 The clue of the Silver Spoons by Robert Barr. This is the LibriBox recording. All LibriBox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriBox.org. Read and recorded by SGA Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The clue of the Silver Spoons. When the card was brought into me, I looked upon it with some misgiving, for I sent it a commercial transaction. And although such cases are lucrative enough, nevertheless, I, Eugene Valmont, formerly high in the service of the French government, do not care to be connected with them. They usually pertain to sordid business affairs that present little that is of interest to a man who, in his time, has dealt with subtle questions of diplomacy upon which the welfare of nations sometimes turned. The name of Bentham Gibbs is familiar to everyone, connected, as it is, with the much-advertised Pickles, whose glaring announcements include crimson and green, strike the eye everywhere in England, and shock the artistic taste wherever seen. Me, I have never tasted them, and shall not, so long as a French restaurant remains open in London, and I doubt not they are as pronounced to the palate as their advertisement is distressing to the eye. If, then this gross Pickle manufacturer expected me to track down those who were infringing upon the recipes for making his so-called sauces, chutneys, and the like, he would find himself mistaken. For I was now in a position to pick and choose my cases, and a case of Pickles did not allure me. Beware of imitations, said the advertisement, non-genuine without the facsimile of the signature of Bentham Gibbs. Ah, well, not for me were either the Pickles or the tracking of imitators. A forged check, yes, if you like, the forged signature of Mr. Gibbs on a Pickle bottle was not for me. Nevertheless, I said to Armand, show the gentleman in, and he did so. To my astonishment, there entered a young man, quite correctly dressed, in dark frock coat, faultless waistcoat, and trousers that proclaimed the Bond Street Taylor. When he spoke his voice and language with those of a gentleman, Monsieur Walmont, he inquired. At your service, I replied, bowing and waving my hand as Armand placed a chair for him and withdrew. I'm a barrister with the chambers in the temple, began Mr. Gibbs. And for some days a matter has been troubling me about which I have now come to seek your advice. Your name having been suggested by a friend in whom I confided. Am I acquainted with him? I asked. I think not, replied Mr. Gibbs. He is also a barrister with the chambers in the same building as my own. Lionel Dacker is his name. I never heard of him. Very likely not. Nevertheless, he recommended you as a man who could keep his own counsel. And if you take up this case, I desire the utmost secrecy preserved, whatever may be the outcome. I bowed, but made no protestation. Secrecy is a matter, of course, with me. The Englishman passed for a few moments. As we expected, furl and assurances. Then he went on with no trace of disappointment on his countenance at not receiving them. On the night of the 23rd, I gave a little dinner to six friends of mine in my own rooms. I may say that, so far as I am away, they are all gentlemen of unimpeachable character. On the night of the dinner, I was detained later than I expected at a reception. And in driving to the temple was still further delayed by a block of traffic in the Piccadilly, so that when I arrived at my chambers, there was barely time for me to dress and receive my guests. My Maya Johnson had everything laid out ready for me in my dressing room. And as I passed through it, I hurriedly flung off the coat I was wearing and carelessly left it over the back of a chair in the dining room, where neither Johnson nor myself noticed it until my attention was called to it after the dinner was over and everyone was rather jolly with wine. This coat had an inside pocket. Usually any frock coat I wear at an afternoon reception has not an inside pocket, but I had been rather on the rush all day. My father is a manufacturer, whose name may be familiar to you, and I am on the director's boat of his company. On this occasion, I had to take a cab from this city to the reception I spoke of and had not time to go and change in my rooms. Reception was somewhat bohemian affair, extremely interesting of course, but not too particular as to costume, so I went as I was. In this inside pocket rested a thin package, composed of two pieces of pasteboard and between them five 20 pound bank of England notes, folded lengthways and held in place between the pasteboards by an elastic rubber band. I had thrown the coat over the chair in such a way that the inside pockets was exposed and the ends of the notes plainly recognizable. Over the coffee and cigars one of my guests laughingly called my attention to what he termed my vulgar display of wealth. And Johnson in some confusion at having neglected to put the coat away now picked it up and took it to the reception room where the wraps of my guest lay about promiscuously. He should of course have placed it in my wardrobe, but he said afterwards he thought it belonged to the guest who had spoken. You see, he was in my dressing room when I threw my coat in the chair in making my way to the, and of course, he had not noticed the coat in the hurry of arriving guests, otherwise he would have put it where it belonged. After everybody had gone, Johnson came to me and said the coat was there, but the package was missing, nor has any trace of it been found since that night. The dinner was fetched in from outside I suppose? Yes. How many waiters served it? Two. They are men who have often been in my employ on similar occasions, but apart from that they had left my chambers before the incident of the coat happened. Neither of them went into the reception room I take it? No. I am certain that not even suspicion can attach to either of the waiters. Your man Johnson has been with me for years. He could have easily stolen much more than a hundred pounds if he had wished to do so, but I have never known him to take a penny that did not belong to him. Will you favor me with the names of your guests, Mr. Gibbs? On a sheet of paper, I had written the names of the guests and noted their places at the table. Which gets through your attention to the money? Lionel Dacker. Is there a window looking out from the reception room? Two of them. Were they fastened on the night of the dinner party? I could not be sure. Johnson would know very likely. You are hinting at the possibility of a thief coming in through a reception room window while we were somewhat noisy over our wine. I think such a solution is highly improbable. My rooms are on the third floor and a thief would scarcely venture to make an entrance when he could not know, but there was a company being entertained. Besides this, the coat was there but an hour or so. And it seems to me whoever stole those notes knew where they were. That sounds reasonable, I have to admit. Have you spoken to anyone about your loss? To no one but Dacker, who recommended me to see you. Oh yes, and to Johnson of course. I could not help noting that this was the fourth or fifth time Dacker's name had come up during our conversation. Why to Dacker? I asked. Oh well, you see he occupies the chambers in the same building. On the ground floor. He's a very good fellow and we are by way of being firm friends. Then it was he who had called to attention to the money so I thought he should know the sequel. How did you take your news? Now that you call attention to the fact, he seemed slightly troubled. I should like to say, however, that you must not be misled by that. Lionel Dacker could know more steel than he could lie. Did he seem surprised when he mentioned theft? Bentman Gibbs paused a moment before replying, netting his brows in thought. No, he said at last. And come to think of it, it almost appears as if he had been expecting my announcement. Doesn't that strike you as rather strange Mr. Gibbs? Really, my mind is in such a whirl. I don't know what to think. But it's perfectly absurd to suspect Dacker. If he knew the man, you would understand what I mean. He comes from an excellent family. And he is, oh, he's Lionel Dacker. And when you have said that, you have made any suspicion absurd. I suppose you had the rooms thoroughly searched. The packet didn't drop out, and remain unnoticed in some corner. No, Johnson and myself examined every inch of the premises. Have you the numbers of the notes? Yes, I got them from the bank next morning. Payment was stopped, and so far not one of the fives has been presented. Of course, one or more may have been cashed at some shop, but none have been offered to any day. A 20-pound note is not accepted without scrutiny, so the chances are that the thief may have some difficulty in disposing them. As I told you, I don't mind the loss of money at all. It's the uncertainty, the uneasiness caused by the incident which troubles me. You will comprehend this when I say that if you are good enough to interest yourself in this case, I should be disappointed if your fee does not exceed the amount I have lost. Mr. Gidge rose as he said this, and I accompanied him to the door, assuring him that I should do my best to solve the mystery. Whether he sprang from pickles or not, I realized he was a polished and generous gentleman who estimated the services of a professional expert like myself at their true value. I shall not give details of my research during the following few days because the trend of them must be gone over in a remarkable interview I had somewhat later and there is little use in repeating myself. Suffice it to say, then that an examination of the rooms and a close cross questioning of Johnson satisfied me that he and the other two waiters were innocent. I was also convinced that no thief made a space with a window and I came to the conclusion that the notes were stolen by one of the guests. Further investigation convinced me that the thief was no other than Lionel Dacker, the only one of the six in pressing need of money at that time. I had Dacker shadowed and during one of his absences made the acquaintances of his man Hopper a surly impolite brute who accepted my golden sovereign quickly enough but gave me little in exchange for it. But while I conversed with him, there arrived in the passage where we were talking together a large case of champagne bearing one of the best known names in the trade and branded as being of the vintage of 78. Now, I know that the product of Camelot Frérès is not bought as cheaply as British beer and I also had learned that the two short weeks before Lionel Dacker was at his wit's end for money yet he was still the same briefless barrister he had ever been. On the morning after my unsatisfactory conversation with his man Hopper, I was astonished to receive the following note written on a dainty correspondence card three and four Bellum buildings in a temple EC. Mr. Lionel Dacker presents his compliments to Monsieur Eugene Valmont and would be obliged if Monsieur Valmont could make it convenient to call upon him in his chambers tomorrow morning at 11. Had the man become aware that he was being shadowed or did the surly servant inform him of the increase made? I was soon to know. I called punctually at 11 next morning and was received with charming urbanity by Mr. Dacker himself. The taciturn Hopper had evidently been sent away for the occasion. My dear Monsieur Valmont, I am delighted to meet you. Said the young man with more effusiveness that I had ever noticed an Englishman before. Although his business very next words supplied an explanation, that did not occur to me until afterwards as somewhat far fetched. I believe we are by way of being countrymen and therefore, although the hour is early, I suppose you will allow me to offer you some of that bottled sunshine of the year 78 from La Belle of France to whose prosperity and owner we shall drink together. For such a toast at any hour is prepitious. And to my amazement, he brought forth from the case I had seen arrive two days before a bottle of that superb vintage. Now, said I to myself, it is going to be difficult to keep a clear head if the aroma of that nectar rises to the brain. But tempting as is the cup, I shall drink sparingly and hope he may not be so judicious. Sensitive, I already experienced the charm of his personality and well understood the friendship Mr. Benton Gibbs felt for him. But I saw the trap spread before me. He expected, under the influence of champagne and courtesy, to extract a promise from me which I find myself unable to give. Sir, you interest me by claiming a friendship with France. I understood that you belong to one of the oldest families of England. Ah, England, he cried with an expressive gesture of outspreading hands truly perishing in its significance. The trunk belongs to England, of course, but the root, ah, the root, Mr. Walmont penetrated the soil from which this wine of God's has been drawn, then filling my glass and his own he cried. To France, which my family left in the year 1066, I could not help laughing at his fervent ejaculation. 1066, ah, that's a long time ago, Mr. Dacker. In years, perhaps, in feelings but a day, my forefathers came over to steal and lowered how well they accomplished it. They stole the whole country, something like a theft, say I, under that prince of robbers well named the conqueror. In our secret hearts we all admire a great thief, and if not a great one, then an expert one who covers his tracks so perfectly that the hounds of justice are baffled in attempting to follow them. Now, even you, Mr. Walmont, I can see you are most generous of men with a lively sympathy found to perfection only in France. Even you must suffer a pang of regret when you lay a thief by the heels who has done his task deftly. I fear, Mr. Dacker, you credit me with the magnanimity to which I dare not lay claim. The criminal is a danger to society. True, true, you are in the right, Mr. Walmont, still. Admit there are cases that would touch you tenderly. For example, a man, ordinarily honest, a great deed, a sudden opportunity. He takes that of which another has abundance and he nothing. What then, Mr. Walmont? Is the man to be sent to perdition for a momentary weakness? His words astonished me. Was I on the verge of hearing a confession? It almost amounted to that already. Mr. Dacker, I said, I cannot enter into the subtleties you pursue. My duty is to find the criminal. You are in the right, Mr. Walmont, and I am enchanted to find so sensible a head on French shoulders. Although, you are a more recent rival, if I may say so, than myself. You nevertheless already give utterances to the sentiments which do honour to England. It is your duty to hunt down the criminal. Very well. In that, I think I can aid you. So I have taken the liberty of requesting your attendance here this morning. Let me fill your glass again, Mr. Walmont. No more, I beg you, Mr. Dacker. What? Do you think the receiver is as bad as the thief? I was so taken aback at his remark that I suppose my face showed the amazement within me. But the young man merely laughed with the apparent free-hearted enjoyment, poured some more wine in his own glass and tossed it off. Not knowing what to say, I changed the trend of conversation. Mr. Gibbs said that you have been kind enough to recommend me to his attention. May I ask how you came to hear of me? Ah, who has not heard of the renowned Mr. Walmont? And as he said this, for the first time, there began to grow a suspicion in my mind that he was chaffing me, as it is called in England, a procedure which I cannot endure. Indeed, if this young man practiced it in my own country, he would find himself with a duel in his hands before he had gone far. However, the next instant, his voice resumed his original fascination and I listened to it as to some delicious melody. I have only to mention my cousin, Lady Gladys Dacker, and you will at once understand why I recommended you to my friend. The case of Lady Gladys, you will remember, required a delicate touch, which is not always to be had in this land of England, except when those who possess the gift do us the honor to sojourn with us. I noticed that my glass was filled again, and as I bowed my acknowledgements to his compliment, I indulged in another sip of the delicious wine, and then I sighed. For I began to realize it was going to be difficult for me, in spite of my disclaimer, to tell this man's friend he had stolen the money. All this time he had been sitting on the edge of the table, while I occupied a chair at its end. He sat there in a careless fashion, swinging a foot to and fro. Now he sprang to the floor and drew up a chair, placing on the table a blank sheet of paper. Then he took from the mantel sheaf a packet of letters, and I was astonished to see they were held together by two bits of cardboard and a rubber band similar to the combination that had held the folded banknotes. With great nonchalance he slipped off the rubber band through it and the pieces of cardboard on the table before me, leaving the documents loose to his hand. Now, Monsieur Walmont, he cried gently, you have been occupied for several days on this case. The case of my dear friend Bentham Gibbs, who is one of the best fellows in the world, he said the same of you, Mr. Dacker. I am gratified to hear it. Would you mind letting me know to what point your researchers have led you? They have led me to a direction rather than to a point. The direction of a man, of course. Certainly. Who is he? Will you pardon me if I decline to answer you at the present moment? That means you are not sure. It may mean, Mr. Dacker, that I am employed by Mr. Gibbs and do not feel of the liberty to disclose to another the results of my quest without his permission. But Mr. Bentham Gibbs and I are entirely at one on this matter. Perhaps you are aware that I am the only person with whom he has discussed the case besides yourself. That is undoubtedly true, Mr. Dacker. Still, you see the difficulty of my position. Yes, I do. And so shall not press you further. But I have also been interesting myself in a purely amateurish way, of course. You would perhaps have no dissimulation to learn whether my deductions agree with yours. Not in the least. I should be very glad to know the conclusion at which you have arrived. May I ask if you suspect anyone in particular? Yes, I do. Will you name him? No. I shall copy the admirable reticence you yourself have shown. And now let us attack this mystery in a sane and business-like manner. You have already examined the room. Well, here is a rough sketch of it. There is the table. In this corner, the chair on which the coat was flung. Here's had Gibbs at the head of the table. Those on the left-hand side had their backs to the chair. I, being in the center of the right, saw the chair, the coat and the notes and called attention to them. Now, our first duty is to find a motive. If it were a murder, our motive might have been hatred, revenge, robbery, what you like. As it is simply the stealing of money, the man must have been either a born thief or else some hitherto innocent person pressed to crime by great necessity. Do you agree with me, Mr. Walmont? Perfectly. You follow exactly the line of my own reasoning. Very well. It is unlikely that a born thief was one of Mr. Gibbs's guests. Therefore, we are reduced to look for a man under the spur of necessity. A man who has had no money of his own but must raise a certain amount. Let us say by a certain date if we can find such a man in that company. Do you not agree with me that he is likely to be the thief? Yes, I do. Then let us start our process of elimination. Out goes Viscount Stern, a man with 20,000 acres of land and nobody quite knows what income. I mark off the names of Lord Templemore, one of his majesty's judges, entirely above suspicion. Next, Sir John Sinclair. He is also rich but Vincent Ennis is still richer. So the pencil obliterates his name. Now we have Angus McKellar, an author of some note, as you are well aware, deriving a good income from his books and a better one from his place. A Kenny Scott. So we may rub his name off our paper and our memory. How do my erasures correspond with yours, Mr. Walmont? They correspond exactly, Mr. Decker. I am flattered to hear it. There remains one name untouched, Mr. Lionel Decker, the descendant as we have said, of robbers. I have not said so, Mr. Decker. Ah, my dear Walmont, the politeness of your country asserts itself. Let us not be deluded but follow our inquiry wherever it leads. I suspect Lionel Decker. What do you know of his circumstances before the dinner of the 23rd? As I made no reply, he looked upon me with his Frank Poish face illumined with a winning smile. You know nothing of his circumstances? He asked. It grieves me to state that I do. Mr. Lionel Decker was penniless on the night of the dinner on the 23rd. Oh, don't exaggerate, Mr. Walmont. Quite Decker. With a laugh. One sixpence, two pennies, and a half penny. How did you know he was penniless? I knew he ordered a case of champagne from the London representative of Camelot Perez and was refused unless he paid the money down. Quite right. And then when you were talking to Harper, you saw the case of champagne delivered. Excellent, excellent, Mr. Walmont. But will a man steal, think you, himself with an even so delicious of wine as this we have been tasting? And by the way, forgive my neglect. Allow me to fill your glass, Mr. Walmont. Not another drop if you will excuse me, Mr. Decker. Ah, yes. Champagne should not be mixed with evidence. When you are finished perhaps. What further proof have you? I have proof that Mr. Decker was threatened with bankruptcy. If on the 24th he did not pay a bill of 78 pounds that has long been outstanding. I have proof that this was paid. Not on the 24th, but on the 26th. Mr. Decker had gone to the solicitor and assured him he would have given the money on that date. Whereupon, he was given two days' grace. Ah, well, he was entitled to three, you know, in law. Yes, Mr. Walmont, you touch a fatal point. The threat of bankruptcy will drive a man in Decker's position to almost any crime. Bankruptcy to a barrister spells ruin. It means a career blighted. It means a life ruined with little chance of resurrection. I see you grasp the supreme importance of that bit of evidence. The case of champagne is as nothing compared with it. And this reminds me that in crisis, I shall take another sip with your permission. Sure you won't join me. Not at this juncture, Mr. Decker. I envy your moderation. Here is the success of our search, Mr. Walmont. I felt sorry for the gay young fellow. As with smiling face, he drank the champagne. Now, Mr., he went on. I am amazed to learn how much you have found out. Really. I think tradespeople, solicitors and all such should keep better guard on their tongues than they do. Nevertheless, these documents I have at my elbow and which I expect would surprise you are merely the letters and receipts. Here is the letter from the solicitor threatening me with bankruptcy. Here is his receipt dated the 26th. Here is the refusal of the wine merchant. And here is his receipt for that money. Here are the smaller bills liquidated. With my pencil, we will add them up. 78 pounds bulk large. We add the smaller items and a total is 93 pounds, 7 shillings and a 4 pence. It is now examined in my purse. Here is a 5 pound note. There is a minted sovereign. Here is a 12 and 6 pence in silver. Here is two pence in coppers. Now the purse is empty. Let us add this to the amount on paper. Do my eyes deceive me or is the total exactly 100 pounds? There is a stolen money accounted for. Pardon me, Mr. Dacker, I said. There is still a sovereign on the mantelbees. Dacker threw back his head and laughed with a great heartiness for him to indulge in during our short acquaintance. By Jove, he cried. You got me there. I have forgotten completely about that pound on the mantelbees, which belongs to you. To me, possible. It does and cannot interfere in the least with a 100 pound calculation. That is the sovereign you gave to my man Harper who, believing me hard pressed, took it that I might have the enjoyment of it. Harper belongs to our family or the family belongs to him. I am not sure which. You must have missed him in the differential bearings of a manservant in Paris. Yet, he is true gold like the sovereign you bestowed upon him and you bestowed upon me. Now here, Mr. Shear, is the evidence of the theft together with the rubber band and the gold. I asked my friend Gibbs to examine them minutely. They are all at your disposition, Mr. Shear. And you will learn how much easier it is to deal with the master than with the servant when you wish information. All the gold you possess would not have wrung this incriminating document from the old Harper. I had to send him away today to the West End, fearing that in his brutal British way he might have assaulted you with the sprinkling of your mission. Mr. Dacker said I slowly you have thoroughly convinced me. I thought I would. He interrupted the laugh. That you did not take the money. Oh, this is a change of wind surely. Many a man has been hanged through a chain of circumstantial evidence much weaker than which I have exhibited to you. Do you see the subtlety of my action? Ninety-nine persons in a hundred would say no man could be such a fool to put Walmont on his track and then place in Walmont's hands such striking evidence. But there comes in my craftiness. Of course the rock you run up against will be Gibbs's incredulity. The first question he will ask you may be this. Why not Dacker come and borrow the money from me? Now there you have a certain weakness in your chain of evidence. I know perfectly well that Gibbs would lend me the money and he knew perfectly well that if I were pressed to the wall I should ask him. Mr. Dacker said I you have been playing with me. I should resent that with most men. But whether it is your own genial manner or the effect of this excellent champagne or both together I forgive you. But I am convinced of another thing. You know who took the money. I don't know but I suspect will you tell me whom you suspect that would not be fair but I shall now take the liberty of filling your glass with champagne. I am your guest Mr. Dacker. Admirably on said Monsieur he replied pouring out the wine now I shall give you the clue. Find out all about the story of the Silver Spoons the story of the Silver Spoons what Silver Spoons? Ah that is the point. You step out of the temple into Fleet Street seized by the shoulders the first man you meet and ask him to tell you about the Silver Spoons. There are but two men and two spoons concerned. When you learn those two men are you will know that one of them did not take the money and I give you my assurance that the other did. You speak in mystery Mr. Dacker but certainly for I am speaking to Monsieur Eugene Valmont I echo your word sir admirably on said you put me on my metal and I flatter myself that I see your kindly drift you wish to solve the mystery of the stolen money sir you do me honour and I drink to your help to yours Monsieur said Lionel Dacker and here is further piece of information which my friend Gibbs would never have given you when he told me the money was gone I cried an anguish impending bankruptcy I wished the goodness I had it whereupon he immediately compelled me to accept his check for a hundred pounds of which I have shown you alas only six pounds twelve and eight pence remains on leaving Mr. Dacker I took a handsome to a cafe in Regent Street which is a possible limitation of a similar places of refreshment in Paris there calling for a cup of black coffee I sat down to think the clue of the silver spoons he had laughingly suggested that I should take by shoulders the first man I meet and ask him what the story of the silver spoons was this course naturally struck me as absurd nevertheless it contained a hint I must ask somebody that the right person to tell me the tale of the silver spoons under the influence of the black coffee I reasoned it out in this way on the night of the 23rd someone of the six guests there present stole her hundred pounds but Dacker had said that one of the actors in the silver spoon episode was the actual thief that person then must have been one of Mr. Gipp's guests at the dinner of the 23rd probably two of the guests were the participators in the silver spoon comedy but be that as it may followed that one at least of the men around Mr. Gipp's table knew the episode of the silver spoons perhaps Benton Gibbs himself was cognizant of it it followed therefore that the easiest plan was to question each of the men who partook of that dinner yet if only one knew about the spoons that one must also have some idea that these spoons formed the clue which attached him to the crime of the 23rd in which case he was little likely to divulge what he knew to an entire stranger of course I might go to Dacker himself and demand the story of the silver spoons but this would be a confession of failure in my part and I rather dreaded Lionel Dacker's hotly laughter when I admitted that the mystery was too much for me besides this I was not aware of the young man's kindly intentions towards me he wished me to unravel the coil myself and so I determined not to go to him except as a last resource I resolved to begin with Mr. Gibbs and finishing my coffee got again into a handsome and drove back to the temple I found Mr. Gibbs in his room and after greeting me his first inquiry was about the case how are you getting on he asked I think I am getting on fairly well I replied and expect to finish in a day or two if you will kindly tell me the story of the silver spoons the silver spoons he echoed quite evidently not understanding me there happened an incident in which two men were engaged and this incident related to a pair of silver spoons I want to get the particulars of that I have in the slightest idea what you are talking about replied Gibbs you will have to be more definite I fear if you have to get any help from me I cannot be more definite because I have already told you all I know what bearing has all this on our case I was informed that if I got hold of the clued silver spoons I should be in a fair way of setting our case who told you that Mr. Lionel Dacker oh does Dacker refer to his own conjuring I don't know I am sure what was his conjuring a very clever trick he did one night at dinner here about two months ago had it anything to do with silver spoons well it was silver spoons or silver forks or something of that kind I have entirely forgotten the incident so far as I recollect at the moment there was a slate of hand of great expertness in one of the music halls and the talk turned upon him then Dacker said that the tricks he did were easy and holding up a spoon or a fork I don't remember which he asserted his ability to make it disappear before our eyes to be found afterwards in the clothing of someone there he said several offered to make him a bet that he could do nothing of that kind but he said he would bet with no one but Innis who said opposite him Innis with some reluctance accepted the bet and then Dacker with a great show of the usual conjurious gesticulations spread forth his empty hands and said we should find the spoon in Innis's pocket and there sure enough it was it was a clever trick but we were never able to get him to repeat it thank you very much Mr. Gibbs I think I see daylight now if you do you're a cleverer than I by a long chalk quite bent than Gibbs as I took my departure I went directly downstairs and knocked on Mr. Dacker's door once more he opened the door himself and the man had not yet having returned ah, Monsieur he cried back already you don't mean to tell me you have so soon got to the bottom of the silver spoon in Tanglenang I think I have Mr. Dacker you were sitting at a dinner opposite Mr. Vincent Innis you saw him conceal a silver spoon in his pocket you probably waited for some time to understand what he meant by this as he did not return the spoon to its place you proposed a conjuring trick made the bet with him and first the spoon was returned to the table excellent, excellent Monsieur that was very nearly what occurred except that I acted at once I had had experiences with Mr. Vincent Innis before never did he come to these rooms without my missing some drink it after he was gone I am not a man of many possessions Mr. Innis is a very rich person and so if anything is taken I have little difficulty in coming to a knowledge of my loss of course I never mentioned these disappearances to him they were all trivial as I have said and so far as the silver spoon was concerned it was of no great value either but I thought the bet and the recovery of the spoon would teach him a lesson it apparently had not done so on the night of the 23rd he sat at my right hand as you will see by consulting a diagram of the table and the guests I asked him a question twice to which he did not reply and looking at him I was startled by the expression in his eyes they were fixed on a distant corner of the room and following his gaze I saw that he was looking at with such hypnotizing concentration so absorbed was he in contemplation of the packet there so plainly exposed that he seemed entirely oblivious to what was going around him I roused him from his trance by jocularly calling Gibbs's attention to the display of money I expected in this way to save Innis from committing the act which he seemingly did commit imagine then the dilemma in which I was placed when Mr. Gibbs confided to me the morning after what had occurred the night before I was positive that Innis had taken the money yet I possessed no proof of it I could not tell Gibbs and I dare not speak to Innis of course, monsieur you do not need to be told that Innis is not a thief in the ordinary sense of the word he has no need to steal he apparently cannot help himself doing so I am sure that no attempt has been made to pass those notes there doubtless in his home at Kensington at this present moment he is in fact a kleptomaniac or a maniac of some sort and now monsieur Waumont was my hint regarding the silver spoons of any value to you of the most infinite value and let me make another suggestion I leave it entirely to your bravery the bravery which I confess I do not myself possess will you take a handsome drive to Mr. Innis's house in the Cromwell Road confront him quietly and ask him for the return of the packet I am anxious to know what will happen if he has it to you as I expect he will then you must tell Mr. Gibbs the whole story Mr. Dacker your suggestion shall be immediately acted upon and I thank you for your compliment to my courage I found that Mr. Innis inhabited a very grand house after a time he entered the study on the ground floor to which I had been conducted he held my card in his hand I was looking at it with some surprise I think I have not the pleasure to call him aunt he said courteously enough no I have called on a matter of business I was once investigative of the French government and now I am doing private detective work here in London ah and how is that supposed to interest me I have nothing that I wish investigated I did not send for you did I no Mr. Innis I merely took the liberty of calling to ask you to let me have the package you took out of Mr. Benton Gibbs's pocket on the night of the 23rd he wishes it returned does he yes Mr. Innis calmly went to a desk which he unlocked and opened displaying a veritable museum of trinkets of one sort and another pulling out a small drawer he took from it the packet containing five twenty pound notes apparently it had never been undone with a smile he handed it to me you will make my apologies Mr. Gibbs for not determining it before tell him I have been unusually busy of late I shall not fail to do so said I with a bow thank you so much good morning Mr. Walmont good morning Mr. Innis Mr. Innis and so I return the package to Mr. Benton Gibbs who pulled the notes from between their passport protection and begged me to accept them the end of the clue of Silver Spoons by Robert Barr the tin box by Herbert Keane this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org read and recorded by SGA Philadelphia Pennsylvania the tin box if I were you Perkins said Mr. Booth one evening in the smoking room I should take care what I was about with that little widow you mean Mrs. Williams I inquired her name remarked my friend carelessly refilling his pipe with deliberation why you know it is I return rather sharply I have a bad memory for names said Mr. Booth with a slight shrug you seem to be getting quite intimate I am decently civil to her I reply significantly and I have avoided her yes that's quite true said Mr. Booth smiling perhaps I instinctively share Mr. Weller senior's antipathy to widows anyhow I don't like the face of this one I was astonished and rather disturbed at this I had great confidence in my friend's judgment but when I recall to mind the refined and delicate features the soft trustful brown eyes the gentle voice and the timid shrinking manner of the unfortunate lady he referred to I was filled with indignation at his cynical attitude Mrs. Williams had resided at Elvira house for about a week or ten days with her only child a pretty little girl of five years old and owing to the accident of being placed next to her at the dinner table I had struck up an acquaintance with her but she was neither remarkably good looking nor particularly young and my predilection was rather due to sympathy and good nature than to admiration for her personal charms besides she was apparently the last person to court attention for her whole thoughts seemed centered upon her child whom she evidently adored I fancied she maneuvered a little to get put next to you at the table said Mr. Booth watching me quietly you wouldn't say that if you knew her better I retorted hotly you think it was an accident well perhaps said my companion in his enigmatic way I'm sure of it I said emphatically Mrs. Knicks arranged it alright old fellow it is no concern of mine said Mr. Booth only I shouldn't lend her any more money if I were you how do you know I have done so I inquired grandening you asked me to change your check the other day it is a mere guess but putting two and two together you happen to be right for once with some vexation I lent her ten pounds till her dividends fall due on Tuesday next I suppose you are going to suggest that the money is lost it depends upon her circumstances he replied nodding his head well do you know anything about her come Booth out with it I exclaimed irritably I how should I be raising his eyebrows I have never seen her before in my life she is the widow of Mr. John Williams who died about two years ago he lived at Gateshead and was a wholesale tobaccoist he left everything to her by his will I explained to show that I was not wholly ignorant of the ladies affairs how do you know I inquired Mr. Booth she showed me a probate I replied I didn't ask her but when she requested me to accommodate her with that trifle of a money she volunteered to explain how she was situated I see observed Mr. Booth apparently impressed unfortunately the poor lady was left very badly off by the change in my friend's manner which was now more sympathetic and that is what now brings her up to town she has a fixed belief that her husband who seems to have been somewhat eccentric in his later days deposited some money or securities at some bank in London or elsewhere has she any clue inquired Mr. Booth manifestly interested not that I know of she is very reticent I replied she hasn't asked for your assistance then said my friend no of course I should be pleased to help if I could with a touch of defiance in my tone Mr. Booth did not gain same aid this time either he was tired of the subject or else he perceived that I rather had his interference at all events he relapsed into one of his silent moods in which he was wont to indulge and sad puffing at his pipe with his eyes fixed on the fire for the remainder of the evening without joining in general conversation which presently ensued as other guests strolled in I was annoyed with him because I thought his opinion Mr. Williams was unreasonably prejudiced and very unjust nevertheless his warning was not quite thrown away upon me for I determined to observe her with closer attention the only result of this however was to convince me more firmly than ever of her absolute good faith though I confess that I began to realize that her refinement of speech and manner was partly assumed in unguarded moments she occasionally dropped an aspirate and when she grew a little excited in speaking of her efforts to trace her husband's missing estate she sometimes made use of expressions which were suggestive of a humble origin but these slight solicisms were hardly perceptible and of course a defective education is at most a misfortune for the rest she continued to interest me greatly and when punctually on the appointed day she repaid me the ten pounds with many fervent expressions of gratitude I could not forbear exulting over my friend that is alright he said laughingly on hearing the news but looked a little shame faced as I thought you needn't tell her I gave you a friendly warning of course not I replied indignantly any news about her husband's property he asked carelessly none she has looked up all his London friends and done everything she can I answered why doesn't she advertise in the newspapers she did so more than a year ago in the Times and other journals have you anything to suggest I inquired anxiously no don't for goodness sake my dear fellow ask me to mix myself up in the ladies affairs he said with more temper than he usually displayed I would rather you didn't even tell her you have consulted me about them I promised this more readily because I suddenly remembered having once suggested to Mrs. Williams she should ask the advice of a friend of mine having Mr. Booth in my mind in her difficulty and had been met by a decided an emphatic refusal the incident had made no impression on me at the time by the idea now occurred to me that perhaps Mrs. Williams had guessed whom I refer to and had been moved by resentment at the marked coldness Mr. Booth always displayed towards her I had assured him quite truthfully that Mrs. Williams had never asked me to assist her in her search nor had I foreseen that she would do so but a few mornings afterwards the youth who did the valaying of the male portion of the establishment entered my room while I was shaving with an urgent message from the lady that she was waiting for me in the drawing room and would be obliged if I would descend there as soon as possible I found the little widow looking very pale and excited with an open letter in her hand which had arrived by the early post directly I appeared she flourished triumphantly a slip of blue paper exclaiming eagerly see Mr. Perkins what I have received this morning my sister who is taking charge of my house at Gateshead founded between the leaves of a book Boswell's Life of Johnson which she took out quite by chance from the bookcase in the dining room my poor husband was devoted to that work and was constantly reading it during his illness I am not much of a reader myself and if hadn't been for my sister the paper might have remained undiscovered for years while Mrs. Williams was thus breathlessly explaining I glanced at the document which was a form of receipt or acknowledgment from Messers, Drake, Crump and Company bankers of Fleet Street for a tin box deposited with them by her husband for safe custody on a specified date I congratulate you I replied thinking how attractive she looked in her excitement it is indeed a fortunate discovery I knew it I was sure he had done something of the kind exclaimed Mrs. Williams joyfully but he was very secretive about his affairs laterally it became quite a mania with him I shouldn't be surprised to find the box contains property of great value the receipt I see is dated about six months before your husband died I observed yes we were up in town then staying in lodgings in Edward Square Kensington replied Mrs. Williams reflectively I brought him to see a physician though nobody suspected at the time the serious nature of his symptoms he used frequently to go out alone and I suppose he got the box from his brokers or from some lawyer anyhow he deposited it with Drake Crumpon Company there is no doubt about that I remarked feeling quite carried away by the widow's satisfaction I suppose you will call upon them and claim it at once yes unless I really feel quite ashamed to ask such a favor of you Mr. Perkins but I was going to say unless you would mind calling upon them in the first instance the fact is my little girl is not very well today and besides this delightful surprise has rather upset me my head aches dreadfully said Mrs. Williams putting her white hand to her brow but smiling bravely oh I shall be very pleased I answered readily the probate of your husband's bill the banker will probably want to see that certainly I'll go and fetch it I'm so very obliged to you Mr. Perkins said the widow grasping my hand as she left the room our interview thus terminated Mrs. Williams brought down the official parchment and armed with this I hastened after breakfast to call upon Mrs. Drake and company feeling quite interested and excited about the affair I did not have an opportunity of telling Mr. Booth of my errand he was late for breakfast I remember that I was impatient to be off so as to look in at the bank on my way to business I merely mentioned this because as will appear later he afterwards blamed me for not having confided at this juncture the banking establishment of Mrs. Drake, Crump and Company was a small private concern which has long since been absorbed by one of those big joint stock undertakings in those days its affairs were conducted in a dingy old house with barred windows about half way down Fleet Street in a leisurely, sleepy kind of way the cashier's office was in the front room the staff consisting of three or four elderly clerks and on presenting my card I was ushered into a gloomy little apartment at the back where sat a quaint white-headed old gentleman in knee breeches who was evidently one of the partners Dear me this is very strange he exclaimed when I had explained my business Mr. Williams is dead is he well well we were wondering we haven't heard anything about him for a long time he has been dead for more than two years I replied two years eh let me see he observed as he rang a handbell upon the table Mr. Jameson he added as a clerk appeared when to be last here from John Williams he has not drawn on his account for upwards of two years his passbook is here answered the clerk oh then he had a current account as well exclaimed a small one yes replied the old gentleman what is the balance Mr. Jameson about 130 pounds said the clerk you see the passbook being here and the receipt for the box mislaid his widow had no clue I explained eagerly quite so quite so and this is the probate of his will hey said the old gentleman taking it up and holding it close to his nose I wonder you didn't see the advertisements in the papers I remarked his widow knew he had property somewhere but and she advertised extraordinary that that should have escaped us we always keep a lookout said the old gentleman glancing through the probate when did the advertisements appear I cannot tell you the date Mrs. Williams well I answered and you are a friend of the widows inquired the old gentleman looking at me pretty keenly over his spectacles yes the probate seems all right she is the sole executrix I see of course if she wants to withdraw the money and take away the box she must attend in person you can identify her I suppose and verify her signature certainly hmm you are Mr. John Perkins of the monarchy insurance office he said scrutinizing my card who is your present manager Mr. Middleton to be sure I have the pleasure of knowing him making my compliments said the old man I will I suppose Mrs. Williams can draw on the account and have access to the box when she chooses I inquired hmm hmm I see the testitor in his will as of Gateshead said the old gentleman doubtfully that isn't the address in our box he lived there and his widow lives there still I reply Mrs. Williams tells me at the date of that deposit receipt they were residing in lodgings in Edward Square Kensington quite right that is the address be gave well sir he added replying to my former question as everything seems satisfactory if you leave the probate for registration and call here with the lady any time after 12 o'clock tomorrow the box can be given up good morning I was very pleased for Mrs. Williams's sake to find that everything was straight forward and the fact of there being a substantial sum of money to the dead man's credit which the widow evidently knew nothing about would I thought be some compensation in case the contents of the box should turn out to be less valuable than she anticipated later in the day my chief Mr. Middleton surprised me by coming up to my desk at the office and saying Mr. Perkins I have just answered an inquiry about you an inquiry I exclaimed rather startled yes from Mrs. Drake Crump in company of Fleet Street have you some private business with them he asked curiously not of my own sir a lady in whose affairs I'm interested alright Mr. Perkins I don't wish to inquire details he said smiling at my embarrassment I was of course pleased to out for your respectability and integrity thank you sir I replied secretly annoyed at the bankers inquisitiveness I now perceived that I had been more service to Mrs. Williams than I had anticipated having unconsciously acted as a sort of reference for her and thereby saved her perhaps some little trouble with regard to identification this gave an additional zest to the pleasure of being able to make such a satisfactory report to her on my return I was bound to say that the widow was duly grateful she overwhelmed me with expressions of thanks and was really disposed to exaggerate my small civility I wrote a letter at her request to Mrs. Drake Crump and company fixing an appointment with them for two o'clock on the following afternoon and appending a specimen of Mrs. Williams signature and of course I rapidly agreed to accompany her when I told Mr. Booth all this he manifested considerable irritation which in my surprise I was foolish enough to attribute to a sort of jealousy since I could imagine no other possible cause for his ill humor what the dews do you want go meddling with this woman's affairs for Perkins he said sharply what harm have I done I exclaimed harm that remains to be seen he growled puffing angrily at his pipe I cannot understand your prejudice against this poor lady I said getting angry in my turn I take no interest in her whatever said Mr. Booth that's no reason why I shouldn't I retorted oh go your own way only remember that I warned you dismissing the subject with an impatient shrug we might almost have quarrelled but I was really more amused than angry that my friend soon recovered his temper nothing more was said between us about Mrs. Williams and I attached so little importance to Mr. Booth's vague warnings that it never even occurred to me the moment I had made accordingly the next day at 2 o'clock I was waiting for the widow at the door of Messrs Drake Crump and Company's bank as arranged and being rather pressed to get back to my office I began to grow impatient as she did not appear 10, 20, 40 minutes passed without any sign of her and I was on the point of leaving and I had made some mistake when I suddenly aspired her on the opposite side of the way coming up the street from the direction of St. Paul's she looked pale and fatigued and as I hastened to her assistance I saw her glance nervously over her shoulder at a slouching white bearded ragged old beggar man who appeared to be following her what is the matter had anything happened I inquired oh no I lost my way that's all said Mrs. Williams with a nervous laugh has that fellow been annoying you I asked lowering my voice as the old beggar slunk by hurriedly that man exclaimed Mrs. Williams glancing after him oh no I hadn't noticed him I gave her my arm and escorted her across the crowded road into the bank in the parlor at the back we found old Mr. Crump awaiting us and on a side table was a good sized tin box with Mrs. Williams name inscribed upon it on a paper label there it is exclaimed the widow as her eyes sparkled I remember it now I always wondered what became of it have you the key madam inquired Mr. Crump after greeting us with the old fashioned courtesy and bowing very low to my companion I think so at least I have one or two keys here which I haven't been able to account for said Mrs. Williams producing her purse eagerly she selected one of the keys and crossing over to the box succeeded in opening it immediately I only had a glimpse of the contents before Mrs. Williams shut down the lid and we locked it and as they were done up in brown paper parcels or packages I could form no idea of their nature or value I have prepared a check so that you can draw out the money if you wish said Mr. Crump thank you replied Mrs. Williams seating herself at his desk with a signature to the draft will you take it in cash asked Mr. Crump yes please in notes and 20 pounds in gold said the widow with a business like promptitude as she drew on her glove again Mr. Crump summoned the cashier to whom he handed the draft with the necessary directions I added a request that the porter may be permitted to call a cab during the absence of the clerk Mr. Crump observed in course of the conversation which naturally turned on the late Mr. Williams eccentric conduct with regard to his property by the way I have looked through the files of the times for the advertisement but I couldn't find it what advertisement Mr. Williams I understood from Mr. Perkins that you had advertised in the papers for information about your husband's missing estate said Mr. Crump looking at me oh yes so I did answered the widow coloring slightly what was the date asked Mr. Crump really I cannot at the moment recollect I can send you a copy of it if it is of any moment said Mrs. Williams rather sharply it is of no consequence of course replied the old gentleman evidently perturbed at seeing the lady showed signs of resentment I merely asked out of curiosity Mrs. Williams appeared from her manner to resent Mr. Crump's inquiry as insinuating some doubt upon the accuracy of her statement but fortunately the return of the cashier with her money caused a welcome diversion while she was towing away the notes and gold in her purse the cashier looked at me and said there is a cab at the door sir shall I ask the porter to carry the box down I think I can manage it it is not heavy I replied as I prepared to lift it I had been thinking Mr. Perkins said Mrs. Williams reflectively while putting her purse away that perhaps it would be wiser to leave the box here for a day or two till I returned to Gateshead that is she added turning to the old gentleman with a pleasant smile if Mr. Crump will kindly allow me you are welcome to leave it madam at your own risk of course replied Mr. Crump a little stiffly you see I have no way to keep it while I am in town the lady explained it would be safer here it is a little irregular as you are no longer a customer said Mr. Crump but still oh but if I find I can afford it I shall probably come to live in London and in that case I should certainly keep my account here interrupted Mrs. Williams graciously in any case I am very pleased to oblige you madam said the old gentleman more politely though surprised that Mrs. Williams was able to restrain her curiosity about the contents of the box it was obvious that her suggestion was prudent and therefore we left the box in charge of the bank Mr. Crump bowed us out of his room very civilly and the porter ushered us to the street door in front of which was a four wheeled cab just as we reached it the old grey haired beggar man whom I had noticed before rushed forward and obscurously turned the handle Mrs. Williams sprang lightly into the vehicle and again I thought she glanced nervously at the caging old rascal here you be off my man I said to him sharply no no here my poor fellow is something for you said Mrs. Williams and before I could prevent her she put her hand over my shoulder and gave the beggar a six pence you shouldn't be so foolish I said laughingly as the old man shuffled off at his price think of my good luck Mr. Perkins laugh the widow I gave the cab man the address of Elvira House and lifted my hat to Mrs. Williams from the payment as she drove away little imagining that she would have left London before I returned in the evening but so it happened for when I reached Elvira House at the end of the day I learned that the widow had received a telegram an hour or so previously summoning her to Bath on the account of the illness of her mother she left many kind messages for you added Mrs. Nix when she gave me the information she said she would write to you in the course of a day or two she was dreadfully upset poor thing at the sad news I did not even know she had a mother living I remarked you were the only person she confided in said Mrs. Nix playfully I suppose the little girl has gone too I observed a trifle abashed yes a sweet child everyone is so sorry to lose them Mrs. Williams was a universal favorite said Mrs. Nix this was evidently the case to judge from the expressions of regret which were uttered at the dinner table when her departure became generally known we had rather a reduced company that evening there being several vacant places the major had gone to attend some races at York with her Mr. Booth was understood to have accompanied him and two or three of our guests were dining out I was surprised to hear of my friend having yielded to the major's persuasions for when the latter had brought the subject of the expedition in the smoking room on the previous evening Mr. Booth had flatly refused the invitation but horse racing was a form of sport which seemed to possess extraordinary attractions for him and I suppose he had been partly influenced by desire to keep his companion out of mischief I must confess that I felt a little depressed at the widow's unexpected absence it was quite untrue that I admired her but her confidences my platonic regard and her personality undoubtedly attracted me I therefore awaited the promised letter with some impatience and she was good enough not to leave me long into spends for by the next evening's post I received from her the following episode dated from lower Poultonet Street path my dear Mr. Perkins alas my poor dear mother is dying so shocking and so totally unexpected of course I must remain by her side till the end and she may yet linger for some weeks the doctor says I hope Mrs. Nix gave you my message I can never thank you sufficiently for all you kindness dear Mr. Perkins and yet I have a further favour to ask of you you know what sick people are I told my dear mother unconscious about the box at the bank nothing will satisfy her but to know what it contains as she is anxious to be assured that my little girl and I are sufficiently provided for how I regret that I did not examine the contents that day at the bank and now what am I to do I dare not leave my poor mother even for an hour I wonder whether you would undertake a journey here and bring the box with you I know it is too much to ask yet I have ventured to write to the bank to say that you might call I am sure your kind heart will prompt you to do this if you possibly can you are most faithfully and sincerely dear Mr. Perkins Amelia Williams I was rather startled by this request and yet well in short I decided to comply with it I wonder at myself now most of us have experienced similar astonishment at past foolish actions my chief objection at the time was that I could not very well get away from the office however on consulting a railway timetable I found that Bath was a much more accessible place a half day holiday would be all that I had acquired for I could travel down there and return the same evening the next day was a Saturday so that all the indulgence I need to ask of my employers was a single hour in order that I might get to the bank before two o'clock to obtain the box I therefore wrote immediately to Mrs. Williams to say that I would travel down by train which left Paddington at three o'clock arriving at Bath at five fifteen and that I should return by express which would bring me back to town about nine I had no reason for remaining at Bath and I thought I might accomplish my journey before Mr. Booth came back I think I must have had vague idea of keeping my trip a secret both from him and from the other guests I was a little sensitive about remarks which had been made about my attention to the widow I duly carried out my program the box was handed over to me at the bank without the slightest dimmer in consequence of a letter they had received from Mrs. Williams and I arrived at Bath functionally at the dime named I hired a fly and drove straight to the widow's address in Lower Pultine Street but the servant who opened the door said to my surprise that the lady was out and handed me a brief penciled note from her saying that she had been called away unexpectedly owing to her mother's condition and asking me to leave the box the poor old lady is not in the house then I remarked casually what old lady sir inquired the girl opening her eyes Mrs. Williams mother did you know where she lives no sir I don't never heard her mention she had a mother here in Bath sir added the girl but Mrs. Williams is in constant attendance upon her mother who is dying I exclaimed Mrs. Williams has hardly left the house since she has been here sir said the girl evidently struck by my surprise she and her little girl went for a drive in a fly about an hour ago I don't know where they went to she said if a gentleman came and left the tin box I was to take great care of it did Mrs. Williams say when she would return I inquired with an uneasy feeling she said I was to have tea ready at six o'clock sir replied the girl glancing back at the clock I will come in and wait I said with sudden resolution as I stepped inside the hall the servant whose good faith was manifest ushered me into a neat parlor and then left me after again as a berating in answer to pressing inquiries that Mrs. Williams was certainly not in attendance on an invalid indeed it was impossible to doubt from the girl's detailed account of the widow's movement since her arrival in Bath that the story of the dying mother was a complete fiction I felt very much like a person who has unexpectedly received a douch of cold water at first sight it seemed as though the story had been merely a device to work upon my feelings in order to induce me to bring the box down to Bath even so however it was extraordinary behavior on Mrs. Williams' part to absent herself just at the hour of my arrival she had evidently counted upon my leaving the box and returning at once to London as I had planned but why the sudden reluctance to meet me to say nothing of the ungrateful discourtesy I grimly resolved to await an explanation and when I recall to the mind that Mrs. Williams had given the alleged illness of her mother as an excuse for hurried departure from Elvira House my mystification increased the repeated warnings of Mr. Booth rose unpleasantly to my mind and I had worked myself into a state of mingled indignation and resentment when a ring at the street doorbell announced as I imagined the return of Mrs. Williams I awaited her with a considerable trepidation for I felt that my position was both painful and embarrassing I heard servant respond to the summons and the next moment the room door was thrown open and who should walk in but Mr. Booth I started and stared at him as though I had seen a ghost while he seemed equally surprised at seeing me though he recovered himself quickly he glanced at the box in the table and his eyes twinkled hello I thought you were at York I gasped and I thought you were in London he said smiling at my astonishment I am waiting to see Mrs. Williams I explained she is a very clever little woman he said emphatically you came by the 515 train I suppose with that yes while she to put me off the scent seeks to lead me a wild goose chase so as to leave the coast clear he had nodding his head I found a note from her asking me to leave the box I said resentfully yes she didn't mean to be impolite to you said Mr. Booth slyly the fact is she has been so closely shadowed that if she had stayed at home for you your arrival with the box would have been noticed I suspected a trick though I must own that my calling here in her absence was nothing short of an inspiration he added great satisfaction perhaps you will kindly explain it all with a show of indignation which was intended to disguise my increasing confusion not now he said coolly taking possession of the box unless you want an awkward scene with the woman which might end in my having to call in the police in that case my friend you would figure somewhat unpleasantly before the public as an innocent accomplice in an awkward affair we had better clear out before she returns but the box belongs to Mrs. Williams I exclaimed horrified well it does and it doesn't I'll explain going along meanwhile possession is nine points of the law he said putting the box under his arm and moving to the door I was scared by the suggestion of a public scandal and I had complete faith in my friend I therefore put on my hat and followed him and by rushing through the streets until we met a fly which drove us at full speed to the station we just contrived to catch the 6.5 train back to town as it had was beginning to move away well I inquired eagerly as soon as I had recovered my breath we had fortunately and quite my chance secured an empty first class compartment Mr. Booth was leaning back with an air of calm triumph lighting a cigar while his feet resting on the tin box Mrs. Williams he said quietly is the wife of an accomplished forger and swell mobsman who is at present undergoing the felicity 14 years penal servitude the wife I gasped yes his real name is Bolton but he called himself Williams among other aliases in that name he opened an account at the Drake's bank and deposited the box a few months before he was arrested it was her husband's property then I exclaimed slightly relieved it contains the proceeds of a very ingenious robbery in Hatten garden he was known to have hidden a good bit away somewhere but he kept his mouth shut and the police were non-plussed so was his clever little wife whose ingenuity and pluck I can't help admiring didn't he tell her I inquired interested in spite of my unenviable feelings yes but she couldn't get it at all it was lodged at the bank in the name of Williams for safety and she dare not claim it but she bided her time and at length she heard of the death of Mr. John Williams at Gateshead which showed her husband's prudence in having adopted a common name of course this was her opportunity the dead man a complete stranger was made to represent the actual depositor and Mrs. Williams pretended to be the widow how did she get hold of the probate of another man's will I asked probably bribed the clerk of the solicitor who had custody of it you see probates are no good when once an estate is wound up this one was probably kicking about the office and wouldn't be missed what of the real Mrs. Williams of Gateshead she is dead and the advertisements said to have been inserted in the papers all a lie there are no advertisements my dear fellow she made you serve her purpose beautifully Mr. Booth it was very unfriendly of you not to have given me a hint I exclaimed furiously indignant my dear Perkins didn't I warn you over and over again yes but you didn't tell me what you knew because at first I knew absolutely nothing I simply mistrusted her from some kind of instinct but when you told me the woman's story I went round to Scotland Yard where I have a friend said Mr. Booth delicately flicking the ash from his cigar with his little finger and was shown some photographs that same evening you told me you had been to the bank on her behalf you may remember that I was annoyed with you even then you might have been more explicit I replied angrily well the fact is my dear Perkins as you had already committed yourself I couldn't resist the temptation of undertaking this little coup you played into my hands as it were but there is no harm done he added laughing at my discomforture it is entirely a private venture of my own carried out single handed why didn't she take the box away from the bank that day I inquired after a sulky silence because she discovered she was being watched replied Mr. Booth with imperturbable good humour do you remember an old grey bearded man yes she spotted him and that sent her out of London you followed I suppose yes I knew she would contrive to get the box sent down to her I thought she would probably have it brought down by one of the bank's messengers I never thought she would have the cheek to Mr. Booth checked himself abruptly evidently out of consideration for my feelings then after puffing at his cigar for a few moments he added a hearty tone you mustn't mind my dear fellow only two people besides yourself will ever have even a suspicion of how it has all come about I shan't tell and you may be sure she won't you forget the grey bearded man I groaned despondently true I forgot him said Mr. Booth smiling but I'll answer for his discretion as I would for my own I wouldn't have it happen for a thousand pounds I exclaimed in deep dejection after we had travelled for twenty miles in complete silence Mr. Booth looked at me for a few moments with a friendly concerned then he lent forward and touched me lightly on the arm my dear fellow since it has happened I can offer you a half the sum you've mentioned as compensation what do you mean? the owner of the property in this box will no doubt be glad to pay me five hundred pounds as a reward I am sufficiently replayed by the satisfaction of having accomplished a very neat job entirely of my own bet as a matter of fact I owe my success entirely to you thanks no I am no detective I interrupted more rudely I dare say than I was conscious of at least let me offer you a little memento to hang on your watch chain he said wincing at the rebuff but not the least resenting it he produced as he spoke from his pocket a six penny piece and handed it to me what is this I asked the identical coin which the fair bidot bestowed upon the grey bearded man he replied how did you come by it then I asked but Mr. Booth only smiled and I then recollected how he had posted that he had managed part of the business single handed I have only to add that though my friend always declared that the bidot did not entertain the least suspicion of his identity she never came to Elbira house again nor even wrote a line of remonstrance or inquiry to me and as I have heard nothing whatever from that day to this I conclude she made no complaint but accepted philosophically her bitter disappointment probably considering herself lucky to have escaped worse consequences the end of the tin box by Herbert Keane a mysterious case by Anna Catherine Green this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Linda McDaniel a mysterious case by Anna Catherine Green it was a mystery to me but not to the other doctors they took as was natural the worst possible view of the matter and accepted the only solution which the facts seem to warrant but they are men and I am a woman besides I knew the nurse well and I could not believe her capable of willful deceit much less of the heinous crime which deceit in this case involved so to me the affair was a mystery the facts were these my patient a young typewriter seemingly without friends or enemies lay in a small room of a boarding house afflicted with a painful but not dangerous malady though she was comparatively helpless her vital organs were strong and we never had a moments uneasiness concerning her till one morning when we found her in an almost dying condition from having taken as we quickly discovered a dose of poison instead of the soothing mixture which had been left for her with the nurse poison and no one not even herself or the nurse could explain how the same got into her room much less into her medicine and when I came to study the situation I found myself as much at loss as they owing to the fact that there neither was nor ever had been a drop of it in my possession the mixture then was pure when it left my hand and according to the nurse whom as I have said I implicitly believe it went into the glass pure and yet when two hours later without her having left the room or anybody coming into it she found occasion to administer the draft poison was in the cup and the patient was only saved from death by the most immediate and energetic measures not only in her part but on that of Dr. Holmes who in her haste and perturbation she had called in from the adjacent house the patient young innocent unfortunate but of a strangely courageous disposition betrayed nothing but the utmost surprise at the peril she had so narrowly escaped when Dr. Holmes intimated that perhaps she had been tired of suffering and had herself found means of putting the deadly drug into her medicine she opened her great gray eyes with such a look of childlike surprise and reproach that he blushed and murmured some sort of apology poison myself she cried when you promise me that I shall get well you do not know what a horror I have of dying in debt or you would never say that this was sometime after the critical moment had passed and there were in the room Mrs. Dayton the landlady Dr. Holmes the nurse and myself at the utterance of these words we all felt ashamed and cast looks of increased interest at the poor girl she was very lovely though without means and to all appearance without friends she possessed in great degree the charm of winsomeness and not even her many sufferings nor the indignation under which she was then laboring could quite rob her countenance of that tender and confiding emotion which so often redeems the plainest face and makes beauty doubly attractive Dr. Holmes does not know you I hasten to say I do and utterly repel for you any such insinuation in return will you tell me if there is anyone in the world whom you can call your enemy though the chief mystery is how so deadly and unusual a poison could have gotten into a clean glass without the knowledge of yourself still it might not be a miss to know if there is anyone here or elsewhere who for any reason might desire your death the surprise and the child like eyes increased rather than diminished I don't know what to say she merman I am so insignificant and feeble a person that it seems absurd for me to talk of having an enemy besides I have none on the contrary everyone seems to love me more than I deserve haven't you noticed it Mrs. Dayton the landlady smiled and stroke the sick girl's hand indeed she replied I have noticed that people love you but I have never thought it was more than you deserved you are a dear little thing Addie and though she knew and I knew that the everyone mentioned by the poor girl meant ourselves and possibly her unknown employer we were nonetheless touched by her words the more we study the mystery the deeper and less explainable did it become and indeed I doubt if we should ever have got to the bottom of it if there had not presently occurred in my patient a repetition of the same dangerous symptoms followed by the same discovery of poison in the glass and the same failure on the part of herself and nurse to account for it I was aroused from my bed at midnight to attend her and as I entered her room searching eyes looking upon me from the very shadow of death I made a vow that I would never cease my efforts until I had penetrated the secret of what certainly looked like a persistent attempt upon this poor girl's life I went about the matter deliberately as soon as I could leave her side I drew the nurse into a corner and again questioned her the answers were the same as before Addie had shown distress as soon as she had swallowed the valuable quantity of medicine and in a few minutes more it was in a perilous condition did you hand the glass yourself to Addie? I did where did you take it from? from the place where you left it the little stand on the farther side of the bed and do you mean to say that you had not touched it since I prepared it? I do ma'am and that no one else has been in the room no one ma'am tested her but the best of us are but mortal can you assure me that you have not been asleep during this time? look at this letter I have been writing she returned it is eight pages long and it was not begun when you left us at ten o'clock I shook my head and fell into a deep reverie how was that matter to be elucidated and how was my patient to be saved another draft of this deadly poison and no power on earth could resuscitate her what should I do and with what weapons should I combat a danger at once so subtle and so deadly reflection brought no decision and I left the room at last determined upon but one point and that was the immediate removal of my patient but before I had left the house I changed my mind even on this point removal of the patient meant safety to her perhaps but not the explanation of her mysterious poisoning I would change the position of her bed and I would even set a watch over her and the nurse but I would not take her out of the house not yet and what had produced this change in my plans the look of a woman whom I met on the stairs I did not know her but when I encountered her glance I felt that there was some connection between us and I was not at all surprised to hear her ask and how is Miss Wilcox today Miss Wilcox is very low I returned the least neglect the least shock to her nerves would be sufficient to make all my efforts useless otherwise she will get well I nodded I had exaggerated the condition of the sufferer but some secret instinct compelled me to do so the look which passed over the woman's face satisfied me that I had done well and though I left the house it was with the intention of speedily returning and making inquiries into the woman's character and position in the household I learned little or nothing that she occupied a good room and paid for it regularly seemed to be sufficient to satisfy Mrs. Dayton her name which proved to be Le Roux showed her to be French and her promptly paid $10 a week showed her to be respectable what more could any hardworking landlady require but I was distrustful her face though handsome possessed an eager ferocious look which I could not forget and the slight gesture with which she had passed me at the close of the short conversation I had given before had a suggestion of triumph in it which seemed to contain whole volumes of secret and mysterious hate I went into Ms. Wilcox's room very thoughtful I am going but here the nurse held up her hand hark! she whispered she had just set the clock and was listening to it striking hark! but not to the clock whose step is that? I asked after she had left the clock and sat down. Oh! someone in the next room the walls here are very thin only boards in places I did not complete what I had begun to say if I could hear steps through the partition then could our neighbors hear us talk and what I had determined upon must be kept secret from all outsiders I drew a sheet of paper toward me and wrote I shall stay here tonight something tells me that in doing this I shall solve this mystery but I must appear to go take my instructions as usual and bid me good night lock the door after me but with a turn of the key instantly unlock it again I shall go downstairs see that my carriage drives away and quietly return on my re-entrance I shall expect to find Ms. Wilcox on the couch with the screen drawn up around it late lowered what I do thereafter need not concern you pretend to go to sleep the nurse nodded and immediately entered upon the program I had planned I prepared the medicine as usual placed it in its usual glass and laid that glass where it had always been set on a little table at the farther side of the bed then I said good night and passed hurriedly out I was fortunate enough to meet no one going or coming I regained the room pushed open the door and finding everything in order proceeded at once to the bed upon which after taking off my hat and cloak and carefully concealing them I lay down and deftly covered myself up my idea was this that by some mesmeric influence of which she was ignorant the nurse had been forced to either poison the glass herself or open the door for another to do it if this were so she or the other person would be obliged to pass around the foot of the bed in order to reach the glass and I should be sure to see it for I did not pretend to sleep by the low light enough could be discerned for safe movement about the room and not enough to make apparent the change which had been made in the occupant of the bed I waited with indescribable anxiety and more than once fancied I heard steps if not a feverish breathing close to my bed head but no one appeared and the nurse in her big chair at last I grew weary and fearful of losing control over my eyelids I fixed my gaze upon the glass as if in so doing I could find a talisman to keep me awake when great God what was it I saw a hand a creeping hand coming from nowhere and joined to nothing closing about that glass and drawing it slowly away till it disappeared entirely from before my eyes I gasped I could not help it but I did not stir for now I knew I was asleep and dreaming but no I pinched myself under the clothes and find that I am very wide awake indeed and then look look the glass is returning the hand a woman's hand is slowly setting it back in its place and with a bound I have that hand in my grasp it is a living hand and it is very warm and strong and fierce and the glass has fallen and lies shattered between us and a double cry is heard one from behind the partition through an opening in which this hand had been thrust and one from the nurse who has jumped to her feet and is even now assisting me in holding the struggling member upon which I have managed to scratch a telltale mark with a piece of the fallen glass at sight of the iron like grip which this ladder lays upon the intruding member I at once release my own grasp hold on I cried and leaping from the bed I hasten first to my patient whom I carefully reassured and then into the hall where I found the landlady running to see what was the matter I have found the wretch I cried and drawing her after me hurried about to the other side of the partition where I found a closet and in it the woman I had met on the stairs but glaring now like a tiger in her rage menace and fear that woman was my humble little patient's bitter but unknown enamored of a man who unwisely perhaps had expressed in her hearing his admiration for the pretty typewriter she had conceived the idea that he intended to marry the ladder and vowing vengeance had taken up her abode in the same house with the innocent girl where had it not been for the fortunate circumstance of my meeting her on the stairs she would certainly have carried out her scheme a vile and secret murder the poison she had bought in another city and the hole in the partition she had herself cut this had been done at first for the purpose of observation she having detected in passing by Miss Wilcox's open door that a banner of painted silk hung over that portion of the wall in such a way as to hide any aperture which might have been made there afterward when Miss Wilcox fell sick and she discovered by short glimpses through her loop hole that the glass of medicine was placed at the table just under this banner she could not resist the temptation to enlarge the hole to a size sufficient to admit the pushing aside of the banner and the reaching through of her murderous hand why she did not put poison enough in the glass to kill Miss Wilcox at once I have never discovered probably she feared detection that by doing as she did she brought about the very event she had endeavored to avert is the most pleasing part of the tale of whom I have spoken learned of the wicked attempt which had been made upon Miss Wilcox's life his heart took pity upon her and a marriage ensued which I have every reason to believe is a happy one this concludes the reading of a mysterious case by Anna Catherine Green recorded by Linda McDaniel November 2008