The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-05-07

facts. Do you stay on guard, my good
Watson, and receive any fresh Visito IS.
I'll Join you at lunch if , Gtl able.
All that day and the nest ana the
next Holmes was in mood which his
friends would call taciturn, and others
morose. He ran out and ran IN,
smoked necessarily, played snatche5
on his violin, sank into reveries, de-
voured sandwiches at irregular hours
and hardly answered the casual ques-
tions which | put to him. 1t was evil
dent to me that things were not going
well with him or his quest. He would
say nothing of the case, and it was
from the papers that l learned the
particulars of the inquest, and the ar
rest with the subsequent release OF
John Milton, the valet of the deceased.
The coroner'S jury brought in the
obvious tWiIful Murder" but the par
ties remained as unknown as ever. NO
motive was suggested. The room was
full Of articles of value, but none had
been taken. The dead mans papers
had not been tempered with. They
were carefully examined, and showed
that he was a keen student of inter-
national politics, an interchangeable
gossip, remarkable Iinguist and an
untring letter writer He had been
en- intimate terms with the leading
politicians of several countries. Bur
nothing sensational was discovered
among the documents which filled his
drawers. AS to his relations with Wo-
men, they appeared to have been pro-
mlScuouS but superficial. He had
acquaintance among them, but few
friends, and no one whom he loved.
His habits were regular, his conduct
inoffensive. His death was an abso-
lutte mystery, and likely to remain So
AS to the arrest of John Milton the
valet it was a council of despair as
an alternative to absolute inaction.
But no case could be sustained against
him. He had visited friends in Ham
mer5mith that night. The alibi was
complete 1t is true that he started
home at an hour which should have
brought him to Westminster before
the time when the crime was discoV-
cred, but his own explanation that he
had walked part of the way seemed
probable enough in view of the fine
ness of the night He had actually
arrived at twelve o'clock, and appear
ed to be overwhelmed by the unex-
pected tragedy He had always been
on good terms with his master Sew
eral of the dead mans possessions
notably a small case of razors-ha1
been found in the Wallets boxes, but he
explained that they had been presents
from the deceased, and the house
keeper was able to corroborate the
story. Milton had been in Lucas en-
ployment for three years. 1t was no
uceable that Lucas did not take Mil
ton on the Continent with him Some
times he visited Paris fo. three months
on end, but Milton was left in charge
of the Godolphin Street house As to
the housekeeper, she had heard moth
ing on the night of the crime. IF her
master had a visitor he had himself
admitted him.
30 Tor three mornings the mystery
remained, SO far as | could follow it
IN the papers. If Holmes knew more
ne Kept his own counsel, but. as he
tod me that Inspector Lestrade had
taken him into his confidence in the |
case. / knew that he was in close
touch with every development. Upon
the fourth day there appeared long
telegram from Paris which seemed TO |
solVe the whole question
discovery has just been made |
py tue Partisan police" said the Daily !
telegraph, which raises the veil |
when hung round the tragic fate of |
Mr.. Eduardo Lucas, who met his
death by violence last Monday night !
at Godolphin Street, Westminster. orr
readers viii remember that the de- |
ceased gentleman was found stabbed |
IN his room, and that some suspicion |
attached to his valet, but that the
case broke down on an alibi Yester |
day a lady. who has been known as |
Nine. Henri Fournaye, occupying a |
small villa IN the Rue Austerlitz was /
reported to the authorities by her
servants as being insane. An exami-
nation showed she had indeed devel /
oped mania of a dangerous and per /
manent form. On inquiry the police |