And what put the notion of fire-arms into your mind?
That query, explained Vance, was a corollary of your own questions about barred windows and Bensons fear of burglars. If he was in a funk about house-breakers or enemies, hed be likely to have weapons at handeh, what?
Well, anyway, Mr. Vance, put in Heath, your curiosity unearthed a nice little revolver thats probably never been used.
By the bye, Sergeant, returned Vance, ignoring the others good-humored sarcasm, just what do you make of that nice little revolver?
Well, now, Heath replied, with ponderous facetiousness, I deduct that Mr. Benson kept a pearl-handled Smith and Wesson in a secret drawer of his center-table.
You dont sayreally! exclaimed Vance in mock admiration. Postively illuminatin!
Markham broke up this raillery.
Why did you want to know about visitors, Vance? There obviously hadnt been anyone here.
Oh, just a whim of mine. I was assailed by an impulsive yearning to hear what La Platz would say.
Heath was studying Vance curiously. His first impressions of the man were being dispelled, and he had begun to suspect that beneath the others casual and debonair exterior there was something of a more solid nature than he had at first imagined. He was not altogether satisfied with Vances explanations to Markham, and seemed to be endeavoring to penetrate to his real reasons for supplementing the District Attorneys interrogation of the housekeeper. Heath was astute, and he had the worldly mans ability to read people; but Vance, being different from the men with whom he usually came in contact, was an enigma to him.
At length he relinquished his scrutiny, and drew up his chair to the table with a spirited air.
And now, Mr. Markham, he said crisply, wed better outline our activities so as not to duplicate our efforts. The sooner I get my men started, the better.
Markham assented readily.
The investigation is entirely up to you, Sergeant. Im here to help wherever Im needed.
Thats very kind of you, sir, Heath returned. But it looks to me as though thered be enough work for all parties. Suppose I get to work on running down the owner of the hand-bag, and send some men out scouting among Bensons night-life cronies,I can pick up some names from the housekeeper, and theyll be a good starting point. And Ill get after that Cadillac, too Then we ought to look into his lady friendsI guess he had enough of em.
I may get something out of the Major along that line, supplied Markham. Hell tell me anything I want to know. And I can also look into Bensons business associates through the same channel.
I was going to suggest that you could do that better than I could, Heath rejoined. We ought to run into something pretty quick thatll give us a line to go on. And Ive got an idea that when we locate the lady he took to dinner last night and brought back here, well know a lot more than we do now.
Or a lot less, murmured Vance.
Heath looked up quickly, and grunted with an air of massive petulance.
Let me tell you something, Mr. Vance, he said, since I understand you want to learn something about these affairs: when anything goes seriously wrong in this world, its pretty safe to look for a woman in the case.
Ah, yes, smiled Vance. Cherchez la femme[34]an aged notion. Even the Romans labored under the superstition,they expressed it with Dux femina facti[35].
However they expressed it, retorted Heath, they had the right idea. And dont let em tell you different.
Again Markham diplomatically intervened.
That point will be settled very soon, I hope. And now, Sergeant, if youve nothing else to suggest, Ill be getting along. I told Major Benson Id see him at lunch time; and I may have some news for you by to-night.
Right, assented Heath. Im going to stick around here a while and see if theres anything I overlooked. Ill arrange for a guard outside and also for a man inside to keep an eye on the Platz woman. Then Ill see the reporters and let them in on the disappearing Cadillac and Mr. Vances mysterious revolver in the secret drawer. I guess that ought to hold em. If I find out anything, Ill phone you.
When he had shaken hands with the District Attorney, he turned to Vance.
Good-bye, sir, he said pleasantly, much to my surprise, and to Markhams too, I imagine. I hope you learned something this morning.
Youd be postively dumfounded, Sergeant, at all I did learn, Vance answered carelessly.
Again I noted the look of shrewd scrutiny in Heaths eyes; but in a second it was gone.
Well, Im glad of that, was his perfunctory reply.
Markham, Vance and I went out, and the patrolman on duty hailed a taxicab for us.
So thats the way our lofty gendarmerie[36] approaches the mysterious wherefores of criminal enterpriseeh? mused Vance, as we started on our way across town. Markham, old dear, how do those robust lads ever succeed in running down a culprit?
You have witnessed only the barest preliminaries, Markham explained. There are certain things that must be done as a matter of routineex abundantia cautelae[37], as we lawyers say.
But, my word!such technique! sighed Vance. Ah, well, quantum est in rebus inane![38] as we laymen say.
You dont think much of Heaths capacity, I know,Markhams voice was patientbut hes a clever man, and one that its very easy to underestimate.
I dare say, murmured Vance. Anyway, Im deuced grateful to you, and all that, for letting me behold the solemn proceedings. Ive been vastly amused, even if not uplifted. Your official Aesculapius rather appealed to me, y knowsuch a brisk, unemotional chap, and utterly unimpressed with the corpse. He really should have taken up crime in a serious way, instead of studying medicine.
Markham lapsed into gloomy silence, and sat looking out of the window in troubled meditation until we reached Vances house.
I dont like the looks of things, he remarked, as we drew up to the curb. I have a curious feeling about this case.
Vance regarded him a moment from the corner of his eye.
See here, Markham, he said with unwonted seriousness; havent you any idea who shot Benson?
Markham forced a faint smile.
I wish I had. Crimes of wilful murder are not so easily solved. And this case strikes me as a particularly complex one.
Fancy, now! said Vance, as he stepped out of the machine. And I thought it extrordinrily simple.
Chapter V. Gathering Information
(Saturday, June 15; forenoon)
You will remember the sensation caused by Alvin Bensons murder. It was one of those crimes that appeal irresistibly to the popular imagination. Mystery is the basis of all romance, and about the Benson case there hung an impenetrable aura of mystery. It was many days before any definite light was shed on the circumstances surrounding the shooting; but numerous ignes fatui[39] arose to beguile the publics imagination, and wild speculations were heard on all sides.
Alvin Benson, while not a romantic figure in any respect, had been well-known; and his personality had been a colorful and spectacular one. He had been a member of New Yorks wealthy bohemian social setan avid sportsman, a rash gambler, and professional man-about-town; and his life, led on the borderland of the demimonde, had contained many high-lights. His exploits in the night clubs and cabarets had long supplied the subject-matter for exaggerated stories and comments in the various local papers and magazines which batten on Broadways scandalmongers.
Benson and his brother, Anthony, had, at the time of the formers sudden death, been running a brokerage office at 21 Wall Street, under the name of Benson and Benson. Both were regarded by the other brokers of the Street as shrewd business men, though perhaps a shade unethical when gauged by the constitution and by-laws of the New York Stock Exchange. They were markedly contrasted as to temperament and taste, and saw little of each other outside the office. Alvin Benson devoted his entire leisure to pleasure-seeking and was a regular patron of the citys leading cafés; whereas Anthony Benson, who was the older and had served as a major in the late war, followed a sedate and conventional existence, spending most of his evenings quietly at his clubs. Both, however, were popular in their respective circles, and between them they had built up a large clientele.