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CHAPTER XIV `
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A CONSULTATION `
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NOTHING was more surprising and bewildering to Tuppence than the `
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ease and simplicity with which everything was arranged, owing to `
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Sir James's skilful handling. The doctor accepted quite readily `
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the theory that Mrs. Vandemeyer had accidentally taken an `
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overdose of chloral. He doubted whether an inquest would be `
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necessary. If so, he would let Sir James know. He understood `
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that Mrs. Vandemeyer was on the eve of departure for abroad, and `
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that the servants had already left? Sir James and his young `
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friends had been paying a call upon her, when she was suddenly `
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stricken down and they had spent the night in the flat, not `
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liking to leave her alone. Did they know of any relatives? They `
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did not, but Sir James referred him to Mrs. Vandemeyer's `
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solicitor. `
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Shortly afterwards a nurse arrived to take charge, and the other `
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left the ill-omened building. `
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"And what now?" asked Julius, with a gesture of despair. "I guess `
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we're down and out for good." `
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Sir James stroked his chin thoughtfully. `
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"No," he said quietly. "There is still the chance that Dr. Hall `
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may be able to tell us something." `
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"Gee! I'd forgotten him." `
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"The chance is slight, but it must not be neglected. I think I `
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told you that he is staying at the Metropole. I should suggest `
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that we call upon him there as soon as possible. Shall we say `
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after a bath and breakfast?" `
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It was arranged that Tuppence and Julius should return to the `
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Ritz, and call for Sir James in the car. This programme was `
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faithfully carried out, and a little after eleven they drew up `
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before the Metropole. They asked for Dr. Hall, and a page-boy `
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went in search of him. In a few minutes the little doctor came `
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hurrying towards them. `
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"Can you spare us a few minutes, Dr. Hall?" said Sir James `
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pleasantly. "Let me introduce you to Miss Cowley. Mr. `
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Hersheimmer, I think, you already know." `
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A quizzical gleam came into the doctor's eye as he shook hands `
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with Julius. `
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"Ah, yes, my young friend of the tree episode! Ankle all right, `
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eh?" `
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"I guess it's cured owing to your skilful treatment, doc." `
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"And the heart trouble? Ha ha!" `
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"Still searching," said Julius briefly. `
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"To come to the point, can we have a word with you in private?" `
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asked Sir James. `
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"Certainly. I think there is a room here where we shall be quite `
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undisturbed." `
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He led the way, and the others followed him. They sat down, and `
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the doctor looked inquiringly at Sir James. `
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"Dr. Hall, I am very anxious to find a certain young lady for the `
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purpose of obtaining a statement from her. I have reason to `
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believe that she has been at one time or another in your `
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establishment at Bournemouth. I hope I am transgressing no `
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professional etiquette in questioning you on the subject?" `
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"I suppose it is a matter of testimony?" `
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Sir James hesitated a moment, then he replied: `
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"Yes." `
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"I shall be pleased to give you any information in my power. What `
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is the young lady's name? Mr. Hersheimmer asked me, I `
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remember----" He half turned to Julius. `
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"The name," said Sir James bluntly, "is really immaterial. She `
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would be almost certainly sent to you under an assumed one. But I `
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should like to know if you are acquainted with a Mrs. `
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Vandemeyer?" `
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"Mrs. Vandemeyer, of 20 South Audley Mansions? I know her `
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slightly." `
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"You are not aware of what has happened?" `
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"What do you mean?" `
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"You do not know that Mrs. Vandemeyer is dead?" `
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"Dear, dear, I had no idea of it! When did it happen?" `
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"She took an overdose of chloral last night." `
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"Purposely?" `
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"Accidentally, it is believed. I should not like to say myself. `
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Anyway, she was found dead this morning." `
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"Very sad. A singularly handsome woman. I presume she was a `
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friend of yours, since you are acquainted with all these `
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details." `
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"I am acquainted with the details because--well, it was I who `
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found her dead." `
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"Indeed," said the doctor, starting. `
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"Yes," said Sir James, and stroked his chin reflectively. `
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"This is very sad news, but you will excuse me if I say that I do `
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not see how it bears on the subject of your inquiry?" `
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"It bears on it in this way, is it not a fact that Mrs. `
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Vandemeyer committed a young relative of hers to your charge?" `
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Julius leaned forward eagerly. `
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"That is the case," said the doctor quietly. `
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"Under the name of----?" `
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"Janet Vandemeyer. I understood her to be a niece of Mrs. `
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Vandemeyer's." `
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"And she came to you?" `
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"As far as I can remember in June or July of 1915." `
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"Was she a mental case?" `
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"She is perfectly sane, if that is what you mean. I understood `
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from Mrs. Vandemeyer that the girl had been with her on the `
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Lusitania when that ill-fated ship was sunk, and had suffered a `
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severe shock in consequence." `
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"We're on the right track, I think?" Sir James looked round. `
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"As I said before, I'm a mutt!" returned Julius. `
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The doctor looked at them all curiously. `
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"You spoke of wanting a statement from her," he said. "Supposing `
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she is not able to give one?" `
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"What? You have just said that she is perfectly sane." `
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"So she is. Nevertheless, if you want a statement from her `
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concerning any events prior to May 7, 1915, she will not be able `
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to give it to you." `
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They looked at the little man, stupefied. He nodded cheerfully. `
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"It's a pity," he said. "A great pity, especially as I gather, `
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Sir James, that the matter is important. But there it is, she `
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can tell you nothing." `
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"But why, man? Darn it all, why?" `
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The little man shifted his benevolent glance to the excited young `
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American. `
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"Because Janet Vandemeyer is suffering from a complete loss of `
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memory." `
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"WHAT?" `
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"Quite so. An interesting case, a very interesting case. Not so `
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uncommon, really, as you would think. There are several very `
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well known parallels. It's the first case of the kind that I've `
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had under my own personal observation, and I must admit that I've `
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found it of absorbing interest." There was something rather `
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ghoulish in the little man's satisfaction. `
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"And she remembers nothing," said Sir James slowly. `
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"Nothing prior to May 7, 1915. After that date her memory is as `
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good as yours or mine." `
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"Then the first thing she remembers?" `
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"Is landing with the survivors. Everything before that is a `
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blank. She did not know her own name, or where she had come from, `
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or where she was. She couldn't even speak her own tongue." `
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"But surely all this is most unusual?" put in Julius. `
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"No, my dear sir. Quite normal under the circumstances. Severe `
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shock to the nervous system. Loss of memory proceeds nearly `
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always on the same lines. I suggested a specialist, of course. `
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