The Stowmarket Mystery

the Libr

Table of

to the attitude adopted by the Rev. Wilberforce Layton, Helen avoided frictio

d not like this arrangement. He smilingly prote

made some unfair retort about his hyper-sensitiveness, and promptly sent Helen a formal release. She tore it up, and at the same time accepted it so far as I was concerned. We met at Mrs. Eastham's house-that good lady has remained my firm friend throughout-and I don't mind telling you, Brett, that I broke down utterly. Well, we began by sending messages to each other through Mrs. Eastham. Then I forwarded to Helen, in the same

t decisively. "Beechcroft Hall will

tty village, with a Norman church tower standing squarely in the midst of lofty tr

murmured the barrister as their dog-car

lawn and the well-trimmed garden, but he was denied a sight of his divinity. The f

hey approached a roomy, comfortable-looking mansion, occupying an angle

ve, with its selvages of deep green turf, led straight to the Elizabethan house a quarter of

pirit. It presented a beautiful and pleasing picture. A sense of homeliness was given by a number of Alderney cattle and young hunters graz

e here," announced Brett "I

horse's head. He did not h

ed Mrs. Eastham's house by that side-door

to see why you should hit upon the si

rge number of guests, Mrs. Eastham required all her front rooms for supper and extra servants, so she asked people to halt their carriages at the side-do

less of his companion's blank amaz

on the step of the vehicle and forgot to slip

ne of these th

ous. But tell this good lady

astened, and the lodge-keeper's wife

e, don't you know

's Mr. David!" g

the gates

s not receiving

she

osed, I think Mr

ll receive me

ir, it will

wo men entered. They walked slowly up the drive

sto

said, "that the tw

w yards f

y fought here. Alan forced the stranger on to

ear the house. Brett watched him narrowly. The young man was describing

e continued. "It might have been al

y saw a small, pale-faced, exceedingly handsome Italian-a young man, with coal-bl

ved sufficiently to enhance his foreign appearance. Such a man would be correctly placed in the

flung open the window, and sai

to see? Can I be o

ell chosen and civil enough, had his tone accorded w

adva

nor Capella?

apella

sistance. This gentleman is Mrs. Cap

di Ba

ge. His sallow skin could not become more pallid; to show emotion he flushed a swarthy

told by the lodge-keeper that Mrs. Capella was indisposed, but under the circumstances

pected pleasur

e. He had an unpleasant habit of parting his lips c

h apologise for not

erate the other, who continued to block th

r. May I ask

end of Mr. Hume's-who, I may mention, do

rn his glittering eyes upon the

"but Mrs. Capella is too unwel

a preliminary to our purpose, you will serv

ne of them his wife's relative, or admit them with some show of politeness. An Italian may be rude, he can ne

glared at his host with uncompromising hostility, and ha

rent reasons, by readily fallin

a would be most g

moved towa

me!" cri

d upset his chair with a lou

ume wondered what had happened to flurry t

there was no further talk until a servan

ours. He was wont to declare that it not only disturbed his digestion but destroyed his taste for tobacco. Hume did not yet know

of a man awaiting explanations. Yet he was restless and disturbed. He was a

s the object of ou

ow should

lady so closely con

d to be firmly resolv

e broke in.

asked me to help him in th

mistakable. In both there was the air of aristocratic birth. Their eyes, the contour of their faces, were alike. But the fres

dress set off a figure that would have cau

tt. "A woman easily swayed, but never to be c

glance fell upon Hume. Her face, prone to betray each fl

vie!" sh

nt to m

id. "I hope you ar

d, but she held out her hand and su

know you were in England. Why did you

hasty resolve. This is my friend, Mr. Reginald Brett. He was just abo

Mrs. Capella was flustered, indulging in despe

ll rang. I thought something had happened. You

husband was good enough to invite us to enter by t

hostility, for the barrister's adroit ruse had outwitted him by bringing the lady

id Margaret, with forced composure. "You will stay for lunche

s eager, almost wistful. H

e have driven ove

barrister, "we are pledged to v

ason at present hidden from Brett. Hume, of course, was mys

rusquely

n would now like to make the e

s wife could rest under no doubt as t

ly. You probably forget that we asked to be allowed to see her in the

imperious scorn. Then she deliberately turned her

door and walked to

ent at this little scene. Brett treated

ame of the odium attached to it by the manner of Sir Alan Hume-Frazer's death. At my request he brought me her

became ashen. Her

cried. "I little dreamed that such could be the

swung roun

ett," he snapped, "I refer you to the po