CHAPTER XIII

MR. BREESE IS ANXIOUS

When Ben Smith arrived an hour later he found us smoking placidly in the drawing-room. The Russian was at ease in one of the huge chairs, his big head bowed to his barrel chest, his sharp little eyes now half closed. The afternoon sun was blazing hot, and even the heavy brocaded curtains could not smother its discomfort. There had been a half-somnolent silence between us for some time now.

“Working hard?” Smith greeted us grinning, very cool and dapper in his immaculate linen suit. Smith was obviously amused at the slothful ease of the Russian at the scene of the crime.

“Eh?” The Russian lifted his head and blinked. I could see now that if it were not for Smith’s interruption he would have fallen asleep. He smiled confidingly. “I was just preparing myself for a little siesta.” He shook his head vigorously as if to wake himself. “It is so confoundedly hot in this country,” he sighed. “And, besides, I think my work is done.”

“What’s that?” inquired Smith sharply. I looked up, too, for the Russian had given me no evidence that he had stumbled upon any vital factor in the tangled case.

“Certainly,” said the Russian. “My work is done. I have just been expounding to our friend here my theory of the case. I shall tell it to you. It concerns Mr. Breese.”

I sat back once more while the Russian repeated his speculations on the status and activities of the elder Breese, but Smith was evidently unimpressed and sought to interrupt the tale several times. He felt and said that the Russian jumped at conclusions entirely too glibly.

“I don’t know how you do things in Russia, but we work differently where I come from,” Smith pointed out. “Your main case against old man Breese rests on the fact that he _might_ have come here, that he _might_ have hated his wife sufficiently to kill her, that he _might_ have planned an alibi by calling me to his hotel after the murder. You can’t prove any of these three points.

“On the other hand, I’ve got a definite confession from the Count and a clear circumstantial case against the actor. It’s all very well in detective stories to reach way out for your suspect, but take it from me, in my experience the man who looks guilty generally is. I can answer every point you make against Breese.”

“Do so!” challenged the Russian. “You concede that Mr. Breese had the key to this house and might have entered unseen?”

“Certainly,” said Smith. “But let’s call up the hotel and find out if he left his rooms last night. That’s more to the point, isn’t it? Merely possessing the key means nothing.”

“He could have left his hotel unseen,” said the Russian. “Or he could bribe any employee likely to see him.”

“Then there’s no use even checking up on him?” demanded Smith sarcastically.

“None at all,” replied the Russian easily. “You do not deny that Mr. Breese had a motive?”

“Certainly I deny it,” retorted Smith. “What did he have to gain by the murder?”

“His children!” the Russian answered.

“Ah!” said Smith. “Do you think a man would deliberately kill his wife to get custody of his children?”

“But why not?” demanded the Russian. “It is natural.”

“It’s ridiculous,” said Smith. “I don’t go with you there at all. And now take your friend, the Count--why do you assume he confessed to save anybody? He had plenty of motive to kill Mrs. Breese. He certainly had the opportunity. Why do you assume the confession isn’t genuine?”

“But he would not kill,” protested the Russian. “I know his character.”

“And I give you the same answer on old man Breese,” retorted Smith. “I’ve watched him pretty carefully. He’s not the type either.”

“So? You know why you say that? Because he is a wealthy man and respectable.”

“What’s that got to do with it?” demanded Smith.

“Everything,” replied the Russian. “You Americans have a religious awe of wealth and respectability. But don’t you know, my friend, that in a case such as this, where robbery is not a motive, it is precisely the wealthy and respectable whom we must study for our suspect? If Mr. Breese were a day laborer, you would readily admit he killed his wife, with whom he had frequent disagreements, in a moment of passionate rage. But you will not concede that basically Mr. Breese is as the day laborer--just as violent, just as primitive. I suppose you will call this point of view Russian. Believe me, my friend, it is universal. I speak from experience.”

The Russian rose to his full height, and with the pedantic air of a lecturer continued:

“I cite you one of the most brutal murders in Petrograd. A ballet dancer is found in the Neva, her body hacked to pieces. The work of a thug, an apache, you say? No! I found a worthy lawyer, a model citizen, an affectionate father, a devoted son, and in two days I had his confession. This dancer had threatened to tell his wife of their affair, and in his anger he had killed her.”

“What’s that got to do with old man Breese?” Smith demanded impatiently.

“Only this,” replied the Russian. “Mr. Breese’s wealth and respectability do not preclude him from being a murderer.”

“All right, you win,” Smith grinned wrily. “Only I’m not paid to be a debater. I’m paid to get the man who killed Mrs. Breese.”

“And I’ve gotten him for you,” said the Russian. “He’s upstairs. Why not call him down and confront him? I tried to question him myself but without success.”

“I’d just as soon send for Machado, the president of this country,” Smith growled. “Think I’m crazy? What would I have to say to the old man? ‘I understand you _might_ have killed your wife.’ Do you want me to say that?”

“No,” said the Russian. “I shall tell you what to ask him. Behold! Mrs. Breese’s will is to be read today and the funeral held shortly. If Mr. Breese is, as I am convinced, the man you want, he will be very anxious to clear out as quickly as possible. Isn’t that natural?”

Smith nodded.

“Suppose you call him down and say to him: ‘Mr. Breese, it is not necessary for you to remain for further investigation. The Count has confessed, and we have just arrested him. The case is over.’”

“What then?” demanded Smith.

“If,” continued the Russian, “Mr. Breese confides to you that he will stay to take charge of the funeral arrangements and look after the children--that he is in no hurry to leave--we may assume that he is not overly anxious to get away from the scene of the crime and the possible danger of arrest. But, on the other hand--let us say, he is guilty. Then, knowing the Count is innocent, that inquiry may show his innocence, Mr. Breese will try to get away from here just as quickly as he can. Therefore, I say to you: Tell him the Count is arrested. He can leave immediately. And then see his reaction.”

“Well,” said Smith, grudgingly, “I don’t see much point to it but I’m always perfectly willing to try anything. Where is he?”

But it was unnecessary for the Russian to reply. Mr. Breese himself opened the door and with an apologetic cough addressed the Russian: “I’m afraid I was rather rude to you a little while ago. I didn’t mean to be.”

“That’s quite all right,” murmured the Russian. “I was telling Mr. Smith just now that you are much distressed by the tragic events and it is quite understandable that your nerves are not what they should be.”

Mr. Breese nodded. “I can’t believe it’s true yet,” he murmured stonily. Then with an obvious effort at casualness: “You mentioned something about a key as I came in here. I suppose you questioned the fact that I possess a key and the house really belongs to my wife. Well, the fact is that I found this key in my trunk with some others this morning. I remember my agent gave me several at the time I first opened this house. And I brought it around in case it was needed.”

Even to Smith this roundabout explanation must have seemed lame, for I saw him watching the old man with new interest.

And then Smith said: “By the way, Mr. Breese, there have been some developments I think you ought to know.”

Breese turned to him quickly. His granite eyes lit up. I’m not sure, but it seemed to me that his right hand, resting upon a malacca stick, trembled slightly.

“We’ve made an arrest,” Smith continued smoothly. For a moment Mr. Breese said nothing. Finally he found his voice. “Who is it?” he demanded.

“Well, I can’t even pronounce his name,” Smith confessed. “It’s this Count Giering-Trelovitch--I think that’s the name. Your former son-in-law.”

“Impossible!” exclaimed the old man. “He had nothing to do with it.” He stammered in his sudden excitement. “Look here--you’ve got the wrong man. Why, I understood you were proceeding against the actor. At least so Rice told me. Did he tell you about the forged check? And those telegrams?”

“I know,” said Smith, “but the Count has made a confession.”

The old man stared at Smith in amazement. “A confession?” he repeated blankly.

“Yes,” said Smith. “Hasn’t your daughter told you? He made the confession to her yesterday and disappeared. We got him a little while ago.”

The old man shook his head. He said nothing.

“At first,” continued Smith, “we thought the Count was acting out of pure chivalry. Trying to protect someone else. But we’ve finally swung around and we’re taking the confession at face value.” As the old man remained silent, Smith concluded. “So, Mr. Breese, I don’t think we’ll need you further. Unless the Count recants, we’ve got clear sailing.”

“Yes, yes,” murmured the old man, as if he did not hear what Smith was saying. The Russian’s little eyes gleamed as he watched Breese nervously moving to go. “Yes, I suppose you won’t need me. As a matter of fact, I was thinking of taking the six o’clock boat to Key West tonight. I suppose I’d better get back to the hotel and pack. Yes, I’d better pack. I haven’t much time.” He fumbled with his watch.

“But surely you’re not going before the funeral?” the Russian inquired blandly.

“I’m afraid I’ll have to,” he coughed nervously. “I wasn’t sure of staying anyway. I’m afraid I’m not up to it.” Then he caught himself up: “Besides, there won’t be a funeral here. Take the body to New York for the family vault. Rice will look after that.” He paused, and licked his lips. “My son-in-law, you say?” He shook his head. “I can’t understand it. I don’t know what Mary’ll say. She’s all in. Can’t talk. I’d better go to the hotel.”

He moved for the door. But Smith stopped him.

“There’s just one formality you’ll have to go through with,” the detective informed him. “Your wife’s will is going to be read this afternoon at Mr. Brennon’s office. I believe he was her attorney here. And he especially asked me to have all of you there.”

Breese fumbled with his stick.

“Her will? Oh, yes. But I’ve got to get back to New York.”

“It won’t take long,” Smith assured him. “You can still make that boat tonight.”

“Very well--very well,” Breese repeated, his hand at the door. “I’ll do that.”

Smith watched the old man stumble nervously out of the room. Then he turned to the Russian who now smiled triumphantly at him.

“Damned if there isn’t something in it,” Smith muttered.