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Page 25
But you want, of course, the whole story from the beginning; and I
shall give it to you. At eleven o'clock this morning a constable
called on me at my rooms and informed me that I was wanted at once
by the Chief Inspector at the Yard.
We climbed--the constable and I--a narrow stone stairway somewhere
at the back of New Scotland Yard, and so came to the inspector's
room. Bray was waiting for us, smiling and confident. I remember
--silly as the detail is--that he wore in his buttonhole a white
rose. His manner of greeting me was more genial than usual. He
began by informing me that the police had apprehended the man who,
they believed, was guilty of the captain's murder.
"There is one detail to be cleared up," he said. "You told me the
other night that it was shortly after seven o'clock when you heard
the sounds of struggle in the room above you. You were somewhat
excited at the time, and under similar circumstances men have been
known to make mistakes. Have you considered the matter since? Is
it not possible that you were in error in regard to the hour?"
I recalled Hughes' advice to humor the inspector; and I said that,
having thought it over, I was not quite sure. It might have been
earlier than seven--say six-thirty.
"Exactly," said Bray. He seemed rather pleased. "The natural
stress of the moment--I understand. Wilkinson bring in your
prisoner. The constable addressed turned and left the room, coming
back a moment later with Lieutenant Norman Fraser-Freer. The boy
was pale; I could see at a glance that he had not slept for several
nights.
"Lieutenant," said Bray very sharply, "will you tell me--is it true
that your brother, the late captain, had loaned you a large sum of
money a year or so ago?"
"Quite true," answered the lieutenant in a low voice.
"You and he had quarreled about the amount of money you spent?"
"Yes."
"By his death you became the sole heir of your father, the general.
Your position with the money-lenders was quite altered. Am I right?"
"I fancy so."
"Last Thursday afternoon you went to the Army and Navy Stores and
purchased a revolver. You already had your service weapon, but to
shoot a man with a bullet from that would be to make the hunt of
the police for the murderer absurdly simple."
The boy made no answer.
"Let us suppose," Bray went on, "that last Thursday evening at half
after six you called on your brother in his rooms at Adelphi Terrace.
There was an argument about money. You became enraged. You saw him
and him alone between you and the fortune you needed so badly. Then
--I am only supposing--you noticed on his table an odd knife he
had brought from India--safer--more silent--than a gun. You
seized it--"
"Why suppose?" the boy broke in. "I'm not trying to conceal
anything. You're right--I did it! I killed my brother! Now let
us get the whole business over as soon as may be."
Into the face of Inspector Bray there came at that moment a look
that has puzzling me ever since--a look that has recurred to my
mind again and again,--in the stress and storm of this eventful
day. It was only too evident that this confession came to him as
a shock. I presume so easy a victory seemed hollow to him; he was
wishing the boy had put up a fight. Policemen are probably like
that.
"My boy," he said, "I am sorry for you. My course is clear. If
you will go with one of my men--"
It was at this point that the door of the inspector's room opened
and Colonel Hughes, cool and smiling, walked in. Bray chuckled at
sight of the military man.
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