CHAPTER XV

WEATHER PREDICTION

Smith and I looked at each other incredulously. But later I reasoned that the melodramatic exit Mrs. Breese had elected was entirely in keeping. Even in death Mrs. Breese wanted to make news of herself. I could picture her dictating her lurid wishes to the old lawyer and relishing his amazement. I am convinced that she regarded the will as essentially meaningless. She probably thought she would change it a half-dozen times before she was done playing with the prospect of death.

Then the lawyer was done. No one spoke. I realized the Countess had risen, and her brother. They left the room without a word. The elder Breese whispered something to Rice, who nodded, and then joined his children.

“When,” the actor cleared his throat and addressed the lawyer with grave dignity, “when do you plan to file this will in the Surrogate’s court?”

“Immediately,” replied the lawyer.

“No hurry, is there?” demanded Smith sharply. But the actor did not deign to reply. He took up his gloves and stick and stalked out of the room.

We emerged into the dingy corridor once more. Neither Smith nor the Russian made any comment upon the ceremony that had just been concluded. Once out of the building, we clambered aboard a lumbering street car. A native motorman who smoked loathsomely heavy cigarettes sent our car clanging through the narrow street. Heavily rouged and bejewelled matrons sat side by side, with grimy day laborers about us preempting the shady side.

Every so often a bullet-headed negro boy would run through the car crying the virtues of his bags of hot peanuts. Our route took us past several cemeteries and the motorman would lift his cap to a passing cortège, flick his cigarette and then clang forward more noisily than ever.

“You see,” shouted the Russian in my ear above the clamor of the car, “other mortals may be dismissed as easily as all this, with the lifting of the cap, but Mrs. Breese wanted more out of death! What a fool! But I look forward to her funeral! I shall enjoy it!” He laughed heartily. “I have always enjoyed funerals. They are such a commentary on the unimportance of life!”

Smith looked at him nastily, for the Russian was shocking his staid sensibilities.

All unconscious of this, Perutkin continued for all to hear:

“For my own funeral, I require nothing but a hole in the ground, and flowers. Many flowers. I wish to smell sweet in death. Not that that is possible. Quite the contrary. But at least civilized man can give superficial beauty even to decay. And he should do so. I am all in favor of civilization. The more the better.”

The rest of his somewhat disconnected philosophy on funerals was lost in the business of leaping out of the street car, for the motorman never waited the convenience of his passengers, and we almost rode past the ornamental police headquarters. We accompanied Smith to his office. While we waited patiently, he sat down at his desk and began typing strenuously. When he was done, he said:

“I’ve often found it useful, when a case gets to this stage of the game, to write down the known facts and see how they jibe. Now you two know this case as well as I do. I want you to look this over and see what I’ve missed.”

The Russian and I glanced over his shoulder, and we read:

“_Thomas_--bad egg--was in the house when Mrs. Breese was killed--engaged to her, forged check which was discovered--had another girl--is mentioned in will as next husband--yet Thomas insists Mrs. Breese didn’t mind his marrying other girl and was paying him for his ‘loyalty’ during divorce trial. Thomas possessed revolver and knew how to use it.

“_Breese, Sr._--had access to house. May have been there on night of murder. Hated his wife and was hated by her. Evidently lied when he said wife was making will in favor of Thomas. Evidently wanted Thomas accused of murder. Now anxious to get away.

“_The Count_--in Mrs. Breese’s bad books, who had been keeping her daughter away from him, and wanted him to stay away even after her death. Is suspected of one murder. He has confessed and disappeared. Was in the house at the time.

“_Mary Rose Breese_--judging from mother’s will, wanted to return to her divorced husband. Was in the house at the time.

“_Henry Breese, Jr._--Violently hated the actor. Violently opposed his marrying his mother. Once owned revolver. Was in the house at the time. Inherits bulk of the estate.”

“You omit Gordon Rice, I see,” exclaimed the Russian.

“I omitted him purposely,” said Smith. “He’s got a perfectly good alibi, and no motive.”

“And yet,” said the Russian meditatively, “Rice knows something.”

“How do you get that?” inquired Smith.

“The feeling is intangible,” explained the Russian. “But to one who is sensitive to human beings--I am very sensitive--that is why I am a great detective--but to one like myself there is something about Rice that needs clarifying. I have that curious feeling that he is holding something back.” He paused. “Are you sure about his alibi?”

“Sure?” exclaimed Smith. “I’ve got the word of the American Minister himself that Rice spent the entire evening at his house! They were together all the time, except for five minutes. I talked to the clerk who saw and heard him telephone. You wouldn’t want a better alibi than that?”

“No,” said the Russian. “Did you, by any chance, ask the clerk what Mr. Rice said over the telephone?”

“No, I didn’t,” said Smith. “What difference would it make?”

“None at all,” replied the Russian. “I was just curious. However, granted that Rice could not have committed the murder--he was not at the scene of the crime--but isn’t it strange to you that both Rice and Breese should hammer at you to arrest the actor? Isn’t it strange that Rice should bring you the telegram from the detective agency, hired by Breese, to find out what they could about the actor? What must we conclude? Especially in view of the case against Breese? Only this: Rice is anxious to protect Breese.”

“Well, maybe,” conceded Smith.

“Undoubtedly!” insisted the Russian. “I shall go one step further. Let us consider the history of this case: After Mrs. Breese’s divorce, Mr. Rice scorned her husband, whom he had known for many years, and sided with the lady. Is that natural? No. Men do not break friendship under such circumstances. And behold: When Mrs. Breese is dead, the two men are friends openly once more. What does that suggest to you? Remember, Breese was anxious for a reconciliation. To me it suggests that the two men only pretended to quarrel during the divorce trial. Rice sided with Mrs. Breese so as to be in a position to influence her. That’s why he so violently opposed her marriage to the actor. Remember, he did not intend marrying her himself. There was no question of love between this man and the woman. What then was his motive in coming down here with her and campaigning so strenuously against the actor? Obviously, he wanted her to remarry his friend Breese.

“Now, mark this--Breese calls you to his hotel before the murder and warns you against the actor. Rice comes to the house, after the murder, and the first thing he does is to accuse the actor. He produces telegrams from the detective agency (hired by Breese) and tells you about the forged check. I hold no brief for the actor, but I don’t think he forged that check. I think Breese did himself. But observe how in every development of the case Breese and Rice work together, and yet apart--what does that suggest?”

“Do you mean to say that Rice took part in the murder, or knew about it beforehand?” Smith asked skeptically.

“No,” said the Russian. “I believe Breese unburdened himself to his friend after the murder, threw himself upon Rice’s mercy, and Rice has been doing everything he can to save his friend. And if in the process the actor gets hurt why, I should think that Rice would be the type to accept such a miscarriage of justice with the comforting reflection that Mr. Thomas would get only what he deserved.”

“For that matter,” replied Smith, “I can build up the same case against you!”

“Against me?” exclaimed the Russian.

“Certainly,” said Smith. “You are protecting your friend, the Count. He was not only in the house at the time of the murder, but he actually confessed to it, after consulting you. You have been hammering away on old man Breese. Why? If I use the same logic you do, I could say--to protect your friend.”

The Russian laughed. “You have me there, Mr. Smith,” he admitted admiringly. “It had never occurred to me. But you’re not serious?”

“No,” said Smith. “I’m not serious about any theories. And this case seems to me to consist of nothing else. I’m looking for something definite, something tangible.”

The Russian picked up Smith’s summary and studied it once more.

“There are many definite, tangible things here,” he replied, “but they are of little value--at present. I notice you have marked down the Breese children. I admit they should be watched, as a matter of routine. But I would safely pass them for the moment. Our main target right now is the father. Concentrate upon him, my friend!”

“You’re at it again!” said Smith.

“Besides,” I put in, “old man Breese is leaving for the States on the six o’clock boat, isn’t he?”

Smith shook his head. “No, Mr. Breese’s landing card is going to be questioned when he gets to Key West and he’ll have to return to Havana to straighten it out. I’ve got that arranged. I’m not taking any chances of losing anybody in this case.”

“Good!” approved the Russian heartily. He planted his panama firmly upon his huge head. “If I recall rightly, the funeral is to take place three days after the lady’s death--tomorrow at midnight, to be exact.” Smith nodded. “What is the weather prediction for tomorrow?”

“The weather prediction?” Smith repeated puzzled.

“Yes,” said the Russian. “Examine that copy of the Havana Post which you keep so neatly folded upon the desk. What does it say?”

Smith glanced obediently at the paper, evidently humoring the Russian. “Let me see----” he found the weather column. “Storms,” he read.

“But that is magnificent!” shouted the Russian. He snatched the paper rudely from the detective. “Let me see. I cannot believe it. Yes, it is true! Storms!”

Smith stared at him, open-mouthed.

The Russian swept his hat from his head in one violent gesture and flung it upon the desk.

“To work!” he cried. “To work, my friends.”

Then he chuckled. “Of course, you do not understand? You do not see the connection. I am, perhaps, premature. What if there should be no storms? No, I shall wait.” He regained the panama and once more it was squeezed down upon his head. “Tomorrow we go to the funeral, invited or not. And, my friends”--he was already moving to the door--“pray for storms, my friends, pray for storms!”