May 16, 2025 • 17 mins
Dive into the mysterious world of the Domino Club, where a case of opium poisoning is anything but simple. Following the murder of Dr. Weathered, our protagonist is plunged into a twisted game with stakes running high - a stolen case book that threatens the entirety of London society. Guided by Zenobia Salome, the Leopardess, and a poison unknown even to renowned expert Sir Frank Tarleton, the narrative unfolds through the eyes of an unwilling participant in this deadly charade. Unravel the mystery as we delve into the darkest corners of the human heart, exposing the dreadful lengths one might go to protect their secrets. This gripping detective story, with its unique psychoanalytical perspective, will keep you on the edge of your seat, challenging even the most seasoned mystery enthusiasts.
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Chapter thirteen of the Club of Masks. This is a
LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain.
For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox dot org.
Read by Allison The Club of Masks by Allan Upward,
the Earl of Ledbury Intervenes. My first thought when I
(00:21):
knew that Violet's confession was still undestroyed, was to hide
the fact from her. I must spare her the torturing
apprehensions that I felt myself. Fortunately, she did not seem
to be thinking of her own danger at all events.
She put no questions to me about the letters. Perhaps
she took it for granted that I had secured them,
or that they were no longer in existence. At all events,
(00:42):
the possibility that they might be in other hands as
dangerous as Weatherd's did not seem to strike her at
the moment. The idea that I had murdered weathered overpowered
all her faculties. Again and again, I went over with
her all that had happened. I don't believe that I
killed him, I told her with the utmost earnestness, surely
you can trust me to know what I was doing.
I am not an ordinary doctor. I have made a
(01:04):
special study of poisons as a pupil, I may say,
the favorite pupil of the greatest expert alive. I am
prepared to swear to you or in any court of justice,
that the dose I gave him would not have killed
any man in a normal condition of health. Sir Frank
Tarleton and I both observed symptoms that point to some
other drug having been administered to weather. It remembered that
(01:24):
you were not his only patient, and you were not
likely to have been the only one whose confidence he abused.
The Domino club probably swarmed with his enemies. In fact,
the men a dress as good as told us so.
His own step daughter asserts that there were other women
with whom he had mysterious relations. Other women. She interrupted
me with a cry of dismay, do you mean does
(01:44):
she know anything about me? I recollected Sarah Neobard's fierce
denunciation and the scene she had described when she sat
with her hired spy in the restaurant, watching the persecuted girl.
I tried to explain away my unlucky slip. No, no,
I didn't mean that. For a moment, she told us
that her stepfather had dealings with some of his women patients,
and one of the waiters in the club described some
(02:06):
women who were there that night. He described me, among others.
That is to say, he described the costume I was wearing.
But he suspected that it was worn by a man.
He must have keen eyes. Then you are under suspicion.
Her anxiety was instantly diverted from herself to me again,
not at all, I answered, No, one has the least
suspicion who the wearer of the costume really was. The
(02:27):
police made inquiries, and all they learned was that a
similar costume had been supplied to you a year ago.
They followed up the clue and found that you were
down here on the night, so that it must have
been some one else in the club. Now you see
why I sent it back to you. If Sir Frank
Tarlton says anything about it, all you have to do
is say that you remember having such a costume and
offer to find it and show it to him. He
(02:49):
and the police will naturally believe that the one worn
at the club that night was a duplicate. Violet looked
a little uncertain, as she had some excuse for being.
I thought I might venture now to ask her to
come back to the house to meet my formidable chief.
Sir Frank will be here by the time that we
get down, I said, He has gone for an hour's
stroll in the park. She put her hand to her
head as she stood up and prepared to come with me.
(03:11):
Will he ask me anything else? What were you going
to tell me just now the numbers, I reminded her.
He will ask you if you know what they meant? Ah?
Must I tell him that? Must he know about the letters?
Will everything come out? Oh? Bertrand her gasp of anguish
wrung my very heart strings. No, I cried, don't give
way to such thoughts. You don't know Tarleton. He is
(03:32):
the soul of honor. He is delicacy itself. He won't
ask you one word more than he can help. You
need tell him nothing more than that weather had gave
you a number to use in writing to him. You
can trust Sir Frank not to ask you what the
letters were about, but he will know. He will know,
She sighed despairingly, And I could say little in reply.
We found the door unlocked that led from the house
(03:54):
into the ruins, and we parted in the corridor, Violet
going upstairs to her room, while I made my way
back to the library into which I had been shown
at first waiting for me. Outside the door, I found
my friendly man servant. We'll find the other gentleman inside,
he whispered, he's been back about five minutes. I went in,
trying to look unconcerned, and found Tarlton comfortably seated in
(04:15):
an arm chair, engaged in the familiar right of waving
his mascot to and fro, as if it were a
censer with which he was offering invisible incense to the sphinx.
I hope I haven't kept you waiting, sir. I have
been taking a look at the ruins of the old castle.
I have had a look at them, too, was the
enigmatic answer twelfth century. I should think one of the
first castles put up by the Normans when they began
(04:36):
penetrating South Wales. I could only hope that that was
the extent of his observations. I could not bring myself
to ask. There was silence between us till Violet came
into the room. The change in her amazed me. She
was rather pale, but perfectly composed. Her manner was full
of courteous dignity. It was the first time that I
had seen her as the lady Violet Rebwerdine, the daughter
(04:57):
of a noble house, conscious of her claims to difference
from strangers. The consultant rose from his seat with every
mark of respect and consideration, and I clumsily imitated him.
She was the first to speak, Sir Frank Charleton, I
am told that you wish to see me on urgent business.
I am sorry that you have been kept waiting, but
I had gone out for a walk. Won't you sit down?
(05:17):
She included me in the invitation by a slight distant
bow as she seated herself facing us. It is very
good of you to see me, lady Violet. Doctor Castilas
is my assistant. Another distant bow. I have been called
in as a physician in the case of another medical
man who had the honor to include you among his patients.
I believe doctor Weather it it a bow in the affirmative,
(05:38):
still colder. If possible, I regret I have to inform
you that doctor weatheretd has died of heart failure. A
little gasp, natural enough in the circumstances A gasp of
relief in my ears, relief at hearing the death described
as natural, a gasp of surprise I could only hope
in the keen ears of my chief. Doctor Weatherid's death
was rather sudden. It is as desirable for the sake
(06:01):
of his family to dispense with an inquest, if possible.
But it has been necessary to make some inquiries into
his affairs, and I have had to go through his
appointment book, the book in which he entered the names
of his patients who came to see him. You understand,
I understand, just a tremor immediately subdued naturally. Your name
appears in the book, among others, and it happens to
(06:21):
be one of several that have numbers attached to them,
as if for purposes of identification. If you know or
can suggest the reason for that, I shall be very
much obliged by your telling me. Violet straightened herself up
and spoke very distinctly. It was clear to me that
she had prepared her answer carefully. I can tell you
exactly when doctor Weatherard's patience had to write to him
about whatever he was treating them for, he gave them
(06:43):
a number to use instead of their own names. The
letters were confidential. Charleton's face told me that he had
grasped the full situation as I had grasped it half
an hour before. He looked at me instead of her,
but he failed to hide his consternation altogether. What is
the matter, Why do you look like that old girl?
Exclaimed the specialist pulled himself together. There is nothing the matter,
(07:04):
Lady Violet. I was staggered for a moment at the
thought of what might have happened if I hadn't take
the precaution of coming here in questioning you. I will
see that this correspondence is destroyed unread, as soon as
I get back to town. Unless that is, it has
been destroyed already. Doctor Wutherid may have burnt the letters
as soon as he had read them. The explanation was
not very happy. Poor Violet's dignity forsook her as she
(07:25):
realized for the first time that the outpouring of her
heart the record of her secret shame were at the
mercy of whatever stranger first gained access to the dead
man's repository. She did her best to keep her eyes
from straying in my direction, but the half turn of
her head towards me before she spoke to Tarleton, was
enough to tell me what she felt. Do you mean,
she faltered, that there is a danger of some one
(07:47):
finding these letters, some one who might make use of them.
I had not often seen my chief at a loss,
but he was plainly put out. Now, my dear young lady,
there isn't the least fear of that. It may ease
your mind if I tell you more than I intended.
Doctor Weatherid's death occurred in a club in Chelsea, and
the proprietors or manager, whichever she really is, sent for
(08:07):
the police. They thought the death might be due to
foul play, and they have been making some inquiries. Meanwhile,
they have had their eyes on every one who would
be at all likely to have anything to do with
the case. And you may be sure that if the
doctor left any secret correspondence, it will be secured and burnt. Immediately,
Violet had glanced in my face while he was speaking,
and had read in it no doubt that it would
(08:28):
be her best course to appear satisfied. She murmured, a
thank you. There is one other question I should like
to ask you, but I hope you won't think it
concerns you personally. The doctor's death took place on Wednesday night,
and as you were more than a hundred miles away,
no one supposes that you can throw any light on
what took place in the club that night. He paused
for a moment, as if to give her a chance
(08:49):
of asking how he came to know that she was
so far away. But of course I had already given
her the information, and she was afraid to speak. But
it seems that you have a double, or rather that
some one was impersonated you. That night, the attention of
the police was drawn to the presence of a dancer
wearing a fancy dress, which the costumiers considered to represent Zenobia,
the famous queen of Palmyra who fought against the Romans
(09:10):
in the third century. They made inquiries and heard that
a similar costume had been supplied to you about a
year ago. Can you tell me what has become of it?
The final question was put abruptly. It was well that
Violet had been prepared for it. She kept perfectly cool.
If anything too cool, I should have liked her to
show a little more disturbance. I have no idea. I
(09:30):
suppose my mate has put it away somewhere among my things.
But I will ring for her and ask permit me.
Lady Violet Charlton sprang to the bell before she was
out of her chair. It was answered by the man
servant whom her ladyship despatched in quest of her maid.
I watched my chief while we were waiting. I flattered
myself that I had out maneuvered him in this direction.
His lowered brows told me that he was puzzled. He
(09:52):
must have come down to Tyburton expecting to find the
costume missing and to receive some made up story to
account for its disappearance. A woman came into the room,
an elderly person of very plain appearance, whom I put
down as Lord lei Bury's housekeeper. I didn't think his
lordship's means were sufficient to provide his daughter with the
lady's maid. Oh, Henderson, do you know what has become
(10:13):
of that fancy dress of mine with the helmet and breastplate?
Can you put your hands on it? Henderson showed no surprise. Certainly, m'lady,
it is in the door at the bottom of your
ladyship's wardrobe. Just go and fetch it, will you, Yes,
m' lady. She went out with the movement of a
well drilled actor, leaving me with the uncomfortable impression that
the scene had been rehearsed, and that Tarleton could hardly
(10:33):
miss coming to the same conclusion. He muttered some vague
expression of regret for the trouble he was giving to
Lady Violet, and then sat with his lips pursed up
in rather ominous fashion and his eyes fixed on the door.
Henderson reappeared rather too quickly. She carried all the articles
that made up the much talked of costume, the pasteboard
armor coated with silver paint, the flowing shirt, even the
(10:54):
sandals which the Wardour Street Israelite had deemed appropriate footwear
for a desert Queen Charlton gave then the barest glance
as they were spread out on the table, and bowed
to Violet. I have to thank you, your ladyship. He
was in the act of rising when the door of
the room was thrown open abruptly. The figure on the
threshold presented the appearance of a man just roused from
sleep and inclined to resent the interruption of his dreams.
(11:16):
He was tall and thin, and seemed to hold himself
upright with an effort. His gray hair straggled over his
head in unbrush disorder, and his clothes hung on him
as though they had been dropped where they were in
a fit of absence of mind. In spite of these
signs of neglect, there was an air of dignity about
him that left me in no doubt as to his identity.
The Earl of Ledbury advanced into the room, turning a
(11:37):
glance of disapproval from Sir Frank Tarlton to myself, and
addressed his daughter, Violet. What business have you with these gentlemen?
What excuse you would have made if it had been
left to her to answer? I don't know. Charleton instantly
took the burden on himself. My business with lady Violet
is official, my lord. I am right no doubt in
thinking that you are the Earl of Ledbury official. The
(11:59):
words sounded like a snarl. Who are you, sir? I
am the principal medical adviser to the Home Office. My
name is Sir Frank Charleton, and this gentleman is my assistant,
doctor Castilas I was already on my feet, I gave
the Earl a deferential bow which only seemed to increase
his irritation. And may I ask what you mean, gentleman,
by coming into my house and interviewing my daughter behind
(12:20):
my back. Charleton was not the man to let himself
be addressed in that fashion. I think you forget yourself,
my lord. The lady Violet is of age. I believe
we are here in the discharge of our duty, and
I need not remind your lordship that the law is
not a respector of persons. Lord Ledbury's look of anger
changed to one of amazement and alarm. Good heavens, what
do you mean, sir? What has the law to do
(12:42):
with Lady Violet Bredwardine? Very little? I hope, But it
was necessary for us to see her, ladyship and put
a few questions to her, for her own sake. The
Earl turned suddenly. Henderson leave the room one moment pleased.
The physician detained the woman by a gesture, And you
tell me if this costume has been where you just
found it during the whole of last week. Would it
have been possible for any one to take it without
(13:04):
your knowledge? Send it away and put it back again afterwards?
It was a fatal question, The one question I ought
to have anticipated and prepared for. Violet's face must have
betrayed her to a duller eye than my shrewd chief's.
As for Henderson, she gazed stupidly at her mistress in
the evident need of prompting. The irascuable father could see
this as plainly as ourselves. The truth woman, he thundered,
(13:25):
tell the truth. This instant Henderson turned very red. I
had no wish to tell anything else, my lord. The
drawer wasn't locked. That's all I can say. I can't
tell whether any one might have taken the costume out
and put it back again. I'm sure, thank you, That
is all I have to ask of you at present.
Nothing in Charleton's tone or look showed what amount of
importance he attached to the answer he had received, and
(13:47):
the woman, after gazing uneasily, rounded us all in turn
went out of the room with a subdued mien. What
the effect was on me, I need scarcely say. The
whole question of Violet's connection with the case had been reopened.
If the astute investigator chose to follow up the clue,
he would not find it difficult to obtain evidence through
the post office that a parcel large enough to contain
(14:08):
the incriminating costume had been received by Lady Violet since
the discovery of the crime. It might not be possible
to trace it to me as a sinder, but she
might be placed in such a position that only a
full confession on my part could clear her. That confession,
of course, I had been ready to make all the
long the moment it could do her the least service.
My difficulty had been to make it without involving her,
(14:28):
as what the law calls an accessory before the fact.
How could my chief How could Inspector Charles fail to
draw the inference that we had acted in collusion, and
that she had lent me her disguise, knowing the use
I meant to make of it. The torturing problem racked
my brain the whole time that Sir Frank was explaining
the situation to Lord Ledbury. The explanation was a painful one.
(14:48):
He did his best to soften the ugliest features, but
it could not be concealed that Lady Violet had consulted
a doctor without the knowledge of her father or her chaperone,
that the doctor had died in suspicious circumstances, and that
some suspicion had attached to the wearer of a fancy
dress similar to the one spread out before us. The
shock would have been a terrible one for any father.
It must have been doubly so for a man who
(15:09):
had lived for so many years out of the world,
ignoring the changes that had come about since his youth.
The whole story must have taken him out of his bearings.
The society in which nightclubs flourish and girls as young
as Violet are found in them was as strange to
him as it would have been to any parent of
the Victorian age. I could see his mood turning from
surprise and bewilderment into growing fury as he listened, and
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his anger was no longer directed against Tarleton and myself.
It comes to this that my daughter's name is mixed
up with a murder case, he exploded at last. If
she is not actually under suspicion, her clothes are violet.
The stricken girl turned beseeching eyes on him. Unless you
can assure me that you had no more to do
with this business than I had, you shan't pass another
night under this roof. The injustice of it nearly stung
(15:54):
me into speech. The Earl had done nothing to deserve
his daughter's confidence. He had let her grow up a
stranger to him. He had handed her over to a
mercenary with no qualifications beyond those of a drill sergeant
or a prison warder. And he was ablaze with wrath
because she had grown into a living creature with blood
in her veins instead of a wooden doll. Violet's eyes
filled with tears. What do you want me to say,
(16:16):
she implored, I didn't even know that doctor Weatherwood was
dead till these gentlemen told me you knew him. It
seems what did you go to him for? You haven't
been ill. I began to feel anxious for myself as
well as her, but she replied with unexpected spirit. I
went to him as a doctor. He was a nerve specialist,
and I went to him about my nerves. Nerves. His
(16:36):
lordship spat out the word in scorn. A girl of
your age has no business with nerves. Did you tell
Miss pollock Finn that you were suffering from nerves? No?
Violet flared up with the touch of her father. Why
should I, Miss Pollock Finn is no friend of mine?
I didn't choose her for a companion. I am old
enough to decide for myself whether I want to see
a doctor without consulting her. Lord Ledbury was clearly taken aback.
(16:59):
He can have had no real suspicion that his daughter
had done anything seriously wrong, or he would hardly have
cross examined her before us. Little as he loved her,
regard for his own good name would have made him
refrain from going on. So you consider yourself independent, do you?
He pointed to the clothes. Have you lent these things
to any one? I held my breath. I dared not
(17:19):
make the least sign to Violet, and if I had,
she would not have seen it. She kept her eyes
steadily fixed on her father's. Yes, it was the wisest
answer to give, now that so much had come out.
A falsehood must have been detected in a few hours.
Tell me her name. My heart seemed to stop beating.
There was a tense pause in which the air of
the room vibrated with suspense. Then the girl slowly shook
(17:41):
her head. I cannot you mean you won't I command you? Violet?
Do you hear her head sunk obstinately on her breast.
I shall never Tell. End of Chapter thirteen,
Chapter thirteen of the Club of Masks. This is a
LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain.
For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox dot org.
Read by Allison The Club of Masks by Allan Upward,
the Earl of Ledbury Intervenes. My first thought when I
(00:21):
knew that Violet's confession was still undestroyed, was to hide
the fact from her. I must spare her the torturing
apprehensions that I felt myself. Fortunately, she did not seem
to be thinking of her own danger at all events.
She put no questions to me about the letters. Perhaps
she took it for granted that I had secured them,
or that they were no longer in existence. At all events,
(00:42):
the possibility that they might be in other hands as
dangerous as Weatherd's did not seem to strike her at
the moment. The idea that I had murdered weathered overpowered
all her faculties. Again and again, I went over with
her all that had happened. I don't believe that I
killed him, I told her with the utmost earnestness, surely
you can trust me to know what I was doing.
I am not an ordinary doctor. I have made a
(01:04):
special study of poisons as a pupil, I may say,
the favorite pupil of the greatest expert alive. I am
prepared to swear to you or in any court of justice,
that the dose I gave him would not have killed
any man in a normal condition of health. Sir Frank
Tarleton and I both observed symptoms that point to some
other drug having been administered to weather. It remembered that
(01:24):
you were not his only patient, and you were not
likely to have been the only one whose confidence he abused.
The Domino club probably swarmed with his enemies. In fact,
the men a dress as good as told us so.
His own step daughter asserts that there were other women
with whom he had mysterious relations. Other women. She interrupted
me with a cry of dismay, do you mean does
(01:44):
she know anything about me? I recollected Sarah Neobard's fierce
denunciation and the scene she had described when she sat
with her hired spy in the restaurant, watching the persecuted girl.
I tried to explain away my unlucky slip. No, no,
I didn't mean that. For a moment, she told us
that her stepfather had dealings with some of his women patients,
and one of the waiters in the club described some
(02:06):
women who were there that night. He described me, among others.
That is to say, he described the costume I was wearing.
But he suspected that it was worn by a man.
He must have keen eyes. Then you are under suspicion.
Her anxiety was instantly diverted from herself to me again,
not at all, I answered, No, one has the least
suspicion who the wearer of the costume really was. The
(02:27):
police made inquiries, and all they learned was that a
similar costume had been supplied to you a year ago.
They followed up the clue and found that you were
down here on the night, so that it must have
been some one else in the club. Now you see
why I sent it back to you. If Sir Frank
Tarlton says anything about it, all you have to do
is say that you remember having such a costume and
offer to find it and show it to him. He
(02:49):
and the police will naturally believe that the one worn
at the club that night was a duplicate. Violet looked
a little uncertain, as she had some excuse for being.
I thought I might venture now to ask her to
come back to the house to meet my formidable chief.
Sir Frank will be here by the time that we
get down, I said, He has gone for an hour's
stroll in the park. She put her hand to her
head as she stood up and prepared to come with me.
(03:11):
Will he ask me anything else? What were you going
to tell me just now the numbers, I reminded her.
He will ask you if you know what they meant? Ah?
Must I tell him that? Must he know about the letters?
Will everything come out? Oh? Bertrand her gasp of anguish
wrung my very heart strings. No, I cried, don't give
way to such thoughts. You don't know Tarleton. He is
(03:32):
the soul of honor. He is delicacy itself. He won't
ask you one word more than he can help. You
need tell him nothing more than that weather had gave
you a number to use in writing to him. You
can trust Sir Frank not to ask you what the
letters were about, but he will know. He will know,
She sighed despairingly, And I could say little in reply.
We found the door unlocked that led from the house
(03:54):
into the ruins, and we parted in the corridor, Violet
going upstairs to her room, while I made my way
back to the library into which I had been shown
at first waiting for me. Outside the door, I found
my friendly man servant. We'll find the other gentleman inside,
he whispered, he's been back about five minutes. I went in,
trying to look unconcerned, and found Tarlton comfortably seated in
(04:15):
an arm chair, engaged in the familiar right of waving
his mascot to and fro, as if it were a
censer with which he was offering invisible incense to the sphinx.
I hope I haven't kept you waiting, sir. I have
been taking a look at the ruins of the old castle.
I have had a look at them, too, was the
enigmatic answer twelfth century. I should think one of the
first castles put up by the Normans when they began
(04:36):
penetrating South Wales. I could only hope that that was
the extent of his observations. I could not bring myself
to ask. There was silence between us till Violet came
into the room. The change in her amazed me. She
was rather pale, but perfectly composed. Her manner was full
of courteous dignity. It was the first time that I
had seen her as the lady Violet Rebwerdine, the daughter
(04:57):
of a noble house, conscious of her claims to difference
from strangers. The consultant rose from his seat with every
mark of respect and consideration, and I clumsily imitated him.
She was the first to speak, Sir Frank Charleton, I
am told that you wish to see me on urgent business.
I am sorry that you have been kept waiting, but
I had gone out for a walk. Won't you sit down?
(05:17):
She included me in the invitation by a slight distant
bow as she seated herself facing us. It is very
good of you to see me, lady Violet. Doctor Castilas
is my assistant. Another distant bow. I have been called
in as a physician in the case of another medical
man who had the honor to include you among his patients.
I believe doctor Weather it it a bow in the affirmative,
(05:38):
still colder. If possible, I regret I have to inform
you that doctor weatheretd has died of heart failure. A
little gasp, natural enough in the circumstances A gasp of
relief in my ears, relief at hearing the death described
as natural, a gasp of surprise I could only hope
in the keen ears of my chief. Doctor Weatherid's death
was rather sudden. It is as desirable for the sake
(06:01):
of his family to dispense with an inquest, if possible.
But it has been necessary to make some inquiries into
his affairs, and I have had to go through his
appointment book, the book in which he entered the names
of his patients who came to see him. You understand,
I understand, just a tremor immediately subdued naturally. Your name
appears in the book, among others, and it happens to
(06:21):
be one of several that have numbers attached to them,
as if for purposes of identification. If you know or
can suggest the reason for that, I shall be very
much obliged by your telling me. Violet straightened herself up
and spoke very distinctly. It was clear to me that
she had prepared her answer carefully. I can tell you
exactly when doctor Weatherard's patience had to write to him
about whatever he was treating them for, he gave them
(06:43):
a number to use instead of their own names. The
letters were confidential. Charleton's face told me that he had
grasped the full situation as I had grasped it half
an hour before. He looked at me instead of her,
but he failed to hide his consternation altogether. What is
the matter, Why do you look like that old girl?
Exclaimed the specialist pulled himself together. There is nothing the matter,
(07:04):
Lady Violet. I was staggered for a moment at the
thought of what might have happened if I hadn't take
the precaution of coming here in questioning you. I will
see that this correspondence is destroyed unread, as soon as
I get back to town. Unless that is, it has
been destroyed already. Doctor Wutherid may have burnt the letters
as soon as he had read them. The explanation was
not very happy. Poor Violet's dignity forsook her as she
(07:25):
realized for the first time that the outpouring of her
heart the record of her secret shame were at the
mercy of whatever stranger first gained access to the dead
man's repository. She did her best to keep her eyes
from straying in my direction, but the half turn of
her head towards me before she spoke to Tarleton, was
enough to tell me what she felt. Do you mean,
she faltered, that there is a danger of some one
(07:47):
finding these letters, some one who might make use of them.
I had not often seen my chief at a loss,
but he was plainly put out. Now, my dear young lady,
there isn't the least fear of that. It may ease
your mind if I tell you more than I intended.
Doctor Weatherid's death occurred in a club in Chelsea, and
the proprietors or manager, whichever she really is, sent for
(08:07):
the police. They thought the death might be due to
foul play, and they have been making some inquiries. Meanwhile,
they have had their eyes on every one who would
be at all likely to have anything to do with
the case. And you may be sure that if the
doctor left any secret correspondence, it will be secured and burnt. Immediately,
Violet had glanced in my face while he was speaking,
and had read in it no doubt that it would
(08:28):
be her best course to appear satisfied. She murmured, a
thank you. There is one other question I should like
to ask you, but I hope you won't think it
concerns you personally. The doctor's death took place on Wednesday night,
and as you were more than a hundred miles away,
no one supposes that you can throw any light on
what took place in the club that night. He paused
for a moment, as if to give her a chance
(08:49):
of asking how he came to know that she was
so far away. But of course I had already given
her the information, and she was afraid to speak. But
it seems that you have a double, or rather that
some one was impersonated you. That night, the attention of
the police was drawn to the presence of a dancer
wearing a fancy dress, which the costumiers considered to represent Zenobia,
the famous queen of Palmyra who fought against the Romans
(09:10):
in the third century. They made inquiries and heard that
a similar costume had been supplied to you about a
year ago. Can you tell me what has become of it?
The final question was put abruptly. It was well that
Violet had been prepared for it. She kept perfectly cool.
If anything too cool, I should have liked her to
show a little more disturbance. I have no idea. I
(09:30):
suppose my mate has put it away somewhere among my things.
But I will ring for her and ask permit me.
Lady Violet Charlton sprang to the bell before she was
out of her chair. It was answered by the man
servant whom her ladyship despatched in quest of her maid.
I watched my chief while we were waiting. I flattered
myself that I had out maneuvered him in this direction.
His lowered brows told me that he was puzzled. He
(09:52):
must have come down to Tyburton expecting to find the
costume missing and to receive some made up story to
account for its disappearance. A woman came into the room,
an elderly person of very plain appearance, whom I put
down as Lord lei Bury's housekeeper. I didn't think his
lordship's means were sufficient to provide his daughter with the
lady's maid. Oh, Henderson, do you know what has become
(10:13):
of that fancy dress of mine with the helmet and breastplate?
Can you put your hands on it? Henderson showed no surprise. Certainly, m'lady,
it is in the door at the bottom of your
ladyship's wardrobe. Just go and fetch it, will you, Yes,
m' lady. She went out with the movement of a
well drilled actor, leaving me with the uncomfortable impression that
the scene had been rehearsed, and that Tarleton could hardly
(10:33):
miss coming to the same conclusion. He muttered some vague
expression of regret for the trouble he was giving to
Lady Violet, and then sat with his lips pursed up
in rather ominous fashion and his eyes fixed on the door.
Henderson reappeared rather too quickly. She carried all the articles
that made up the much talked of costume, the pasteboard
armor coated with silver paint, the flowing shirt, even the
(10:54):
sandals which the Wardour Street Israelite had deemed appropriate footwear
for a desert Queen Charlton gave then the barest glance
as they were spread out on the table, and bowed
to Violet. I have to thank you, your ladyship. He
was in the act of rising when the door of
the room was thrown open abruptly. The figure on the
threshold presented the appearance of a man just roused from
sleep and inclined to resent the interruption of his dreams.
(11:16):
He was tall and thin, and seemed to hold himself
upright with an effort. His gray hair straggled over his
head in unbrush disorder, and his clothes hung on him
as though they had been dropped where they were in
a fit of absence of mind. In spite of these
signs of neglect, there was an air of dignity about
him that left me in no doubt as to his identity.
The Earl of Ledbury advanced into the room, turning a
(11:37):
glance of disapproval from Sir Frank Tarlton to myself, and
addressed his daughter, Violet. What business have you with these gentlemen?
What excuse you would have made if it had been
left to her to answer? I don't know. Charleton instantly
took the burden on himself. My business with lady Violet
is official, my lord. I am right no doubt in
thinking that you are the Earl of Ledbury official. The
(11:59):
words sounded like a snarl. Who are you, sir? I
am the principal medical adviser to the Home Office. My
name is Sir Frank Charleton, and this gentleman is my assistant,
doctor Castilas I was already on my feet, I gave
the Earl a deferential bow which only seemed to increase
his irritation. And may I ask what you mean, gentleman,
by coming into my house and interviewing my daughter behind
(12:20):
my back. Charleton was not the man to let himself
be addressed in that fashion. I think you forget yourself,
my lord. The lady Violet is of age. I believe
we are here in the discharge of our duty, and
I need not remind your lordship that the law is
not a respector of persons. Lord Ledbury's look of anger
changed to one of amazement and alarm. Good heavens, what
do you mean, sir? What has the law to do
(12:42):
with Lady Violet Bredwardine? Very little? I hope, But it
was necessary for us to see her, ladyship and put
a few questions to her, for her own sake. The
Earl turned suddenly. Henderson leave the room one moment pleased.
The physician detained the woman by a gesture, And you
tell me if this costume has been where you just
found it during the whole of last week. Would it
have been possible for any one to take it without
(13:04):
your knowledge? Send it away and put it back again afterwards?
It was a fatal question, The one question I ought
to have anticipated and prepared for. Violet's face must have
betrayed her to a duller eye than my shrewd chief's.
As for Henderson, she gazed stupidly at her mistress in
the evident need of prompting. The irascuable father could see
this as plainly as ourselves. The truth woman, he thundered,
(13:25):
tell the truth. This instant Henderson turned very red. I
had no wish to tell anything else, my lord. The
drawer wasn't locked. That's all I can say. I can't
tell whether any one might have taken the costume out
and put it back again. I'm sure, thank you, That
is all I have to ask of you at present.
Nothing in Charleton's tone or look showed what amount of
importance he attached to the answer he had received, and
(13:47):
the woman, after gazing uneasily, rounded us all in turn
went out of the room with a subdued mien. What
the effect was on me, I need scarcely say. The
whole question of Violet's connection with the case had been reopened.
If the astute investigator chose to follow up the clue,
he would not find it difficult to obtain evidence through
the post office that a parcel large enough to contain
(14:08):
the incriminating costume had been received by Lady Violet since
the discovery of the crime. It might not be possible
to trace it to me as a sinder, but she
might be placed in such a position that only a
full confession on my part could clear her. That confession,
of course, I had been ready to make all the
long the moment it could do her the least service.
My difficulty had been to make it without involving her,
(14:28):
as what the law calls an accessory before the fact.
How could my chief How could Inspector Charles fail to
draw the inference that we had acted in collusion, and
that she had lent me her disguise, knowing the use
I meant to make of it. The torturing problem racked
my brain the whole time that Sir Frank was explaining
the situation to Lord Ledbury. The explanation was a painful one.
(14:48):
He did his best to soften the ugliest features, but
it could not be concealed that Lady Violet had consulted
a doctor without the knowledge of her father or her chaperone,
that the doctor had died in suspicious circumstances, and that
some suspicion had attached to the wearer of a fancy
dress similar to the one spread out before us. The
shock would have been a terrible one for any father.
It must have been doubly so for a man who
(15:09):
had lived for so many years out of the world,
ignoring the changes that had come about since his youth.
The whole story must have taken him out of his bearings.
The society in which nightclubs flourish and girls as young
as Violet are found in them was as strange to
him as it would have been to any parent of
the Victorian age. I could see his mood turning from
surprise and bewilderment into growing fury as he listened, and
(15:31):
his anger was no longer directed against Tarleton and myself.
It comes to this that my daughter's name is mixed
up with a murder case, he exploded at last. If
she is not actually under suspicion, her clothes are violet.
The stricken girl turned beseeching eyes on him. Unless you
can assure me that you had no more to do
with this business than I had, you shan't pass another
night under this roof. The injustice of it nearly stung
(15:54):
me into speech. The Earl had done nothing to deserve
his daughter's confidence. He had let her grow up a
stranger to him. He had handed her over to a
mercenary with no qualifications beyond those of a drill sergeant
or a prison warder. And he was ablaze with wrath
because she had grown into a living creature with blood
in her veins instead of a wooden doll. Violet's eyes
filled with tears. What do you want me to say,
(16:16):
she implored, I didn't even know that doctor Weatherwood was
dead till these gentlemen told me you knew him. It
seems what did you go to him for? You haven't
been ill. I began to feel anxious for myself as
well as her, but she replied with unexpected spirit. I
went to him as a doctor. He was a nerve specialist,
and I went to him about my nerves. Nerves. His
(16:36):
lordship spat out the word in scorn. A girl of
your age has no business with nerves. Did you tell
Miss pollock Finn that you were suffering from nerves? No?
Violet flared up with the touch of her father. Why
should I, Miss Pollock Finn is no friend of mine?
I didn't choose her for a companion. I am old
enough to decide for myself whether I want to see
a doctor without consulting her. Lord Ledbury was clearly taken aback.
(16:59):
He can have had no real suspicion that his daughter
had done anything seriously wrong, or he would hardly have
cross examined her before us. Little as he loved her,
regard for his own good name would have made him
refrain from going on. So you consider yourself independent, do you?
He pointed to the clothes. Have you lent these things
to any one? I held my breath. I dared not
(17:19):
make the least sign to Violet, and if I had,
she would not have seen it. She kept her eyes
steadily fixed on her father's. Yes, it was the wisest
answer to give, now that so much had come out.
A falsehood must have been detected in a few hours.
Tell me her name. My heart seemed to stop beating.
There was a tense pause in which the air of
the room vibrated with suspense. Then the girl slowly shook
(17:41):
her head. I cannot you mean you won't I command you? Violet?
Do you hear her head sunk obstinately on her breast.
I shall never Tell. End of Chapter thirteen,
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