human
You must excuse my intrusion, sir, he said, addressing Mr. Phelps;
gpt
Here I am, said Alan.
human
What is the matter, Blair? You have some news.
gpt
I have, sir. I have been to London, and I have brought back with me a gentleman whom Mr. Beauchamp may know;
human
Barkham! exclaimed Mr. Beauchamp;
gpt
Mr. Beauchamp, he said, in a servile voice,
human
I hope, as I warned you of Lestrange's plot, you will hold me blameless.
gpt
Why? What have you been doing?
human
I will tell you, interposed Blair.
gpt
This gentleman, as you see, bears a slight resemblance to Captain Jean Lestrange. He and the Captain were hard up in Jamaica, and seeing your portrait, Mr. Beauchamp, in the papers, they thought they might have a chance of extorting money from you. In case Lestrange got into trouble here, he wished to have an alibi, so he left for England under another name, and Mr. Barkham here came to Southampton in the _Negress_ as Captain Lestrange.
human
Yes, yes, said Barkham nervously;
gpt
Quite so; but you did not tell him that Lestrange was masquerading as a dumb man in Heathton.
human
What! cried Alan and Sophy in one breath.
gpt
Was Lestrange the Quiet Gentleman?
human
Yes, replied Blair, with triumph.
gpt
He confessed as much to Barkham here. That was why he wore the gray wig and beard and assumed dumbness--oh, a most effective disguise; quite a different person he made of himself! He came down to keep a watch on you, Mr. Beauchamp, in order to plunder you when he thought fit. Your unexpected death took him by surprise and upset his plans. Then Barkham, as Jean Lestrange, arrived at Southampton, and our Quiet Gentleman disappeared from his rooms here, to reappear from London in his own proper person, as Captain Jean Lestrange. No wonder that, with so carefully-prepared an alibi, we did not guess it was he who had been masquerading here.
human
Ha! exclaimed Alan,
gpt
Mr. Barkham can explain that, and other things,
human
Wait! cried Sophy, rising excitedly,
gpt
I know--I know! It was Lestrange who murdered Dr. Warrender!
human
Yes, admitted Barkham,
gpt
The scoundrel! he said hoarsely,
human
What! cried Blair, jumping up.
gpt
You let him escape, Mr. Beauchamp--and when you knew that he killed Achille Lestrange?
human
It was my wish, struck in Sophy;
gpt
I thought he might repent.
human
Such scoundrels never repent, Miss Marlow, said Blair;
gpt
No, I don't suppose he has, said Alan.
human
He was here last night. By the way, how did he kill Dr. Warrender, and why?
gpt
Barkham!
human
Lestrange, he said,
gpt
God bless me! cried Phelps,
human
Yes, said the little man, nodding,
gpt
Did Warrender recognize him?
human
No, sir, he did not--at least, not then. Well, Lestrange waited and waited to enter the vault. When he went at last he found Warrender and another man taking the body out. He followed them to the hut on the heath; he tried to look in, and he made a slight noise. Warrender came out, and in the moonlight he recognized Lestrange, who turned to run away, but the doctor caught him and they struggled. Then Lestrange, knowing that he would be arrested for the murder of Achille in Jamaica, stabbed the doctor to the heart. Terrified at what he had done, he lost his head, and hurried up to me in London. At first he refused to tell me anything, but I made him drink, said Barkham, with a leer,
gpt
You scoundrel!
human
Call me what you like, was the sullen rejoinder.
gpt
I wanted to get money out of Beauchamp myself, and wrote to warn him that I might have a claim on his gratitude. I was afraid to come here. I sent a letter to Lestrange asking him for money, and it got into this policeman's hands. He traced me, and brought me down here. That is all I know; but as Mr. Beauchamp is alive, I ought to have something. After all, it was I who warned him.
human
You shall have fifty pounds, said Beauchamp sternly.
gpt
But you must leave England.
human
I don't know that I will let him, said Blair.
gpt
He should have communicated with the police.
human
I'll turn Queen's evidence if you like, said Barkham.
gpt
I don't care if I am arrested or not. I have had nothing but this fifty pounds--and you call that gratitude, Mr. Beauchamp!
human
Let him go, Blair, if you can consistently with your duty,
gpt
I'll see, was the reply.
human
Hullo! what's that! Gramp, what do you mean by rushing into the room?
gpt
Mr. Thorold, he said,
human
I have information if you will pay me well.
gpt
You shall be paid if what you have to say is worth it.
human
Then I must tell you that Lestrange was the Quiet Gentleman. You see this lancet? He stole it out of your desk, and gave it to me to say that I found it in the hut. This proves that he was the Quiet Gentleman, and I believe he murdered Dr. Warrender.
gpt
You do, you scoundrel! cried Mr. Beauchamp.
human
But you are too late--we know all!
gpt
Too late! cried Gramp.
human
Good heavens! to think of my getting nothing, and Clara Maria two thousand pounds!