Professor is dead?" I said, amazed.
"Yes," sighed Langton. "Ethelwynn is now beside herself with grief. Ihave just left her, having broken the dreadful news to her."
"Ah!" exclaimed Kirk, "it's surely a dark and bitter revenge--renderedall the worse, Holford, by one vivid fact."
"What is that?"
"The fact that Doctor Flynn--who was born in Germany, though of Britishparents, and was an intimate friend of Leftwich--suspecting the truth,told the German's brother-in-law, with this tragic result."
"Then Flynn is to blame for Greer's death!" I cried.
"Undoubtedly," was Kirk's answer. "Poor Greer!" he added, "He was anold and dear friend of mine. I never suspected that he would befollowed abroad, or I would have gone with him. Flynn was no doubtprivy to the attempt to be made to secure revenge."
"Where is Flynn?"
"Gone abroad," replied Langton. "As soon as I told him what Mr. Kirkhad said over the telephone, he packed some of his traps, and, making alame excuse that he had to visit some friends in Germany, he drove toCharing Cross."
I stood gazing at the pair before me, my thoughts too full for merewords.
Professor Greer's end was, indeed, an unexpected and extraordinary one.
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That night, however, proved full of surprises, for when I returned homeI found Mabel, sweet, eager and happy, anxiously awaiting me.
I noticed she seemed pale, weary and travel-worn, but as she threwherself into my ready arms with a cry of joy at our reunion, she sobbedto me to forgive her for doubting me.
"I don't understand you, darling," I said. "I never doubted you for onemoment."
"Ah!" she sobbed, "you do not know all I've suffered in these long weekswe have been parted."
"No," I said. "Tell me, dearest, tell me all."
Then, in broken sentences, smiling now and then through her tears, sheexplained how, on receipt of the false telegram, she had at once gone toItaly, where she was met by Kirk, who told her that I had unfortunatelybeen accused of the crime of forgery, of which I was innocent, and thatI was in hiding. He promised, if for the time she concealed her name,he would take her to me.
They went to Florence, only to find that I was not there. Thence theywent to Faenza, on the Adriatic side of the Apennines, where she washanded over to the care of Pietro Merli, who conducted her about theContinent under the same pretext--always in search of myself, and alwayspreventing her from sending a message home, for fear, the Italian hadsaid, that the English police should be placed on the track. In Vienna,Kirk again met her, Pietro having returned to England.
Here she met the Professor, whom she had known when a girl at her homein Hampshire, and who had purposely sent her a note and seen her priorto conniving at the trick by which she was enticed abroad and kept apartfrom me. She had, in turn, been introduced to Sir Mark Edwards, whocame to Vienna to purchase the secret of the new process, and hadaccompanied them one evening to the opera.
From Vienna my dear wife was induced to travel alone to Moscow, wherefor the past fortnight she had been awaiting news of me promised by theProfessor, who had all along supplied her with funds. Three daysbefore, however, she had received a telegram from Kirk, telling her thatthe charge against me was withdrawn, and that I had returned home.Then, of course, she had not lost an instant in returning to my side.
During my absence at Kirk's house Gwen had been telling her sister thewhole remarkable truth. Therefore, when my wife had concluded herstory, her head fell upon my shoulder, and in tears she beggedforgiveness for doubting me, a fault which, in those circumstances, Ifreely forgave--as you may quite well imagine.
Is there any need to say more?
Need I tell you that Mabel and myself stood beside the grave and watchedthe burial of poor Professor Greer at St. Peter's, near Broadstairs?
Need I tell you, either, how, just a year later, Ethelwynn, who hadinherited the great fortune accruing from her father's discoveries, wasmarried to Leonard Langton, both my wife and myself being honouredguests at the wedding?
Flynn has not been heard of since; but Antonio is still all-powerful atthe pretty house Langton has taken in Hill Street, and on more than oneoccasion Mabel and I have been guests at the bright, breezy seasidehouse overlooking the Goodwins, beyond Broadstairs.
Leonard Langton and Ethelwynn are extremely happy. Yet I verily believethat Mabel and myself are even still happier, for I cannot help thinkingthat our enforced separation has rendered the joys of our lives thesweeter, and has proved our mutual trust and love.
Kershaw Kirk is still travelling hither and thither, ever active assecret agent of the British Government, and ever prone to ask the adviceof his feathered pet.
As for myself, I still carry on my garage in Chiswick, a business which,I am glad to say, is rapidly extending, though I confess it very nearlycame to ruin in those dark, breathless days when I was seeking asolution of the remarkable problem of "The Red Room."
The End.
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