15 Castle Road,

Bromlea.

Chapter IX

On the following evening, twenty-four hours later, Paul was again on his way back to the hostel. It was raining heavily but he walked on. All his hopes were gone. Не had been to Bromlea, had visited the address, talked with the man for whom Swann had worked, and all without result. Swann had disappeared.

At supper time the same evening when Paul was about to enter the dining-hall he saw the door-boy coming towards him.

"There's a young man to see you. He's in the visitors' room."

Surprised, Paul followed the boy. He was still more surprised to see the clerk from the library who was waiting for him.

"Good evening," Paul said.

"You didn't expect to see me."

"No, I didn't."

"I've something to say to you. My name's Mark Boulia."

He held out his hand. Paul shook it, then sat down. Mark looked at him, smiling, before he began.

"That first day at the library I watched you and I felt sorry for you and friendly too. After you'd gone I went through the file. I know who you are and all about you."

Paul sat silent, listening.

"Yesterday you were looking for the story of the Swann trial," Mark went on. "You did not find it. But when you had gone, I did. In one paper... it was said that Swann's sentence was too much."

"Why are you telling me this?" Paul asked.

"Because you wanted to find Swann."

Paul shook his head slowly. "It's no good."

"Why not?"

"Not after fifteen years."

"Don't be too sure." Mark's eyes shone. He stopped for a moment to make his words important. "In fact, I have found him."

Paul felt his mouth turn dry. He looked at the other man without saying a word.

"It wasn't too difficult... Swann is in Belvedere Hospital."

Chapter X

The room where Swann lay was long and narrow, with white walls. It was a room for the poor, one of the worst in the hospital, situated under the very roof. Swann lay on his back, he was so weak that he could not even move his hands. He had once been a big man, but now his body showed quite thin under the bedclothes.

It was the afternoon visiting hour. Paul and Mark Boulia had arrived ten minutes ago and Mark had introduced Paul to the sick man. Now he waited for Swann to speak.

Swann did not hurry, he had his own thoughts. At last he looked at Paul and began to speak in a weak voice.

"You're like him."

He then looked away and was silent for a long time before continuing in the same weak voice.

"It's strange I should see you now. After what happened I told myself I'd be silent. But you're Mathry's son. And I'm dying just the same. So I'm going to tell you everything. When I was put on the Eldon murder case I was young and I wanted to find out the truth. And there were a few facts about the case that seemed strange to me. For instance, Mathry had bought the tickets to South America in his own name and he had taken rooms at the Liverpool hotel for himself and his family quite openly. Such things are not done by a man who tries to get away from the police. Again, the wounds to Mona Spurling were so terrible that only a powerful man could have done that, and Rees was not very strong. I put all this up to the Chief but he would hot listen to me. I must tell you about my chief — now he's the head of the Wortley police, Adam Dale. The son of a farmer, he'd made a career from an ordinary policeman. He loved his work and was an honest man. He used to say that he could see a criminal a mile away. And from the beginning he was quite sure that he had the right man. He wanted to find the instrument of the crime in Mathry's things. Almost at once your father's razor was found. Now, if Mathry had used it to kill the girl why should he keep it? No, the first action of the murderer is to get rid of the instrument of the crime. Yet Dale was very proud when he showed the razor to me.

'"Didn't I tell you,' he said. 'We have him now.'"

Swann was silent for a few moments.

"You must look for the murderer in a more clever way," he continued. "The real piece of evidence is the money bag that was found by the body. It was an unusual kind of bag made of human skin. You have only to find the man who could make himself a bag like that, connect him with a few other pieces of evidence — and you have the murderer.”

"Now let me tell you more about the two main witnesses — Edward Collins and Louisa Burt. Burt described the murderer as a man about thirty-five, tall, thin and dark, with a pale face, straight nose and clean-shaven. He wore a light cap, a raincoat and brown boots. At first Dale was pleased with this description. But after the arrest of Mathry all her evidence was good for nothing.. Mathry was not tall, dark or clean-shaven. He was a shorter man with a moustache, not at all pale. Also, he was dressed quite differently. He wore a grey coat and a dark hat. And Louisa changed her evidence. She said she had spoken in a hurry. In her second description the criminal looked very much like Mathry. Collins was a weak man, and he was under her influence. He repeated all she had said. After Mathry was sentenced both of them got a £ 500 reward for helping to catch the murderer. When Burt and Collins came to the police to get their money I was on duty. I put them in a side room to wait and while they waited I was next door working at my desk. I was able to hear everything they said. I wrote it down too. At first they didn't say much. Then Collins who looked frightened, said: 'Will we get the money?' 'We'll get it, Ed, don't worry,' Burt answered. And she added: 'We might do even better.' 'What do you mean?' he asked. She laughed. 'I have a surprise for you. I'll live like a lady yet, Ed. I’ll have servants and all. Just let me take my chance — you'll see that I'll never work any more in my life!' Collins didn't speak for a long time. Then he said: 'Mathry was guilty, wasn't he, Louisa?' 'Don't be a fool,' she said. 'It's too late to turn back now... After all they didn't hang him. You fool, we can't go against the police...'"

Swann stopped for a while. He was tired. Paul broke the silence.

"Are they still here... Burt and Collins?"

"Collins married years ago and went to New Zealand. But Burt is still here. She works for a rich family. She is the key to the whole problem. But there's just one chance in a million that you might get something out of her. But let me go on. After overhearing that conversation I went to a lawyer named Walter Gillet. I liked that man and I'm sure he liked me too. What do you think he told me to do? To keep clear of the whole business. My heart was heavy, and I drank to forget it all. Once I came on duty drunk and... well... you know the rest. After I came out of prison I was a broken man."

"You believe my father is innocent," said Paul.

"I know he's innocent," Swann answered. "But I warn you... if you go on with this it'll change your whole life... as it did mine. How do you think to begin?"

"I'll write a paper and you'll sign it. Then I'll take it to the police..."

"The police already know everything. To go to the Public Prosecutor, Sir Matthew Sprott? I know that gentleman. It was he who decided to hang Mathry then — to make his own career on the murder case. Keep clear of that man! The Secretary of State, in Parliament, alone has the power to open up the case. But what evidence have you to offer? The words of a dying policeman? They'd simply laugh at you. There is only one way to make them re-open the case. You must discover the real murderer... Now leave me alone. I feel bad and want to get some sleep."

The two young men got to their feet.

"Thank you," Paul said with feeling. "I'll come again soon." As Mark walked quietly from the room Paul pressed the sick man's hand between his own, then followed through the door.