Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1922-11-20
CHAPTER III.
Lord Valleys got up.

that the English court under thes
circumstances would try me for III
murder of Lord Winton. I had bot
the motive and the opportunity
accomplish It, and the circumstance
were, TO say the least, indicative.
ITO my surprise. this manservan
Staley. came forward to establis
the fact that the wins-oellar wa
little less than a straw-riclS, and TIL
Metropolitan police officer appeare
TO say that he had seen the hanson
leaving Lord Winton's door shortl
before the fire was discovere,
These facts indicated the truth G
my statement.
"A further fact brought out b
my legal advisers established wit
mathematical accuracy the fact tina
/ had not dealt Lord Wtnton tn
blow that elected him out of life
The wound which had caused hi
death had been made with the small
blade Of knife.
The police found in my pocket 9
knife with a small blade, a blade Of
about the width of the wound. Nc
evidence OF blood was found on this
knife, but the police professed "a
believe that it had been carefully
washed. They thought traces of
moisture remained on IL. The case
seemed convincing, myself realized
its gravity, and but for one fact a
conviction might have followed.
THE autopsy showed that the
wound which had caused the death
Of Lord Winton was seven inches
deep. The handle of the knife with
which 1t had been accomplished had
not entered the wound. The wound
was no longer than the width of the
small knife-biade at its exterior
point
Lord Valleys suddenly extended
his hand, like one who puts down
something that is finished.
And was therefore acquitted
You know, monsieur, what the
English law-courts say: "A man may
lie. but circumstances cannot may
have lied, and Lord Winton's man
servant ana the Metropolitan police
who saw the hanson drive away on
that nights but the science of mathe-
MATES could not lie. A wound seven
Inches deep could not be made with
a knife-blade four inches long. And
the case ended"
He went over to a table, got A
tortoise-sheM box delicately inlaId
with silver opened it and presented
it to Monsieur Jonquelle.
You will have a cigaret. mon
sieur?" he said.
Monsieur Jonquelle took the Gig
aret. and Lord Valleys went back to |
the chair.
Then suddenly. as out Of some In
citing memory. the mans voice
changed.
"A moment ago, monsieur, when
I mentioned the arrival of the visitor
At Lord Winton's house. and the
doubt OF the English court OF that
fact, you said Il was true. How do
you know that Il was true, II I may
be permitted 70 inquirer"
The Perfect OF Police balanced the
ctgaret a moment IN his fingers be-
fore he replied.
7 know your statement about the
hanson IS true. -nonsleur. bez-
I know who Il was that came 20 Lord
y7taton on that night. And. non
zeur. Il - on behzl. Of sh.s person
thai I have come 70 you today"
Lord Valleys was as-onizhs6. but
he dsd not move. and his expression
did not change.
You amaze ne" he sad. Upon
what mission from this mysterious
person could you come 10 ms7"
Upon the same missson," replied
he Prefect OF Police, with which
hat person went on the fatal night
10 Lord winton's house in Covent
Garden. Lord Winton promised TO
10 q certain thing for this. as you
call IL mysterious person He
He'd before II could be carried out,
and ! have now come TO you 20 full
I'll It. I trust, monsieur, that you
will not deny me-"
Monsieur JonquelIe rose. He
took a folded. legal paper out Of
his pockets and presented II TO Lord
Valleys.
Monsieur" he said, Lord Win
ton promised 10 execute this inden-
ture He died before his signature
could be attached TO 1t. must ask
you to execute It in his stead"
Suddenly, as once before on this
morning. Lord Valleys. who had been
seated the instant before. was now,
with no motion that seemed visible /
o the eye, standing on his feet. He |
came forward, took the paper which |
Monsieur Jonquelle held in his
hand. and going over TO the table, |
unfolded it and stopped over it. He
was some time in an inspection Of
the document, and in the meantime
Monsieur Jonquelle had made a
gesture, as one OF ficking the ashes
from a cigaret through the open
window into the Bots de Boulogne.
The two young men in their animat-
ed discussion instantly crossed the
street and entered the house.
Presently Lord Valleys rose from
his stopped posture. He was shaken
with astonishment, but there was
of this establishment no visible ele-
ment, either in his appearance or
in his voice.
Monsieur" he said, this is
deed drawn by an English solicitor,
conveying all of Lord Winton's es-
tafee in England to his grand
Barbara Westridge. Why.
monxeur. should I convey these