Golden Stories | Page 6

I suppose there will be no
difficulty in getting at the facts of this corpse business. I'll make
inquiries here presently."

So far Merrick professed himself to be satisfied. But there were still
difficulties in the way. The station people had a clear recollection of the
receipt of a coffin on the night of the tragedy, and, late as it was, the
gruesome thing had been fetched away by the people whom it was
consigned to. A plain hearse, drawn by one horse, had been driven into
the station yard, the consignment note had been receipted in the usual
way, and there was an end of the matter. Lydmouth was a big place,
with nearly a quarter of a million of inhabitants, and would necessarily
contain a good many people in the undertaking line. Clearly it was no
business of the railway company to take this thing any further.
Merrick admitted that freely enough. It was nearly dark when he came
back to the station, profoundly dissatisfied with a wasted afternoon.
"No good," he told Catesby. "At the same time there are consolations.
And, after all, I am merely confirming my suspicions. I suppose your
people here are on the telephone. If so, I should like to send a message
to your head office. I want the name of the firm in London who
consigned the coffin here. I suppose the stationmaster could manage
this for me."
An hour or so later the information came. Merrick, at the telephone,
wanted a little further assistance. Would the Grand Coast Railway call
up the undertaker's firm whilst he held the line and ask the full
particulars as to the body sent from London to Lydmouth. For half an
hour Merrick stood patiently there till the reply came.
"Are you there? Is that Inspector Merrick? Oh, yes. Well, we have
called up Lincoln & Co., the undertakers. We got on to the manager
himself. He declares that the whole thing is a mistake. They have not
sent a corpse over our trunk system for two months. I read the manager
the letter asking for special facilities, a letter on the firm's own paper.
The manager does not hesitate to say the whole thing is a forgery. I
think he is right, Inspector. If we can do anything else for you----"
Merrick hung up the receiver and smiled as if pleased with himself. He
turned to his companion, Catesby.

"It's all right," he said. "Is there any way we can get back to London
to-night? The whole thing is perfectly plain, now."
* * * * *
Though Merrick returned to London thoroughly satisfied, he knew that
the sequel was not just yet. There was much conjuring work to be done
before it would be possible to place all the cards on the table. The
Christmas holidays had arrived before Merrick obtained a couple of
warrants, and, armed with these, he went down to Brighton on Boxing
Day, and put up at the Hotel Regina, registering himself as Colonel
Beaumont, sometime of the United States Field Forces. Merrick could
pose as an authority on Cuba, for on one occasion he had been there for
six months on the lookout for a defaulting bank manager. He had made
certain changes in his appearance, and just now he bore little
resemblance to Inspector Merrick of New Scotland Yard.
The big hotel on the front was full. There was a smart dance that same
night, preceded by a children's party and Christmas tree. The house
swarmed with young folks, and a good many nationalities were
represented. On occasions like these somebody generally takes the lead,
and by common consent the part of the chief of the events had been
allotted to the Marquis de Branza.
To begin with, he was immensely rich. He had vast estates in Italy. He
had been staying at the Regina for the past month, and it was whispered
that his bill had reached three figures. He entertained lavishly; he was
the soul of hospitality; he was going to buy a palace in Kings' Gardens,
and more or less settle down in Brighton.
In addition to all this the Marquis was a handsome man, very
fascinating, and a prime favorite with all the boys and girls at the
Regina. He had his little peculiarities, of course--for instance, he paid
for everything in gold. All his hotel bills were met with current coin.
Merrick had gleaned all this before he had been a day at the Regina.
They were quite a happy family, and the Colonel speedily found
himself at home. The Marquis welcomed him as if he owned the hotel,

and as if everybody was his guest. The dance was a great success, as
also were the presents in connection with the cotillon promoted by the