Id send the lady away, sir if I were you, whispered the taxi-driver to Wingate. I fancy the gentleman as ad just a drop too much wine at dinner. E seems as if e as!
Amazed at such a circumstance Sheila, overhearing the mans words, stood horrified. Her father was one of the most temperate of men. Such a home-coming as that was astounding! The three men carried the prostrate statesman inside into the small sitting-room on the right, after which Austin, completely upset, handed the taxi-man five shillings, and with a brief word of thanks dismissed him.
Meanwhile Sheila had rushed into the dining-room to obtain a glass of water, hoping to revive her father. Old Grant, faithful servant that he was, had thrown himself upon his knees by the couch whereon his master had been placed.
He peered into his pale face, which was turned away from the silk-shaded electric light, and then suddenly gasped to Wingate: Why! It isnt Mr Reginald at all, sir! Hes wearing his clothes, his watch and chain and everything! But hes a stranger it isnt Mr Reginald! Look for yourself!
Chapter Three.
The Whispered Name
Austin Wingate approached the unconscious man, and scrutinised the white, drawn features closely. When Grant had uttered those words, he could hardly believe his ears. Had the shock been too much for the old mans reason?
But as he gazed intently, the conviction grew upon him that Grant was right. There was a little resemblance between the Cabinet Minister and the insensible man lying there. Their figures were much the same, and in the half-light a mere cursory glance could not have detected them apart.
But to those who, like Grant and Austin, knew Reginald Monkton intimately, there were striking points of difference at once apparent.
Wingate drew a deep sigh of relief.
You are right. Grant, it is not your master! He looks ghastly, doesnt he? The driver said that he was drunk, but I dont believe it. The man, whoever he is, seems to me as if he were dying.
At that moment, Sheila, her cheeks pale, her hand trembling so that she spilled the glass of water she was carrying, came into the sitting-room.
Austin rushed towards her and, taking the glass from her, pressed her trembling hand. At a moment of acute tension like that, he knew she would not resent the action.
Sheila, for Gods sake keep calm. It is not what we thought. The man we carried in here is not your father. He is a stranger, wearing your fathers clothes. Look for yourself, and you will see where the likeness ends.
Not my father? she repeated mechanically, and flung herself down beside Grant. A moments inspection was enough to convince her. She rose from her knees.
Thank God! she cried, fervently. It had cut her to the heart to think that the father whom she so loved and revered should be brought home in such a condition. She was grateful that none but those three had been present.
But to her gratitude succeeded a sudden wave of fear, and her face went paler than before.
But, Austin, there must be some terrible mystery behind this. Why is this man wearing fathers clothes? And why she broke suddenly into a low wail is father not home?
Austin could make no answer; the same thought had occurred to him.
My poor child, there is a mystery, but you must summon all your courage till we can discover more, he murmured soothingly. Now I must go and phone for the doctor. In my opinion, this man is not suffering from excess, as that driver led us to believe. He appears to be in a dying state.
When he had gone to ring up the family doctor, who lived close by in Curzon Street, Sheila again knelt down beside the prostrate form.
Presently the mans lips began to move and faint sounds issued from them. He seemed trying to utter a name, and stumbling over the first syllable.
They strained their ears, and thought they caught the word Moly repeated three times.
There was silence for a few seconds, and then the muttering grew louder and they thought they heard the name Molyneux.
Oh, if only he could wake from his sleep or lethargy! Sheila exclaimed impatiently. If he could only throw some light upon this awful mystery?
He relapsed into silence again, and then presently recommenced his mutterings. This time, he pronounced the syllables even less clearly than before. And now they fancied the name was more like Mulliner.
Would he come back to consciousness and be able to answer questions, or would those be his last words on earth? They could not tell. His form had relapsed into its previous rigidity and his face had grown more waxen in its hue.
What was the explanation of his being dressed in her fathers clothes? Sheila was sure they were the same Reginald Monkton had won on setting out that evening.
A sudden thought struck her. She inserted her hand gently in his waistcoat pocket, and drew out a gold watch. It was her fathers; she had given it to him on his last birthday. She felt in the breast pocket of his coat, but it was empty. That told her little, for she did not know if he had taken any papers with him.
She felt in his pockets one by one, but only discovered a little loose silver. It was her fathers habit always to carry a few banknotes in a leather case. If he had done so to-night these had been abstracted. But if the money had been taken, why not the watch? And then she recollected it was inscribed with his name.
While she was pondering these disturbing queries. Doctor Macalister entered the room with Austin, who had imparted to him the startling news in a few words.
He bent over the quiet form, murmuring as he did so: He is dressed in Mr Monktons clothes, certainly. I might have been deceived at the first glance myself.
He unbuttoned the waistcoat and shirt, and laid his stethoscope on the chest of the inanimate body.
Dead! he said briefly, when he had made his examination. One cannot, of course, at present tell the cause of death, although the appearances point to heart-failure.
Sheila looked up at him, her lovely eyes heavy with grief and foreboding.
He spoke a little before you came in, she said. He seemed to utter two names, Molyneux and Mulliner. He repeated them three times.
The kindly old doctor who had brought her into the world looked at her with compassionate eyes. The part he bore in this mystery, whether he was a victim or accomplice, will never be revealed by him. He must have been near death when he was put into that taxi. I suppose you did not notice the number?
No, neither Grant nor Austin had thought of it. They had been too much perturbed at the time.
Well, I have no doubt the driver can be found. Now I must telephone for the police, and have the body removed.
He drew young Wingate aside for a moment. You say you have inquired at the House of Commons. Have you rung up Monktons clubs? He has only two. No; well, better do so. It is a forlorn hope; I knew the man so well. He would never keep Sheila waiting like this if he were with means of communication. There has been foul play we can draw no other conclusion.
It was the one Wingate had drawn himself, and he quite agreed it was a forlorn hope. Still, he would make sure. He rang up the Travellers and the Carlton. The answer was the same from both places. Mr Monkton had not been at either club since the previous day.
The police arrived in due course, and bore away the body of the man who wore the clothes of the well-known and popular Cabinet Minister.
And, at their heels, came the inspector of the division, accompanied by Mr Smeaton, the famous detective, one of the pillars of Scotland Yard, and the terror of every criminal.