it was some time before rent came to himself and sat up, wondering what had happened. his brain was dizzy and confused. his head was aching violently. in some vague way he was haunted with an idea that he had come down to the office on some important errand which had life or death behind it. but, cudgel his brain as he might, he could not recollect what it was. there was no mark of violence on his forehead. he could not remember how he got there. he would have found it difficult, indeed, to put a name to the man who had brought this catastrophe about. he sank down into his chair, a profuse perspiration breaking out on his brow. he had utterly forgotten the past up to a few minutes ago. yet all the time he was haunted with an insistent feeling that he had something to do, that he had something to obliterate, or suffer consequences disastrous to himself.
"i suppose it will pass off presently," he muttered. "let me see, wasn't there somebody with me? was bark here, or did i dream it? yes, he certainly was here. but what happened? why did i come to myself lying in the fireplace? and what was it i had to do? perhaps swift can tell me."
but, though rent sat there with his head in his hands for half an hour, his treacherous memory did not come back to him. he looked up eagerly as he heard a step in the passage and swift came in. with a certain feeling of thankfulness he recognised swift. but all that had taken place during the past week was a blank complete and absolute. swift gazed into the face of his employer with uneasy surprise. he had not been drinking to-night. his faculties were clear.
"what on earth is the matter?" he asked. "you look so white and wild. what have you been doing?"
"oh, i don't know," rent groaned. "i came for a special purpose a little time ago, but what brought me i haven't the remotest idea. i suppose i had a fainting fit or something of that kind, for when i came to myself i was lying in the fender, and now i can recollect nothing that has taken place during the last few days. i have heard of brain lapses of that kind, but i have never believed in them before."
"did you come alone?" swift asked.
"that i can't tell you. and i don't know how long i have been here, either. oh, my head is dreadful!"
swift shrugged his shoulders indifferently. he had his own idea as to what had taken place, but saw that it would be a waste of time to cross-examine rent further. he glanced about him. the man smiled cynically as he saw the end of a cheap cigarette in a saucer on the table. it was not the sort of cigarette that rent would smoke. possibly that kind of tobacco might appeal to a man like bark. swift did not require to be told any more. he had reconstructed the whole scene in his mind's eye.
"i am very sorry," he said. "unfortunately, i can do nothing to help you. if you take my advice, you will go back to your hotel without delay and send for a doctor. it is uncommonly awkward for a man who leads your sort of life to forget all that happens for the best part of a week. an accident like that might lead to unpleasant consequences. now let me take you back."
rent raised no objection. he was too thoroughly frightened and broken down to heed his assistant's sarcasm. and all the time he was filled with a haunting dread that he was leaving some work unfinished, some task which, if neglected, might involve him in a veritable catastrophe. he submitted quietly to follow swift. no words passed as they walked through the deserted town. near the harbour they met malcolm grey on his way to the yacht, but neither seemed to observe him, though he recognised them plainly enough.
"i wonder what these two fellows are up to?" grey mused. "i would give something to see into the back of rent's mind at the present moment. but, still, i know how to act now."
when he reached the yacht he found tanza awaiting him, the little man's eyes sparkling, as usual. he appeared to be on excellent terms with himself.
"so you have been busy?" he exclaimed. "well, i have not been idle, either. but tell me all about this extraordinary accident to mrs. charlock. you needn't be surprised to find that i know, because, for the last hour or so, i have been at the police station. is this another case of suicide?"
"pure accident, i should say," grey replied. "but one can never tell. you are going your way and i am going mine, but it is odd if we can't arrive at the truth between us."
"and how did charlock take it?" tanza asked.
"well, he didn't take it at all," grey replied, "if i may put it in that way. for all the emotion and feeling he displayed we might have fished a dog out of the reservoir instead of his wife. but his feelings are so keen and intense that he keeps an extra tight hold upon them. i am to see him in the morning. i want an excuse for going over his house, and, if i am not mistaken, i shall make a sensational discovery or two in the course of to-day or to-morrow. i'll have one of your cigarettes, after which i'll go to bed."
there was no change in charlock when grey reached the house on the following morning. he found the artist in the same quiet, self-contained mood. there was nothing to show that his feelings had been played upon, except for certain hollow rings under his eyes.
"i am glad you have come," he said. "it is dreadful being here alone. i have got a few things in the house and furnished a sitting-room for the time being. they tell me the inquest is at ten o'clock. i shall be glad when it is over, for the police are worrying me with all sorts of questions more or less impertinent. i have the greatest difficulty in keeping my hands off some of them. ah, here is another. it is the inspector this time. he rather wants to see you. meanwhile, i'll get out of the way till he is finished."
charlock slipped quietly out of the room as the inspector came in. he was a pompous little man with a heavy manner, who appeared to think that he had the care of the universe on his shoulders. nevertheless, when he began to speak his questions were very much to the point.
"i don't want to bother you, mr. grey," the inspector said, "but i think you can give me certain information. i have been talking the matter over with mr. charlock and he has shown me his wife's letter. it appears that the lady came here last night at her own suggestion. it was mr. charlock's idea that you should be present at the interview. of course, we don't want to go into the details of a domestic quarrel, but it must be admitted that the relationship between husband and wife was exceedingly strained. i suppose you know that?"
"you are stating it fairly," grey said cautiously.
"exactly. mr. charlock was inclined to be harsh, and the lady, i understand, was terribly extravagant. there had been a serious quarrel before mrs. charlock made overtures for reconciliation. it doesn't matter why mr. charlock decided to call you in, seeing that you were here. now, have you any reason to believe that mrs. charlock was in the house alone with her husband before you came? did you see any evidence of it?"
the question startled grey.
"indeed, i didn't!" he said. "i understood from mr. charlock that he had not seen his wife. he put it plainly to me that i had been asked to go round an hour before mrs. charlock was expected, so that in the first place he could explain to me why i had been sent for. i feel sure i am right."
by way of reply the inspector produced a light dustcoat, which he held out for grey's inspection.
"i think i shall prove that you are wrong," he said. "i traced mrs. charlock's movements all yesterday, and i am prepared to show that the lady was wearing this dustcoat at the very time that she left her hotel last night. she was seen by several people to whom she is personally known. you will perceive for yourself that this cloak is quite dry, and that it is not in the least stained, as it would be had it been immersed in water. now, last night, after i came here at your suggestion, i went all over the house, and in the drawing-room, by the side of one of the french windows, i found this cloak. the window was unfastened, so that anybody could get in who liked, and i came to the conclusion that mrs. charlock was either in the house when you came or she had been here before. as a matter of fact, the cloak proves it."
"i am afraid it does," grey was fain to admit.
"thank you," the inspector said. "but i have not done yet. i have been examining the lawn for footmarks, and i find traces of a pair of boots, or rather of tennis-shoes, which go right round the side of the lawn to the back of the sundial. these shoes were worn by mr. charlock and yield distinctly the same impressions as were given by the shoes which marched side by side with yours when you were on your way to the fountain last night. now, can you explain this?"
"it is very awkward for charlock," grey murmured.
