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- Herausgeber: Booksell-Verlag
- Kategorie: Krimi
- Sprache: Englisch
- Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2021
In "The Man Called Gilray," Fred M. White intricately weaves a tale of mystery and intrigue set against the backdrop of Victorian England. The novel follows the enigmatic protagonist, Gilray, a character whose past is shrouded in secrets and whose life teeters on the edge of societal norms. White employs a descriptive literary style that not only captivates the reader but also paints a vivid picture of the era's stark contrasts, from lavish aristocratic ballrooms to the gritty streets of London. This work is notable for its exploration of identity and redemption, framed within the conventions of the detective fiction genre that was gaining momentum during White's time. Fred M. White was born in 1859, a period marked by dramatic social changes and evolving literary landscapes. His diverse career as an author alongside journalism and editing offered him unique insights into human nature and society's complexities. White's own experiences in the bustling world of late 19th-century Britain, coupled with the rise of the detective genre, undoubtedly informed his writing in "The Man Called Gilray," revealing both personal and societal conflicts. This novel is highly recommended for readers who appreciate psychological depth and rich atmospheric settings. White's masterful storytelling invites you to delve into Gilray's haunting journey, making it a compelling read for fans of classic mysteries and explorations of moral ambiguities.
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The Man Called Gilray
Table of Contents
CHAPTER I.—THE DEED ITSELF.
For the last three weeks the placard had been staring the whole of London in the face. It was a brief document, epitomising one of these extraordinary crimes which from time to time stir England from one end to the other. It had first come to the attention of the public through the medium of the 'Southern Daily Herald,' a popular paper which was published in London by the same firm which are responsible for the 'Southern Weekly Herald.' The latter is a sort of weekly magazine, and enjoys a large circulations throughout the whole of the South of England. Now it so happened that the chief sub-editor on the staff of the Daily was also editor of the Weekly. Philip Temple was a journalist of the smart type, and never lost an opportunity of keeping up his reputation. He also made it a point of being on exceedingly good terms with the police, and by this means he had pulled off many a coup for his proprietors. Therefore it was that about two o'clock on the morning of the murder, he received an urgent telephone message from Inspector Sparrow asking him to go down to the Police Station at once.
"Anything very special?" he asked.
"It looks very much like it," Inspector Sparrow replied. "At any rate, the crime has features out of the common. I should say that it is likely to make a big sensation. I haven't been round to Ponder-avenue myself yet, because I have only just this minute heard what has happened from the sergeant on the beat."
"Murder, of course?" Temple asked.
"Well, at any rate, a fatality which has resulted in a man's death. Oh, it's murder, right enough. The victim is Mr. John Gilray, who lives in one of the flats at Ponder-avenue. I've got practically no details yet, except from a constable who is on duty in that neighbourhood sometimes. He says that he knew Mr. Gilray well enough by sight. From his description I should say that he was a smart-looking man of about fifty. I believe he was a bit of a mystery, though he attracted little or no attention. He must have had money, or else he could not have afforded to live in Ponder-avenue."
Temple nodded approvingly. He knew Ponder-avenue quite well, indeed, he had one or two friends in the immediate neighbourhood. It was a quiet street, but of very desirable houses, semi-detached, and more than one of them having studios. A good many of the better-class of artists and journalists and musicians lived in Ponder-avenue. There were gardens at the back and front of the houses, and altogether they formed a very attractive and respectable class property.
"I think I know what you mean," Temple said. "You mean that the man was of a Bohemian temperament."
"Well, at any rate, that's what the constable said. Mr. Gilray appears to have had very few friends calling upon him, and I should say that he was a very independent type of man. He generally dined out, was exceedingly fond of theatres and concerts, and always came home in a cab. They tell me he was a very well-dressed man, so that he must have been possessed of means."
Once more Temple nodded approvingly. Here was the making of a first class sensation. His journalistic instinct told him that. Here was a lonely man of independent habits and comfortable means who was probably a matter of speculation even to his easy-going neighbours. Possibly a man with a history, of whom nobody knew anything. He seemed to be well-to-do and young-looking, and at fifty years of age he was none too old for a love affair or violent flirtation. Temple was all hot foot now to get at once to the scene of action.
"I suppose I can come with you," he said.
"That's why I sent for you," Sparrow said. "And the sooner we're off the better. We'll have a cab."
Temple desired nothing more. All he had to hope for now was that his paper would have the exclusive news this morning. There was plenty of time yet. He and Sparrow came presently to Ponder-avenue. There was no sign of any excitement on hand, and Number 2, the house where the mysterious crime had been committed, was the only one that showed any lights at all. But here the electrics were turned on, and the whole place was in a blaze. In the hall a policeman was seated, grim and stern, nursing his helmet on his knee. As Temple glanced round the hall, he saw that it was most artistically and daintily furnished. Evidently no money had been spared, and evidently the late unfortunate occupant of the house was acquainted with someone or another who had travelled a great deal. There were trophies of arms on the wall, evidently collected from Southern Africa, and on the floor lay a couple of tiger skins not in the least like the skins which are usually offered for sale in West End shops. Temple saw that the few pictures were good; he also noticed that the profusion of flowers were of the best and most expensive kind. There was no doubt whatever that Mr. Gilray had been in no need of money.
Standing opposite the policeman, white and pale and trembling, stood a woman still in her hat and jacket. Unmistakably she was of the servant class, and had every appearance of the average smart cook-housekeeper on her evening out. Her eyes were full of tears, she bore every evidence of grief and terror.
"I'm glad you've come, sir," the officer said. "This is Mr. Gilray's housekeeper, Jane Martin she calls herself."
"Well, then, perhaps you will tell us all about it," Sparrow remarked. "Try and compose yourself. It's nothing to do with you, you know. I want you to tell us all you know and answer my questions. I should say by your appearance you had just come in. It's rather late to be out, isn't it?"
"I came in at half-past one, sir," the girl said. "I was out by master's permission. You see, I live Cheetham way, and I went home for my brother's birthday. I wasn't expected back till half-past one."
"Did you have a latch-key?" Sparrow asked.
"Oh, no, sir, there's no occasion for that. Mr. Gilray never went to bed before two o'clock at the earliest. He left the front door open, and I walked straight in. I saw a light under the study door, and I went to see if my master wanted anything before I went to bed. And then directly I opened the door and looked into the study—"
The girl began to sob hysterically. It was some little time before she became calm enough to resume her story.
"This is very terrible," she murmured. "The lights were all on, and there was nobody in the study except my master. He was lying on the floor just as you have seen him before the fireplace. There was a dreadful wound in his breast, and I could see at once that he was dead. I went directly and called in the policeman, and that's all I can tell you. It's all to mysterious, that I don't know what I'm doing, hardly."
"I suppose the other servants had gone to bed?"
"There are no other servants," the girl said. "There's nobody but me. I understood Mr. Gilray to say that he didn't like a lot of people about the house. He wanted someone to keep the house tidy and answer the bell in case anybody called. You see, he never got up till midday, and as he mostly had all his meals out, I had quite an easy time. Except that it was a bit dull, I couldn't wish for a better place."
"Now tell me something about your master's habits," Sparrow said, "Had he many friends? And if so, perhaps you can tell us the names of some of them."
"No one has ever called since I've been here," the girl said. "And there's no card tray anywhere."
"What, do you mean to say that no one has ever called during the whole time you've been here?" Sparrow asked.
"Not one," the girl said. "You see, I've only been here about a week."
It was something of a check for Sparrow, and his face fell accordingly. He hadn't expected this.
"In that case, we shall have to look up the last servant in the house," he said. "I dare say you can tell us who she was."
"Well, you see, sir, she died here," Jane Martin said. "I came in to take her place temporarily, and it was arranged the next day that I should stay on."
Once more Sparrow looked a little disconcerted. All this was so utterly unexpected. The mystery was deepening rapidly, and the difficulties were beginning to unfold themselves. Temple, listening carefully, could follow the dramatic points of the case.
"And that is all you have to tell me?" Sparrow asked.
"Indeed it is, sir," the girl said eagerly. She spoke almost as if she expected that she might be accused of having some hand in the tragedy. "I can think of nothing else. And if you want me to stay here—"
"No occasion to do anything of the kind," Sparrow responded. "The house is going to be locked up, so that there is no occasion for anybody to stay here, my good girl. You must give me your name and address, so that I shall know where to send for you when the inquest takes place. You can tidy up just a little, but don't disturb anything here. I may have a question or two to put to you, and if so I'll call you. Make anything out of it, Mr. Temple?"
Temple shook his head thoughtfully He was as utterly puzzled as Sparrow.
"It's quite bewildering to me," Sparrow said. "I've never heard of anything quite like it before. Reminds me of some fascinating story. She is quite conscious of the fact that she has not forgotten a single detail. She may be right. On the other hand she might think of some little matter that she might drop out casually under the impression that it is not worth talking about; all the time it is a clue of the utmost importance. In affairs of this kind there are no such things as trifles—we don't allow them to exist."
"This man Gilray evidently tried to keep his identity a secret," Temple observed. "Do you suppose that Gilray is his proper name?"
"I feel absolutely convinced it isn't," Sparrow said firmly.
"Otherwise we should have no trouble to trace him out. Men don't live in this mysterious fashion under their own names. There's rather a theatrical sound about the name of Gilray. But what's the use of asking questions? I don't mind confessing that at the present moment I'm as much in the dark as you are. I feel in a perfect fog. Not that I'm discouraged. I shall think of something presently. Before I go I should like to have a few more words with Jane Martin."
"I'll go and call her," Temple said eagerly.
CHAPTER II.—IN THE STUDY.
Here was a drama that was likely to hold public attention in a fierce grip. There was nothing wanted to make it complete and absolute. And to a practised hand like Temple it was quite evident that all the skill and cunning of the police would be necessary to grapple with the problem. Here was a victim who appeared to know nobody. He had no friends and no visitors, and it was long odds too that Gilray was an assumed name. Mr. Gilray had been that class of person whose relatives are glad to see as little of as possible. Probably he had a good allowance from someone or other on the distinct understanding that he should keep out of the way. It was easy now to call himself an artist, but if he had any sort of reputation, local or otherwise, it was pretty certain that a keen journalist like Temple would have heard of him.
He had palpable evidence to the effect that he was by no means a struggling man, by no means the ordinary type of vulgar adventurer at his wits ends to find the means of livelihood. Evidently the man had been a gentleman—indeed the way his house was furnished published that. Everything was in the best possible taste, there was nothing showy or vulgar: indeed, Temple was rather taken by the surroundings. And the man was not in need of money, either. It was no difficult matter, given a good address and a certain plausible audacity, to get deeply into the debt of any tradesman. But this victim of a strange crime was in the habit of taking all his meals out, and there is no credit to be obtained in the average restaurant.
The crime was all the more fascinating by the initial difficulty in finding out anything as to the habits of the deceased. It looked as if everything conspired to cover up the tracks of the murderer. At the present moment, at any rate, it was absolutely impossible to identify the man in any way with anybody. On the evidence of Jane Martin, not a soul had called at the house during the time she had been in it, and it was quite evident that the girl was speaking the truth. As a matter of fact, she knew little more about her master than Sparrow himself. And the one person who might have offered them some information was in her grave. So far as Sparrow could see at present he would have to look for his initial clue to the relatives of the maid who had preceded Jane Martin at Ponder-avenue. They would probably know something, for the girl would be sure to have written home, and it was inevitable that her letters would contain the usual amount of gossip and scandal peculiar to her class.
"What was the name of the girl that was here before you?" Sparrow asked. "I suppose you know something about her."
"No. I don't, sir, I don't even know what her name was, except that her Christian name was Esme. You see, I never saw her. Once or twice my master mentioned Esme, and it struck me as a strange name for a servant. Now I come to think of it, I did ask one or two questions, and I recollect now that this Esme came with my poor master from Vienna, when he took his flat here about eighteen months ago. But whether she was English or whether she was a foreigner, I don't know any more than the dead."
Sparrow shook his head gravely. Here was another avenue closed. The more he probed the matter the more difficult it proved to be. And at any rate there was nothing further to be gained by the cross-examination of Jane Martin.
"You'd better get back home, my girl," Sparrow said. "I'll send one of my men with you if you like, but you must give me your address because you'll have to be present at the inquest to-morrow. I won't keep you any longer now. And don't you be afraid, and don't you get talking too much. There's nothing for you to worry about if you only tell the truth."
Once the girl had been got rid of, Sparrow and Temple began to make a careful examination of the house. But there was nothing upstairs to give the slightest indication of how this thing had come about. Besides the bed and dressing-room and the servant's room no other apartment was furnished. It was quite evident, therefore, that the dead man had had no friends, and that he had made no provision whatever with an eye to visitors. A most careful search failed to disclose anything in the way of papers or letters, or documents of any kind. There was no safe, nothing of intrinsic value besides a certain amount of jewellery, neatly packed away in cardboard boxes. As to the dead man's wearing apparel, all of it appeared to have been obtained locally. It was a disappointment to Sparrow, who had hoped to find some account or mark which might have led to really useful information.
"This is going to be a big thing, Temple," he muttered. "Anyone would think that the poor man had been expecting something of this kind. He seems to have gone absolutely out of his way to conceal his identity. I should say from what we can see, that at one time, at any rate, he moved in good society. It looks as if I had got a tough job before me. Now let us go downstairs and have a look into the study."
The study was the largest room in the house. It was quite evident that the late unfortunate occupant spent most of his time there. There was no particular sign of any work about. Here were stacks of Bristol board, an easel or two with a clean canvas upon it, and certain paints which looked as if they had not been used for some time. On a big old-fashioned settee was a pile of recent fiction. One of the volumes had fallen open on the carpet by the side of a big lounge chair. On the arm of the chair was a silver cigarette case half filled, and a cigarette about a third consumed, lying on an ash-tray. It looked as if someone had been seated in the armchair, and that the cigarette had been dropped together with the novel at the unexpected intrusion of a visitor.
Near the fireplace lay the body of a man in evening dress. There was a gaping wound in his breast, from which the blood had ceased to flow.
Temple could see that he was a well-groomed, smart-looking man, very neat and refined, and evidently one who had been careful over his personal appearance. There was no suggestion of makeup on the white, still face, the well brushed grey hair was innocent of dye.
"What do you make of it?" Temple whispered.
"Up to the present, I make nothing of it," Sparrow said. "This looks like one of the most difficult cases which ever came into my hands. To begin with, I can see no motive in the crime. Nothing has been disturbed upstairs, and so far as I can judge, nothing is missing here. Now just see for yourself. Look at those beautiful rings on the poor fellow's fingers. They are very slim fingers, and the rings would come off with the greatest ease. And as you know perfectly well, there is no possibility of recognising diamonds once they are taken out of the setting. Whoever the man was who committed this crime, he was no thief. And to make the thing more difficult I should say the unfortunate man is well associated, and is acquainted with the best kind of society. It is possible to see that he was quite all right, and that he had merely quarrelled with his friends. At any rate, he has taken the most extraordinary pains to conceal his identity. I don't like the thing at all, Temple. We've had too many of these lately. I should think there has been a dozen murders the last two years wherein the police have been utterly baffled. And even if they have brought the criminal to justice, it has been impossible to get a conviction."
Temple nodded in sympathy. Nobody knew this better than himself. Indeed, he had written more than one article on the subject. And so far as he could see now, there was nothing more to be done for the present. If he wanted to get an account of this extraordinary affair for to-morrow's paper, he had no time to lose. He turned and made a casual inspection of the room. On a little table under the big window stood a pile of papers, and amongst them a typed sheet or so.
"I wonder if this will help?" he asked.
"I don't think so," Sparrow said, after glancing at the document. "I should say by this that the man had been trying his hand at short story writing or something."
"But who typed it?" Temple asked.
"You will see the answer to that question in the corner of the room yonder. I needn't ask you if you ever saw the case of a Codrington typewriter before. That is evidently the gentleman's machine down there, and you will see for yourself that this particular typed specimen is the work of a Codrington. Besides, it is only one sheet, and literally tells us nothing. I am afraid we shan't do any good to-night, Temple. We shall have an inquest tomorrow, which, of course will be adjourned, and once public interest is roused in the matter it is more than possible that we shall find a witness who knows something which is worth listening to. I suppose you will make a great thing of this?"
"You may be quite sure of that," Temple said crisply. "It will be the big item in to-morrow's paper, and I daresay I can make a couple of columns of it. I'll put it prominently forward, and I shall be greatly surprised if all London isn't talking about this to-morrow night. And now I really must be off, Sparrow. As it is, I shall have to work against time to get this ready before we go to press. Good-night. And many thanks to you. You can rely upon me to do my best."
Sparrow appeared just a little loth to part with his companion.
"Just one moment," he said. "I don't like to lose a chance, however small it may be. I wish you would just run your eye over this typed sheet of MS. again. You're a bit of an expert."
"Well, I think I can make that claim." Temple said drily. "I suppose that I handle some three or four thousand manuscript stories every year—most of them impossible. If this is a story complete—"
"What does it matter whether the story is complete or not?" Sparrow asked. "It may possibly be in the style or by somebody who has tried your office before."
"Upon my word, I had not thought of that," Temple exclaimed. "Different writers have different methods, and one does get to recognise them in time. Let me look again. Of course you must not expect me to deduce very much from one sheet of manuscript, and an odd sheet at that."
"Oh, I don't," Sparrow admitted. "I don't really expect anything. I'm only what you call drawing a bow at a venture. Only I don't like to be beaten, and I don't like to feel that I'm neglecting anything that looks like a chance. You have a fragment of a story in your hand, and it is just possible that the rest of the yarn is somewhere in the flat. If so, perhaps you would like to publish it in your weekly magazine. It should prove a sensation."
Temple regarded Sparrow with a frank admiration.
"Now, that is a really fine suggestion of yours." he exclaimed. "I ought to be kicked for not thinking of this before. Fancy an old hand at the game like myself overlooking such a chance as this! I can advertise the weekly and do good at the same time. I am exceedingly obliged to you for making the suggestion, Sparrow. Give me the paper."
Temple read the page once eagerly, and once again with a puzzled expression. He seemed to know what ought to come next after the end of the page was reached. There were two names here that struck a chord on his memory. He could not for the life of him say where the connection was, but he was quite certain that it existed.
"Can I take this away with me?" he asked after a pause.
"Well, if you like," Sparrow said, none too eagerly. "Only be careful of it. Why do you want it?"
Temple's voice sank to an impressive whisper.
"Because," he said, "because I believe I have the finished story in my office now!"
CHAPTER III.—FOR HIS SAKE.
Few men connected with the press would find it easy to say how they arrive there, and Philip Temple was no exception to the rule. He had drifted into it naturally, for journalism was a gift, and called for no special training. A story or two written at Cambridge, an article here and there, and, before he knew where he was, Temple had joined the ranks of the free lances.
Within two years of the completion of his university career he was in a good position on the 'Southern Daily Herald.' The work was not hard, the pay was good and Temple had means of his own. He might have been quite comfortable without doing anything, but he liked his profession, and took a pride in it.
Two years before things had been different altogether. Then he looked like losing everything for a time. He certainly lost Elsie Gordon, who became Lady Silverdale about that time, and here, therefore, was the tragedy and great unhappiness of Philip Temple's life. The young people had been sincerely attached to one another, their marriage was practically arranged when Sir John Gordon's smash came, and Lord Silverdale came forward to save the situation.
There were people who did not hesitate to say that Silverdale had engineered the trouble. Certainly the man had nothing to recommend himself beyond his money. He was over fifty, too, and had led a life concerning which the less said the better. His brilliant attainment's had been wasted on dissolute habits. At fifty years of age he was tired of the world, and bitterly cynical. He had fallen in love with Elsie Gordon's bright young beauty, and the nameless charm of face and form that made most of her acquaintances her abject slaves. And when Silverdale set his heart upon anything he got it. He had money and brains and a method absolutely unscrupulous, so than there was no great trouble in getting his own way so far as Elsie was concerned.
There was nothing new about the story—the thing had happened before, and it will happen again so long as man desires a certain woman, and he has no conscience. Silverdale's acquaintances averred that he had been born without one. And no sooner was Elsie his wife than he began to neglect her. It was always a grievance that she cared nothing for him, that he could not get behind her barrier of reserve, that never once had she a smile for him. She had paid her price, and he should not get another farthing. And yet she had smiles and tenderness for others; he had seen the proud beauty of her face relax; he had seen the gleam in her eyes.
Well, she should pay for it, and she did. She paid for it by a thousand bitter tortures that Silverdale knew well how to inflict. He was a "Quilp," with a thin veneer of civilisation. There were times when he disappeared for weeks—Lady Silverdale had not the faintest idea where he was. She had to invent excuses. Still, these were breathing spaces, and she was not ungrateful. Otherwise she would never have been able to stand the strain. And Silverdale was away on one of his mysterious excursions now.
Lady Silverdale had dressed—gone out for the evening. There was a garden fete at the Duchess of Harringay's place in Park-lane, and Lady Silverdale had been bidden to it. From the bottom of her soul she had come to hate all these things; she wanted to get away into the country and rest.
