May 15, 2025 • 23 mins
Dive into the heart of the Jazz Age with The Benson Murder Case – A Philo Vance Story, the inaugural tale in a sequence of twelve gripping mysteries set in New York. The series springs from the mind of S. S. Van Dine, a prominent art critic and avant-garde member of New York society, also known by his real name, W. H. Wright. This series introduced readers to a whole new kind of detective Philo Vance, an eccentric loner, a man of refined tastes, and a suave socialite. Van Dines novels stood out for their unconventional approach to crime-solving, focusing on psychology over physical evidence. This story sees Vance, accompanied by his lawyer and confidant Van, work to unravel the murder of Alvin Benson, expertly juggling suspects, red herrings, and psychological clues. Its a journey of intrigue and intellect that will keep you guessing until the final reveal.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Chapter seventeen of the Benson Murder Case by S. S.
Van Dine. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain.
The forged check Wednesday, June nineteenth forenoon. We rode down
town with Markham the next morning, and though we arrived
at his office before nine o'clock, Heath was already there waiting.
(00:25):
He appeared worried, and when he spoke, his voice held
an ill disguised reproof for the district attorney. What about
this leecock, mister Markham, he asked. It looks to me
like we'd better grab him quick. We've been tailing him
right along, and there's something funny going on. Yesterday morning
(00:45):
he went to his bank and spent half an hour
in the chief cashier's office. After that he visited his
lawyers and was there over an hour. Then he went
back to the bank for another half hour. He dropped
in to the Astor Grill for lunch, but didn't eat anything,
sat staring at the table. About two o'clock he called
(01:08):
on the realty agents who have the handling of the
building he lives in, and after he'd left we found
out he'd offered his apartment for sub lease. Beginning tomorrow.
Then he paid six calls on friends of his and
went home after dinner. My man rang his apartment bell
and asked for mister who's it's Leecock was packing up.
(01:32):
It looks to me like a getaway. Markham frowned. Heath's
report clearly troubled him, but before he could answer, Vance spoke,
why this perturbation, Sergeant, you're watching the captain. I'm sure
he can't slip from your vigilant clutches. Markham looked at
(01:53):
Vance a moment, then turned to Heath. Let it go
at that, but if Lecoq attempts to leave the city,
nab him. Heath went out sullenly, and by the bye,
Markham said, Vance, don't make any appointment for half past
twelve to day. You already have one, don't you know
(02:15):
that with a lady. Markham put down his pen and stared,
what new damn nonsense is this? I made an engagement
for you, called the lady by phone this morning. I'm
sure I woke the deer up. Markham spluttered, striving to
articulate his angry protest. Vance held up his hand soothingly,
(02:41):
and you simply must keep the engagement. You see. I
told her it was you speaking, and it would be
shocking taste not to appear. I promise you won't regret
meeting her, He added, things looked so sadly befuddled last night.
I couldn't bear to see you suffer. So consequently I
(03:02):
arranged for you to see missus Paula Banning Fife's eloise.
You know, I'm positive she'll be able to dispel some
of this inspissated gloom that's enveloping you see here. Vance
Markham growled, I happen to be running this office. He
stopped abruptly, realizing the hopelessness of making headway against the
(03:26):
other's blindness. Moreover, I think the prospect of interviewing Missus
Paula Banning was not wholly alien to his inclinations. His
resentment slowly ebbed, and when he spoke again, his voice
was almost matter of fact. Since you've committed me, I'll
(03:46):
see her. But I'd rather Fife wasn't in such close
communication with her. He's apt to drop in with preconcerted unexpectedness, funny,
murmured Vance. I thought of that myself. That's why I
found him last night, that he could return to long island.
(04:06):
You've phoned him awfully sorry and all that. Vance apologized,
But you'd gone to bed, sleep was knitting up your
raveled sleeve of care, and I couldn't bring myself to
disturb you. Fife was so grateful, too, most touchin, said
his wife also would be grateful. He was pathetically considerate
(04:29):
about missus Fife. But I fear he'll need all his
velvety forensic powers to explain his absence in what other
quarters have you involved me during my absence, asked Markham, acrimoniously.
That's all, replied Vance, rising and strolling to the window.
(04:50):
He stood looking out, smoking thoughtfully. When he turned back
to the room, his bantering air had gone. He sat down. Markham,
the Major has practically admitted to us, He said that
he knows more about this affair than he has told you.
(05:10):
Naturally can't push the point in view of his honorable
attitude in the matter. And yet he's willing for you
to find out what he knows, as long as he
doesn't tell you himself. That was unquestionably the stand he
took last night. Now, I believe there's a way you
can find out without calling upon him to go against
(05:33):
his principles. You recall Miss Hoffmann's story of the eavesdropping,
and you also recall that he told you he heard
a conversation which, in light of Benson's murder, became significant.
It's quite probable, therefore, that the Major's knowledge has to
do with something connected with the business of the firm,
(05:57):
or at least with one of the firm's clients. Vance
slowly lit another cigarette. My suggestion is this, call up
the Major and ask permission to send a man to
take a peep at his ledger account and his purchase
and Hale's books. Tell him you want to find out
(06:17):
about the transactions of one of his clients. Intimate that
it's Miss Saint Clair or Fife, if you like. I
have a strange, mediumistic feeling that in this way you'll
get on the track of the person he's shielding. And
I'm also assailed by the premonition that he'll welcome your
(06:39):
interest in his ledger. The plan did not appeal to
Markham as feasible or fraught with possibilities, and it was
evident he disliked making such a request of Major Benson.
But so determined was Vance, so earnestly did he argue
his point that in the end, Markham acque. He was
(07:02):
quite willing to let me send a man, said Markham,
hanging up the receiver. In fact, he seemed eager to
give me every assistance. I thought he'd take kindly to
the suggestion, said Vance. Ye see, if you discover for
yourself whom he suspects, it relieves him of the onus
of having tattled. Markham rang for Swacker. Call up Stitt
(07:27):
and tell him I want to see him here before noon,
that I have an immediate job for him. Stitt, Markham
explained to Vance, is the head of a firm of
public accountants over in the New York Life Building. I
use him a good deal on work like this. Shortly
before noon, Stitt came in. He was a prematurely old
(07:51):
young man with a sharp, shrewd face and a perpetual frown.
The prospect of working for the district attorney pleased him.
Markham explained briefly what was wanted, and revealed enough of
the case to guide him in his task. The man
grasped the situation immediately and made one or two notes
(08:11):
on the back of a dilapidated envelope. Vance also during
the instructions had jotted down some notations on a piece
of paper. Markham stood up and took his hat. Now
I suppose I must keep the appointment you made for me,
he complained to Vance. Then come stit. I'll take you
(08:34):
down with us in the judge's private elevator. If you
don't mind, interposed Vance, mister Stitz, and I will forego
the honor and mingle with the commoners in the public lift.
We'll meet you downstairs. Taking the accountant by the arm,
he led him out through the main waiting room. It
(08:55):
was ten minutes, however, before he joined us. We took
the subway to seventy second Street and walked up West
End Avenue to Missus Paula Banning's address. She lived in
a small apartment house just around the corner in seventy
fifth Street. As we stood before the door waiting for
an answer to our ring, a strong odor of Chinese
(09:18):
incense drifted out to us. Ah that facilitates matters, said Vance, sniffing.
Ladies who burn josssticks are invariably sentimental. Missus Banning was
a tall, slightly adipose woman of indeterminate age, with straw
(09:39):
colored hair and a pink and white complexion. Her face
in repose possessed a youthful and vacuous innocence, but the
expression was only superficial. Her eyes, a very light blue,
were hard, and a slight puffiness about her cheek bones
and beneath her chin attested two years of idle and
(10:02):
indulgent living. She was not unattractive, however, in a vivid,
flamboyant way, and her manner when she ushered us into
her over furnished and rococo living room, was one of
easy going good fellowship. When we were seated and Markham
had apologized for our intrusion, Vance at once assumed the
(10:27):
role of interviewer. During his opening explanatory remarks, he appraised
the woman carefully, as if seeking to determine the best
means of approaching her for the information he wanted. After
a few minutes of verbal reconnoitering, he asked permission to
smoke and offered missus banning one of his cigarettes, which
(10:50):
she accepted. Then he smiled at her in a spirit
of appreciative geniality and relaxed comfortably in his chair. He
conveyed the impression that he was fully prepared to sympathize
with anything she might tell him. Mister Fife strove very
(11:10):
hard to keep you entirely out of this affair, said Vance,
and we fully appreciate his delicacy in so doing. But
circumstances connected with mister Benson's death have inadvertently involved you
in the case. And you can best help us and yourself,
(11:30):
and particularly mister Fife, by telling us what we want
to know, and trusting to our discretion and understanding. He
had emphasized Fife's name, giving it a significant indonation, and
the woman had glanced down uneasily. Her apprehension was apparent,
(11:51):
and when she looked up into Vance's eyes, she was
asking herself, how much does he know? As plainly as
if she had spoken the words audibly. I can't imagine
what you want me to tell you, she said, with
an effort at astonishment. You know that Andy was not
(12:11):
in New York that night. Her designating of the elegant
and superior Fife as Andy sounded almost like Les mar Stay.
He didn't arrive in the city until nearly nine the
next morning. Didn't you read in the newspapers about the
gray Cadillac that was parked in front of Benson's house. Thence,
(12:34):
in putting the question, imitated her own astonishment. She smiled confidently,
that wasn't Andy's car. He took the eight o'clock train
to New York the next morning. He said it was
lucky that he did, seeing that a machine just like
his had been at mister Benson's the night before. She
(12:54):
had spoken with the sincerity of complete assurance. It was
evident that Fife had lied to her. On this point,
Vance did not disabuse her. In fact, he gave her
to understand that he accepted her explanation and consequently dismissed
the idea of Fife's presence in New York on the
(13:15):
night of the murder. I had in mind a connection
of a somewhat different nature. When I mentioned you and
mister Fife as having been drawn into the case, I
referred to a personal relationship between you and mister Benson.
She assumed an attitude of smiling indifference. I'm afraid you're
(13:39):
making another mistake, she spoke lightly. Mister Benson and I
were not even friends. Indeed, I scarcely knew him. There
was an overtone of emphasis in her denial, A slight eagerness, which,
in indicating a conscious desire to be believed, robbed her
remark of the complete case casualness she had intended. Even
(14:03):
a business relationship may have its personal side, Vance reminded her,
especially when the intermediary is an intimate friend of both
parties to the transaction. She looked at him quickly, then
turned her eyes away. I really don't know what you
are talking about, she affirmed, and her face for a
(14:26):
moment lost its contours of innocence and became calculating. You
are surely not implying that I had any business dealings
with mister Benson, and not directly, replied Vance. But certainly
mister Fiffe had business dealings with him, and one of
them I rather imagined involved you considerably involved me. She laughed, scornfully,
(14:54):
but it was a strained laugh. It was a somewhat
unfortunate transaction, I fear, Vance went on, unfortunate in that
mister Fife was necessitated to deal with mister Benson, and
doubly unfortunate, you know, in that he should have had
to drag you into it. His manner was easy and assured,
(15:18):
and the woman sensed that no display of scorn or contempt,
however well simulated, would make an impression upon him. Therefore,
she adopted an attitude of tolerantly incredulous amusement. And where
did you learn about all this? She asked playfully. Alas
(15:39):
I didn't learn about it, answered Vance, falling in with
her manner. That's the reason, you see that I indulged
in this charming little visit. I was foolish enough to
hope that you'd take pity on my ignorance and tell
me all about it. But I wouldn't think of doing
such a thing, she said, even if this mysterious transaction
(16:02):
had really taken place, my word, said Vance, That is disappointing.
Ah well, I see that I must tell you what
little I know about it, and trust to your sympathy
to enlighten me further. Despite the ominous undercurrent of his words,
his levity acted like a sedative to her anxiety. She
(16:26):
felt that he was friendly, however much he might know
about her. Am I bringing you news When I tell
you that mister Fife forged mister Benson's name to a
check for ten thousand dollars, he asked, She hesitated, gaging
the possible consequences of her answer, No, that isn't news,
(16:50):
and he tells me everything. And did you also know that?
Mister Benson, when informed of it, was rather put out that,
in fact, he demanded a note and assigned confession before
he would pay the check. The woman's eyes flashed angrily. Yes,
(17:11):
I knew that too, and after all Andy had done
for him. If ever a man deserved shooting, it was
Alvin Benson. He was a dog, and he pretended to
be Andy's best friend. Just think of it. Refusing to
lend Andy the money without a confession. You'd hardly call
that a business deal, would you. I'd call it a dirty, contemptible,
(17:35):
underhand trick. She was enraged. Her mask of breeding and
good fellowship had fallen from her, and she poured out
by tuperation on Benson with no thought of the words
she was using. Her speech was devoid of all the
ordinary reticences of intercourse between strangers. Vance nodded consolingly during
(18:00):
her tirade. You know, I fully sympathize with you. The
tone in which he made the remark seemed to establish
a closer rapprochement. After a moment, he gave her a
friendly smile, But after all. One could almost forgive Benson
for holding the confession if he hadn't also demanded security.
(18:24):
What security? Vance was quick to sense the change in
her tone, taking advantage of her rage he had mentioned
the security while the barriers of her pose were down.
Her frightened, almost involuntary. Query told him that the right
moment had arrived before she could gain her equilibrium or
(18:46):
dispel the momentary fear which had assailed her. He said,
with suave deliberation. The day mister Benson was shot, he
took home with him from the office a small blue
box of jewel. She caught her breath, but otherwise gave
no outward sign of emotion. Do you think he had
(19:07):
stolen them? The moment she had uttered the question, she
realized that it was a mistake in technique. An ordinary
man might have been momentarily diverted from the truth by it,
but by Vance's smile, she recognized that he had accepted
it as an admission. It was rather fine of you,
(19:30):
you know, to lend mister Fife your jewels to cover
the note with. At this, she threw her head up.
The blood had left her face, and the rouge on
her cheeks took on a modeled and unnatural hue. You
say I lent my jewels to Andy, I swear to you.
(19:52):
Vance halted her denial with a slight movement of the
hand and a coup d'et She saw that his intention
was to to save her from the humiliation she might
feel later had having made to emphatic and unqualified a statement,
and the graciousness of his action, although he was an antagonist,
(20:14):
gave her more confidence in him. She sank back into
her chair and her hands relaxed. What makes you think
I lent Andy my jewels? Her voice was colorless, but
Bence understood the question. It was the end of her deceptions.
The pause which followed was an amnesty, recognized as such
(20:37):
by both. The next spoken words would be the truth.
Andy had to have them, she said, or Benson would
have put him in jail. One read in her words
a strange, self sacrificing affection for the worthless Fife. And
if Benson hadn't done it, and had merely refused to
(21:00):
honor the check, his father in law would have done it.
And he is so careless, so unthinking, He does things
without weighing the consequences. I am all the time having
to hold him down. But this thing has taught him
a lesson. I'm sure of it. I felt that if
anything in the world could teach Fife a lesson, it
(21:23):
was the blind loyalty of this woman. Do you know
what he quarreled about with mister Benson in his office
last Wednesday? Asked Vance? That was all my fault, she explained,
with a sigh. It was getting very near to the
time when the note was due, and I knew and
he didn't have all the money. So I asked him
(21:46):
to go to Benson and offer him what he had
and see if he couldn't get my jewels back. But
he was refused. I thought he would be. Vance looked
at her for a while sympathetically. I don't want to
worry you any more than I can help, he said,
But won't you tell me the real cause of your
(22:08):
anger against Benson? A moment ago, she gave him an
admiring nod. You're right, I had good reason to hate him.
Her eyes narrowed unpleasantly. The day after he had refused
to give Andy the jewels, he called me up. It
was in the afternoon, and asked me to have breakfast
(22:31):
with him at his house the next morning. He said
he was home and had the jewels with him, and
he told me, hinted, you understand that maybe maybe I
could have them. That's the kind of beast he was.
I telephoned to Port Washington to Andy and told him
about it, and he said he'd be in New York
(22:54):
the next morning. He got here about nine o'clock and
we read in the paper that Benson had been shot
that night. Vince was silent for a long time. Then
he stood up and thanked her. You have helped us
a great deal. Mister Markham is a friend of Major Benson's,
(23:16):
and since we have the check and the confession in
our possession, I shall ask him to use his influence
with the Major to permit us to destroy them very soon.
End of Chapter seventeen.
Chapter seventeen of the Benson Murder Case by S. S.
Van Dine. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain.
The forged check Wednesday, June nineteenth forenoon. We rode down
town with Markham the next morning, and though we arrived
at his office before nine o'clock, Heath was already there waiting.
(00:25):
He appeared worried, and when he spoke, his voice held
an ill disguised reproof for the district attorney. What about
this leecock, mister Markham, he asked. It looks to me
like we'd better grab him quick. We've been tailing him
right along, and there's something funny going on. Yesterday morning
(00:45):
he went to his bank and spent half an hour
in the chief cashier's office. After that he visited his
lawyers and was there over an hour. Then he went
back to the bank for another half hour. He dropped
in to the Astor Grill for lunch, but didn't eat anything,
sat staring at the table. About two o'clock he called
(01:08):
on the realty agents who have the handling of the
building he lives in, and after he'd left we found
out he'd offered his apartment for sub lease. Beginning tomorrow.
Then he paid six calls on friends of his and
went home after dinner. My man rang his apartment bell
and asked for mister who's it's Leecock was packing up.
(01:32):
It looks to me like a getaway. Markham frowned. Heath's
report clearly troubled him, but before he could answer, Vance spoke,
why this perturbation, Sergeant, you're watching the captain. I'm sure
he can't slip from your vigilant clutches. Markham looked at
(01:53):
Vance a moment, then turned to Heath. Let it go
at that, but if Lecoq attempts to leave the city,
nab him. Heath went out sullenly, and by the bye,
Markham said, Vance, don't make any appointment for half past
twelve to day. You already have one, don't you know
(02:15):
that with a lady. Markham put down his pen and stared,
what new damn nonsense is this? I made an engagement
for you, called the lady by phone this morning. I'm
sure I woke the deer up. Markham spluttered, striving to
articulate his angry protest. Vance held up his hand soothingly,
(02:41):
and you simply must keep the engagement. You see. I
told her it was you speaking, and it would be
shocking taste not to appear. I promise you won't regret
meeting her, He added, things looked so sadly befuddled last night.
I couldn't bear to see you suffer. So consequently I
(03:02):
arranged for you to see missus Paula Banning Fife's eloise.
You know, I'm positive she'll be able to dispel some
of this inspissated gloom that's enveloping you see here. Vance
Markham growled, I happen to be running this office. He
stopped abruptly, realizing the hopelessness of making headway against the
(03:26):
other's blindness. Moreover, I think the prospect of interviewing Missus
Paula Banning was not wholly alien to his inclinations. His
resentment slowly ebbed, and when he spoke again, his voice
was almost matter of fact. Since you've committed me, I'll
(03:46):
see her. But I'd rather Fife wasn't in such close
communication with her. He's apt to drop in with preconcerted unexpectedness, funny,
murmured Vance. I thought of that myself. That's why I
found him last night, that he could return to long island.
(04:06):
You've phoned him awfully sorry and all that. Vance apologized,
But you'd gone to bed, sleep was knitting up your
raveled sleeve of care, and I couldn't bring myself to
disturb you. Fife was so grateful, too, most touchin, said
his wife also would be grateful. He was pathetically considerate
(04:29):
about missus Fife. But I fear he'll need all his
velvety forensic powers to explain his absence in what other
quarters have you involved me during my absence, asked Markham, acrimoniously.
That's all, replied Vance, rising and strolling to the window.
(04:50):
He stood looking out, smoking thoughtfully. When he turned back
to the room, his bantering air had gone. He sat down. Markham,
the Major has practically admitted to us, He said that
he knows more about this affair than he has told you.
(05:10):
Naturally can't push the point in view of his honorable
attitude in the matter. And yet he's willing for you
to find out what he knows, as long as he
doesn't tell you himself. That was unquestionably the stand he
took last night. Now, I believe there's a way you
can find out without calling upon him to go against
(05:33):
his principles. You recall Miss Hoffmann's story of the eavesdropping,
and you also recall that he told you he heard
a conversation which, in light of Benson's murder, became significant.
It's quite probable, therefore, that the Major's knowledge has to
do with something connected with the business of the firm,
(05:57):
or at least with one of the firm's clients. Vance
slowly lit another cigarette. My suggestion is this, call up
the Major and ask permission to send a man to
take a peep at his ledger account and his purchase
and Hale's books. Tell him you want to find out
(06:17):
about the transactions of one of his clients. Intimate that
it's Miss Saint Clair or Fife, if you like. I
have a strange, mediumistic feeling that in this way you'll
get on the track of the person he's shielding. And
I'm also assailed by the premonition that he'll welcome your
(06:39):
interest in his ledger. The plan did not appeal to
Markham as feasible or fraught with possibilities, and it was
evident he disliked making such a request of Major Benson.
But so determined was Vance, so earnestly did he argue
his point that in the end, Markham acque. He was
(07:02):
quite willing to let me send a man, said Markham,
hanging up the receiver. In fact, he seemed eager to
give me every assistance. I thought he'd take kindly to
the suggestion, said Vance. Ye see, if you discover for
yourself whom he suspects, it relieves him of the onus
of having tattled. Markham rang for Swacker. Call up Stitt
(07:27):
and tell him I want to see him here before noon,
that I have an immediate job for him. Stitt, Markham
explained to Vance, is the head of a firm of
public accountants over in the New York Life Building. I
use him a good deal on work like this. Shortly
before noon, Stitt came in. He was a prematurely old
(07:51):
young man with a sharp, shrewd face and a perpetual frown.
The prospect of working for the district attorney pleased him.
Markham explained briefly what was wanted, and revealed enough of
the case to guide him in his task. The man
grasped the situation immediately and made one or two notes
(08:11):
on the back of a dilapidated envelope. Vance also during
the instructions had jotted down some notations on a piece
of paper. Markham stood up and took his hat. Now
I suppose I must keep the appointment you made for me,
he complained to Vance. Then come stit. I'll take you
(08:34):
down with us in the judge's private elevator. If you
don't mind, interposed Vance, mister Stitz, and I will forego
the honor and mingle with the commoners in the public lift.
We'll meet you downstairs. Taking the accountant by the arm,
he led him out through the main waiting room. It
(08:55):
was ten minutes, however, before he joined us. We took
the subway to seventy second Street and walked up West
End Avenue to Missus Paula Banning's address. She lived in
a small apartment house just around the corner in seventy
fifth Street. As we stood before the door waiting for
an answer to our ring, a strong odor of Chinese
(09:18):
incense drifted out to us. Ah that facilitates matters, said Vance, sniffing.
Ladies who burn josssticks are invariably sentimental. Missus Banning was
a tall, slightly adipose woman of indeterminate age, with straw
(09:39):
colored hair and a pink and white complexion. Her face
in repose possessed a youthful and vacuous innocence, but the
expression was only superficial. Her eyes, a very light blue,
were hard, and a slight puffiness about her cheek bones
and beneath her chin attested two years of idle and
(10:02):
indulgent living. She was not unattractive, however, in a vivid,
flamboyant way, and her manner when she ushered us into
her over furnished and rococo living room, was one of
easy going good fellowship. When we were seated and Markham
had apologized for our intrusion, Vance at once assumed the
(10:27):
role of interviewer. During his opening explanatory remarks, he appraised
the woman carefully, as if seeking to determine the best
means of approaching her for the information he wanted. After
a few minutes of verbal reconnoitering, he asked permission to
smoke and offered missus banning one of his cigarettes, which
(10:50):
she accepted. Then he smiled at her in a spirit
of appreciative geniality and relaxed comfortably in his chair. He
conveyed the impression that he was fully prepared to sympathize
with anything she might tell him. Mister Fife strove very
(11:10):
hard to keep you entirely out of this affair, said Vance,
and we fully appreciate his delicacy in so doing. But
circumstances connected with mister Benson's death have inadvertently involved you
in the case. And you can best help us and yourself,
(11:30):
and particularly mister Fife, by telling us what we want
to know, and trusting to our discretion and understanding. He
had emphasized Fife's name, giving it a significant indonation, and
the woman had glanced down uneasily. Her apprehension was apparent,
(11:51):
and when she looked up into Vance's eyes, she was
asking herself, how much does he know? As plainly as
if she had spoken the words audibly. I can't imagine
what you want me to tell you, she said, with
an effort at astonishment. You know that Andy was not
(12:11):
in New York that night. Her designating of the elegant
and superior Fife as Andy sounded almost like Les mar Stay.
He didn't arrive in the city until nearly nine the
next morning. Didn't you read in the newspapers about the
gray Cadillac that was parked in front of Benson's house. Thence,
(12:34):
in putting the question, imitated her own astonishment. She smiled confidently,
that wasn't Andy's car. He took the eight o'clock train
to New York the next morning. He said it was
lucky that he did, seeing that a machine just like
his had been at mister Benson's the night before. She
(12:54):
had spoken with the sincerity of complete assurance. It was
evident that Fife had lied to her. On this point,
Vance did not disabuse her. In fact, he gave her
to understand that he accepted her explanation and consequently dismissed
the idea of Fife's presence in New York on the
(13:15):
night of the murder. I had in mind a connection
of a somewhat different nature. When I mentioned you and
mister Fife as having been drawn into the case, I
referred to a personal relationship between you and mister Benson.
She assumed an attitude of smiling indifference. I'm afraid you're
(13:39):
making another mistake, she spoke lightly. Mister Benson and I
were not even friends. Indeed, I scarcely knew him. There
was an overtone of emphasis in her denial, A slight eagerness, which,
in indicating a conscious desire to be believed, robbed her
remark of the complete case casualness she had intended. Even
(14:03):
a business relationship may have its personal side, Vance reminded her,
especially when the intermediary is an intimate friend of both
parties to the transaction. She looked at him quickly, then
turned her eyes away. I really don't know what you
are talking about, she affirmed, and her face for a
(14:26):
moment lost its contours of innocence and became calculating. You
are surely not implying that I had any business dealings
with mister Benson, and not directly, replied Vance. But certainly
mister Fiffe had business dealings with him, and one of
them I rather imagined involved you considerably involved me. She laughed, scornfully,
(14:54):
but it was a strained laugh. It was a somewhat
unfortunate transaction, I fear, Vance went on, unfortunate in that
mister Fife was necessitated to deal with mister Benson, and
doubly unfortunate, you know, in that he should have had
to drag you into it. His manner was easy and assured,
(15:18):
and the woman sensed that no display of scorn or contempt,
however well simulated, would make an impression upon him. Therefore,
she adopted an attitude of tolerantly incredulous amusement. And where
did you learn about all this? She asked playfully. Alas
(15:39):
I didn't learn about it, answered Vance, falling in with
her manner. That's the reason, you see that I indulged
in this charming little visit. I was foolish enough to
hope that you'd take pity on my ignorance and tell
me all about it. But I wouldn't think of doing
such a thing, she said, even if this mysterious transaction
(16:02):
had really taken place, my word, said Vance, That is disappointing.
Ah well, I see that I must tell you what
little I know about it, and trust to your sympathy
to enlighten me further. Despite the ominous undercurrent of his words,
his levity acted like a sedative to her anxiety. She
(16:26):
felt that he was friendly, however much he might know
about her. Am I bringing you news When I tell
you that mister Fife forged mister Benson's name to a
check for ten thousand dollars, he asked, She hesitated, gaging
the possible consequences of her answer, No, that isn't news,
(16:50):
and he tells me everything. And did you also know that?
Mister Benson, when informed of it, was rather put out that,
in fact, he demanded a note and assigned confession before
he would pay the check. The woman's eyes flashed angrily. Yes,
(17:11):
I knew that too, and after all Andy had done
for him. If ever a man deserved shooting, it was
Alvin Benson. He was a dog, and he pretended to
be Andy's best friend. Just think of it. Refusing to
lend Andy the money without a confession. You'd hardly call
that a business deal, would you. I'd call it a dirty, contemptible,
(17:35):
underhand trick. She was enraged. Her mask of breeding and
good fellowship had fallen from her, and she poured out
by tuperation on Benson with no thought of the words
she was using. Her speech was devoid of all the
ordinary reticences of intercourse between strangers. Vance nodded consolingly during
(18:00):
her tirade. You know, I fully sympathize with you. The
tone in which he made the remark seemed to establish
a closer rapprochement. After a moment, he gave her a
friendly smile, But after all. One could almost forgive Benson
for holding the confession if he hadn't also demanded security.
(18:24):
What security? Vance was quick to sense the change in
her tone, taking advantage of her rage he had mentioned
the security while the barriers of her pose were down.
Her frightened, almost involuntary. Query told him that the right
moment had arrived before she could gain her equilibrium or
(18:46):
dispel the momentary fear which had assailed her. He said,
with suave deliberation. The day mister Benson was shot, he
took home with him from the office a small blue
box of jewel. She caught her breath, but otherwise gave
no outward sign of emotion. Do you think he had
(19:07):
stolen them? The moment she had uttered the question, she
realized that it was a mistake in technique. An ordinary
man might have been momentarily diverted from the truth by it,
but by Vance's smile, she recognized that he had accepted
it as an admission. It was rather fine of you,
(19:30):
you know, to lend mister Fife your jewels to cover
the note with. At this, she threw her head up.
The blood had left her face, and the rouge on
her cheeks took on a modeled and unnatural hue. You
say I lent my jewels to Andy, I swear to you.
(19:52):
Vance halted her denial with a slight movement of the
hand and a coup d'et She saw that his intention
was to to save her from the humiliation she might
feel later had having made to emphatic and unqualified a statement,
and the graciousness of his action, although he was an antagonist,
(20:14):
gave her more confidence in him. She sank back into
her chair and her hands relaxed. What makes you think
I lent Andy my jewels? Her voice was colorless, but
Bence understood the question. It was the end of her deceptions.
The pause which followed was an amnesty, recognized as such
(20:37):
by both. The next spoken words would be the truth.
Andy had to have them, she said, or Benson would
have put him in jail. One read in her words
a strange, self sacrificing affection for the worthless Fife. And
if Benson hadn't done it, and had merely refused to
(21:00):
honor the check, his father in law would have done it.
And he is so careless, so unthinking, He does things
without weighing the consequences. I am all the time having
to hold him down. But this thing has taught him
a lesson. I'm sure of it. I felt that if
anything in the world could teach Fife a lesson, it
(21:23):
was the blind loyalty of this woman. Do you know
what he quarreled about with mister Benson in his office
last Wednesday? Asked Vance? That was all my fault, she explained,
with a sigh. It was getting very near to the
time when the note was due, and I knew and
he didn't have all the money. So I asked him
(21:46):
to go to Benson and offer him what he had
and see if he couldn't get my jewels back. But
he was refused. I thought he would be. Vance looked
at her for a while sympathetically. I don't want to
worry you any more than I can help, he said,
But won't you tell me the real cause of your
(22:08):
anger against Benson? A moment ago, she gave him an
admiring nod. You're right, I had good reason to hate him.
Her eyes narrowed unpleasantly. The day after he had refused
to give Andy the jewels, he called me up. It
was in the afternoon, and asked me to have breakfast
(22:31):
with him at his house the next morning. He said
he was home and had the jewels with him, and
he told me, hinted, you understand that maybe maybe I
could have them. That's the kind of beast he was.
I telephoned to Port Washington to Andy and told him
about it, and he said he'd be in New York
(22:54):
the next morning. He got here about nine o'clock and
we read in the paper that Benson had been shot
that night. Vince was silent for a long time. Then
he stood up and thanked her. You have helped us
a great deal. Mister Markham is a friend of Major Benson's,
(23:16):
and since we have the check and the confession in
our possession, I shall ask him to use his influence
with the Major to permit us to destroy them very soon.
End of Chapter seventeen.
Popular Podcasts
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Law & Order: Criminal Justice System - Season 1 & Season 2
Season Two Out Now! Law & Order: Criminal Justice System tells the real stories behind the landmark cases that have shaped how the most dangerous and influential criminals in America are prosecuted. In its second season, the series tackles the threat of terrorism in the United States. From the rise of extremist political groups in the 60s to domestic lone wolves in the modern day, we explore how organizations like the FBI and Joint Terrorism Take Force have evolved to fight back against a multitude of terrorist threats.