He was making the same signal to someone outside in the park as that made by the Professor before his death!
I slipped back to the study, much puzzled, but in a few moments he returned, smiling and affable.
What signal had he made and to whom? It was foggy outside, therefore the watcher must have been in the close vicinity.
Antonio appeared at the door, whereupon Kirk gave the manservant certain instructions regarding the payment and discharge of the servants. Apparently one of them had returned and asked for her wages in lieu of notice.
Be liberal with them, urged my companion. We dont want any grumbling. There is no suspicion as yet, and liberality will disarm it.
Very well, signore, replied the man, I will pay them all and get rid of them as soon as possible.
Yes, at once, Kirk snapped, and the man went down the stairs.
Well, I asked, after he was out of hearing, what do you intend doing now?
I never set out any line of action. In such a case as this any such method is folly, he replied.
But at least you will do something with the bodies of the victims? They must be buried, I exclaimed, for the gruesomeness of it all was now preying upon me. This was the first time that I had ever been implicated in a murder mystery and such a mystery!
The disposal of the bodies is my own affair, Mr Holford, he said quietly. Leave that to me. As far as the world knows, Professor Greer and his daughter are away visiting.
But Lady Mellor! Is she not anxious regarding her nieces whereabouts?
Lady Mellor is on the Riviera. Her house in Upper Brook Street is in charge of servants, therefore she is unaware that anything extraordinary has transpired.
Your only confidant is Antonio?
And your own self, he added. But have I not already impressed upon you, my dear friend, the absolute necessity of secrecy in this affair?
You have given me no actual reason, I demurred.
Because certain circumstances bind me to secrecy, was his reply. From what I have already told you I dare say you have gathered that I am no ordinary individual. I am vested by a high authority with a power which other men do not possess, and in this case I am compelled to exercise it.
He saw the look of disbelief upon my countenance.
Ah, he laughed, I see you doubt me! Well, I am not surprised; I should do so were I in your place. But, believe me or not, Mr Holford, you will lose nothing, by assisting me in this affair and performing a secret service for the high authority who must be nameless, but whose trusted agent I am even though the onus of this strange tragedy may be cast upon me.
The whole affair is a mystery, I remarked an inscrutable mystery.
Yes, he sighed, one that has been rendered a hundredfold more inscrutable by a discovery made to-day the discovery which prevented me calling upon you at eleven oclock. But remain patient, trust in me, assist me when I desire assistance, and it will, I promise, be well worth your while.
For a moment I was silent. Then, a trifle annoyed, I answered:
My legitimate profession of motor engineer pays me quite well, and I think I prefer, with your permission, to retire from this affair altogether.
What! he exclaimed. After giving me your promise your word as a gentleman! Cant you see, my friend, that you can assist in furthering the ends of justice in fastening the guilt upon the assassin?
That, I maintain, should be left to the police.
Bah! The police in this case would be powerless. The problem is for us, you and I, to solve, and by the exercise of patience and watchfulness we shall, I hope, be able to elucidate the mystery.
The inquiries may carry us far afield; I have a keen presentiment that they will. Therefore if I am suddenly absent do not trouble on my account. My silence will mean that I am watchful and active. When I am abroad I make a point of receiving no letters, therefore do not write. I always communicate with my friends through the advertisement columns of the Times. To you I shall be Silence.
Take the paper daily and watch for any message I may send you. You have a car outside, I suppose? I wonder whether you would take me to Tottenham Court Road? he asked.
Thereupon we went below, and after a whispered conversation with Antonio, who was waiting in one of the back rooms, he mounted into the car, and Dick drove us very slowly through the fog half-way down Tottenham Court Road, where Kirk alighted.
Shall I wait for you? I asked.
No, he replied; I really dont know how long I shall be. Besides, I shall not return to Bedford Park to-night. Its very kind of you, but I wont trouble you further. Good night, Mr Holford! Perhaps I shall see you to-morrow. If not, then recollect to keep an eye upon the Times for a message from Silence.
And he shook my hand, descended, and went forward into the yellow fog.
My curiosity was aroused; therefore in an instant I had resolved to follow him and ascertain whither he went.
In the direction he had taken towards Oxford Street, I started off, but before me the lights blurred in the misty obscurity. Foot-passengers on the pavement loomed up in the uncertain light and melted again, and as I hurried on I discerned the figures before me with difficulty. Where the shopfronts were lit were patches of red mist, but where they were closed it was almost complete darkness, for in that neighbourhood the fog was thicker than further westward, and Dick had had considerable trouble in finding his way there at a snails pace.
In my haste I collided with several persons coming my way, apologising and going forward again until I came to a corner where a shop was well lit. Of a sudden I distinguished the man I was following; he had halted in conversation with the shop-keeper, who was pointing up the side street.
In the fog, Kirk was evidently out of his bearings.
I drew back, so as to escape observation, but I watched him plunge into the darkness of the side street, and I was soon at his heels. It was a squalid neighbourhood into which we had entered. I had been through it before, but was not certain which street it might be down which we were going.
Guided by his footsteps I went on behind him. Fortunately my tread was soft, owing to the rubber heels I wore. At the crossing I listened, at first uncertain whether he had turned to the right or left, or gone straight on.
Again the footsteps sounded out of the obscurity, which now caused my eyes to smart, and I knew that he had gone straight forward, so on I went.
At the next corner I was nearer him, near enough to distinguish that he crossed the road and suddenly turned along the pavement to the right. We were evidently going in the direction of Fitzroy Square, though in which street I had no idea. In fear lest his quick ears should detect that I was following, I fell back a little, allowing him to get further in front. The houses we were then passing were good-sized private ones interspersed with shops, substantial houses of the usual style found in the decayed districts of London, dark, gloomy, and mysterious-looking. I recognised that we were in Cleveland Street. Then we turned again the first turning on the left round the corner by a laundry.
Of a sudden I heard Kirk halt, as though in doubt. It seemed as though he was retracing his steps, having passed the house of which he was in search. Quick as thought, in order to avoid meeting him face to face, I stepped off the kerb into the roadway.