The Darke Chronicles Read Online Free Page A

amazing how everyone is so certain that an innocent man who had the misfortune to owe Wilberforce a lot of money is guilty of his murder.’
    ‘And who the hell are you?’
    ‘I, sir, am Abraham attempting to drink from the well of truth. And how did you learn of our visit?’
    ‘I have just arrived. I have called every day since the murder to spend some time with Beatrice, Mrs Wilberforce.’
    ‘And Boldwood informed you of my dreadful behaviour.’
    ‘Yes.’
    ‘Well, sir, I have apologised to him and I will apologise to you. Any rudeness on my part was calculated in order to bring this mysterious case to a swift conclusion. I am afraid Boldwood may have been more concerned about what we may find in here rather than our apparent disrespectful ways. I suspect he was hoping that your heroic intervention would put a stop to our scrutiny of this chamber.’
    Stavely’s face clouded with confusion. ‘What on earth do you mean?’
    ‘Mr Stavely, let us do a deal together. I will tell you some of the matter, on the proviso that you help us with a little subterfuge. Is that agreed?’

    It was just over thirty minutes later that Thornton and Darke sat in the drawing room with Beatrice Wilberforce and Jack Stavely. Boldwood had just served tea and was about to leave the room when Thornton stopped him. ‘You had better remain,’ he said. ‘What Mr Darke has to say will be of great interest to you.’
    ‘Come, sit down, man,’ cried Darke, indicating a seat next to Stavely.
    Casting an apprehensive glance at his mistress, he pulled up a chair.
    ‘Now, Mr Darke, you have been mysterious, you have been rude and you have been persuasive. Pray tell us what this is all about,’ said Beatrice Wilberforce.
    LutherDarke placed his cup and saucer on the tea trolley and stood facing the small group. ‘Murder most foul, as in the best it is. Inspector Thornton here sought my assistance because he was far from convinced that the poor devil languishing in the cells at Scotland Yard was the perpetrator of the crime that was committed here a few evenings ago. After hearing the details of the case, I was certain that debtor Armstrong was innocent. It was all too convenient. Anyone capable of carrying out a clever murder in a locked room would not have been careless enough to leave some blood on his outdoor coat. It was a foolish embellishment, placed there in order to establish a scapegoat. I had my own ideas concerning the method of the murder, but I needed to discover a few further details before I could be certain. Now I am certain.’ He retrieved his cup and drank some tea as his audience absorbed this information. It was a brave act on his part. He abhorred tea, and as a rule it never passed his lips.
    ‘In the detection of crime, sixth sense and guesswork play a valid part in reaching the right conclusion. On very slender evidence, I guessed or at least sensed that the marriage between Laurence and Beatrice Wilberforce was not a completely happy one.’ He raised his hand to silence Mrs Wilberforce before she could protest.
    ‘I do not wish to speak ill of the dead, but Laurence Wilberforce was a humourless, cold-hearted bully who could turn nasty even towards someone of whom he once thought kindly. His treatment of Richard Armstrong bears witness of that. As does the bruising on your arm. You have been badly used, my dear.’
    The woman said nothing, but stared determinedly ahead of her, avoiding Darke’s gaze.
    ‘The bruising gave some foundation to my surmise. Similarly, Boldwood’s angry reticence when I questioned him concerning the state of the Wilberforce marriage added more grist to my mill. Boldwood revealed himself as a great protector of his mistress. What did you say, Sergeant? Something like: “I would have knocked you down for being so impertinent but it would have upsetMrs Wilberforce.” Words to that effect. A real Sir Galahad. How difficult it must have been for you, Boldwood, to live and serve in a