The taxi-cab driver lifted the Argus.
This here newspaper, sir, he answered. Ive just been reading of itabout Mr. Herapath, sir.
Yes, said Mr. Tertius gently. Yes?
Well, sirstrikes me as how I drove him, sir, this morning, answered the driver. Gentleman of his appearance, anyway, sirthats a fact!
Mr. Tertius glanced at Peggie, who was intently watching the caller.
Ah! he said, turning again to the driver, you think you drove either Mr. Herapath or a gentleman of his appearance this morning. You did not know Mr. Herapath by sight, then?
No, sir. Ive only just come into this partcame for the first time yesterday. But Im as certain
Just tell us all about it, said Mr. Tertius, interrupting him. Tell us in your own way. Everything, you know.
Aint so much to tell, sir, responded the driver. All the same, soons Id seen this piece in the paper just now I said to myself, Id best go round to Portman Square and tell what I do know, I says. And its like this, sirI come on this part yesterdaylast night it was. My taxi belongs to a man as keeps half a dozen, and he put me on to night work, this end of Oxford Street. Well, it ud be just about a quarter to two this morning when a tall, well-built gentleman comes out of Orchard Street and made for my cab. I jumps down and opens the door for him. You know St. Mary Abbots Church, Kensington? he says as he got in. Drive me down there and pull up at the gate. So, of course, I ran him down, and there he got out, give me five bob, and off he went. Thats it, sir.
And when he got out, which way did he go? asked Mr. Tertius.
West, siralong the High Street, past the Town Hall, promptly answered the driver. And there he crossed the road. I see him cross, because I stopped there a minute or two after hed got out, tinkering at my engine.
Can you tell us what this gentleman was like in appearance? asked Mr. Tertius.
Well, sir, not so much as regards his face, answered the driver. I didnt look at him, not particular, in that waybesides, he was wearing one of them overcoats with a big fur collar to it, and hed the collar turned high up about his neck and cheeks, and his hatone of them slouched, soft hats, like so many gentlemen wears nowadays sirwas well pulled down. But from what bit I see of him, sir, I should say he was a fresh-coloured gentleman.
Tall and well built, you say? observed Mr. Tertius.
Yes, sirfine-made gentlemanpretty near six feet, I should have called him, replied the driver. Little bit inclined to stoutness, like.
Mr. Tertius turned to Peggie.
I believe you have some recent photographs of Mr. Herapath, he said. You might fetch them and let me see if our friend here can recognize them. You didnt notice anything else about your fare? he went on, after Peggie had left the room. Anything that excited your attention, eh?
The driver, after examining the pattern of the carpet for one minute and studying the ceiling for another, slowly shook his head. But he then suddenly started into something like activity.
Yes, there was, sir, now I come to think of it! he exclaimed. I hadnt thought of it until now, but now you mention it, there was. I noticed hed a particularly handsome diamond ring on his left handan extra fine one, too, it was.
Ah! said Mr. Tertius. A very fine diamond ring on his left hand? Now, how did you come to see that?
He rested that hand on the side of the door as he was getting in, sir, and I noticed how it flashed, answered the driver. There was a lamp right against us, you see, sir.
I see, said Mr. Tertius. He wasnt wearing gloves, then?
He hadnt a glove on that hand, sir. He was carrying some papers in ita sort of little roll of papers.
Ah! murmured Mr. Tertius. A diamond ringand a little roll of papers. He got up from his chair and put a hand in his pocket. Now, my friend, he went on, chinking some coins as he withdrew it, you havent told this to any one else, I suppose?
No, sir, answered the driver. Came straight here, sir.
Theres a couple of sovereigns for your trouble, said Mr. Tertius, and therell be more for you if you do what I tell you to do. At presentthat is, until I give you leavedont say a word of this to a soul. Not even to the policeyet. In fact, not a word to them until I say you may. Keep your mouth shut until I tell you to open itI shall know where to find you. If you want me, keep an eye open for me in the square outside, or in the street. When the young lady comes back with the photographs, dont mention the ring to her. This is a very queer business, and I dont want too much said just yet. Do as I tell you, and Ill see youre all right. Understand?
The driver pocketed his sovereigns, and touched his forehead with a knowing look.
All right, sir, he said. I understand. Depend on me, sirI shant say a word without your leave.
Peggie came in just then with a half a dozen cabinet photographs in her hand. One by one she exhibited them to the driver.
Do you recognize any of these? she asked.
The driver shook his head doubtingly until Peggie showed him a half-length of her uncle in outdoor costume. Then his eyes lighted up.
Couldnt swear as to the features, miss, he exclaimed. But Id take my davy about the coat and the hat! Thats what the gentleman was wearing as I drove this morningtake my Gospel oath on it.
He recognizes the furred overcoat and the soft hat, murmured Mr. Tertius. Very goodvery good! All right, my manwe are much obliged to you.
He went out into the hall with the driver, and had another word in secret with him before the footman opened the door. As the door closed Mr. Tertius turned slowly back to the study. And as he turned he muttered a word or two and smiled cynically.
A diamond ring! he said. Jacob Herapath never wore a diamond ring in his life!
CHAPTER VII
IS THERE A WILL?
When Triffitt hurried off with his precious budget of news Selwood lingered on the step of the office watching his retreating figure, and wondering about the new idea which the reporter had put into his mind. It was one of those ideas which instantly arouse all sorts of vague, sinister possibilities, but Selwood found himself unable to formulate anything definite out of any of them. Certainly, if Mr. Herapath died at, or before, twelve oclock midnight, he could not have been in Portman Square at one oclock in the morning! Yet, according to all the evidence, he had been there, in his own house, in his own study. His coachman had seen him in the act of entering the house; there was proof that he had eaten food and drunk liquor in the house. The doctor must have made a mistakeand yet, Selwood remembered, he had spoken very positively. But if he had not made a mistake?what then? How could Jacob Herapath be lying dead in his office at Kensington and nibbling at a sandwich in Portman Square at one and the same hour? Clearly there was something wrong, something deeply mysterious, something
At that point of his surmisings and questionings Selwood heard himself called by Barthorpe Herapath, and he turned to see that gentleman standing in the hall dangling a bunch of keys, which Selwood instantly recognized.
We have just found these keys, said Barthorpe. You remember the inspector said he found no keys in my uncles pockets? We found these pushed away under some loose papers on the desk. It looks as if hed put them on the desk when he sat down, and had displaced them when he fell out of his chair. Of course, theyre hisperhaps you recognize them?