CHAPTER II.

Observer, Volume 1, Issue 24, 26 February 1881, Page 245

CHAPTER 11.

He lay in his bed, on his back ,* the bedclothes being turned down to below his chest. On the left side of his nightgoAvn, just over the heart, the blood on the linen told its terrible tale.. As Avell as one could judge, looking unAvillingly at a dead face, he must have been a handsome young man in his life-time. It Avas a sight to sadden anybody— but I think the most painful sensation Avas Avhen my eyes fell next on liis miserable Avife. She Avas doAvn on the fioor, croAvded up in a corner— a dark little Avoman, smartly dressed in gay colours. Her black hair and big broAvn eyes made the horrid paleness of her face look even more deadly Avhite than perhaps it really Avas. She stared straight at us, Avithout appearing to notice us. We spoke to her, and she never ansAvered a Avord. She might have been dead— like her husband — except that she perpetually picked at her fingers, and shuddered cA-cry iioav ancl then as if she Avas cold. I Avent to her, and tried to lift her up. She shrank back Avith a cry that Avell-nigh frightened me — \ not because it Avas loud, but because it Avas more like tlie cry of some animal than of a human

being. However quietly she might have "behaved in the landlady's previous experience of her, she was beside herself now. I might have been moved by a natural pity for her, or I might have been completely upset in my mmd — I only know this, I could not persuade myself that she was guilt}- ; and I even said to Mrs. Crosscapel, ', J don't believe she did it." H A s I spoke, there was a knock at the street door. I went downstairs at once, and admitted (to my great relief) the inspector, accompanied by one of our men. He waited downstairs to hear my report, and he approved of what I had. "It looks as if the murder had been committed by somebody in the house. " Saying this, he left the man below, and went up "with me to the second floor. Berore he had been a minute in the room, he discovered an object which had escaped my observation. It was the knife that had done the deed. The doctor had called in, had found it left in the body— had withdrawn it to probe the wound — and had laid it on the bedside table. It was one of those useful knives which contain a saw, a corkscrew, and other like implements. The big blade fasiened back, when open, with a spring. Except where the blood was on it, it it was as bright as when it had been purchased. A small metal plate was fastened to the horn handle, containing an inscription, only partly engraved, which ran thus : To John Zebedee, from There it stopped, strangely enough. Who, or what, had interrupted the engraver's works ? It was impossible even to guess. Nevertheless, the inspector was encouraged. " This ought to help us," he said — and then he gave an attentive ear (looking all the while at the poor creature in the comer) to what Mrs. Croscapel had to tell him. The landlady having done, lie said lie must now see the lodger who slept in the next "bedchamber.

Mr. Deluc made his appearance, standing a the door of the room, ancl turning his head away AVith horror from the sight inside. He was wrapped in a splendid blue dressinggown, with a golden girdle and trimmings. His scanty, biwnish hair curled (Avhether artificially or not, I am unable to say), in little ringlets. His complexion Avas yelloAv, his greenish-broAvn eyes Avere of the sort called "goggle"— they looked as if they might drop out of his face, if you held a spoon under them. His moustache and goat's beard Avere beautifully oiled — ond to complete his equipment, he liad a long, black cigar fn his mouth. "It isn't insensibility to this terrible tragedy," he explained. "My nerves have been shattered, Mr. Policeman, ancl I can only repair the mischief in this Avay. Be pleased to excuse and feel for me." The inspector questioned this Avitness sharply ancl closely. He Avas not a man to be misled by appearances ; but I could see that he Avas far from liking, or even trusting, Mr. Deluc. Nothing came of the examination, except Avhat Mrs. Crosscapel had in substance already mentioned to me. Mr. Deluc returned to his room. " Hoav long has he been lodging Avith you ?" the inspector asked, as soon as his back was turned. "Nearly a year," the landlady ansAvered. " Did he give you a reference ?" "A.s good a reference as I could Avish for." Thereupon, she mentioned the names of a AvellknoAvn firm of cigar merchants in the city. The inspector noted the information in his pocket-book. I Avould rather not detail Avhat happened next ■ it Avas really too distressing to be chvelt on. Let me only say that the unfortunate demented Avoman Avas taken aAvay in a cab to the station-house. The inspector possessed himself of the knife, and of a book found on the floor, called "The World of Sleep." The portmanteau containing the luggage Avas locked— and then the door of the room Avas secured, and the key left in my charge. My instructions Avere to remain in the house till 1 heard again shortly from the inspector. In the interval if any one, at that untimely hour, attempted to enter or leave the premises, I Avas bidden to stop them, under superior orders.