The Complete Works of R. Austin Freeman: Action Thrillers, Murder Mysteries & Detective Stories (Illustrated). R. Austin Freeman

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СКАЧАТЬ is all this, Doctor Thorndyke?" he asked. "I see you've sworn an information against Mr. Jellicoe, and I have a warrant to arrest him; but before anything is done I think it right to tell you that we have more evidence than is generally known pointing to quite a different quarter."

      "Derived from Mr. Jellicoe's information," said Thorndyke. "But the fact is that I have just examined and identified the body at the British Museum, where it was deposited by Mr. Jellicoe. I don't say that he murdered John Bellingham—though that is what the appearances suggest—but I do say that he will have to account for his secret disposal of the body."

      Inspector Badger was thunderstruck. Also he was visibly annoyed. The salt which Mr. Jellicoe had so adroitly sprinkled on the constabulary tail appeared to develop irritating properties, for when Thorndyke had given him a brief outline of the facts he stuck his hands in his pockets and exclaimed gloomily:

      "Well, I'm hanged! And to think of all the time and trouble I've spent on those damned bones! I suppose they were just a plant?"

      "Don't let us disparage them," said Thorndyke. "They have played a useful part. They represent the inevitable mistake that every criminal makes sooner or later. The murderer will always do a little too much. If he would only lie low and let well alone, the detective might whistle for a clue. But it is time we were starting."

      "Are we all going?" asked the inspector, looking at me in particular with no very gracious recognition.

      "We will all come with you," said Thorndyke; "but you will, naturally, make the arrest in the way that seems best to you."

      "It's a regular procession," grumbled the inspector; but he made no more definite objection, and we started forth on our quest.

      The distance from the Temple to Lincoln's Inn is not great. In five minutes we were at the gateway in Chancery Lane, and a couple of minutes later saw us gathered round the threshold of the stately old house in New Square.

      "Seems to be a light in the first floor front," said Badger. "You'd better move away before I ring the bell."

      But the precaution was unnecessary. As the inspector advanced to the bell-pull a head was thrust out of the open window immediately above the street door.

      "Who are you?" inquired the owner of the head in a voice which I recognised as that of Mr. Jellicoe.

      "I am Inspector Badger, of the Criminal Investigation Department. I wish to see Mr. Arthur Jellicoe."

      "Then look at me. I am Mr. Arthur Jellicoe."

      "I hold a warrant for your arrest, Mr. Jellicoe. You are charged with the murder of Mr. John Bellingham, whose body has just been discovered in the British Museum."

      "By whom?"

      "By Doctor Thorndyke."

      "Indeed," said Mr. Jellicoe. "Is he here?"

      "Yes."

      "Ha! And you wish to arrest me, I presume?"

      "Yes. That is what I am here for."

      "Well, I will agree to surrender myself subject to certain conditions."

      "I can't make any conditions, Mr. Jellicoe."

      "No. I will make them, and you will accept them. Otherwise you will not arrest me."

      "It's no use for you to talk like that," said Badger. "If you don't let me in I shall have to break in. And I may as well tell you," he added mendaciously, "that the house is surrounded."

      "You may accept my assurance," Mr. Jellicoe replied calmly, "that you will not arrest me if you do not accept my conditions."

      "Well, what are your conditions?" demanded Badger impatiently.

      "I desire to make a statement," said Mr. Jellicoe.

      "You can do that, but I must caution you that anything you say may be used in evidence against you."

      "Naturally. But I wish to make the statement in the presence of Doctor Thorndyke, and I desire to hear a statement from him of the method of investigation by which he discovered the whereabouts of the body. That is to say, if he is willing."

      "If you mean that we should mutually enlighten one another, I am very willing indeed," said Thorndyke.

      "Very well. Then my conditions, Inspector, are that I shall hear Doctor Thorndyke's statement and that I shall be permitted to make a statement myself, and that until those statements are completed, with any necessary interrogation and discussion, I shall remain at liberty and shall suffer no molestation or interference of any kind. And I agree that, on the conclusion of the said proceedings, I will submit without resistance to any course that you may adopt."

      "I can't agree to that," said Badger.

      "Can't you?" said Mr. Jellicoe coldly; and, after a pause, he added: "Don't be hasty. I have given you full warning."

      There was something in Mr. Jellicoe's passionless tone that disturbed the inspector exceedingly, for he turned to Thorndyke and said in a low tone:

      "I wonder what his game is? He can't get away, you know."

      "There are several possibilities," said Thorndyke.

      "M'yes," said Badger, stroking his chin perplexedly.

      "After all, is there any objection? His statement might save trouble, and you'd be on the safe side. It would take you some time to break in."

      "Well," said Mr. Jellicoe, with his hand on the window, "do you agree—yes or no?"

      "All right," said Badger sulkily. "I agree."

      "You promise not to molest me in any way until I have quite finished?"

      "I promise."

      Mr. Jellicoe's head disappeared and the window closed. After a short interval we heard the jar of massive bolts and the clank of a chain, and, as the heavy door swung open, Mr. Jellicoe stood revealed, calm and impassive, with an old-fashioned office candlestick in his hand.

      "Who are the others?" he inquired, peering out sharply through his spectacles.

      "O, they are nothing to do with me," replied Badger.

      "They are Doctor Berkeley and Doctor Jervis," said Thorndyke.

      "Ha!" said Mr. Jellicoe; "very kind and attentive of them to call. Pray come in, gentlemen. I am sure you will be interested to hear our little discussion."

      He held the door open with a certain stiff courtesy, and we all entered the hall led by Inspector Badger. He closed the door softly and preceded us up the stairs and into the apartment from the window of which he had dictated the terms of surrender. It was a fine old room, spacious, lofty, and dignified, with panelled walls and a carved mantelpiece, the central escutcheon of which bore the initials "J.W.P." with the date "1671." A large writing-table stood at the farther end, and behind it an iron safe.

      "I have been expecting this visit," Mr. Jellicoe remarked tranquilly СКАЧАТЬ