Sir Julian Freke, after giving his evidence, had caught the eye of the Duchess, and now came over and greeted her.
“I haven’t seen you for an age,” said that lady. “How are you?”
“Hard at work,” said the specialist. “Just got my new book out. This kind of thing wastes time. Have you seen Lady Levy yet?”
“No, poor dear,” said the Duchess. “I only came up this morning, for this. Mrs. Thipps is staying with me—one of Peter’s eccentricities, you know. Poor Christine! I must run round and see her. This is Mr. Parker,” she added, “who is investigating that case.”
“Oh,” said Sir Julian, and paused. “Do you know,” he said in a low voice to Parker, “I am very glad to meet you. Have you seen Lady Levy yet?”
“Did she ask you to go on with the inquiry?”
“Yes,” said Parker; “she thinks,” he added, “that Sir Reuben may be detained in the hands of some financial rival or that perhaps some scoundrels are holding him to ransom.”
“And is that _your_ opinion?” asked Sir Julian.
“I think it very likely,” said Parker, frankly.
“I wish you would walk back with me when this is over,” he said.
At this moment the jury returned and took their places, and there was a little rustle and hush. The Coroner addressed the foreman and inquired if they were agreed upon their verdict.
“We are agreed, Mr. Coroner, that deceased died of the effects of a blow upon the spine, but how that injury was inflicted we consider that there is not sufficient evidence to show.”
Mr. Parker and Sir Julian Freke walked up the road together.
“I had absolutely no idea until I saw Lady Levy this morning,” said the doctor, “that there was any idea of connecting this matter with the disappearance of Sir Reuben. The suggestion was perfectly monstrous, and could only have grown up in the mind of that ridiculous police officer. If I had had any idea what was in his mind I could have disabused him and avoided all this.”
“I did my best to do so,” said Parker, “as soon as I was called in to the Levy case—”
“Who called you in, if I may ask?” inquired Sir Julian.
“Well, the household first of all, and then Sir Reuben’s uncle, Mr. Levy of Portman Square, wrote to me to go on with the investigation.”
“And now Lady Levy has confirmed those instructions?”