This was a development I hadn’t foreseen. Was the mystery going to resolve itself into a case of suicide, after all? After failing to put an end to himself by means of opium, had Weathered finally resorted to a more certain drug? But then, in that case, why shouldn’t he have demanded it openly from his deceived patient? Truly the riddle was becoming more insoluble as we advanced.
Mrs. Baker was rather indignant at the suggestion that her precautions for the security of the dangerous bottle had not been sufficient; but the consultant brushed aside her objections almost irritably.
“Nonsense, my dear woman, that lock of yours could be picked by a clever child of twelve. All that the thief had to do was to come to the house when he knew you were out, give a false name to the servant, and ask to be allowed to wait. As soon as he found himself alone in this room he could help himself to what he wanted, and then remember an engagement, and come away. Very likely the maid who would let him in wouldn’t even trouble to tell you a visitor had called.”
The mistress of the house was reluctantly obliged to admit this possibility. Tarleton folded his arms, a sign that the interview was over as far as his interest in it was concerned, but he was good enough to give me a chance of satisfying my curiosity.
“What do you say, Cassilis? Do you think we ought to ask Mrs. Baker to tell us anything more?”
I thought our hostess looked as little willing as I was to leave her story unfinished.
“Oh, but you must hear the end,” she protested. “And you mustn’t go away without so much as a cup of tea.” She hopped lightly to the electric bell. “I want you to know that I’m not a patient of Dr. Weathered any longer; and I think I ought to tell you why—when the maid is gone.”
The saving clause was prompted by a rough bang at the door, followed by the entrance of the untidy servant. She had anticipated her mistress’s orders, and brought in a huge tray laden with food sufficient to satisfy a large party of hungry people. The variety of sandwiches was amazing. Mrs. Baker’s popularity with the local tradesmen and the success of her At Homes seemed to be fully explained.
“You will hardly believe it,” she resumed as soon as we had settled down to a serious attack on this provender, “but Dr. Willoughby ended by actually tempting me to commit a crime.”
It was easier for us to believe than she supposed, but I did my best to look incredulous.