COMPLETE TALES

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVI, Issue 222, 16 September 1905, Page 13

COMPLETE TALES

, • _ beside Saintsb-rj m ttie T\ S *f£ the front of St. H EL" «* a — dull must have s-uvered «_•_- °*e r " ' wedding of Leonora Curty* ftW * "arroiL We were listening and rendered __, Tprotege of Samtsby rffiW _ tbe thought bury, d . l lS- -- wTI as his strange «*-* H - f i_«- of the eat. family, gerer-l member ol w _ h _ m __ WdK , on which I had siolißi - t: _- oar jooms late one after--1 ***?$ w I. friend listening m _- d found I whQ was *J*T£££ of the room, random some fantastic crea- #*"%£ £_i wad br»in. had felt that same chdl then. of the musician and his sharp.,:_ %._ matter with jou-carir *C_iedif Ib-w.Jhn.Mre. rif"--! I Wish that comon-ded &«of_yaar_ would .top hinfernal waffing-' •*_intsbn-T smile-- . -SeToit-J-e.disfike to _ enap r_ u r_D_-fe eoaldn't conrmee you that S-tolini is _ gemus. and Ms **rork is marvellous. Cis the 1 growled -r. an ro __t-___ f°r the bridal party was comjjE down the aisle. I observed Leonora as she slowly ,»_*« Moor pew. Md it struck mc that she appeared strangely agitated Her fa« was even paler than usual, and teM-inany calm eyes wore a wild, distracted lookQnce, m the few moments during ,____ I conld observe her closely. she east a _*-"*< nervoii- glance over to _____ Satoli-i was concealed in the bower of pates. I knew that she was a -ervne-rous and high-=trung girl, but I _ad not supposed that the eeretnony •tojii __T- q_ite so noticeable _n effect smb. he*. I T__spered as much to ?imt-b-Ty, who __■__-■- something uzuntelligibl- in n*_y, for he. too. seemed rather out of key" \?__ttltJ___4jfc-«_-Jie wedding party «T-__Ssd Ber-?etl*e atcxr. ami *r_? __hap was slowly advancing toward than. I noted that the organ accoma____e_t softly died away, and the soloJS pratt-dtd for a few bars alone. Then saddenly he -truck an odd chord, and ___o»h_ it by one which L am totally ___bie to dascrilv*. Sufliee it to say that a __w__*_ve tremour seemed to pass throng- the listeners, and we squirmed ____t iL-tasily in onr seats. My jjlsx*- was riveted on Leonora at ihe moment, and I saw a violent treml_i_g take possession of her. following ___&"" she swayed slightly, and then tack in a heap at her father's feet. Wilson Carroll, the groom, bad a ___B_nt before come through the door item the sacristy, and lie ran forward to e_i__ her. bat before he eon Id reach __c spot, she lay on the marble steps. For _ moment, there was silence SEOttg the astonished spectator!-, and ___a confusion re_g_-d. those who had __ne to see a fa_hionab-e wedding feeling __s___e-ivery that a tragedy ha 3 •____ ita place. ' itf-i, indeed, it was so. Dr. Thorne, i__e Curtyser family physician, hurried *$ the aisle and hastily examined the girt only to announce that she was *_d ■Dead! A shudder passed through the ••■B-hhr of relativ-s and friends, and tie stricken groom stood there beside ""■father in silence—grief too great for *m_s to express had swept over their -Baits. Tbe white-haired bishop, who so **e_ had stood in death's calm preseMs. tried to say something comfort- ®& but he failed miserably and broke «*•*_. I turned to Sa'in-sbui-y. bur he was 1 Tsli9 a surDr ise- for he had aid nothing to mc when he left, and 1 Sondered where he had disappeared to. -_cmg about, I c-aught sight of >a*m leaning against or. P ot the choir ~~ H - s cold, handsonn* rVatures »»re a cynical smile as he observed the Fonp at the foot of the steps. He was and his _____ __.__ !Hj ___ wl "Mthe purring of a eat. ife Cnrtyse has been pfjisoned." he *S_J * * matt * r for tQ e poli.-e. my TO add to the general «wf ___„_. the! wbo had ; »c «_!__« EOW Pntered the buiM _ on the al lar stew. *iofT- T™ 1 £ saw slip fo ° a T b >- J chldid n °thm_ loath _____ 3t aCene °f consternation and the J r^ We in sflenc. down Id ° y ° U think of it? " be f replied s.ow.v. h t remarke ''- -but 6 Mk * -- --luniere-i!**" t ._ , . for Sa't-**- .: Xc ' liUme d :n wonde--2ailled « ;__ r *!._ ,reSSIOII on mc. I roL*L an "Predion of do °^ n natnre °t the Italian. _«___,«, ° Jon mean?- i added _ _p oi . - if wei - h - - --ct ___S^, of my last querj. __Ti_T Jl he replied; *•■_>- -i- c . ]___»-* _,ri^ ,st rultv de- " J ttust ,aaT = tiie to l _.. I

'But who "would have done such a thing?" I demanded incredulously, "Leonora rould not possibly have had ; an enemy in the world." , i -As i told you, I havi» not yet work- i ed out mv ideas, and must have tiaie | to go into it fully." ! "Go into it!" I echoed, for the thought of the Hon. James Saintsbury, a wealthy young litterateur and artist of c-eniiderable distinction, turning detective was astounding to mc. "But really. Jim, hadn't that better be leftto those usually employed to ferret out • these affairs V j 1 ; '.Vo. Carl." he replied, decidedly. "I; am going to investigate this matter on my own account. But let us hurry,; for I leave town to-night, and nra-st I start as soon as possible." j 1 inquired where he was off to. for 1 I knew that he had no previous intention of quitting London. i "To Paris for a day or two on im- j portant business."' he answered short-1 lv. and I knew my friend too well to pursue the theme further. We soon arrived at the building in which the bachelor chambers we shar- j j ed together were located, and on enter-; j ins. Saintsbury proceeded to pack up. [ a few articles in his portmanteau. i He departed that night without furI ther referents to the subject of .Leci noras death, except to advise mc, for j information as to how the crime was I not committed, to follow the results lof the polite investigations, as detailed in the papers. My friend, although he possessed the artistic temperament, was nevertheless exceedingly practical, and he was intensely interested in applied science. I When anvthins aroused his curiosity. he followed the effect t" its cause with a thoroughness which was extraordinary. His scientific researches were marked with a penetrative ability, and such a complete lack of sentiment, that I realised he would make aa admirable amateur sleuth. 1 regarded his judgment as uncommonly accurate, and was convinced that he had perceived some detail of this affair which, had escaped all the resr. The newspaper theories as to the cause of the tragedy. I found, were about equally divided between heart failure from the excitement and poisoning. The coroner had taken up the matter, an inquest was set for the third day following, and during the interim an autopsy -was to be performed. I was much surprised to see that Victor Satolini had been pla-ced under arrest on suspicion, having been heard to make some threats against the deceased. The groom, so the papersi stated, "was prostrated by the shock, and knowing Wilson as 1 did, I regardpd if as little less than miravulous that He had snr viveti tiie blow. I was at a loss to see how Satolini had been connected with the crime, if. -indeed, any had been committed. Saintsbury. 1 remembered. SaS"pi=te<J jtbe fei- | low up in a dance hall in Rome, where he was playing, and being a musician of considerable accomplishment hhn^elf, my friend was struck by the Italian's remarkable rendition. He spoke to the man. who turned out to be a highly educated gentleman of g-ood family, having until recently occupied the position of professor of psyt-holosry at the university, but because of hip faith in various of the occult sciences, which hp widely aired, the authorities had dismissed him; and. being una-ble to secure a similar position 0 he had sunk into the employment in which my friend found him. (Saintsbury. I might mention, has J travelled widely in the East, and is snj authority and wild enthusiast regarding all branches of occultism.) So. drawn by common interests to the man, and enamoured of his wonderful music. Sarntsbnry took him under his ample financial wins and brought him to London, where be had secured many lucrative appointments for him. and had introduced him to a few of his intimates. Among these was Miss Curtyse, with whom the Italian immediately fell hea3long in love. She seemed dangerously interested in him for a time, and then suddenly refused to receive him again at her houss. Xatolmi became very angry, and; vowpfl revenge for his rebuff, but both he and Leonora preserved silence as to . its causp. When The engagement of the girl to Carroll was announced, he heatedly told my friend tnat they would j never be married, but Saints-bury was | too weil acquainted with the Italian's i passing fits of temper to take any serious notice of his threats. Time had passed on and Satolini seemed to have forgotten the incident, j When the day for the wedding was set he asked Saintsbnry to use his influence to have him appointed soloist to play durincr the crremony. promising to comp<.se a bridal march especially for the occasion. My friend had readily obtained Carroll's consent, and Satolini certainly fulfilled his of an original wmpositinn. Thinking these facts over. I could not perceive any evidence against the Italian, save a possible motive: and dele.-: him .-is I did. still I ooold Dot believe him capable ot deliberately poisoning the girl. The day before the inquest was appointed to be heid. a packet was delivered mc by a special messenger, who ■ stated that he had bought it direct from Paris. Ir contained a short note from Saintsbury. whHeh gave mc no information as to the mystery, and contained a let; er addressed to the prosecutor, with the request that I deliver it personally immediately upon receipt. Saintsbury mentioned that he would be obliged to remain in Paris several days longer. I visited the prosecutor, who was an acquaintance of ours, and presented the lottpr. He read it over while I waited, 1 and from a scrutiny of his face I gathered ihac he was astonished at its coni tents. : When he laid it aside, however, he ■ mentioned nothing of its purport, and j I left the office considerably mystified. j That evening the papers stated that j the autopsy had revealed nothing, and | : the conclusion of the physicians was j that death had resulted from perfectly | natural causes. j' On tbe following day, when the in- j quest was called, it was adjourned for ; [ a week, at the request of the proseeu- :; tor. pending, the newspapers stated, j ! further investig«ions. Sat*lini wti

?5i rA>fSußjTc "^lli _ijfMjmotk&. [ml

THE HARMONY OF DEATH.

BY C. WHTTTIER TATE.

HOW A DIABOLICAL SCHEME WAS DISCOVERED Ds TIME AND MADE TO ACT AS A BOOMERANG.

I was completely bewildered by this j £ tarn of affairs, and now impatiently j I looked forward to the return of my s i friend, who, I felt sure, would clear up c ; the matter. 1 I In the meantime the public loet in- i 1 terest in the case, which was referred I x to as u a very sad affair." The press made some scathing remarks about the s detention of the musician on insuffi- j i ciency of evidence, and I could not but j * feel that they ■were right. 3 A day or two later, I received a let- c tcr post-marked Rome, in which Saints- i J bury said that he was still gathering evidence, and "would not arrive in Lon- 1 don until tlie time for the inquest, at a which he requested my presence, stat- t I ing that "I would have the surprise of 1 my life," but giving no definite details 1 1 of what to expect. j c J The day for the hearing came at I 1 j last, and 1 journeyed to the Coroners i i j Court with a feeling of suppressed ex- j I ! citement. There was but a handful of ! £ spectators present, and the prosecutor | r immediately opened his caae. I = Dr. Thorne testified that the deeeas- 1 ed had a very weak heart and in his j opinion had succumbed to the unwont- j 1 ; ed excitement. The physicians who | t i had performed the autopsy stated that j c ! no traces of poison could be found, and | they one and all subscribed to Thome's j c theory. I Several persons testified that they had ; heard Satolini make the threats against , the deceased which had caused his ar- , rest and detention. I looked about, for Saintsbury. but , he was not in the court-room; and the : prosecutor appeared to be too busy to ( interrupt with idle questions just then. My glance then wandered over to where , Satolini sat beside his lawyer. j He was apparently rather amused at | '. the proceedings, and regarded the witnesses with a supereilions smile. He s nodded jauntily to mc, but an occa- | ( sional gleam in his eye brought back the j . old feeling that I was in the presence j of a great, human cat. j j Still, it the man was guilty, I reflect- i ed, he certainly was a remarkable actor. : | The coroner looked wearily at the , clock several times while the examina- , , tion dragged alonjr. as though he would like to be relieved of the formality and j dismiss the matter then and there. ' Just as the evidence seemed about ex- J ( hausted, and as I fancied that the coro- | ( ncr was impatiently preparing to dis- j . charge the prisoner, Saintsbury burst ! { into the Courtroom, followed by a short, dark, gentleman, apparently a French- , man. The prosecutor immediately arose. i "Your Honor," said he, addressing j ( the Court, "I have one other and a most j ( important witness who will tell Us what j he knows about this affair. Jlr James | Saintsbury will take the witness stand." ! The coroner appeared disgusted at ' this delay, but mv friend was sworn. ' He told of his meeting with Satolini and of bringing him to England, of the j , introduction to Leonora, the Italian's ■ rain- ■faxfartaa'Tieir for ker, -bis- I ' and all the details which I already knew. ' He stated his facts in a clear, incisive ! voice, absolutely void of all sentiment ' or passion, as though he were lecturing j on a subject whitrh he knew thoroughly, i but ia which he had no interest. * |' He went on: ' 1- I attended the ceremony, where I had obtained permission for Signor Satolini to play an original composition ' for The wedding march, and during his ' rendition of it I noted that it was an i extraordinary piece, and that it had a \ ' varied, though noticeable, effect upon ' , those who heard it. With mc it pro- [ duced a sensation which I have felt but I once before, when I listened to a snake ! i charmer in India who controlled the ; performances of a most vicious reptile : by the weird music which he produced ■ with his violin. "As Miss Curtyse passed the pew where I was seated, I observed her fea- \ ' tures very closely, and noted that she ' had the peculiarly tense look of one who j is hypnotised. She walked up the aisle | as if under the influence of a spell, and , the music then took on a still more ex- i traordinary tone. ; '"As she stood before the altar, the j organ accompaniment ceased, the soloist j' continuing for a few bars alone to where ; the composition reaches a first or false j < ' climax. At this point a most remark- j' 'able chord appears, such a one as could only be produced by a master-violinist." Saintsburv paused a moment, looking earnestly over the Courtroom, and then he went on: "Possibly you gentlemen have read j something in regard to the new theory of musical hypnotism. If so. you will i appreciate, in a measure, what I am | ! about to explain. I' "Signor Satolini was, up to a year \ ' ago, professor of psychology- in the University of Rome, from which I have just ■ returned. He was dismissed from that position because of his views concerning ! certain psychological phenomena, in- ' chicling hypnotism and various branches ' of occultism, which have not general i sanction in conservative institutions. [ "He is an accomplished musician, and ' a short time before his dismissal he pub- t lished a brochure on his theories of i ] musical hypnosis, a copy of which I i ' have, although its circulation was sup- I ' pressed by the Roman authorities. In I ' it he sets forth the resnlt of a number i ' of experiments, such as the hypnotising j ' i of various persons, notably women, by j' peculiar notes and series of chords ren- I = 'dered on a violin, also the effect of music ' upon cats, mice and snakes; and relates ! several instances where he succeeded in ' producing the death of a dog by strik- ' ing certain chords, which, he states, ' shattered the animai's nervous system. . '"'Then he draws his deductions that j [ it would be possible to kill a human be- i ing by the same means, and that women ! i would be more susceptible than men, i ! also arguing that highly nervous per- j , Eons are more readily affected by music i i than others. J I "Satolini at one time exercised quite j s an influence over Miss Curtyse, by ' t means. I have just discovered, of his re- j i niarkable music; to such a degree that j c she became afraid of him and refused I to see him when alone. This angered s him greatly, and he stated to mc, when 1; her engagement to Mr Carroll was announced, that they would never be mar- f ried. a ■'He was well acquainted with her a exceedingly nervous temperament, and ' taking this into consideration he pre- * pared to carry out his threat by composing a piece for her bridal march of i t> such a nature that it e would place her j t under bynetie influence, and then, at J *frc cUmijtj ac s£za*)g uj<» hex, already {t

badly shattered nerree a chord calculated to break her high-strung nervoas system." Satolini's counsel jumped up._ "I object, jour honor, to this nonsensical parade of wild ideas and unproved theories," he shouted. There was a long argument, between the lawyers, the coroner finally deciding to admit it. pending an examination of the precedents. ~Gk> on, sir,* , he said to Saintsbury. "I have with mc 31. Dupre. professor of psychology at the University of Paris." He is a recognised authority along this line, and he will presently corroborate my statements. said Saintsburv calmly, "but first, I wish to play over" Satolinrs March,' the score of which I obtained from the music rack during- the commotion following the tragedy in St. Luke's. Tnere is upon it some hand-writing of his, which I can identify." he added. The prosecutor passed him np the sheets, together with a violin, which I instantly recognised as Satolini's. It was a very fine instrument, made by j Medard. one of the most famous sue- j cessors of Stradivarius, and had a re- j markable timbre. I learned afterward that my friend had obtained it on his -way to tbe court at the Italian's rooms, where he was well known by the servants. Saintsbury was tuning the instrument, and all eyes were turned in his | direction, when suddenly Satolini j leaped from his chair. Before he could j reach the door two bailiffs seized him. | but he seemed to writhe out of their grasp as some grreat sinuous animal might have done, though he was finally subdued and the coroner ordered that he be handcuffed. The fellow's lawyer now came over to his manacled client and they whispered tojrether for come moments; then the counsellor turned to the court. "Your honor, we object to the playing of this selection in evidenc?." he said. The prosecutor was on his feet in- j stantly. and a lively legal battle ensued, in which the latter was again tentative!v victorious. Satolini then askpd permission to leave the court-room while the piece was being played, but the coroner denied the re-, quest. j Saintsburv explainrd a few points re- \ garding the music, and thm trsran to play. He was an accomplished violinist and rendered the piece well. As the them- developed we became strangely restless, and I am sure that every one there felt the spell of the com- j position. 1 glanced over to where Sato- j lici sat. and was surprised to see that he had completely broken down. His head was sunk, his lithe body was j lunched up. and he resembled, for ail the j vvoTld. a ferocious beast finally driven to i bay. From time to time he glared wildly at Saint^bury. The violin* wail-?d out the notes and there were few of us but would have Hkcd I to cover our ears and hear no more. \et t the thiDg fascinated onr, and we appeared, it ~trcck mc. like persons passing j through a terrifying dream. i Saintsbury finally struck the chord; which he claimed batl caused Leonora s j death, and I saw every one about mc j ihuddfr from the effect of it. Tk? room ; was much smaller than the churrh, ami ' we were under the direct influence of tbe j music. j Ther? were several succeeding bars I .-.nd ther I saw Satoliui suddenly strug- I ■.rip to cover hi- ears, forgetting the hand-1 ruffs about his wrists. At the =ame in- \ stint Saintsbury struck the final chord.! Satolini uttered a shriek and spran,; '. from his seat, then a convulsive shock J Seemed to run down his spine and he fell i to the floor. That last chord had been roore intfnse than the one which killed Leonora, and it was several moments before any one sufficiently re-roveir-d from its r-fft rts to pick up t.'ue Italian. j Dr. Fierce, the coroner's physician, was the first to recover, and he hurried over to where the musician lay and turned the body over. "He is dead.'' he exclaimed, after a hasty examination. j It was true—Satolini had been killed j by his own wild creation. It was Saints-, bury's theory that the fellow had accurnt"ly judged the point at which his own nnimal-liks system would be shattered and had originally intended to play on to the end and thus commit suicide, but that after he had killed the girl he lost h'"s ecuragp. Certainly he was unable to j cc-rtrol himself in the court-room wfv?-n ! th» suicide chord was reached, and died liko the coward he was. | Nonp of those there will ever forget ■ that very irregular gession of the coroner's court, and we agreed that the score of th« '"Bridal March" should b° immediately destroyed, for though for- \ tunately no one save its creator suffered j from the effects of the nerr?-shattering i comrxisition. there is no telling what a > pnblic rendition of it might have caused- j