CHAPTER V
THE NEW GUEST
Oddly enough it was not until I was smarting under the feelingsoccasioned by the reflection that I had come out of the inquiry with asmirch upon my character that it occurred to me what a fool I hadbeen, when I was in the witness-box, in not going even out of my wayto transfer suspicion from myself to the scamp whom Mrs. Barnes hadassured me was her husband. I arrived, then and there, at aresolution. I would play, on lines of my own, that favourite part infiction--the role of the amateur detective. I would trace to theirsources the various threads which had become complicated in such atangled web of crime. I would unravel them, one by one. Single-handed,if necessary, I would make the whole thing plain.
In theory, an excellent resolution; situated as I was, not an easy oneto put into practice. Before the end of the coroner's inquest Messrs.Cleaver and Caxton informed me that their guarantee to provide for theexpenses of my sojourn at Mrs. Barnes's establishment thenceforwardwas withdrawn. Of the four banknotes which had come to me in DuncanRothwell's letter about fifteen pounds remained. If that sum might becredited to my account, on the debit side of the column was the injurywhich my connection with the affair had, at least temporarily, done mycharacter. If before I had found it difficult to obtain remunerativeemployment, I should find it now still harder.
On the morning after the close of the inquiry I was meditating takingan immediate departure from the house in which I had met withexperiences which had been to anything but my advantage, when Mrs.Barnes came into the room. Her worries had worn her almost to ashadow. I felt that, if she continued to diminish at the same ratelong, she soon, literally, would entirely waste away. Her nervoustricks seemed to have become accentuated. She stood rubbing her handstogether, apparently for the moment at a loss for something to say.
"I hope, sir, that you are not going?"
"Then you hope wrong, Mrs. Barnes. I certainly am going, and that atonce."
"You mustn't sir--you really mustn't."
"You are wrong again, Mrs. Barnes, for I really must, if on oneaccount only--that I am not in a position to pay your terms."
She gave a sudden movement forward, coming to lean with both her handsupon the table. Her voice dropped to that odd, palpitating whisper ofwhich she seemed to be so fond.
"You needn't let that trouble you. You can live board and lodgingfree, and you'll be welcome."
I observed her closely. In her face there was something which waspositively uncanny. If ever a person had a haunted look it was Mrs.Barnes.
"Why do you make to me such a proposition? Do you consider that I amthe sort of person who would be willing to snatch at anybody'scharity, or are you in the habit of giving strangers board and lodgingfree?"
"Indeed, no; but it's different with you. If you leave me now I shallnot dare to stay in the house, and that's the truth. I feel as if youwere guarding me; as if hungry eyes were on the house, seeking for achance to work me evil, but that the hidden watchers dare not come into do that to me which they desire while my roof still shelters you.Sir, do you think that 'he' did it?"
"Do I think that who did what?"
"Do you think that my husband killed that man?"
"To be frank with you, I think it extremely possible that he knows asmuch of the business as may altogether be good for him--more, forinstance, than you or I. I have been reproaching myself for havingdone as you requested, and not having at least alluded to thegentleman in question when giving my evidence before the coroner."
My words set her trembling.
"You did quite right. You would have been sorry for it afterwards. Icannot tell you why or how, but I am certain that my husband had nomore to do with that deed of blood than you or I."
The woman's intense earnestness made me stare.
"I can only say, Mrs. Barnes, that I regret that I am unable to shareyour certainty."
"That is one reason why I ask you--why I implore you to stay. There isa cloud hanging over you and over me--it is the same cloud! If youstay I feel that it may be lifted; but, if you leave, it may rest onus for ever."
What she said was nonsense pure and simple. Still, I suffered myselfto be persuaded. I agreed to stay on--at any rate, for a time. Thesatisfaction with which she received my decision was so pronouncedthat one might have thought that I had done her the greatest servicein the world.
I went out in the afternoon. When I came back in the evening, not alittle to my surprise, my food was brought me by a man. I stared athim askance. Hitherto the whole service of the house, in which I hadbeen the only guest, had been done by the maid. Now I found myselfconfronted by a quite irreproachable-looking waiter, attired in theorthodox costume of his kind. His presence was so unexpected that Ifound it impossible to conceal my astonishment.
"Who the deuce are you?" I blurted out.
The fellow began to smirk in reply. "New waiter, sir--only came thisafternoon, sir!"
"I had no notion that Mrs. Barnes contemplated making such an additionto her establishment."
"No, sir; perhaps not, sir. Business is very slack just now, but theseason is coming on, and the house will very soon be full."
This was emphatically a lie. So far from the season just coming on, inan hotel-keeper's sense, it was rapidly drawing to an end; and so faras Mrs. Barnes was personally concerned, apparently a bitter one, too.What she wanted, circumstanced as she was, with such a gorgeousindividual as this about the place, or what she could find for him todo, surpassed my comprehension.
The fellow bustled about the room, pretending to busy himself, inaccordance with a trick of his trade, with nothing at all.
"Been here long, sir?"
"You know very well how long I have been here."
"Beg pardon, sir, how's that?"
"You have read it in the papers. Don't feign ignorance with me, myman."
The fellow turned away. He was industriously polishing an alreadyspotless glass.
"You allude to the recent unfortunate occurrence, sir? I believe thatI did see something about it."
"You believe! Is that all? You are perfectly aware that you are aswell up in what you call the recent occurrence as I am. You know allabout me; how I came into the house, when I came, my name, andeverything."
I do not know why I said this, but I did say it, and I felt that itwas true. The man seemed taken aback.
"Mrs. Barnes did mention your name," he murmured.
"You knew it without her mentioning it. You can leave the room. When Iwant you I will ring."
I was glad to be rid of him. His presence seemed to chafe me. I knewnot why. He was not ill-looking. His bearing was wholly respectful;and yet some instinct had seemed to warn me that while I was in hisnear neighbourhood it would be just as well that I should be upon myguard.
When I had eaten I sallied forth in quest of Mrs. Barnes. Her nervoussystem had not improved since the morning; even the sight of me seemedto fill her with terror. Her eyes looked at everything except at me. Iwondered if some disaster had been added to the sum of her alreadyover-numerous troubles.
"You have a new waiter," I began.
"Yes." She spoke in a stammering whisper. Her features were agitatedwith the former reminiscence of St. Vitus's Dance. "Yes; a newwaiter."
"I hope very sincerely, for your sake, Mrs. Barnes, that he may erelong have other guests to wait upon besides myself."
"Yes." The same irresolute muttering. "Yes; I hope he may."
"I had no idea that you thought of making an engagement of the kindjust now."
"No--I don't think--I told you."
What was the matter with the woman? Why did she persist in speaking inthat tone of voice, as if she was fearful of being overheard! And whydid she apparently not dare to allow her eyes to rest, even for amoment, on my face? She had been so effusive in the morning. Now, on asudden, she had returned to the condition of almost doddering terrorwhich had marked her bearing during the time we had a policemanquar
tered in the house.
"Where did you get the man? What is his name? And what do you know ofhim?"
As I put my questions I thought for a moment that she was going tofavour me with one of her frenzied bursts of confidence. But while Iwaited for her to speak, all at once her frame became rigid. I seemedto see the unspoken words lying on her lips. Turning to discover thecause of the obvious change in her manner, I found that the new waiterhad opened the door and, unannounced, had entered the room. At sightof him her agitation again assumed the upper hand.
"I--I must ask you to excuse me, sir. I have something which I mustdo."
I did excuse her; but when I had left her I decided in my own mindthat my instinct had been right, and that there was more in the newwaiter than met the eye. It seemed scarcely likely that even alandlady of such an eccentric type as Mrs. Barnes would increase herstaff when the only guest which her house contained was such anemphatically unprofitable one as I bade fair to be.
However, in one respect the position of affairs was destined to bespeedily changed. The house received not only another guest, but alsoone who bade fair to be as profitable a one as a landlady's heartcould wish. It was on the day immediately following that Mrs.Lascelles-Trevor arrived. I had been out all the morning andafternoon, renewing the weary search for employment which mightprovide me with the means for obtaining my daily bread. The firstintimation I had of her arrival was when, having dined, I was thinkingof a quiet pipe, and of an early retirement to bed.