The Launching of Roger Brook

life of the great mansion revolved during her father's absence.

They had reached a marvellous confection of violet ice-cream topped by a mass of spun sugar when the Abb<§ said to Roger

'And what is it your intention to do now. Monsieur Breuc?'

'I hardly know, Monsieur I'Abbe,' replied Roger, but having by now had a chance to sort out his ideas to some extent he went on: 'After some little thought, this man Fouche may realise that, as I could have no possible motive for murdering my poor old friend, his case is a weak one, and decide not to pursue it. If that occurs, as I pray it may, I feel under a natural obligation to arrange for Doctor Fenelon's burial. Then, too, I am most anxious to return to the Du Guesclin for the purpose of recovering the purse I dropped. It may still be lying in a dark corner of the passage or, if someone has picked it up, unless they are downright dishonest, they will have given it for safe keeping to the landlord. Yet I greatly hesitate to go there until I feel a little more confident that I'll not be putting my head in a noose. Would you, Monsieur L'Abbe do me the favour of giving me your advice?'

'I am no man of the robe,' the old priest replied, 'so 'tis outside my office to offer an opinion on legal matters. Yet it does seem to me that this purse containing fifty-four louis would have been motive enough to incite a young man in your situation to the crime, had he the nature of a murderer. According to your own account you fled with it, and I should not have thought it usual for one so many years junior to his partner to be entrusted with the whole resources of a partnership.'

'There was an especial reason for that,' Roger broke in quickly. 'As I have told you '

The Abbe Duchesnie raised his hand. 'I know, I know, my young friend. I do not seek to question your own explanation but, as I under­stand it, you have no one whom you can bring forward to give evidence of the Doctor's habits, and I am simply putting to you the view that the police may take of this matter.'

From having regained some degree of optimism Roger was suddenly cast back into the depths of gloom. He realised now that the good food and wine and rich surroundings had given him a false sense of security and that in the cold light of impartial examination his case must look very black indeed. The Doctor had died by violence and he, Roger, had made off with what would undoubtedly be assumed to be his partner's money.

Madame Marie-Ange saw his look of misery and, being a good-natured, motherly woman, strove to comfort him, by saying:

'I do not see what this Monsieur Fouche has to gain by fixing the assassination on Monsieur Breuc.'

'Why, to prevent it being fixed upon himself, Madame,' promptly replied the Abbe.

'But he could equally well say that the Doctor took his own life to save himself from being arrested,' urged the governess. ' 'Twould be beyond reason vindictive in any man, however ill-natured, to send another who had done him no harm to the rope.'

'A thousand thanks, Madame!' Roger exclaimed eagerly. 'There is much in what you say. And in my own mind, I feel confident now, that Fouche called 'Murder' after me not so much with a view to getting me hanged, but to have me stopped so that he might secure the purse.'

'Is he likely, though, once having made the charge, to withdraw it?' pessimistically remarked the Abbe.

' 'Twould be easy for him to say that people had misunderstood his cries,' Madame Marie-Ange retorted. 'He could claim that by his cry of 'Murder' he had meant no more than that a violent death had just occurred, and that those who heard him had confused it with his shouts of 'Stop, thief'!'

'By so doing he could save himself from the sin of perjury and avoid the burden of attending at a lengthy trial,' the Abbe agreed. 'And as you, Madame, have very rightly pointed out, there seems no particular cause for him to carry vindictiveness to the point of endeavouring to bring about our young friend's death.'

Athenais shrugged her slim shoulders. 'You have admitted, Monsieur l'Abbe, that you know little of such matters, and I know nothing. Why should we not send for the notary—what is his name—

Maitre—Maitre ?'

'Leger,' supplied the Abbe.

'Yes, Maitre Leger. Let us summon him and find out.'

She had no sooner had the idea than she turned to Aldegonde and ordered him to send a messenger with instructions that she required Maitre Leger to wait on her at once. Then, having toyed a little with the desserts, they all retired to the yellow salon to await the lawyer's arrival.

Within a quarter of an hour Maitre Leger was announced. He proved to be a man of about sixty and something of a dandy. His green suit was of cloth but very well cut, with padded shoulders and silver buttons. His cravat and wristbands were of fine lawn and his hair, which had been black, now being flecked with grey had the smart appearance of having been lightly dusted with powder. Beneath a broad forehead he had a pair of lively brown eyes, a very sharply pointed nose and a firm, thin mouth.

Having bowed to Athenais he thanked her deferentially as she waved him to a chair.

'In my father's absence, Monsieur, I require your services,' she began at once, and with a slight turn of her head towards Roger, went on: 'This is Monsieur Breuc of Strasbourg. He is accused of killing some old man. Please see to it that the charge is withdrawn.'

The lawyer coughed. 'I am entirely at your disposal, Mademoiselle; but I am sure you will permit me to remark that the law is made by the King, and is therefore above and beyond us all. Once set in motion its processes cannot be stopped by a mere request, even should the request be made by such a distinguished personage as Monseigneur, your father. However, I will assuredly do all I can if I may be permitted to know the full circumstances of the case.'

Without replying Athenais waved her fan in Roger's direction and he once more related the nerve-racking sequence of events that had befallen him earlier that evening.

When he had done, Maitre Leger slightly inclined his handsome head. 'If all that you have told me is correct, I think there is a fair hope that you are mistaken in your belief that Monsieur Fouche intended to charge you with the Doctor's murder. It seems to me more likely that his attempts to have you stopped were actuated by his desire to get possession of the money-belt, and that in your own excite­ment you confused his cries announcing that a killing had taken place with those calling upon the other occupants of the inn to stay your flight.'

'There,' exclaimed Madame Marie-Ange in triumph, ' 'tis the very thing I said myself towards the end of dinner.'

'I only pray that you may be right,' Roger murmured, as the lawyer continued:

'Moreover, if a trial results, Monsieur Fouche will be forced to resort to statements containing much perjury in order to make a case against you. If one of them is proved false not only might the whole case break down but he would find himself in serious trouble. I can see no reason why he should elect to run such a risk when he can terminate the issue by frankly admitting that he killed the doctor himself in self-defence. That was in fact what happened, was it not?'

'Yes, it would be difficult to contend otherwise,' Roger agreed, after a moment. ' Twas all so sudden and so horrible that the thought had not occurred to me; yet I must admit that the Doctor had struck him down with the hilt of my sword, and was about to strike at him again just as he fired his pistol.'

'Are you prepared to swear to that before a magistrate?'

'Yes; if I must.'

'That is well. You must remember that in the moments succeeding your friend's death Monsieur Fouche had no reason at all to suppose that you would be willing to give evidence which would clear him of a charge of murder. It may be that he believed that you would attempt to get him hanged, if you could, and instantly made up his mind that his best prospect of escape lay in accusing you of the killing. It would then have been your word against his, and as you had taken the money the odds would have been in his favour. But there will be no official inquiry into the Doctor's death until to-morrow morning, and I will see Monsieur Fouche before the inquiry opens. If I inform him that you will come forward to give evidence that he killed the Doctor in self-defence, I feel there is every reason to hope that he will see the wisdom of admitting to it.'

'I am indeed grateful, Monsieur,' smiled Roger, now much com­forted. 'What you have said takes a great load from my mind.'

'You are not out of the wood yet,' Maitre Leger warned him. 'And if complications arise it may be that you will be detained while further inquiries are made; but at least it does not appear that you have any grave reason to fear that you will be hung.'

'I thank you, Monsieur,' said Athenais. 'You have cheered us mightily, and I rely on you to do your best for