San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1897-10-10

mo, no, Sir JafruU the tracing ,ctll
hdUe to be done quietly"
don't like working in the light in that
way, with all the countryside knowing
every step you take. If this things
ever to be found out at all, it won't be
by means of a coroner's jury. It's all a
farce and nothing else. It's all right
enough for twopenny halfpenny tin
pot case, where the facts lie as plain in
sight as eggs in thrush's nest, but
where there's serious business inquests
are worse than no good"
81 see," said Sir Jaffray shortly.
Take such thing as this matter Of
the dagger, now." continued the in
spector. "What would a coroner's
jury make of that, 1 should like to
know? Suppose 1 was to tell 'em all
the facts-that the dagger was one Of
two just alike which you brought
home from America, and that the brace
let was one of two brought home just
in the same way, and that, whereas Lady
Walcote was missing and Miss LEICESTER
here was on the spot, Miss Leycester's
dagger and bracelet had got mixed mp
in this crime, while Lady Walcote's
were both lying where they had always
been, one in the cabinet and the other
in the jewel case. What do you suppose
they would make of thati What could
they make of it?'
He stopped and looked at both his
hearers in turn, as if waiting for them
to speak.
But neither of them said anything,
and he continued:
''That would be poser by itself. but
now just throw in spice of mystery
and try to imagine what the effect
would be. Suppose l were to read them
letter that has been sent to me to the
effect that at the time Of the death of
this Frenchman neither the dagger nor
the bracelet was in the manor here, but
that both were put in their places after
ward, put there from LEICESTER Court.
What do you think they would say
then? Why, we should have all sorts Of
wild stories repeated everywhere, with
all sorts Of charges against all sorts of
people. And how could l carry on my
work of inquiry them"
He stopped again, but only for a sec
ond, and it was evident now to both Sir
Jaffray and Beryl that he was speaking
with purpose.
But don't work in that way. ]
simply leave that letter-of course it's
anonymous-outo of the question. II
ask any question, it is how the writer,
whoever 1t is, comes to know SO much
about it. And then argue thus: If the
story be true and these things were
put back, no one knows anything about
it officially and authoritatively except
myself and the people who may be sup
posed to have done it, and what isn't
known officially can always be contra
dicted. And If 1t were ever known to
be true that any one had, in a moment
of misapprehension done anything OF
the kind and wanted to cancel the ar.
rangement nothing would be easier,
supposing it is MT officially known.
Publicity, therefore, would be a huge
mistake in all interests. No, no, Sin
Jaffray; if this thing is ever to be traced
the tracing will have to be done quiet
ly, under the surface, and altogether
apart from any coroner's court "
He rose as he said this and made "a
if to leave the room, and when III
reached the door he turned and said:
You'll be at the inquest, Sir Jaf
ray? And l suppose there's no possibil
ity of any mistake having been made
of any hoax having been played upol
you and Miss LEICESTER in the matte,
of that dagger and bracelet II it i
possible in any way, l really think yoI
ought to make some inquiries. Il woulC
be well to be able to give the lie to tina
anonymous writer"
81 shall be at the inquest, +" answered
Sir Jaffray
Then the police inspector went away
and the baronet turned to BeTyl, feel