story is becoming exciting."

"It will be so before it is finished. Well, Flora settled down in Fairy Lodge. Her husband stayed away a great deal."

"On business?" interrupted Fane.

"So he said," replied Calvert calmly; "but he was away months at a time. Flora never suspected anything to be wrong. But after a time she noticed that Brand was not so loving as he had been. He tried to make it up to her by promising to furnish the grand house they had often talked about. But Flora would not let him do this until the money came from the Australian relative. Then news came that the old man was ill. He wrote and told Flora that a will had been made in her favour, leaving her all his money, which amounted to some thousands a year."

"The money you have now?"

"Yes," assented the young man; "the money I have now. On hearing the news Brand would not be restrained any longer. He told Flora that he would furnish the house, but that he must be allowed to do it in his own way. He did not tell her where the new house was, nor did he consult her about the furnishing."

"What about the White Room then?"

"He knew how to furnish that," said Arnold quickly; "the White Room was a freak on the part of my cousin. She always had a fancy to have a room entirely white, and she had one at Hampstead.

"I had one at Troy," said Fane coolly; "what of that?"

"Nothing. Only it is strange that you should have had the same idea of furnishing an odd room as Flora. Well, then, things were thus a year or two ago when news came that the Australian Brand had married his housekeeper, and that the money would likely be left to her."

"What a blow to your cousin," said Fane ironically.

"Yes; a great blow. From the moment the news arrived Brand grew colder than ever, and stayed away for longer periods. Husband and wife began to quarrel, as Flora fancied herself neglected. Life grew more and more unhappy, as I find from the unfortunate woman's diary, until she was thoroughly miserable about the beginning of the present year. It was shortly before July that she received a visit from her Greek cousin Bocaros."

"What did he come to see her for?"

"To find a friend," said Arnold gravely. "The man was lonely and unhappy. So was Flora. The two got on well, but Bocaros never saw Brand. He had gone to Australia."

"Why did he go there?"

"He thought he might be related to Brand, seeing that his cousin who had left him the money bore that name. He fancied that if this were so he might induce old Brand in Australia to give Flora some of the money, and so went to Australia. While he was away Flora received a letter stating that Brand was dead, and that the money was hers."

"What about the marriage?"

"That was a strange thing, Fane. Of course Brand's marriage invalidated the will leaving Flora the money. He did many his housekeeper, but he refused to make a new will, as it seems she had trapped the old man into the marriage. When Brand died, it was found that the woman had been married before. Therefore-"