CHAPTER XXIX.

CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE.

After an hour of earnest whispered conversation Mrs. Pelham rose.

“I cannot return to the Towers,” she said.

“Why not? Your absence will look strange.”

“I cannot help it. It is impossible for me to face either Barbara or Dick. I shall go to London with you.”

Tarbot considered for a moment. It had not occurred to him that Mrs. Pelham would do this, but after a little thought he considered it a wise step.

“Very well,” he said. “I am not greatly surprised; but what about your things?”

“I will send a note to my maid. She will pack them and follow me this evening. I will go to town with you, Dr. Tarbot. When does the next train start?”

Tarbot sent for a time-table. The next train would leave Haversham within an hour.

“You must have some lunch before you start, and then we will drive over to the station,” he said.

Mrs. Pelham bowed her head in acquiescence. Her face looked gray and her eyes strained, and there was a tense expression about her lips as though she were keeping her self-control with a mighty effort.

When the lunch was brought in she managed to eat a little, schooling herself to do so. Then a trap was found, and the pair drove to the station. Mrs. Pelham had written a brief note to Barbara and also one to her maid. In Barbara’s letter she had simply said—

“Unexpected news obliges me to hurry to town. Will write more fully on my arrival.”

When they got to the station Tarbot took a first class ticket for himself and another for Mrs. Pelham. He tipped the guard to reserve the carriage, and they traveled up to London alone. Just as they neared the metropolis Mrs. Pelham bent forward and touched Tarbot’s hand with her fingers.

“I have made up my mind,” she said. “I will avenge the death.”

“I am glad of it,” said Tarbot. “I thought you would feel so and act so. I knew there was no other course open to you.”

“I have not the least idea how to proceed,” continued Mrs. Pelham, “but I shall not rest day or night until Richard Pelham is arrested. I have thought over all that you have told me, and the evidence seems conclusive. Dick’s gloom, his unaccountable and strange misery, all that took place immediately after the death of the child, can only be accounted for in the one way. It is fearful; but there is not the slightest doubt that the circumstantial evidence against Dick is of the strongest nature. Yes, I must take the necessary steps to bring him to justice, and at once.”

“You are doing the right thing,” said Tarbot. “A life for a life, remember. You have the authority of Scripture for what you are about to do.”

Mrs. Pelham shivered and covered her face with her hands.

“I loved him well,” she continued. “This very morning as I sat by his side at breakfast I noticed how kind he looked. Dr. Tarbot, are you sure of what you are telling me?”

“I am certain. The circumstantial evidence is so strong that it will hang him.”

“Great Heaven! If Dick dies by the hand of the hangman I believe I shall go mad. I feel almost as if he were a son to me.”

“Think what he did, and your feelings will alter.”

“That is true. I hate him already. Oh, my heart is torn.”

“You will be better when you have done what is right,” said Tarbot. “He will hang for this.”

As the man spoke his lips slowly moved apart. A diabolical smile flitted across his face.

“You will guide me,” said Mrs. Pelham. “You will tell me what steps to take?”

“No, I must not do that. You must consult your own lawyer.”

“What, Mr. Carroll? He was one of dear little Piers’s guardians.”

“Carroll is a barrister, is he not?”

“Yes.”

“You must put your affairs into the hands of an able solicitor. Doubtless, Carroll will tell you the right man.”

Mrs. Pelham was silent.

“When we reach town you had better go straight to Carroll and ask his advice. He will tell you the proper man to employ. You must have a very smart criminal solicitor. If possible, you had better instruct Wilkinson. You must have a criminal barrister also—Chartris is your man.”

“Is all this necessary?”

“Indispensable.”

“Then I will go to Mr. Carroll when I get to town.”

“Do so. Carroll will give you all the necessary counsel. Pelham ought to be arrested as quickly as possible.”

“Yes.” Mrs. Pelham clasped her hands together convulsively.

“I have come up to town for no other purpose,” she continued. “I shall not rest day or night until my darling’s most cruel murder has been avenged.”

“When you speak like that you act as a brave and noble woman. A life for a life, remember. I will be your friend through all.”

“Thank you.”

The train arrived at Paddington. Tarbot saw Mrs. Pelham into a cab, and the driver was desired to go straight to Carroll’s chambers in Holles Street.

Carroll happened to be in, and he saw Mrs. Pelham at once. Her agitation and the strained look on her face frightened him. He asked her to sit down, and questioned her eagerly as to what was the matter.

“I have come to consult you about the most awful matter,” she said.

“What is it, Mrs. Pelham? What can possibly agitate you to such a fearful extent?”

“It is something that Luke Tarbot has just told me. On hearing the news I came to town. Luke Tarbot has discovered that my child, my little Piers, came by his death by the administration of a most subtle poison. An awful stuff called hyocene was put into his medicine.”

“Impossible!” said Carroll. “Who has told you this?”

“Dr. Tarbot. For some reason he had his suspicions, and he analyzed the medicine.”

“But Tarbot was the doctor who attended the case. He ordered the medicine to be given himself. The man must be mad.”

“He says the hyocene must have been put into the medicine after it arrived from the chemist’s. But the terrible fact that I am coming to is this. Dr. Tarbot says that Dick did it.”

“Richard Pelham!” cried Carroll. “Richard Pelham try to murder Piers! Impossible, monstrous! My dear madam, you are the subject of a terrible hallucination.”

“I wish I were.” The poor woman clasped and unclasped her hands. Her face was full of terror and distress.

“It is true,” she repeated. “I could not believe it myself at first, but I do now. The circumstantial evidence is fearfully strong, and it is all against Dick. I must prosecute him. My child’s death must be avenged. I have come to town for the purpose.”

“Where is Tarbot? When did he bring you this cock-and-bull story?”

“It is not a cock-and-bull story. You may think so at first, but you will not when you know all. Dick was in a fearful state after the death—his agitation was unnatural. It points strongly to his guilt.”

“Not to those who know the man,” said Carroll.

“I should be more than thankful if anybody could clear him,” replied Mrs. Pelham, “but at present I think, nay, more, I am certain he is guilty.”

“You are overwrought, and no wonder,” said Carroll kindly. “Of course, I will look into this matter. You must leave it to me. Will you stay here while I interview Tarbot?”

“You will find him at his house in Harley Street. Yes, I will remain here until you return.”

“That is good. I will order the servants to bring you some refreshment. You must have something, it is necessary for you to husband your strength. I will be off at once now to Tarbot and then return to you.”

Carroll left the room. He was absent nearly an hour. At the end of that time he came back, and his face was very grave.

“I saw Tarbot,” he said, “and he has certainly confided a strange tale to me. I don’t even now believe in Dick’s guilt; but you are right, Mrs. Pelham—the circumstantial evidence is terribly strong. Have you quite made up your mind to prosecute?”

“I have. Can I allow the child’s death to be unavenged?”

“I have not a word to say if such is your wish. I will take you now to a solicitor whom I know.”

“Dr. Tarbot wishes me to consult a solicitor of the name of Wilkinson.”

“He is a smart man, but I think I prefer Cornish. John Cornish is very just, and has had a vast amount of criminal practise.”

“Just as you please, Mr. Carroll. I will put myself into your hands.”

“Then we’ll go to Cornish. I will have a hansom whistled for, and we’ll drive there at once.”

Mrs. Pelham rose. In a few moments’ time the pair were driving in the direction of Cornish’s chambers in Lincoln’s Inn Fields. They found him at home. Carroll had a brief interview with the lawyer first; afterwards Cornish saw the widow and took her instructions.

“I will get a warrant immediately from the magistrate of the district where the child died,” he said. “Sir Richard Pelham will be arrested early to-morrow morning.”