No; the responsibility rests upon yourself. Youve held a masters certificate a good many years, and you are fully acquainted with the Board of Trade regulations.
Of course, I dont deny that, the other responded.
But my orders were quite precise.
And now, tell me, how came this gentleman on board your ship?
To tell the truth, sir, I dont know exactly. We were lying in the St. Katherine Docks, and my last evening ashore I spent at home with my wife, over at Victoria Park. We were to sail at four oclock in the morning, but I didnt get aboard before about ten past four. When I did so, orders from the owners were put into my hand, and I was told that there was a passenger whod been brought aboard, lying asleep below. Eres the letter; and he drew it from his pocket and handed it to the Consul.
The latter read it through, then, with an exclamation of surprise, handed it over to me.
It certainly increased the mystery, for it was from the office of the owners, Messrs Hanway Brothers, in Leadenhall Street, ordering that I should be taken on the round voyage to the Baltic, well cared for, but kept looked in a cabin, as I had developed homicidal tendencies.
The gentleman, whose name is Doctor Colkirk, continued the letter, is subject to fits, in which he remains unconscious for some hours; therefore there is no cause for alarm if he is not conscious when he reaches you. He is under an hallucination that he has been witness of some remarkable crime, and will, no doubt, impress upon you the urgent necessity of returning to London for the prosecution of inquiries. If he does this, humour him, but on no account allow him to go on deck, or to hold conversation with any one. The gentleman is a source of the greatest anxiety to his friends, and, we may add, that if the present orders are strictly carried out, the gentlemans friends have promised the payment of a handsome bonus to yourself. We therefore place him on board the Petrel, in preference to any other vessel of our fleet, because of the confidence we entertain that you will strictly carry out your orders.
The letter was signed by the firm.
It seems very much as though the owners had some object in sending you aboard, observed the Consul.
Then, turning to the skipper, he asked, How was the gentleman brought on board?
He was brought in a private carriage about six oclock in the evening, my men say. Two gentlemen carried him on board. The dock police stopped them, but they told the constable that the gentleman was drunk.
And when you received this letter, what did you do?
Well, I put him in the second mates cabin, and left him alone till two days later, when he came to. Then I just carried out my orders.
Where are you bound for?
The round trip Stockholm, Riga, St. Petersburg, Drammen, Christiansund, and home.
That means a month.
More six weeks.
Your owners, therefore, were anxious that the doctor should be absent from England during that time. There is some mystery here, on the face of it. Doctor Colkirk has related to me a very remarkable story, and the most searching inquiry should be instituted.
Well, sir, Banfield said apologetically, I hope you dont consider my conduct bad. Ive only carried out my orders to the letter. You see I didnt know that the gentleman was on board until wed actually left the quay; and the letter says, quite distinctly, that hes subject to fits, therefore I let him remain quiet until he regained consciousness. Then, turning to me, he added, I trust, sir, that youll accept my apology.
Thats all very well, interposed the Consul; but you know that you did entirely wrong in sailing with an unconscious stranger on board.
I admit that. But you see I had my orders, sir.
Who delivered them to you? I inquired.
The two gentlemen who brought you on board, he responded.
Have any of your men described them to you?
They only said that they were both well dressed, and about middle age.
They were, without doubt, the Tempter and his accomplice. The conspiracy had been conceived and carried out with amazing ingenuity.
And they brought the doctor on board and delivered this letter?
Yes, sir. They afterwards re-entered the carriage and drove away.
Well, said the Consul, the only course I see is for the doctor to take this letter, return to London, and seek an explanation of your owners.
No, sir, I shant give up the letter. Its written to me, demurred the captain.
But it is in my hands, responded the Consul. I am making inquiries into this affair, and I shall act as I think best in the interest of all parties concerned. The letter is your property, certainly; but recollect that this affair may prove very awkward for your owners. Therefore, take my advice, Captain, and assist this gentleman in his inquiries.
I protest against you keeping the letter.
Very well, I will see that your protest is forwarded to your owners, replied the Consul; and he handed me the letter, saying
Your best course. Doctor, is to return by the Wilson boat to Hull. She sails this afternoon at four. Then go down to Leadenhall Street and, make inquiries it seems a strange affair, to say the least.
It is entirely unaccountable, I said. There seems to have been a widespread plot against me, with a single motive the concealment of the murder of Beryl Wynd.
But in that case why not let me telegraph to Scotland Yard? suggested the Consul, as the sudden idea occurred to him. They would watch the house until your return. To-day is Tuesday. Youll be in London on Thursday night, or early on Friday morning.
The proposal was an excellent one, and I gladly acceded. Next instant, however, the bewildering truth flashed across my mind. I had not hitherto realised my position. My heart sank within me.
Would that your suggestion could be carried out, I replied. But, truth to tell, I dont know the house, for I took no notice of its situation, and am unable to tell the name of the road.
Ah! how extremely unfortunate. London is a big place, and there are thousands of houses that are outwardly the same. Didnt the servant who called at your surgery give you the address?
No; she gave it to the cabman, but I did not catch it. Men of my profession take little heed of the exterior of houses. We make a note of the number in our visiting-books thats all.
Then you really havent any idea of the situation of the house in which the tragedy occurred?
None whatever, I replied. A moment later a further thought occurred to me, and I added, But would not the registry of marriages give the address of my bride?
Why, of course it would! cried the Consul excitedly. An excellent idea. Return to London as quickly as you can, and search the marriage register. From that Im certain youll obtain a clue.
Chapter Seven
My New Patient
On Friday morning I entered the office of Messrs Hanway Brothers in Leadenhall Street, and after a short wait was accorded an interview with the manager.
I demanded, of course, an explanation why I had been shipped away from London in such a summary manner, whereupon he apparently regarded me as a lunatic.
I really had no knowledge of the affair, he replied, smiling incredulously. Do you actually allege you were taken on board the Petrel and kept imprisoned in a cabin by Captain Banfield? A most extraordinary story, to say the least.