I had placed myself in a very difficult and dangerous position. Of that I was well aware. I hoped, however, to save her. Too well I knew that she was in desperation, that she had seriously contemplated suicide until she had resolved to make her appeal for my sympathy and help.
Yet she was under the impression that I was as yet in ignorance of this tragedy, although in her white, terrified countenance I saw guilt distinctly written.
I took counsel with Eric. He was entirely against the very dangerous part that I had now promised to play, saying, I cant for the life of me see what motive she can have. To hide is all very well to bury herself in a working-class suburb and pretend to be poor is certainly a much safer plan than endeavouring to slip across to the Continent. But why does she want you to act as her husband? Not for appearances sake, surely! And yet if she hadnt a very strong motive she would not thus run the very great risk of compromising herself. She respects you, too, therefore all the stronger reason why she would never ask you to place yourself in that awkward position. No, old fellow, he declared, seating himself upon the edge of my bed, I cant make it out at all.
Of course, it has to do with the affair of yesterday, I remarked.
Undoubtedly. It has some connection with it, but what it is we cant yet discern.
I can only act as she suggests, I remarked.
I fear you cant do anything else, he said, after a pause. Only youll have to be most careful and circumspect, for I can foresee danger ahead. Tibbies clever enough, but she is erratic sometimes, and one untimely word of hers may upset everything. I hardly like the idea of you posing as her husband, Wilfrid. I tell you plainly that I have some distinct premonition of evil forgive me for saying so.
I hope not. Im only consenting to it for her sake.
Because you are still just a little bit fond of her, old fellow. Now, confess it.
Im not, Eric. I swear to you Im not. We could never marry. We are no longer lovers.
I hope not, he said in an altered tone. But pretended love-making is always dangerous, you know.
Well, I said, pacing up the old tapestried room and down again, lets leave love out of the question. What I intend to do is to save Tibbie, and at the same time find out the truth. You, Eric, will help me, wont you?
With all my heart, my dear chap, he said. But well, somehow I have had lately a very faint suspicion of one thing; and that is, I believe Ellice Winsloe is deeply in love with her. Ive seen it in his face. If so, you and I have to reckon with him.
How?
Because as soon as she disappears hell commence making eager inquiries and trying to trace her. His inquiries may lead him in our direction, dont you see. Besides, it would be awkward if he found you down at Camberwell.
I was silent. There was a good deal of truth in what he said. Eric Domville always had a knack of looking far ahead. He was what is vulgarly known as a far-seeing man.
But dont you think that when Im a compositor in a well-worn tweed suit and a threadbare overcoat with wages of two pounds a week Ill be beyond the pale and safe from recognition?
Thats all very well, but the working-class are intelligent. Theyll easily see through a gentlemans disguise.
I quite agree, I said. There is no more intelligent class than the working-class in London, or indeed in any of the big cities of the North. It is the working-man who is the back-bone of England, after all. The capitalist may direct and public companies may manoeuvre, but it is the skilled labourer who has made England what she is. Yes, Im quite with you there. I shall have to exert all my tact if Im to pass as a printer among working-men. Yet Tibbies idea that I should be on a morning paper and be out at work at night is an ingenious one, isnt it?
Ingenious? Why, isnt she one of the very cleverest women in England? he asked. I say that she is as unequalled for her ingenuity as for her beauty. Therefore, Wilfrid, have a care. Ill help you unknown to Tibbie, of course but I beg of you to be careful. And now lets turn in for an hour or so. We must be astir and alert to-morrow, for our work of fathoming the mystery must commence at once. We must be all ears and eyes. We already hold the honours in our hand, it is true; but much very difficult and dangerous work lies before us.
Never mind, I said. We must save her, Eric. We must save her at all hazards!
Chapter Eight.
Mainly about the Stranger
When next morning the tragedy in the wood became known the whole household was agog.
It was discussed at the breakfast-table, and Scarcliff, Wydcombe, Ellice Winsloe and myself agreed to walk down to the village and ascertain the facts. Eric remained behind to drive Lady Wydcombe into Chichester as he had arranged on the previous evening.
About half-past ten we four men walked down the avenue into the village, where we found the constable with two other officers in plain clothes. Great consternation had, of course, been created by the startling news, and the whole village seemed to be gossiping at the doors, and forming wild theories concerning the death of the unfortunate unknown.
After making inquiries of the constables, and hearing details of which I, of course, was already aware, Scarcliff asked leave to view the body.
Certainly, mlord, was Booths prompt reply, and we moved off together.
My great fear was that the village constable should remark upon my previous visit to him, therefore I walked with him, keeping him a considerable distance behind the others as we went up the street.
The superintendent is not here now? I remarked casually, in order that he should recall our meeting up in the wood while we were alone, and not before my friends.
No, sir. The guvnor went back to Chichester about an hour ago, was his answer, and a few minutes later we turned into a farmyard, where in a barn, the door of which was unlocked by one of the men, we saw the body lying face upwards upon a plank on trestles.
Booth drew the handkerchief from the dead face that seemed to stare at us so grimly in the semi-darkness of the barn, and from my companions escaped exclamations of surprise and horror.
Awful! gasped the young viscount who was known as The Scrambler to his intimates a name given to him at Eton; I wonder who murdered him?
I wonder! echoed Ellice Winsloe in a hard, hushed voice.
His strange tone attracted me, and my eyes fell upon his countenance. It had, I was amazed to see, blanched in an instant, and was as white as that of the dead man himself.
The sudden impression produced upon the others was such that they failed to notice the change in Ellice. I, however, saw it distinctly.
I was confident of one thing that he had identified the victim.
Yet he said nothing beyond agreeing with his companions that a dastardly crime had been committed, and expressing a hope that the assassin would be arrested.
Hes a stranger, declared Scarcliff.
Yes an entire stranger, said Winsloe, emphatically, and at the same time he bent forward to get a better view of the lifeless countenance. Standing behind, I watched him closely.
The sight of the body had produced a remarkable change in him. His face was wild and terrified, and I saw that his lips trembled.
Nevertheless he braced himself up with a great effort, and said,
Then its a complete mystery. He was found by Harris, the keeper, last night?