‘I can’t tell you,’ answered Kitty,
‘I only saw the hand.’
‘At all events,’ said Chinston, slowly,
’the poisoner did not know that your nurse was
with you, so the poison was meant for Mrs Villiers.’
Tor me?’ she echoed, ghastly pale; ’I
knew it,—my husband is alive, and this
is his work.’
A STARTLING DISCOVERY
Ill news travels fast, and before noon the death of
Selina Sprotts was known all over Melbourne.
The ubiquitous reporter, of course, appeared on the
scene, and the evening papers gave its own version
of the affair, and a hint at foul play. There
was no grounds for this statement, as Dr Chinston
told Kitty and Madame Midas to say nothing about the
poison, and it was generally understood that the deceased
had died from apoplexy. A rumour, however, which
originated none knew how, crept about among everyone
that poison was the cause of death, and this, being
added to by some and embellished in all its little
details by others, there was soon a complete story
made up about the affair. At the Bachelor’s
Club it was being warmly spoken about when Vandeloup
came in about eight o’clock in the evening;
and when he appeared he was immediately overwhelmed
with inquiries. He looked cool and calm as usual,
and stood smiling quietly on the excited group before
him.
‘You know Mrs Villiers,’ said Bellthorp,
in an assertive tone, ’so you must know all
about the affair.’ ‘I don’t
see that,’ returned Gaston, pulling at his moustache,
’knowing anyone does not include a knowledge
of all that goes on in the house. I assure you,
beyond what there is in the papers, I am as ignorant
as you are.’
’They say this woman—Sprotts or Potts,
or something—died from poison,’ said
Barty Jarper, who had been all round the place collecting
information.
‘Apoplexy, the doctor says,’ said Bellthorp,
lighting a cigarette; ’she was in the same room
with Mrs Villiers and was found dead in the morning.’
‘Miss Marchurst was also in the room,’
put in Barty, eagerly.
‘Oh, indeed!’ said Vandeloup, smoothly,
turning to him; ’do you think she had anything
to do with it?’
‘Of course not,’ said Rolleston, who had
just entered, ’she had no reason to kill the
woman.’
Vandeloup smiled.
‘So logical you are,’ he murmured, ’you
want a reason for everything.’
‘Naturally,’ retorted Felix, fixing in
his eyeglass, ’there is no effect without a
cause.’
‘It couldn’t have been Miss Marchurst,’
said Bellthorp, ’they say that the poison was
poured out of a bottle held by a hand which came through
the window—it’s quite true,’
defiantly looking at the disbelieving faces round
him; ‘one of Mrs Villiers’ servants heard
it in the house and told Mrs Killer’s maid.’
‘From whence,’ said Vandeloup, politely,
’it was transmitted to you--precisely.’
