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Page 71
Meantime, the detectives began their serious work. They proceeded
with system and upon their own plan. They omitted to question not
the least of the persons who dwelt at Chadlands, and inquired also
privately concerning every member of the house party there assembled
when Tom May died. Into the sailor's private life they also
searched, and so gradually investigated every possible line of
action and point of approach to his death. The cause of this they
were content to disregard, arguing that if an assassin could be
traced, his means of murder would then be learned; but, from the
first, no sort of light illumined their activities, and nothing to
be regarded as a clue could be discovered, either in Tom May's
relations with the world, or in the history and character of anyone
among the many who were subject for inquiry.
Concerning the house party, only Ernest Travers and his wife had
met the sailor before, on the occasion of his wedding; while as to
the staff at Chadlands, nothing transpired to indicate that any
had ever had occasion to feel affronted by an act of his. They
were, moreover, loyal to a man and woman. They furnished no
peculiarities, and gave no ground for the least suspicion. The
case, in Frith's opinion, was unique, because, despite the number
of persons it was necessary to study and consider, in none of their
relations with the family involved could there be found a shadow
of unfriendly intercourse, a harbored grudge, or a suggestion of
ill-feeling. The people were all simple and ingenuous. They
declared and displayed nothing but regard for their employer, and
many of them had succeeded their own parents in their present
employment. It was a large household, very closely united by ties
of tradition and affection. Henry Lennox also proved above
suspicion, though his former attachment to Mary was not concealed.
It needed no great student of character, however, to appreciate
his transparent honesty under examination, a remark that extended
to Dr. Mannering, whose incautious advent in the corridor on the
night of their vigil had offended the watchers.
For three weeks they worked industriously--without vision, but
to the best of their experience and intellectual powers. In the
familiar phrase, they left no stone unturned; and following their
report, which frankly admitted absolute failure, a small commission
instituted a further inquiry on the evidence, and invited those
chiefly concerned to attend it.
Sir Walter, his daughter, Henry Lennox, and Dr. Mannering were
examined with sympathy and consideration. But they could offer no
opinions, throw no light, and suggest no other lines of inquiry
than those already pursued.
For the world the mystery died like a new star, which was blazed
into fame only to retreat or diminish and disappear once more.
Fresh problems and new sensations filled the newspapers, and a
time at last came when, to his relief, Sir Walter could open his
morning journal and find no mention of Chadlands therein.
Architects examined the room a second time, and the authorities
also gave permission to certain notable spiritualists to make
further nocturnal and diurnal vigils therein, though no solitary
watcher was permitted. Three came and passed a day and a night
in the Grey Room. They were rewarded with no phenomena whatever.
The master of Chadlands was at length informed that he might leave
England, but directed to set a seal on the Grey Room, and to treat
it in such a manner that it should no longer be capable of entrance.
The red tape that had wound itself about the tragedy was thus
unloosed at last, and the suffering pair made all haste to get
away. Its owner undertook to treat the Grey Room as directed on
his return from abroad, and meanwhile had both door and window
boarded up with heavy timbers.
The household was long since restored to self-possession and even
cheerfulness. Some felt pride in their passing publicity, and none
expressed any fear of remaining. But Sir Walter guessed that few
feet would tread the great corridor until a day was near for his
return.
CHAPTER X
SIGNOR VERGILIO MANNETTI
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