CHAPTER VII.
[EVIDENCE AT THE INQUEST]
As may be guessed, the double tragedy caused a great sensation in London. That a respected banker should be murdered by an unknown woman, and she in her turn should be assassinated by an unknown man, was such an unusual occurrence that for quite a week nothing else was talked of. The newspapers had leading articles on the subject pointing out how negligent the police must be, when such terrible events could happen in the heart of the most civilised capital in the world. People of the busy-body type wrote letters to different editors suggesting various courses to be adopted to discover and capture the unknown assassin; and in street, drawing-room and club, discussion on the same subject waxed hot and furious. However, nothing tangible resulted from this storm in the teapot. "Words, words, words!" Hamlet's remark applies peculiarly to newspapers.
The inquest was held on the two bodies on Tuesday afternoon, three days after the committal of the crime. Torry, as having the conduct of the case in hand, had summoned the three cabmen as witnesses; also he had called upon Darrel to tell his story; had subpœnaed Leighbourne to identify the body; and had requested Vass to give evidence relative to the behaviour of the deceased before his final departure from the Fleet-street office. In fact, the detective did all he could to reveal the truth to the jury, but in spite of every effort the assassin of the unknown woman could not be discovered, or even indicated. Never was there so mysterious a case.
The most important piece of evidence brought forward at the inquest was the production of the weapon with which the crime had been committed. On the steps of Cleopatra's Needle a long, cruel-looking Spanish knife, which was kept open by a strong spring for the safer delivery of the blow, had been found by the tramp who had discovered the body. At first he had kept the weapon to himself; but on the chance of making some money out of it, he had taken the knife to Torry, who gave him ten shillings for it; and later on it figured before the eyes of an intelligent jury, along with the clothes of the victims and the two Blue Mummies.
These last excited a great deal of curiosity, as they lifted the murders from a commonplace tragedy up to the level of romance. All sorts of wild ideas were afloat as to the reasons for their presence about the bodies of the victims; but not one person was able to give a feasible explanation. On the whole, all the evidence collected was sparse and unsatisfactory; so that the jury, directed by the coroner, were only able to arrive at the commonplace verdict that the dead man and woman had been killed by some person or persons unknown. The public and press were both furious at this tame verdict, but on consideration confessed that they could think of no better one. Afterwards the arrival of an Eastern potentate in London attracted the notice of the fickle public, and the Blue Mummy Case was quite forgotten. After the inquest people said that the truth would never be known, and tacitly relegated the double tragedy to the shelf kept for undiscovered crimes. The mystery which had begun in Mortality-lane was a greater mystery than ever.
"You might as well look for a needle in a haystack as try to find out the truth of this affair," grumbled Darrel, when matters were in this position.
"If that is your opinion, sir, you had better climb down," replied Torry drily. "You came into the case at your own request, so it is quite reasonable for you to withdraw if you feel inclined."
"Do you intend to go on with the matter?" asked Frank, surveying the little man with amazement.
"Of course. It is not play with me as it is with you, but work; and I have to earn my bread and butter. Guided by the evidence we have in hand, I intend to proceed immediately. The victims are dead and buried; but the truth about them is not known. It is my duty to find out and punish the wrongdoers."
"The wrongdoer, you mean," said Darrel, speaking in the singular. "We know who killed Mr. Grent."
"Pardon me, Mr. Darrel, but that is just what we do not know."
"The woman who was murdered----"
"Did not kill the banker. No, I am sure of it. A female of her slight build would not have had the muscular energy to drive a weapon through cloth and wool straight into the heart of a strong man so as to kill him at the first stroke. A pistol, yes--for that weapon is as fatal in the hands of a woman as in those of a man; but a strong, long, steady stroke, involving unusual muscular exertion--to say nothing of the nerve power necessary. No, Mr. Darrel; I decline to believe the woman guilty. Depend upon it she was a victim, not an assassin."
"Well," said Darrel quietly, "victim, or not, she was certainly an accomplice, else she would not have emerged from Mortality-lane with that man. You must admit that he must have killed Grent."
"Of course," assented Torry calmly. "I thought as much from the time I heard the evidence of the third cabman. But what I wish to learn is, why the man required the woman to be present; and why did he permit her to interview her assassin by herself?"
"How do you intend to obtain an answer to these questions?"
"By finding out the name of the dead woman."
"That is impossible!" declared Darrel emphatically.
"By no means," replied Torry coolly. "In fact, I have done something already towards discovering the name; and my discovery narrows still more the ground which we are exploring. To be precise Mr. Darrel, everything points to the motive for the crime being discovered in Wray House."
"In what way?" asked Frank, much astonished.
"I'll answer your question by asking another, sir. Do you remember how we traced the name of Grent by means of the initials on his shirt?"
"Yes. I remember quite well."
"I resolved to apply that method to discover the dead woman's name."
"But there were no marks on her linen," cried Darrel.
"I know that," said Torry, rubbing his plump hands together, "but there was the name of a fashionable milliner stamped on the lining of the hat the dead woman wore. I went to see that milliner--Madame Vert, of Regent-street--and I discovered that the hat was made for Miss Sandoval."
"For Donna Maria," said Darrel; then, on receiving a nod from the detective, he asked: "How did her hat come to be worn by the dead woman?"
"I must find that out from the lady herself," replied Torry; "but you can see for yourself that this discovery connects Wray House with the crime."
"Possibly. But does it never strike you that the Bank in Fleet-street may have some connection also? For my part, I mistrust Leighbourne."
"You have no cause to do so; there is absolutely nothing to connect him with the crime."
"What about his agitated demeanour?"
"Pooh, pooh!" cried Torry briskly. "Of course the man was agitated on hearing of Grent's terrible death. You can't judge a man in such circumstances. Now, to my mind, the fainting of Vass at the sight of the mummy is more suspicious."
"I thought he explained that?"
"He does--and in a way likely to upset my theory. Vass declares that he saw the Blue Mummy on Grent's table; and it was the sight of it again in connection with the crime which made him faint. The explanation is rather feeble. Still, if Grent had the mummy in his possession, he could not have received it from his assassin; and if he did not, how was it found beside his dead body."
"I can't say," admitted Darrel thoughtfully; "but of one thing I am certain: that the Blue Mummy is the clue to the whole mystery. What about Captain Manuel?"
"Why do you mention him?" asked Torry abruptly.
"Well," said Frank slowly, "it seems to me that the double tragedy has to do with Peru. Everywhere we turn we are met by Peru. In the first place, the mummy is a tomb image from the sepulchre of some Inca of Peru. In the second, the knife discovered was a Spanish-American bowie, which could only have come from the New World. In the third, Grent's wife and adopted child are Spanish ladies from Lima. Finally, Captain Manuel is from Peru, and is the confidential friend of the dead man. What do you make of all this?"
"That Grent was murdered by Manuel?" sneered Torry.
"No; but that we must look in South America--in Peru--in Lima for the motive of the crime. Grent was there many years ago; he brought home a Spanish wife; so who knows but what he might have made some enemies there who swore to kill him, and accomplished the tragedy of the other night."
"That might explain Grent's death," said Torry, nursing his chin in his hand, "but it does not reveal why this unknown woman should have been killed. Yet I am sure that the same motive will account for both deaths. Oh!" cried the detective, in despair, "If I could only find out that motive."
"Question Donna Inez," suggested Darrel. "She, if anyone, will explain the reason."
"Why so?"
"Because if my theory is correct she may remember if her husband made enemies in Peru."
"Peru! Peru! You have that Peru on the brain. No," said Torry, "I may see Donna Inez later, but first I intend to search the rooms of Grent."
"The chambers in Duke-street?"
"Yes. Leighbourne is going to meet me there this afternoon, and we are going all through Grent's private papers in search of a possible clue."
"I wonder you did not search there before."
"There was no time," replied Torry tartly. "I have had a lot to do in getting evidence for the inquest. Now that is over, and the victims are buried, I can go forward."
"It is a week since the murder," said Frank, "and someone may have been in Grent's chambers to remove all incriminating papers."
"The assassin you mean?"
"Possibly."
"Well," said the detective, "there is something in that; but I doubt it, as the butler who keeps the rooms would not be likely to let anyone into them during the absence of his tenant. However, I'll see. Will you come?"
"No, thank you," replied Darrel. "I find my detective fever has passed away."
Torry uttered a prophecy. "On the first discovery of any note you'll get that fever again," said he.