Part 24 (1/2)

”Like as not that's what's happened,” he told himself, stuffing his thumbs into his policeman's belt and setting his feet apart. ”But what gets over me is, not a sight 'ave I seen of young Dollops. And where Mr. Cleek is.... Well, that there young feller is bound to be, too. Case is drawin' to a close, I reckon, by this time. I wouldn't be in that young lord's shoes!”

He shook his head at the thought, and fell to considering the matter and in a most sympathetic frame of mind if the truth be told.

Half-an-hour pa.s.sed, another sped by. The crowd now worried him very little, and judging from one or two folk that drifted out of the court room, with rather pale faces and set mouths, as though they had heard something that sickened them, and were going to be out of it before the end came, Petrie began to think that that end was approaching very near.

And he hadn't seen Mr. Cleek go into the place, or Dollops either! Funny thing that. In his phone message that morning, Mr. Cleek had said he would be at the court sharp at one, and it was half-past two now. Well, he was sorry the guv'nor hadn't turned up in time. He'd be disappointed, no doubt, and after all the telephoning and hunting up of directories that he himself had done personally that very morning, Mr. Cleek would be feeling rather ”off it” if he turned up too late.

Petrie took a few steps up and down, and his eyes roamed the Strand leisurely. He came to a sudden halt, as a red limousine-the red limousine he knew so well-whirled up to the pavement's edge, stopped in front of him with a grinding of brakes, a door flashed open, and he heard the sound of a sharp order given in that one unmistakable voice. Mr. Cleek was there, followed by Dollops, close at his heels, and looking as though they had torn through h.e.l.l itself to get there in time.

Petrie took a hurried step forward and swung back the big iron gate still farther.

”In time, Petrie?” Cleek asked breathlessly.

”Just about, sir. Near shave, though, from what I see of the people a-comin' out. 'Eard the case 'ad gone against Sir Nigel, sir-poor chap. 'Ere, you, Dollops-”

But Dollops was gone in his master's wake, in his arms a huge, ungainly bundle that looked like a stove-pipe wrapped up in brown paper, gone through the courtroom door, without so much as pa.s.sing the time of day with an old pal. Petrie felt distinctly hurt about it, and sauntered back to his place with his smile gone, while Cleek, hurrying through the crowded court room and pa.s.sing, by the sheer power of his name, the various court officials who would have stopped him, stopped only as he reached the s.p.a.ce before the judge's bench. Already the jury were filing in, one by one, and taking their seats. The black cap lay beside Mr. Justice Grainger's spectacles, a sinister emblem, having its response in the white-faced man who stood in the dock, awaiting the verdict upon his life.

Cleek saw it all in one glance, and then spoke.

”Your Lords.h.i.+p,” he said, addressing the judge, who looked at him with raised eyebrows, ”may I address the court?” The barristers arose, scandalized at the interruption, knowing not whether advantage for prosecution or defence lay in what this man had to say. The clerk of the court stood aghast ready to order the court officers to eject the interloper who dared interrupt the course of the majestic law. All stood poised for a breathless moment, held in check by the power of the man Cleek, or by uncertainty as to the action of the judge.

A tense pause, and then the court broke the silence, ”You may speak.”

”Your Lords.h.i.+p, may it please the court,” said Cleek, ”I have evidence here which will save this man's life. I demand to show it to the court.”

The barristers, held in check by the stern practice of the English law, which, unlike American practice does not allow counsel to becloud the issue with objection and technical argument, remained motionless. They knew Cleek, and knew that here was the crisis of the case they had presented so learnedly.

”This is an unusual occurrence, sir,” at last spoke the judge, ”and you are distinctly late. The jury has returned and the foreman is about to p.r.o.nounce the verdict. What is it you have to say, sir?”

”Your Lords.h.i.+p, it is simply this.” Cleek threw back his head. ”The prisoner at bar-” He pointed to Merriton, who at the first sound of Cleek's voice had spun round, a sudden hope finding birth in his dull eyes, ”is innocent! I have absolute proof. Also-” He switched round upon his heel and surveyed the court room, ”I beg of your Lords.h.i.+p that you will immediately give orders for no person to leave this court. The instigator of the crime is before my eyes. Perhaps you do not know me, but I have been at work upon this case for some time, and am a colleague of Mr. Narkom of Scotland Yard. My name is-Cleek-Hamilton Cleek. I have your permission to continue?”

A murmur went up round the crowded court room. The judge nodded. He needed no introduction to Cleek.

”The gentlemen of the jury will be seated,” declared the court, ”the clerk will call Hamilton Cleek as a witness.”

This formality accomplished, the judge indicated that he, himself, would question this crucial eleventh-hour witness.

”Mr. Cleek,” he began, ”you say this man is innocent. We will hear your story.”

Cleek motioned to Dollops, who stood at the back of the court, and instantly the lad pushed his way through the crowd to his master's side, carrying the long, ungainly burden in his arms. Meanwhile, at the back of the room a commotion had occurred. The magic name of that most magical of men-Hamilton Cleek, detective-had wrought what Cleek had known it would. Someone was pus.h.i.+ng for the door with all the strength that was in him, but already the key had turned, and Hammond, as guardian, held up his hand.

Cleek knew-but for the time said nothing-and the crowd had hidden whoever it was from the common view. He simply motioned Dollops to lay his burden upon the table, and then spoke once more.

”M' Lud,” he said clearly, ”may I ask a favour of the court? I should be obliged if you would call every witness in this matter here-simultaneously. Set them out in a row, if you will, but call them now.... Thanks.”

The judge motioned to the clerk, and through the hushed silence of the court the dull voice droned out: ”Anthony West, William Borkins, Lester Stark, Gustave Brellier, Miss Antoinette Brellier, Doctor Bartholomew....” And so on through the whole list. As each name was called the owner of it came forward and stood in front of the judge's high desk.

”A most unusual proceeding, sir,” said that worthy, again settling the spectacles upon his nose and frowning down at Cleek; ”but, knowing who you are-”

”I appreciate your Lords.h.i.+p's kindness. Now then, all there?” Cleek whirled suddenly, and surveyed the strange line. ”That's good. And at least every one of them is here. No chance of slipping away now. Now for it.”