snapped the detective. "Now, what is there silly
about my theory of the crime, I should like to know."
"You shall know, and before you are much older. Bear with me for a
little while, I beg of you. You may be right, and I may be quite wrong,
but I think there is much beneath the surface in the investigations we
are now pursuing. My advice to you is to drop all preconceived theories,
to note every circumstance, however remote it may appear in its
bearing upon events, and in any case not to act precipitately. Whatever
you do, don't arrest anybody."
"But," said the other, somewhat mollified by Brett's earnestness, "half a
dozen people may be arrested at any moment."
"Pray tell me how?"
"Descriptions of the stolen diamonds and of the suspected persons are
in every police office in Great Britain and in most Continental centres
by this time. Passengers by all steamers are most carefully scrutinised.
Every pawnbroker and diamond merchant in the country is on the
look-out, and, generally speaking, it will be odd if somebody does not
drop into the net before many hours have passed."
"It will, indeed," murmured Brett; "and no doubt the somebody in
question will experience a certain amount of inconvenience before he
proves to you that he had nothing whatever to do with the matter. Now,
don't answer me, Winter, but ponder seriously over this question: Do
you really think that the intelligence which planned and successfully
carried through an operation of such magnitude will be trapped by
plain-clothes constables watching the gangways of steamships, or by
any pawnbroker who has ever lent half the value of a pledge?"
Almost impatiently the barrister waved the subject out of the hansom,
and the detective had sense enough to leave him alone during the few
remaining minutes before the vehicle pulled up near the Albert Gate
mansion.
Brett stopped the driver some little distance short of the house itself, as
he did not wish to attract the attention of a knot of curious sightseers in
the street. He asked Winter to precede him and make known the fact
that he was coming, so that there would be no delay at the door. This
the detective readily agreed to, and Brett rapidly took in the main
external features of the house which had become the scene of such a
remarkable tragedy.
It was a palatial structure, built on the sombre lines of the Early
Victorian period. Miss Talbot's brief description of the measures taken
to protect its occupants from interference was fully borne out by its
aspect. There was no access to the basement; the main entrance was
situated at the side; all the ground-floor and first-storey windows facing
into the street were fitted with immovable wooden venetians.
Presumably those on the Park side were similarly secured, whilst the
back wall abutted on to that of another mansion, equally large and
strongly built, tenanted by a well-known peer.
Truly, it required a genius almost unrivalled in the annals of crime to
murder four people and steal diamonds worth millions in such a place
whilst guarded by twelve London policemen and under the special
protection of the Home Office.
The appearance of Winter at the door caused the gaping idlers in the
street to endeavour to draw nearer to the mysterious portals. Thereupon
three policemen on duty outside hustled the mob back, and Brett took
advantage of the confusion thus created to slip to the doorway almost
unperceived. One of the police constables turned round to make a grab
at him, but a signal from a confrère inside prevented this, and Brett
quickly found himself within a spacious entrance hall with the door
closed and bolted behind him.
Winter was talking to two uniformed inspectors, to whom he had
explained the barrister's mission and credentials.
"We have here, Mr. Brett," he said, "Inspector Walters, who was on
duty until ten o'clock on Monday night, and Inspector Sharpe, who
relieved him. They will both tell you exactly what took place."
"Thank you," said the barrister, "but it will expedite matters if you
gentlemen will first accompany me over the scene of the crime. I will
then be able to understand more accurately what happened. Suppose we
start here. I presume that this is where the police guard was stationed?"
Inspector Walters assumed the rôle of guide.
"I was in charge of the first guard established a month ago," he said,
"and the arrangements I then made have been adhered to without
deviation night and day ever since."
From the outer door a short passage of a few feet led up half a dozen
steps into a large reception room, the entrance to which was closed by a
light double door, half glass. On both sides of
Continue reading on your phone by scaning this QR Code
Tip: The current page has been bookmarked automatically. If you wish to continue reading later, just open the
Dertz Homepage, and click on the 'continue reading' link at the bottom of the page.