"You would have killed him yourself, perhaps?"
Herbert Vaud opened and shut his hand convulsively. "I don't know what I should have done," he said in a thick voice. "But he is dead, so what does it matter. But if I had my way, the assassin of Gregory Fellenger should go free."
"He may go free after all," said Fanks, quietly, "we have not yet solved the problem of his death."
"We have proved that Hersham was disguised as the negro," said Garth, impetuously.
"We have proved that Hersham was disguised as a negro," replied Fanks, making the correction with point, "but we have not proved that he was--that he is--the negro who killed your cousin in Tooley's Alley."
"If he did not, why was he blacked up on the very night the murder was committed. He must have had some reason for so masquerading."
"I have no doubt he had a reason; and I have no doubt that he will explain his reason to me when I see him. But, on the face of it, I do not think that he is the negro of Tooley's Alley."
"Why not?" said Garth, impatiently. "Look here, Fanks. The skein runs out as clean as a whistle. Hersham has a cross tattooed on his arm. The death of my cousin was caused by a similar cross being pricked on his arm. Hersham is engaged to Anne Colmer; you tell me that she is the sister of the girl, Emma Calvert, who committed suicide in Paris, as the victim of Sir Gregory. The envelope, making the appointment comes from Taxton-on-Thames; Anne Colmer comes from the same place; she lives there. Hersham was disguised as a negro on the very night of the murder--at the very time the murder was committed. What is more reasonable than to suppose that Hersham was inspired by Anne Colmer to kill the man who had deceived her sister. There, in a few words you have the motive of the crime; and the way in which it was carried out. Oh, there is no doubt in my mind that we have the real man at last. Were I you, I should arrest Hersham without delay."
"If you were in my place, you would do what I intend to do," said Fanks, quietly, "and take time to consider the matter. I admit that you have made a very strong case out against Hersham, but there is one important particular which you have overlooked."
"What is that?" asked Garth, "it seems to me that there is not a link missing."