reproduced the story which was so deeply engraved on his memory. Here was what he had been waiting for for twenty years—a case of suicide, with a nude body. Save in cases of drowning, that one detail had differentiated the case of Dolores Alvarez from all others he had ever heard of, and it had always puzzled him. He had waited and waited for a similar case, hoping that by some chance the motive or some other circumstance might give him the clue to an answer to the perpetual Why? which was ever in his mind as often as his eyes turned to the miniature over his mantelpiece. He[86] had waited in vain, until here at last was what he had looked for, and that a more exact reproduction of the former story than his wildest dreams had ever led him to imagine could possibly occur. He put the paper down, and as the train ran into Willesden his mind was made up. Calling a porter to look after his luggage he wired to Lady Shifnal, postponing his visit, and returned to town by the underground. Leaving the train at Westminster Station he walked into Scotland Yard and asked for Inspector Parkyns. [86] “Parkyns,” he said, “I want you to do me a favour.” “Delighted to, if I can, Mr. Tempest.” “You’ve seen the account of this suicide at the Charing Cross Hotel?” “Yes. As it happens, the case is in my hands.” “That’s lucky. I want you to take me and let me see the room and the body without[87] making any fuss about it. Can you do it?” [87] “Well, perhaps it can be managed. Why are you so keen about it, sir? You are not briefed by anybody yet, are you, sir?” “No, Parkyns. Honest injun—I’m not. It’s purely curiosity. Look here, inspector! Do you remember the suicide of the actress Dolores Alvarez—the sister of Lady Madeley, you know—about twenty years ago?” “Of course I do. I was in that as well; but I’d really forgotten all about it.” “I was in that case too, Parkyns. I had a watching brief at the inquest from Lord Madeley’s solicitor, and ever since then that case has stuck in my mind, because I never could see why she committed suicide, and I want to know why. I don’t know whether you have noticed, now; but in this case to-day, saving locale, you
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