12 - Malcolm Sage, Detective by Herbert George Jenkins

Delve into the intriguing world of Malcolm Sage as this collection of short stories unravels his first year at the helm of his own Detective Bureau. This captivating series serves as a sequel or companion piece to the gripping tale of John Dene of Toronto.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Chapter twelve of Malcolm Sage, Detective by Herbert George Jenkins.
This LibriVox recording is in the public domain recording by
Anno Simon, Chapter twelve. The marmalade clew one. As Malcolm
Sage and Inspector Caffin crossed the lawn from the laboratory,
Sir Jasper Chambers was seen coming down the drive towards them. Na,

(00:22):
Sir Jasper, cried the inspector. When they reached the point
where the lawn joined the drive, they paused, waiting for
Sir Jasper to approach. He walked with long, loose strides,
his head thrust forward, his mind evidently absorbed and far
away from where he was. His coat flapped behind him,
and at each step, his trousers jerked upwards, displaying several

(00:43):
inches of gray worsted sock. Good afternoon, Sir Jasper, said,
Inspector Caffin, stepping forward and lifting his head. Sir Jasper
stopped dead, with the air of one who had suddenly
been brought to a realization of his whereabouts. For a
moment he stared blankly, Then apparently recognition came to his aid.
Good afternoon, Inspector, he responded, lifting his black felt head

(01:07):
with a graceful motion that seemed strangely out of keeping
with his grotesque appearance. In the salutation, he managed to
include Malcolm Sage, who acknowledged it with his customary jerky nod.
We've just been looking at the laboratory, said the inspector. Ah.
Sir Jasper nodded his head several times, the laboratory. Will
you oblige me with your pouch, calfin, said Malcolm Sage,

(01:30):
drawing his pipe from his pocket. I've lost mine. Inspector
Carfin thrust his hand into his left hand pocket, then
began to go hurriedly through his other pockets with the
air of a man who has lost something. I headed
a quarter of an hour ago, he said. I must
have dropped it in the allow me, Sir, said Sir Jasper,
extending to Malcolm Sage's own pouch, which he had extracted

(01:53):
from his tail pocket whilst the Inspector was still engaged
in his search. Malcolm Sage took it and with a nod,
proceeded to fill his pipe. Looks like craven mixture, he remarked,
without looking up from the pipe, which he was cramming from.
Sir Jasper's pouch, Malcolm Sage was an epicure and tobacco. No,
it's ormond mixture, was the reply. I always smoke it.

(02:16):
It is singularly mellow, he added, singularly mellow. He continued
to look straight in front of him, whilst the inspector
appeared anxious to get on to the house. Heaving completed
his task. Malcolm Sage folded the tobacco pouch and handed
it back to Sir Jasper. Thank you, he said, and
proceeded to light his pipe, apparently seeing nothing to detain

(02:37):
him further. Sir Jasper lifted his head, bowed and passed
on regular old cure, isn't he remarked the inspector as
they watched the ungainly figure that disappear round the bend
of the drive. A great man, Carfin murmured Malcolm Sage,
A very great man, and he turned and walked towards
the house. The front door of the halloos was opened

(02:59):
by the butler, a gentle faced old man in appearance
rather like a mid Victorian lawyer. At the sight of
the inspector, a troubled look came into his eyes. I
want to have a few words with you, said Malcolm
Sage quietly. The old man led the way to the library,
throwing open the door for them to pass in. He
followed and closed it behind him. Makham Sage seated himself

(03:20):
at the table, and Inspector Carffin also dropped into a chair.
The butler stood his hands half closed before him, the
palm of one resting upon the knuckles of the other.
His whole attitude was half nervous, half fearful, and wholly deprecating.
I am afraid this has been a great shock to you,
said Malcolm Sage. Inspector carfin glanced across at him. There

(03:42):
was an unaccustomed note of gentleness in his tone. It has, indeed, sir,
said the butler, and two tears gathered upon his lower lids,
hung penniless for a second, then raised one another down
either side of his nose. It was the first sympathetic
word the old man had heard since the police had arrived.
Insatiable for facts, sit down, said Maham Sage, without looking up.

(04:06):
I shall not keep you many minutes. His tone was
that one might it up to a child. The old
man obeyed, seating himself upon the edge of the chair.
One hand still placed upon the other. You mustn't think,
because the police ask a lot of questions that they
mean to be unkind, said Malcolm Sage. I I believe

(04:28):
they think I did it. The old man quavered, and
and I'd have done anything. His voice broke, the tears
coursing down his colorless cheeks. I want you to try
to help me find out who did kill your master,
continued Malcolm Sage in the same tone. And you can

(04:49):
do that by answering my questions. There was no restless
movement of the fingers. Now, the hard, keen look had
left his eyes, and his whole attention seemed to be
concentrated upon soothing the old man before him. With an
obvious effort, the butler strove to control himself. Did the
professor ever have visitors at his laboratory? Only, sir, Jasper Sir?

(05:12):
He was just answer my questions, said Malcolm Sage gently.
He told you, I think never on any account to
disturb him. Yes, sir, did you ever do so? Only once? Sir?
That was when missus Graham, that's the housekeeper, sir, set

(05:34):
fire to the curtains of her room. I was afraid
for the house sir, and I ran down and knocked
at the laboratory door. Did the Professor open it? No, sir,
perhaps he did not hear you. Yes he did, Sir.
I knocked and kicked for a long time. Then I

(05:54):
ran back to the house and found the fire had
been put out. Did Professor Murray ever referred to the matter.
He was very angry when I next saw him, Sir,
three days later. What did he say? That neither fire
nor murder was an excuse for interrupting him? And if

(06:16):
I did it again, I would have to quite so,
interrupted Malcolm Sage, desires of saving the old servitor, the
humiliation of explaining that it had been threatened with dismissal.
So you are confident in your own mind that no
amount of knocking at the door would have caused your
master to open it. Quite certain, sir, the butler said,

(06:39):
with deep conviction. If he had heard me murdering missus Graham,
he wouldn't have come out, he added gravely. He used
to say that man is for the moment, but research
is for all time. He was a very wonderful man, Sir,
he added earnestly. So that to get into the laboratory,

(06:59):
someone must have had a duplicate key. No, sir, the
Professor always bolted the door on the inside. Then he
must have opened it himself. He wouldn't, sir. I'm sure
he wouldn't. But how did Sir Jasper get in? He
was expected, sir, And when he went to the laboratory

(07:22):
the master always ordered extra food. He was very absent minded, sir,
but he always remembered that he was very considerate, Sir too.
He never forgot my birthday. And he broke down completely,
his frail body shaken by sobs rising, Malcolm Sage placed
his hand upon the old man's shoulder, as if conscious

(07:43):
of the unspoken message of sympathy. Inspired by the touch,
the butler clasped the hand in both his own. Inspector
Carfin looked surprised. He was so kind, sir, so kind
and thoughtful. He quavered, I don't know what I shall
do without him. There was in his voice something of
the carelous appeal of a little child. Were letters ever

(08:04):
taken to the laboratory, inquired Malcolm Sage, walking over to
the window and gazing out. Never, sir, was the reply.
Everything was kept until the Professor returned to the house,
even telegrams. Then he was absolutely cut off, said Malcolm Sage,
returning to his seat. That was what he used to say, sir,

(08:27):
that he wanted to feel cut off from everybody and everything.
You have seen the body, yes, sir, did you notice
anything remarkable about it? He was more like he was
some thirty years ago, sir. Rejuvenated. In fact, I beg pardon, sir.

(08:47):
He seemed to have become suddenly a much younger man,
explained Malcolm Sage. Yes, sir, I've been with him over
thirty years, and he looked very much as he did then,
except of course that his head remained gray. Apart from
the food not being taken in, you noticed nothing else
that struck you as strange, cried Malcolm Sage. The old

(09:09):
man perkeed up his eyebrows, as if genuinely anxious to
remember something that would please the man who had shown
him so much sympathy. I can't think of anything, sir,
he said, at length, apologetically, only the marmalade, and that,
of course, wouldn't the marmalade. Malcolm Sage turned quickly. It

(09:31):
was nothing, sir, said the old man. Perhaps I oughtn't
to have mentioned it. But the morning before we found him,
the Master had not eaten any marmalade, and him so
fond of it. I was rather worried, and I asked
Missus Graham if it was a new brand, thinking perhaps
he didn't like it. But I found it was the
same he always had. For fully a minute, Malcolm Sage

(09:53):
was silent, gazing straight before him. He never smoked, he
asked at length, never sa, not during the whole thirty
years I've been with him. Who cleaned the laboratory? It
did not look as if it had been unswept for
a week. No, indeed, sir, was the reply. The Professor
was very particular. He always swept it up himself each morning.

(10:16):
It was clean by one of the servants once a month.
You're sure about the sweeping up, Malcolm Sage inquired, with
a keen glance. That with him always meant an important point.
Quite certain, sir, that I think will be all. Thank you, sir,
said the butler, rising, thank you for being so kind

(10:37):
and understanding, sir, and he walked a little unsteadily from
the room. I's afraid you won't get anything out of him,
Missus Sage, said, Inspector caffin with just a suspicion of
relief in his voice. No, remarked Malcolm Sage quietly, nothing
new but an important corporation of the doctor's evidence. What

(11:01):
was that that it was the murderer and not Professor
mc murray who ate Wednesday's breakfast, luncheon and dinner. Good Lord,
The Inspector's jaw dropped in his astonishment. I suspect that,
for some reason or other he returned to the laboratory.
That accounts for the rough marks upon the door fastenings,

(11:21):
as if some one had first torn them off and
then sought to replace them. After his second visit, the
murderer evidently stayed too long and was afraid of being
seen leaving the laboratory. He therefore remained until the following night,
eating the professor's meals. Incidentally, he knew all about his habits.
All I'm blowed if he is in the coulon, gasped

(11:43):
the inspector. Malcolm Sage rose with the air of one
who has concluded the business on hand. Can I run
you back to town carfin, he asked, as he walked towards
the door. No, thank you, said the inspector. I must
go over to Strinton and see brew it. He's following
up a clue. He's got some tramp who was seen
hanging about here for a couple of days just before

(12:03):
the murder. He added. Unless he is tall and powerful,
left handed, with something more than a layman's knowledge of surgery,
you had better not trouble about him, said Malcolm Sage quietly.
You might also note that the murderer belongs to the
upper or middle class, has an iron nerve, and his
strongly humanitarian. For a moment, Inspector Carfin stared at Malcolm

(12:28):
Sage with lengthened jaw. Then suddenly he laughed, a laugh
of obvious relief. At first I thought you were serious,
missus Sage, he said, till I saw what you're up to,
just like the story book detectives. And they laughed again,
this time more convincingly. Malcolm Sage shrugged his shoulders. Let
me have a description of the man when you get him,

(12:50):
he said, and some of the tobacco he smokes. Try
him with marmalade, Carfin, and plenty of it. By the way,
you make a great mistake in not reading the present century,
he added, It can be curiously instructive, and without another word,
he crossed the hall and a moment later entered his car.

(13:10):
Swank murmured Inspector Caffin angrily as he watched Tims swing
the car down the drive at a dangerous rate of speed.
Pure unadulterated brain rotting Swank, and he in turn passed
down the drive, determined to let Malcolm Sage see what
he could do on his own. Two three weeks passed

(13:30):
and there was no development in the Merry mystery. Malcolm
Sage had heard nothing from Inspector Carffin, who was busily
engaged in an endeavor to trace the tramp seen in the
neighborhood of the Hollows on the day previous to the murder.
Sir John Dene had called several times upon Malcolm Sage,
whom he had come to regard as infallible, only to
be told that there was no news. He made no comment,

(13:52):
but it was obvious that he was greatly disappointed. Interest
began to wane, The newspapers devoted themselves to others stunts,
and the McMurray mystery seemed fadd to swell the list
of unfathomed crimes with which from time to time, the
press likes to twit Scotland child. Suddenly the whole affair
flared up anew and Fleet Street once more devoted itself

(14:13):
and its columns to the death of Professor James mc murray.
A brief announcement that a man at the vagrant class
had been arrested in London whilst endeavoring to sell a
gold watch believed to be that of Professor mc murray,
was the first spark. Later, the watch was identified and
the man charged with the murder. He protested his innocence,
saying that he had picked up the watch by the

(14:34):
roadside just outside Gorling nearly a month before. There were
blood stains upon the clothes, which he explained by saying
he had been fighting with another man who had made
his nose bleed. Inspector Carfin, unable to keep a noted
triumph out of his voice, had telephoned the news to
Malcolm's age, who had asked for the particulars of the man,
his pipe and a specimen of a tobacco, But day

(14:55):
after day had passed without these being forthcoming. Finally, the
man against whom the police had built up a damaging case,
had been committed for trial. Two weeks later, he was
found guilty at the assizes and sentenced to death. Then
it was that Malcolm Sage had written to Inspector Caffin Curtly,
asking him to call at eleven on the following day,

(15:17):
bringing with him the information for which he had asked.
At the same time, he wrote to Sir John Dene
and suggestper chambers punctually. At eleven on the following morning,
the inspector called the Malcolm Sage Bureau. Sorry, missus Sage,
he said, as he entered Malcolm Sage's room. I've been
so rushed that i haven't been able to get round,
and he dropped into the chair on the opposite side

(15:37):
of the table. Malcolm Sage pushed across the cigar box.
That's his tobacco box, said Inspector Carfin, placing on the
table a small tin box, opening it and after a
swift glance at the contents, Malcolm Sage raised it to
his nose. Cigarette ends, he remarked, without looking up. And
that's his pipe. The inspector laid on the table a

(15:59):
black clap with some two inches of stem attached to
the bowl. Malcolm's Age scarcely glanced at it. Pulling out
a drawer, he produced a small cardboard box, which he
opened and pushed towards the inspector. That said, tobacco smoked
by the murderer. The makers are prepared to swear to it.
Where the deuce did you get it? Gasped the inspector.

(16:21):
Grain by grain from the linoleum in the laboratory, replied
Malcolm sig. That is why it was necessary to be
sure it was swept each day. It also helped me
to establish the man as middle or upper class. This
tobacco is expensive. What is the man like who has
been condemned? Regular wandering Willie replied the inspector. All this

(16:43):
chap gives his ages sixty one, five foot three and
a half, thin as a rake, twenty nine inch chest.
Miserable sort of devil, says. He picked up the watch
about a quarter of a mile from the hollows early
one morning. Does he eat marmalade? Eat it? The inspector laughed,
He wools it. I remember what you said, and took
a pound along with me to strengthen. Just for fun.

(17:05):
He looked across at Malkham Sage a little shame facedly,
I afterwards heard that there was only the jar and
the label left. But I don't see what all this
has to do with it. The fellow's got the swing
for it, and Carfin, you've made a fool of yourself.
The Inspector startled back in his chair, as if some
one had struck him. I gave you a description of

(17:25):
the man who had killed Professor mc murray, Yet you
proceeded to build up a fantastical case against this poor devil.
But again, the inspector he was interrupted by the door
being burst violently open, and Sir John Dene shot into
the room. For a moment, he stood staring at the
two men glad As Norman and William Johnson framed in
the doorway behind him. Sir Jasper's killed himself, he cried,

(17:49):
Moses Aunt, cried the inspector, starting to his feet. Malcolm
Sage sat immovable at his table, his eyes upon his
outstretched hands. Slowly looking up, he motioned to Miss Norman
to close the door, then nodded towards the chair into
which Sir John Dene sank. The Inspector resumed his own seat.
It was obvious that the news had considerably shaken him.

(18:10):
He knew, Sir John Dene interrogated, his voice a little unsteady.
I expected it, said Malcolm Sage quietly. But how mister
Sage inquired Inspector Carfroin in a whisper, his throat dry
with excitement, because I wrote to him yesterday saying that
I could not allow the condemned man to be sacrificed.

(18:32):
It was Sir Jasper Chambers who killed Professor mc murray.
For a moment, Inspector Carffin's eyes looked as if they
would start out of his head. He turned and looked
at Sir John Dene, who with unsteady hand, was taking
a chiroute from his case. Malcolm Sage threw his pipe
from his pocket and proceeded to fill it. On the
Tuesday night he began. It is obvious that Professor mc

(18:54):
murray admitted some one to the laboratory. That man was
Sir Jasper Chams, when the two had dined together a
week before, proceeded Malcolm's age. An appointment was obviously made
for a week later. The Professor's last words were significant. Anyway, Chambers,
you will be the first to know if the experiments

(19:17):
had proved fatal. How could Sir Jasper be the first
to know, unless an appointment had been made for him
to call at the laboratory and discover for himself the result.
The inspector coughed noisily. When Sir Jasper learned of the
unqualified success of the experiments and saw by the professor's
changed appearance proof of his triumph, he remembered the article

(19:40):
in the present century. He realized that in the lengthening
of human life, a terrible catastrophe threatened the world. Humanitarianism
triumphed over his affection for his friend, and he killed him.
Sir John Dene nodded his head in agreement. The Inspector
was leaning forward, his arms on the table, staring at

(20:00):
Malcomsige with glassy eyes. The assailant was clearly a tall,
powerful man, and left handed. That was shown by the
nature of the blow that yet some knowledge of physiology,
is obvious from the fact that he made no attempt
at a second blow to ensure death, as a layman
most likely would have done. He knew that he had
smashed the occipital bone right into the brain. In his

(20:23):
early years, Sir Jasper studied medicine. The crime committed Sir
Jasper proceeded to cover his tracks with the poker. He
loosened the sockets of the bolts and that of the lock,
in order to give an expression that the door had
been burst open from without. He then left the place,
and to suggest robbery as a motive for the crime,
he took with him the Professor's gold watch, which he

(20:46):
threw away. This was found a few hours later by
the tramp whom you carfin want to hang for a
crime of which he knows nothing. There was a note
of sternness in Malcomsage's voice, but began the inspector I suspect,
continued Malcolm Sage that after he had left the laboratory,
Sir Jasper suddenly realized that the Professor had probably recorded

(21:09):
in his book all those processes. He returned, discovered the manuscript,
and was for hours absorbed in it, at first smoking continuously,
later too interested in his task to think of his pipe.
It must be remembered that he had studied medicine. The
Inspector glanced across at Sir John Dene, who sat rigidly
in his chair, his eyes fixed upon Malcolm's age. I

(21:32):
rather think that he was roused from his preoccupation by
the ringing of the bell announcing the arrival the professor's breakfast.
He then realized that he could not leave the place
until nightfall. He therefore ate that meal, carefully avoiding the marmalade,
which he disliked, and subsequently he consumed the luncheon and dinner.
Passed through the wicket, Malcolm Sage paused to press down

(21:55):
the tobacco in his pipe. He burned the manuscript, tring
up letters and throwing them into the waste paper basket
to give the appearance of Professor McMurray. Having had a
clearing up. He then destroyed all the test tubes he
could find. Finally, he left the laboratory late on the
Wednesday night or early Thursday morning. But how did you

(22:17):
find out all this? It was Sir John Dene who spoke.
First of all, Sir Jasper and the murderer smoke the
same tobacco or mond mixture. I verified that by picking
Inspector Carfin's pocket, taking a tobacco pouch from a drawer,
Malcolm Sage handed it across the table. You will remember,
Sir Jasper lent me his pouch. I had picked up

(22:39):
some tobacco on the floor and on the hearth. Secondly,
the murderer was left handed, and so is Sir Jasper. Thirdly,
the murderer does not eat marmalade, and Sir Jasper had
the same distaste. But how began the inspector. I telephoned
to his housekeeper in the name of a local grocer

(23:00):
and ask if it would be Sir Jasper who had
ordered some marmalade, and an assistant could not remember the
gentleman's name that grocer. I suspect got into trouble as
the housekeeper seemed to expect him to know that Sir
Jasper disliked marmalade. Well, you seem to have got the
thing pretty well figured out, remarked Sir John Deane grimly.

(23:21):
Another man's life and liberty were ats take, was the
calm reply. Otherwise he shrugged his shoulders. As Sir Jasper
did not come forward, I wrote to him yesterday, giving
him until noon to day to make a statement, continued
Malcolm Sage. Otherwise I should have to take steps to
save the man condemned. Then, after a short pause, he continued,

(23:44):
in Sir jasper chambers, you have an illustration of the
smallness of a great mind. He has devoted his vast
wealth to philanthropy, yet he was willing to allow another
man to be hanged for his crime. And this I
take it, said, Sir John, is his reply, and he
handed a letter across to Malcolm's age. Read it out,

(24:06):
he said. Malcolm's Age glanced swiftly through the pages, and
then read, my dear Dean, by the time you received
this letter, I shall be dead. I have just received
a letter from mister Malcolm's Age, which shows him to
be a man of remarkable perception and possessed of powers
of analysis and deduction that I ventured to think must
be unique. All he says is correct, but for one detail.

(24:30):
I left the laboratory in the first instance with the
deliberate intention of returning, although I did not realize the
significance of the manuscript until after I had tempered with
the fastenings of the doors. Had my servants found that
my bed had not been slept in, suspicion might have
attached itself to me. I therefore returned to remedy this,

(24:51):
and I left a note to say that I had
gone out early for a long walk. A thing I
frequently do in his experiments. MC murray had succeeded beyond
his wildest imaginings, and I foresaw the horrors that must
inevitably follow such a discovery as his. I had to
choose between myself and the welfare of the race, and

(25:12):
I chose the rays. I did not come forward to
save the man condemned for the crime, as I regarded
my life of more value to the community than his.
Will you thank mister Sage for the very gentle and
humane way in which he has written, calling upon me
to see that justice be not outraged. I am sending

(25:32):
this letter by hand. My body will be found in
my study. I've used more fear as a means of
satisfying justice. Very sincerely, yours, Jasper Chambers. It was strange
I should have made that mistake, by the reason for
his leaving the laboratory, said Malcolm Sage meditatively. I made

(25:53):
two mistakes. One I corrected, but the other was unpardonable.
Any knock the ashes from his pipe on to the
copper tray before him with the air of a man
who is far from satisfied, and I might have arrested
an O. M. Murmured Inspector Carfin as he walked down Whitehall. Damn.

(26:15):
End of Chapter twelve,