CHAPTER XXX
Duringthe drive to Bow Street Police Station, John Gaunt could think of nothing else save his wife’s attitude, and it was with a deep feeling of relief that he realized his fear had been groundless. It was not the fact that he had killed Marillier that had caused her distress, but the danger that he was incurring. She had appealed to him so passionately, inasmuch as she feared for his safety, and the thought brought him comfort.
The warrant was formally read over to him in the charge room and he was at once conducted to a cell, there to await the arrival of his solicitor, for whom he had sent. He was calm and collected when the lawyer arrived.
“I am glad to see you, Mr. Stanley,” he remarked quietly, and then proceeded to relate what had happened.
The solicitor listened attentively, now and then jotting down a note.
“Mr. Gaunt, the best thing you can do is to make terms with the Baron de Croiseuil,” Mr. Stanley said when the story was finished.
“You may dismiss that idea from your mind. I intend to fight him,” Gaunt answered sternly.
“I see,” the solicitor remarked reflectively. “Of course you are in no great danger, for it is unlikely thatthey will convict you after the long delay; but you will certainly have to put up with a great deal of inconvenience. I must get away at once, for I should like Sir Richard Tester to have his brief to-night.”
“You think that he is the best man?”
“Undoubtedly, for he is so ultra-respectable. Mark my words, the other side will have Lester Ruggles. Good-bye, Mr. Gaunt, and don’t worry too much. You are quite sure you won’t make terms with the Baron?”
“Quite. Good-bye,” Gaunt answered laconically.
The cell was not entirely without comfort, and he settled himself down to wait for the morning. Try as he would he could not prevent himself from thinking of Lady Mildred, and he wondered how this wretched business would affect their relations. However, he told himself that her love would rise above worldly considerations and that, when he was free, she would receive him with open arms.
At last he fell asleep, and it was late when he awakened. Mr. Stanley arrived soon after ten o’clock and proceeded to question him closely. He then hurried away to embody the information he had received in the brief.
It was not until twelve o’clock that a policeman came and announced that the magistrate, Sir William Chandler, had arrived and that his attendance was required.
Gaunt’s face was rather pale, but his expression was calm when he entered the crowded court. All eyes were turned upon him, and the pencils of the press men became busy as he stood in the dock and bowed to the magistrate.
The charge was read by the clerk, and Mr. LesterRuggles, K. C., rose to his feet. He was a barrister of some fame and, like the solicitor who instructed him, was retained in cases which counsel of better repute would refuse to handle. But he was skilled in the law, a biting cross-examiner, and something of an orator.
“I appear for the prosecution, your Worship, and at the outset I must ask you to grant an adjournment. I propose merely to give formal notice of arrest.”
“I should like to know something of the case,” the magistrate suggested quietly.
For the first time Gaunt allowed his eyes to roam round the court and he at once saw two ladies heavily veiled seated a few rows away. It did not need the sight of Edward Drake to tell him who they were, and his heart was beating rapidly when he recognized his wife.
“She has not failed me,” was his thought, and instinctively his shoulders were thrown back, and a smile played about his mouth.
“The case is a very serious one, for it involves a charge of murder. I represent the Belgian government, who are acting for the authorities of the Congo Free State. Your Worship is probably aware that the Belgian colonial office has taken over the Free State. Some fifteen years ago the prisoner, John Gaunt, entered the service of the Congo.”
“Mr. Ruggles, am I to understand that the charge of murder dates back fifteen years?” the magistrate asked quickly.
“That is so, sir; but I think I shall be able to put forward good reasons for the delay. I was saying that the prisoner entered the services of the Free State, and was appointed to the charge of a district. It is necessary thatyour Worship should know something of the state of affairs in that country. I fear that the morals of West Africa are such that we should not understand in our frigid climate, and I regret to say that the officials have been in the habit of providing themselves with native wives.”
The color slowly ebbed from Gaunt’s face as he listened. There was a touch on his shoulder, and his solicitor whispered in his ear.
“The Baron says there is still time.”
But Gaunt made no answer, and listened eagerly to what Mr. Ruggles was saying.
“It appears that a man named Marillier possessed such a wife, but the prisoner cast eyes upon her and determined to secure her for himself. Accordingly, by some means or other, he got her away, and as a consequence Marillier felt aggrieved. A quarrel took place, and the prisoner deliberately shot the man that he had wronged.”
The words then became a mere jumble to Gaunt’s mind, and he stood there utterly dazed. At last he summoned up courage to turn his head and his breath came with a hiss of apprehension when he saw that his wife had gone.
Gaunt now understood the unscrupulousness of the attack upon him, and his lips were tightly pressed together as he forced himself to listen to the prosecuting counsel’s lying statement.
“I have here, sir, several affidavits which depose to the facts I have related, but you will readily understand that I am not in a position to complete my case. There are important witnesses in the Congo, and I fear that I must ask for a long adjournment. That is, unless your Worship would be prepared to commit the prisoner fortrial upon these affidavits, and the evidence which I can obtain immediately from Brussels.”
“It depends entirely upon the nature of that evidence,” the magistrate remarked drily.
“It is unfortunate that the only witnesses of the actual shooting are natives, and they, of course, are in the Congo.”
“It seems to me that theirs is the only evidence that is material and I am surprised that you should not have brought them here before applying for a warrant. Under the circumstances, your application yesterday should have been for a summons and not for a warrant.”
Sir Richard Tester rose and spoke for the first time.
“I appear for the prisoner, and I propose to say a few words on that subject, if my learned friend has quite finished,” he began in the clear ringing voice, with its note of gentle persuasion which helped to bring him renown.
“I would suggest that you grant an adjournment for a week,” broke in Mr. Ruggles, “when I will proceed to examine the witnesses at my disposal. I shall then be in a better position to tell you when my witnesses will arrive from the Congo.”
“What have you to say, Sir Richard?” the magistrate asked.
The famous counsel slowly rose and took up his gold-rimmed eye-glasses with which he proceeded to punctuate his remarks.
“In the first place, sir, I say with all deliberation that this is not a bona fide prosecution, and I am surprised that my learned friend should have lent himself to such a barefaced proceeding. It is necessary, sir, that I shouldtrouble you at some length, but probably you are aware that Mr. John Gaunt—I will not call him the prisoner—has been engaged upon a humane task, that of rousing the public to a proper appreciation of the terrible conditions under which the natives of the Congo live. It is natural to believe that this agitation is distinctly unpalatable to the governors of the Free State, and I say that the prosecution has been brought solely with the idea of discrediting Mr. Gaunt, and rendering him incapable of continuing what I will term his noble work. I take the first opportunity of denying the truth of the statement which you have just heard from counsel, and I am of opinion that he has been falsely instructed from motives of malice. It is suggested that my client deliberately shot the man Marillier under the most discreditable circumstances, and now I will tell you what really happened.”
Then Sir Richard proceeded to speak of Gaunt’s sudden appearance at the flogging of the native girl, and the consequences of his interference.
“I suggest that the facts have been deliberately misstated for the purpose I have before mentioned, and I maintain that the prosecution has not the slightest hope of proving what they have put forward. Now I address a larger public when I express a wish that these proceedings shall not be allowed to influence Mr. Gaunt’s work,” he wound up slowly and impressively.
“I am willing to adjourn the case for a week,” the magistrate remarked.
“As to bail, your Worship?” Sir Richard said suavely.
Mr. Ruggles jumped to his feet, and intervened with vigor.
“The charge is that of murder, and I strenuously oppose bail. The prisoner is a man of such great wealth that no amount you could fix would deter him from leaving the country, if he so wished.”
“I am sure that your Worship will not be inclined to take away Mr. Gaunt’s liberty. I am aware that bail is very rarely granted in cases of murder, but this accusation is so frivolous that I am confident that you will see the justice of my application. I repeat that the sole motive of this prosecution is to silence my client,” Sir Richard said with some warmth.
“At this stage I will express no opinion upon the proceedings, except to remark that the alleged crime took place many years ago. Mr. Gaunt is a well-known man and it is natural to wonder why all these years have been allowed to pass without any steps having been taken. I shall grant bail—the prisoner giving security in one thousand pounds—and two other securities of a like amount.”
“I am obliged to your Worship,” Sir Richard said quietly.
Gaunt happened to turn round, and his eyes alighted upon the Baron de Croiseuil, who was talking excitedly to his solicitor. Mr. Ruggles once more jumped to his feet.
“Surely your Worship will hear me before giving such a decision? I repeat that the charge against the prisoner is the most serious known to the law, and that you will be forming a most dangerous precedent if you grant bail. I cannot impress upon your lordship too strongly my opinion that if the prisoner is allowed to go free, he will never dare to face the trial.”
“I have given my decision after due consideration. The prisoner will be admitted to bail upon the terms I have stated,” the magistrate answered drily.
Gaunt was led from the court while the formalities were being completed, and it was some little time before the papers were signed. At last it was all finished, and he left the police station to find Edward Drake awaiting him with the motor-car.
Newspaper lads were running along the street shouting their wares:
“Serious charge against John Gaunt. Proceedings at Bow Street,” and a grim smile came to the millionaire’s face.
“What did Lady Mildred say to you?” he asked of Drake with great anxiety.
“Nothing. She merely left. Of course she will not credit the absurd statement made by Ruggles, but naturally she was upset.”
Gaunt was not listening, for he was filled with a great anxiety and when the car reached his house he jumped down and hastened into the hall.
“Where is your mistress?” he demanded of the footman, and his voice was harsh.
“Her ladyship left half an hour ago, sir.”
“Alone?”
“No, sir. Her ladyship’s sister, and the nurse with the baby accompanied her ladyship,” was the answer, and Gaunt moved slowly away.