“I can’t hear half you say,” that official said irritably. “I think you said your name was John Stevens. What can you tell us about this case? Did you know Mr. Delahay?”
“I knew him quite well, sir,” the witness said. “I have seen him scores of times when I have been watching in Fitzjohn Square.”
“What do you mean by watching there?”
“Well, sir, you see, I am a private inquiry agent. I work for one of the large firms of detectives, getting up evidence and that kind of thing. For months past it has been my duty to keep my eye on a certain house in the Square, especially at night. In that way I have got to know most of the inhabitants by sight, and also I have got to know a good deal about their habits.”
“You are a professional spy, then?” the coroner asked.
“Well, sir, if you like to put it like that,” the witness said humbly. “On the night of the murder about a quarter past one, I was in the Square gardens watching through the railings at the corner of John Street. I could see perfectly well what was going on because there is a large electric arc light where John Street and the Square adjoin. As I said, it was just about a quarter past one, because I looked at my watch to see what the time was. It was nearly time for me to leave, as my instructions—”
The witness broke off abruptly, and glanced about the room with the air of a man who has recognised an acquaintance whom he had not expected to see. His rambling attentions were recalled by the coroner in a few sharp words.
“I am sure I beg your pardon. As I said, I was waiting there till my time was up, and I saw Mr. Delahay come round the corner. He stood there just a moment. As far as I could gather he seemed to be troubled about something. I was too far off to hear what he was saying, but it seemed to me—”
“What are you talking about?” the coroner interrupted. “Do you mean to say that Mr. Delahay was talking to himself?”
“Oh, dear no, sir; he was talking to his companion.”
“Companion! That is the first we have heard of that. Was the companion a man or a woman, might I ask?”
“It was a lady, sir. She was a tall woman dressed in black. They stood opposite me for five or six minutes talking very earnestly together. Then Mr. Delahay turned away from the woman and went into the house. The woman seemed to hesitate a few moments, then she followed, and I saw her go into the house after Mr. Delahay. But she will be able to tell you all about it herself.”
“I don’t understand you,” the coroner said, with a puzzled frown. “How can the woman tell us all about it herself? You don’t mean to say that she is in court?”
The witness slowly turned and pointed a dingy forefinger in the direction of Maria Delahay.
“That’s the lady, sir,” he said. “That’s the lady that I saw with Mr. Delahay the night before last.”
“But that is absolutely impossible,” the coroner cried. “Don’t you know that that lady is Mr. Delahay’s wife?”
X
Ropes of Sand
Something like a thrill of real excitement ran through the spectators. The remark was made so quietly and in such a natural tone, that nobody dreamt of questioning the word of the witness. Then it went home to all that Stevens was making against Mrs. Delahay what amounted to a serious accusation. All eyes were turned upon her. She glanced in the direction of the witness in the same, dull, steady way which had characterised her from the first.
“This is very remarkable,” the coroner murmured. “Do you quite understand what you are saying?”
“Why, of course, sir,” Stevens went on, as if absolutely unconscious that his words were creating a sensation. “That is the lady whom I saw with Mr. Delahay that night. I daresay she will tell you herself when she comes to give evidence.”
“One moment, please,” the coroner went on. “How long is it since you identified the lady opposite?”
The witness looked about him as if he hardly understood the question. He was clearly puzzled by what had happened.
“As a matter of fact,” he said, “I did not see her till the last few moments. You see, sir, I took her for a witness like myself. I cannot say any more than that.”
The coroner murmured something to the effect that there must be a mistake here. Then he turned to the witness again.
“This is a most important investigation,” he said, “and I want you to be very careful. Will you look at the lady again and see if you have not made a mistake? Surely you were in court when she gave her evidence. You must have seen her then.”
“Indeed, I didn’t, sir,” the witness protested. “I did not come into court until my name was called outside.”
The coroner turned sharply to Mrs. Delahay and asked her to be good enough to stand up. She rose slowly and deliberately, and turned her head in the direction of Stevens. A ray of light fell upon her features; they were absolutely dull and expressionless, as if all the life had gone out of her; as if she failed utterly to comprehend what was going on around her. It was only natural that she should have dissented vigorously from Stevens’ statement. She regarded him without even the suggestion of a challenge in her eyes. As a matter of fact, the man was making a serious charge against her—a
