“Mr. Ponson?” said the latter as he introduced himself. “I come on rather delicate business. It is on behalf of my cousin, Miss Lois Drew,” and he told of the interview which he had just had. Austin was much moved.
“God bless her!” he cried hoarsely. “Isn’t it unbelievable, even for her! But it must be stopped, Mr. Daunt, at all costs it must be stopped. Her name must be kept out of it no matter what happens.”
Jimmy did not repeat what Tanner had told him.
“I’m glad you agree, Mr. Ponson,” he said. “Now another point. May I ask who is acting for you in this matter?”
Austin passed his hand, wearily over his forehead.
“I’m afraid I haven’t arranged anything yet. You see, I only arrived here a few hours ago.”
“But who is your usual man of business?”
“Any little thing I have wanted done up to the present I have taken to Mr. Hopkins, of Halford, and he was present at the adjourned inquest on my behalf. He is as straight as a die, but he is elderly, and I dare say out of date. I’m afraid he wouldn’t be much use at this kind of thing. Wills and deeds are more in his line. I wonder, Mr. Daunt, if I asked you to take it on would it draw attention to Lois?”
“It’s rather a delicate matter as it looks like cadging for business, but for Lois’s sake I should be glad to act for you. As for dragging in her name, I don’t think half a dozen people in the world know we are cousins, and at Halford probably no one. Besides, you would not employ me, but the firm.”
“Then I do employ your firm—if you will be good enough to act. What is the first step?”
“The first legal step is to be present in court on your behalf . Then I shall get hold of the case against you, after which we will put our heads together over your defence. But there is also your own family to consider. Have you any near relatives other than your mother, sister, and cousin?”
“None.”
“I presume you would like me to take them into our confidence?”
Austin agreed and they discussed the matter further, arranging terms and other details.
“Now, Mr. Ponson,” said Jimmy when these were settled, “I have to give you a very solemn warning. Your very life may depend on how you heed it. It is this. You must tell me the truth. I don’t mean refrain from falsehood only, but tell me everything—everything you know. It is only fair to say that if you hold anything back I can no longer help you, and you may be signing your own death warrant. Do you realise that?”
“I certainly do. You need not be afraid. I’ll be only too thankful to tell you. Now ask your questions.”
“You forget I know nothing of the case as yet. Just tell me the whole business from beginning to end and with all the details you can.”
Austin sat motionless for a moment as if collecting his thoughts, then, settling himself more comfortably, he began to speak.
He opened by explaining his relations with his father, and his mode of life in Halford, and then described his friendship with Lois Drew, culminating in his proposal and the engagement. He told of the note he had received on that fatal evening, his taking the boat to the Old Ferry, the self-styled servant of Mrs. Franklyn, her message, his walk to the Abbey, his visit to the Franklyns’ house, and his call at the Drews. Then he recounted the circumstances of Sir William’s death, the call from Innes, the inquiries at Dr. Graham’s, the search for and discovery of the body, the subsequent inquest, the interview with Tanner, the latter’s questions, and the demand for the shoes, and finally, the medical evidence at the adjourned inquest, and his arrest. He stated he had no idea what the discovery was which led to this culmination.
It was clear to Jimmy Daunt that he must hear Tanner’s side of it before he knew where they stood. Nothing more could be done that night. He therefore told his new client to keep his heart up, took his leave and went home.
The proceedings next morning were purely formal, evidence of arrest only being given. Austin was remanded for a week, bail being refused.
Daunt made it his business to see Lady Ponson, Enid, and Cosgrove, all of whom expressed themselves as being heartily in agreement with Austin’s selection of advice. It was decided that if the case went on to trial, Sir Mortimer Byecroft, K.C., one of the most eminent criminal experts at the bar, should be retained for the defence.
When Daunt received the depositions of the crown witnesses, he saw at a glance that he was up against something very much stiffer than he had anticipated. The motive suggested for the crime was horribly adequate. In the face of Austin’s story of his visit to the Abbey ruins, the evidence of Lucy Penrose and young Potts was almost overwhelmingly damaging. But when Daunt read of the purchase of the two identical pairs of shoes, and grasped the theory of the faked alibi which this seemed to support he was genuinely aghast. “Heavens!” he thought, “if the fellow hasn’t an explanation of this, he’s as guilty as sin!”
Accordingly, Daunt lost no time in again seeing his client, and at his interview he did not mince matters.
“Look here, Mr. Ponson,” he said. “There are two bad bits of evidence against you and I want to hear what you have to say about them. About you tell me you were halfway to the Abbey. Is that so?”
“Certainly. I was on the path between the Abbey and the road.”
Daunt leant forward and watched the other keenly, as he spoke slowly and deliberately.
“Then how do you account for the fact that you were seen rowing
