Reading Help Secret Adversary Ch.XIV-XXVIII
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`
` `
` `
` CHAPTER XIV `
` `
` A CONSULTATION `
` `
` NOTHING was more surprising and bewildering to Tuppence than the `
` ease and simplicity with which everything was arranged, owing to `
` Sir James's skilful handling. The doctor accepted quite readily `
` the theory that Mrs. Vandemeyer had accidentally taken an `
` overdose of chloral. He doubted whether an inquest would be `
` necessary. If so, he would let Sir James know. He understood `
` that Mrs. Vandemeyer was on the eve of departure for abroad, and `
` that the servants had already left? Sir James and his young `
` friends had been paying a call upon her, when she was suddenly `
` stricken down and they had spent the night in the flat, not `
` liking to leave her alone. Did they know of any relatives? They `
` did not, but Sir James referred him to Mrs. Vandemeyer's `
` solicitor. `
` `
` Shortly afterwards a nurse arrived to take charge, and the other `
` left the ill-omened building. `
` `
` "And what now?" asked Julius, with a gesture of despair. "I guess `
` we're down and out for good." `
` `
` Sir James stroked his chin thoughtfully. `
` `
` "No," he said quietly. "There is still the chance that Dr. Hall `
` may be able to tell us something." `
` `
` "Gee! I'd forgotten him." `
` `
` "The chance is slight, but it must not be neglected. I think I `
` told you that he is staying at the Metropole. I should suggest `
` that we call upon him there as soon as possible. Shall we say `
` after a bath and breakfast?" `
` `
` It was arranged that Tuppence and Julius should return to the `
` Ritz, and call for Sir James in the car. This programme was `
` faithfully carried out, and a little after eleven they drew up `
` before the Metropole. They asked for Dr. Hall, and a page-boy `
` went in search of him. In a few minutes the little doctor came `
` hurrying towards them. `
` `
` "Can you spare us a few minutes, Dr. Hall?" said Sir James `
` pleasantly. "Let me introduce you to Miss Cowley. Mr. `
` Hersheimmer, I think, you already know." `
` `
` A quizzical gleam came into the doctor's eye as he shook hands `
` with Julius. `
` `
` "Ah, yes, my young friend of the tree episode! Ankle all right, `
` eh?" `
` `
` "I guess it's cured owing to your skilful treatment, doc." `
` `
` "And the heart trouble? Ha ha!" `
` `
` "Still searching," said Julius briefly. `
` `
` "To come to the point, can we have a word with you in private?" `
` asked Sir James. `
` `
` "Certainly. I think there is a room here where we shall be quite `
` undisturbed." `
` `
` He led the way, and the others followed him. They sat down, and `
` the doctor looked inquiringly at Sir James. `
` `
` "Dr. Hall, I am very anxious to find a certain young lady for the `
` purpose of obtaining a statement from her. I have reason to `
` believe that she has been at one time or another in your `
` establishment at Bournemouth. I hope I am transgressing no `
` professional etiquette in questioning you on the subject?" `
` `
` "I suppose it is a matter of testimony?" `
` `
` Sir James hesitated a moment, then he replied: `
` `
` "Yes." `
` `
` "I shall be pleased to give you any information in my power. What `
` is the young lady's name? Mr. Hersheimmer asked me, I `
` remember----" He half turned to Julius. `
` `
` "The name," said Sir James bluntly, "is really immaterial. She `
` would be almost certainly sent to you under an assumed one. But I `
` should like to know if you are acquainted with a Mrs. `
` Vandemeyer?" `
` `
` "Mrs. Vandemeyer, of 20 South Audley Mansions? I know her `
` slightly." `
` `
` "You are not aware of what has happened?" `
` `
` "What do you mean?" `
` `
` "You do not know that Mrs. Vandemeyer is dead?" `
` `
` "Dear, dear, I had no idea of it! When did it happen?" `
` `
` "She took an overdose of chloral last night." `
` `
` "Purposely?" `
` `
` "Accidentally, it is believed. I should not like to say myself. `
` Anyway, she was found dead this morning." `
` `
` "Very sad. A singularly handsome woman. I presume she was a `
` friend of yours, since you are acquainted with all these `
` details." `
` `
` "I am acquainted with the details because--well, it was I who `
` found her dead." `
` `
` "Indeed," said the doctor, starting. `
` `
` "Yes," said Sir James, and stroked his chin reflectively. `
` `
` "This is very sad news, but you will excuse me if I say that I do `
` not see how it bears on the subject of your inquiry?" `
` `
` "It bears on it in this way, is it not a fact that Mrs. `
` Vandemeyer committed a young relative of hers to your charge?" `
` `
` Julius leaned forward eagerly. `
` `
` "That is the case," said the doctor quietly. `
` `
` "Under the name of----?" `
` `
` "Janet Vandemeyer. I understood her to be a niece of Mrs. `
` Vandemeyer's." `
` `
` "And she came to you?" `
` `
` "As far as I can remember in June or July of 1915." `
` `
` "Was she a mental case?" `
` `
` "She is perfectly sane, if that is what you mean. I understood `
` from Mrs. Vandemeyer that the girl had been with her on the `
` Lusitania when that ill-fated ship was sunk, and had suffered a `
` severe shock in consequence." `
` `
` "We're on the right track, I think?" Sir James looked round. `
` `
` "As I said before, I'm a mutt!" returned Julius. `
` `
` The doctor looked at them all curiously. `
` `
` "You spoke of wanting a statement from her," he said. "Supposing `
` she is not able to give one?" `
` `
` "What? You have just said that she is perfectly sane." `
` `
` "So she is. Nevertheless, if you want a statement from her `
` concerning any events prior to May 7, 1915, she will not be able `
` to give it to you." `
` `
` They looked at the little man, stupefied. He nodded cheerfully. `
` `
` "It's a pity," he said. "A great pity, especially as I gather, `
` Sir James, that the matter is important. But there it is, she `
` can tell you nothing." `
` `
` "But why, man? Darn it all, why?" `
` `
` The little man shifted his benevolent glance to the excited young `
` American. `
` `
` "Because Janet Vandemeyer is suffering from a complete loss of `
` memory." `
` `
` "WHAT?" `
` `
` "Quite so. An interesting case, a very interesting case. Not so `
` uncommon, really, as you would think. There are several very `
` well known parallels. It's the first case of the kind that I've `
` had under my own personal observation, and I must admit that I've `
` found it of absorbing interest." There was something rather `
` ghoulish in the little man's satisfaction. `
` `
` "And she remembers nothing," said Sir James slowly. `
` `
` "Nothing prior to May 7, 1915. After that date her memory is as `
` good as yours or mine." `
` `
` "Then the first thing she remembers?" `
` `
` "Is landing with the survivors. Everything before that is a `
` blank. She did not know her own name, or where she had come from, `
` or where she was. She couldn't even speak her own tongue." `
` `
` "But surely all this is most unusual?" put in Julius. `
` `
` "No, my dear sir. Quite normal under the circumstances. Severe `
` shock to the nervous system. Loss of memory proceeds nearly `
` always on the same lines. I suggested a specialist, of course. `
`
` `
` `
` CHAPTER XIV `
` `
` A CONSULTATION `
` `
` NOTHING was more surprising and bewildering to Tuppence than the `
` ease and simplicity with which everything was arranged, owing to `
` Sir James's skilful handling. The doctor accepted quite readily `
` the theory that Mrs. Vandemeyer had accidentally taken an `
` overdose of chloral. He doubted whether an inquest would be `
` necessary. If so, he would let Sir James know. He understood `
` that Mrs. Vandemeyer was on the eve of departure for abroad, and `
` that the servants had already left? Sir James and his young `
` friends had been paying a call upon her, when she was suddenly `
` stricken down and they had spent the night in the flat, not `
` liking to leave her alone. Did they know of any relatives? They `
` did not, but Sir James referred him to Mrs. Vandemeyer's `
` solicitor. `
` `
` Shortly afterwards a nurse arrived to take charge, and the other `
` left the ill-omened building. `
` `
` "And what now?" asked Julius, with a gesture of despair. "I guess `
` we're down and out for good." `
` `
` Sir James stroked his chin thoughtfully. `
` `
` "No," he said quietly. "There is still the chance that Dr. Hall `
` may be able to tell us something." `
` `
` "Gee! I'd forgotten him." `
` `
` "The chance is slight, but it must not be neglected. I think I `
` told you that he is staying at the Metropole. I should suggest `
` that we call upon him there as soon as possible. Shall we say `
` after a bath and breakfast?" `
` `
` It was arranged that Tuppence and Julius should return to the `
` Ritz, and call for Sir James in the car. This programme was `
` faithfully carried out, and a little after eleven they drew up `
` before the Metropole. They asked for Dr. Hall, and a page-boy `
` went in search of him. In a few minutes the little doctor came `
` hurrying towards them. `
` `
` "Can you spare us a few minutes, Dr. Hall?" said Sir James `
` pleasantly. "Let me introduce you to Miss Cowley. Mr. `
` Hersheimmer, I think, you already know." `
` `
` A quizzical gleam came into the doctor's eye as he shook hands `
` with Julius. `
` `
` "Ah, yes, my young friend of the tree episode! Ankle all right, `
` eh?" `
` `
` "I guess it's cured owing to your skilful treatment, doc." `
` `
` "And the heart trouble? Ha ha!" `
` `
` "Still searching," said Julius briefly. `
` `
` "To come to the point, can we have a word with you in private?" `
` asked Sir James. `
` `
` "Certainly. I think there is a room here where we shall be quite `
` undisturbed." `
` `
` He led the way, and the others followed him. They sat down, and `
` the doctor looked inquiringly at Sir James. `
` `
` "Dr. Hall, I am very anxious to find a certain young lady for the `
` purpose of obtaining a statement from her. I have reason to `
` believe that she has been at one time or another in your `
` establishment at Bournemouth. I hope I am transgressing no `
` professional etiquette in questioning you on the subject?" `
` `
` "I suppose it is a matter of testimony?" `
` `
` Sir James hesitated a moment, then he replied: `
` `
` "Yes." `
` `
` "I shall be pleased to give you any information in my power. What `
` is the young lady's name? Mr. Hersheimmer asked me, I `
` remember----" He half turned to Julius. `
` `
` "The name," said Sir James bluntly, "is really immaterial. She `
` would be almost certainly sent to you under an assumed one. But I `
` should like to know if you are acquainted with a Mrs. `
` Vandemeyer?" `
` `
` "Mrs. Vandemeyer, of 20 South Audley Mansions? I know her `
` slightly." `
` `
` "You are not aware of what has happened?" `
` `
` "What do you mean?" `
` `
` "You do not know that Mrs. Vandemeyer is dead?" `
` `
` "Dear, dear, I had no idea of it! When did it happen?" `
` `
` "She took an overdose of chloral last night." `
` `
` "Purposely?" `
` `
` "Accidentally, it is believed. I should not like to say myself. `
` Anyway, she was found dead this morning." `
` `
` "Very sad. A singularly handsome woman. I presume she was a `
` friend of yours, since you are acquainted with all these `
` details." `
` `
` "I am acquainted with the details because--well, it was I who `
` found her dead." `
` `
` "Indeed," said the doctor, starting. `
` `
` "Yes," said Sir James, and stroked his chin reflectively. `
` `
` "This is very sad news, but you will excuse me if I say that I do `
` not see how it bears on the subject of your inquiry?" `
` `
` "It bears on it in this way, is it not a fact that Mrs. `
` Vandemeyer committed a young relative of hers to your charge?" `
` `
` Julius leaned forward eagerly. `
` `
` "That is the case," said the doctor quietly. `
` `
` "Under the name of----?" `
` `
` "Janet Vandemeyer. I understood her to be a niece of Mrs. `
` Vandemeyer's." `
` `
` "And she came to you?" `
` `
` "As far as I can remember in June or July of 1915." `
` `
` "Was she a mental case?" `
` `
` "She is perfectly sane, if that is what you mean. I understood `
` from Mrs. Vandemeyer that the girl had been with her on the `
` Lusitania when that ill-fated ship was sunk, and had suffered a `
` severe shock in consequence." `
` `
` "We're on the right track, I think?" Sir James looked round. `
` `
` "As I said before, I'm a mutt!" returned Julius. `
` `
` The doctor looked at them all curiously. `
` `
` "You spoke of wanting a statement from her," he said. "Supposing `
` she is not able to give one?" `
` `
` "What? You have just said that she is perfectly sane." `
` `
` "So she is. Nevertheless, if you want a statement from her `
` concerning any events prior to May 7, 1915, she will not be able `
` to give it to you." `
` `
` They looked at the little man, stupefied. He nodded cheerfully. `
` `
` "It's a pity," he said. "A great pity, especially as I gather, `
` Sir James, that the matter is important. But there it is, she `
` can tell you nothing." `
` `
` "But why, man? Darn it all, why?" `
` `
` The little man shifted his benevolent glance to the excited young `
` American. `
` `
` "Because Janet Vandemeyer is suffering from a complete loss of `
` memory." `
` `
` "WHAT?" `
` `
` "Quite so. An interesting case, a very interesting case. Not so `
` uncommon, really, as you would think. There are several very `
` well known parallels. It's the first case of the kind that I've `
` had under my own personal observation, and I must admit that I've `
` found it of absorbing interest." There was something rather `
` ghoulish in the little man's satisfaction. `
` `
` "And she remembers nothing," said Sir James slowly. `
` `
` "Nothing prior to May 7, 1915. After that date her memory is as `
` good as yours or mine." `
` `
` "Then the first thing she remembers?" `
` `
` "Is landing with the survivors. Everything before that is a `
` blank. She did not know her own name, or where she had come from, `
` or where she was. She couldn't even speak her own tongue." `
` `
` "But surely all this is most unusual?" put in Julius. `
` `
` "No, my dear sir. Quite normal under the circumstances. Severe `
` shock to the nervous system. Loss of memory proceeds nearly `
` always on the same lines. I suggested a specialist, of course. `
`