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would light。
A short while after the last of these terrible events； Austin came to see
Mr。 Villiers。 He was curious to know whether Villiers had succeeded in
discovering any fresh traces of Mrs。 Herbert； either through Clarke or by
other sources； and he asked the question soon after he had sat down。
〃No；〃 said Villiers； 〃I wrote to Clarke； but he remains obdurate； and I
have tried other channels； but without any result。 I can't find out what
became of Helen Vaughan after she left Paul Street； but I think she must
have gone abroad。 But to tell the truth； Austin； I haven't paid much
attention to the matter for the last few weeks； I knew poor Herries
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intimately； and his terrible death has been a great shock to me； a great
shock。〃
〃I can well believe it；〃 answered Austin gravely； 〃you know Argentine
was a friend of mine。 If I remember rightly； we were speaking of him
that day you came to my rooms。〃
〃Yes； it was in connection with that house in Ashley Street； Mrs。
Beaumont's house。 You said something about Argentine's dining there。〃
〃Quite so。 Of course you know it was there Argentine dined the night
beforebefore his death。〃
〃No； I had not heard that。〃
〃Oh； yes； the name was kept out of the papers to spare Mrs。 Beaumont。
Argentine was a great favourite of hers； and it is said she was in a terrible
state for sometime after。〃
A curious look came over Villiers' face； he seemed undecided whether
to speak or not。 Austin began again。
〃I never experienced such a feeling of horror as when I read the
account of Argentine's death。 I didn't understand it at the time； and I
don't now。 I knew him well； and it completely passes my understanding
for what possible cause he or any of the others for the matter of that
could have resolved in cold blood to die in such an awful manner。 You
know how men babble away each other's characters in London； you may
be sure any buried scandal or hidden skeleton would have been brought to
light in such a case as this； but nothing of the sort has taken place。 As for
the theory of mania； that is very well； of course； for the coroner's jury； but
everybody knows that it's all nonsense。 Suicidal mania is not small…pox。〃
Austin relapsed into gloomy silence。 Villiers sat silent； also；
watching his friend。 The expression of indecision still fleeted across his
face； he seemed as if weighing his thoughts in the balance； and the
considerations he was resolving left him still silent。 Austin tried to shake
off the remembrance of tragedies as hopeless and perplexed as the
labyrinth of Daedalus； and began to talk in an indifferent voice of the more
pleasant incidents and adventures of the season。
〃That Mrs。 Beaumont；〃 he said； 〃of whom we were speaking； is a great
success； she has taken London almost by storm。 I met her the other night
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at Fulham's； she is really a remarkable woman。〃
〃You have met Mrs。 Beaumont？〃
〃Yes； she had quite a court around her。 She would be called very
handsome； I suppose； and yet there is something about her face which I
didn't like。 The features are exquisite； but the expression is strange。
And all the time I was looking at her； and afterwards； when I was going
home； I had a curious feeling that very expression was in some way or
another familiar to me。〃
〃You must have seen her in the Row。〃
〃No； I am sure I never set eyes on the woman before； it is that which
makes it puzzling。 And to the best of my belief I have never seen anyone
like her； what I felt was a kind of dim far…off memory； vague but persistent。
The only sensation I can compare it to； is that odd feeling one sometimes
has in a dream； when fantastic cities and wondrous lands and phantom
personages appear familiar and accustomed。〃
Villiers nodded and glanced aimlessly round the room； possibly in
search of something on which to turn the conversation。 His eyes fell on
an old chest somewhat like that in which the artist's strange legacy lay hid
beneath a Gothic scutcheon。
〃Have you written to the doctor about poor Meyrick？〃 he asked。
〃Yes； I wrote asking for full particulars as to his illness and death。 I
don't expect to have an answer for another three weeks or a month。 I
thought I might as well inquire whether Meyrick knew an Englishwoman
named Herbert； and if so； whether the doctor could give me any
information about her。 But it's very possible that Meyrick fell in with her
at New York； or Mexico； or San Francisco； I have no idea as to the extent
or direction of his travels。〃
〃Yes； and it's very possible that the woman may have more than one
name。〃
〃Exactly。 I wish I had thought of asking you to lend me the portrait
of her which you possess。 I might have enclosed it in my letter to Dr。
Matthews。〃
〃So you might； that never occurred to me。 We might send it now。
Hark！ what are those boys calling？〃
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While the two men had been talking together a confused noise of
shouting had been gradually growing louder。 The noise rose from the
eastward and swelled down Piccadilly； drawing nearer and nearer； a very
torrent of sound； surging up streets usually quiet； and making every
window a frame for a face； curious or excited。 The cries and voices came
echoing up the silent street where Villiers lived； growing more distinct as
they advanced； and； as Villiers spoke； an answer rang up from the
pavement：
〃The West End Horrors； Another Awful Suicide； Full Details！〃
Austin rushed down the stairs and bought a paper and read out the
paragraph to Villiers as the uproar in the street rose and fell。 The window
was open and the air seemed full of noise and terror。
〃Another gentleman has fallen a victim to the terrible epidemic of
suicide which for the last month has prevailed in the West End。 Mr。
Sidney Crashaw； of Stoke House； Fulham； and King's Pomeroy； Devon；
was found； after a prolonged search； hanging dead from the branch of a
tree in his garden at one o'clock today。 The deceased gentleman dined
last night at the Carlton Club and seemed in his usual health and spirits。
He left the club at about ten o'clock； and was seen walking leisurely up St。
James's Street a little later。 Subsequent to this his movements cannot be
traced。 On the discovery of the body medical aid was at once summoned；
but life had evidently been long extinct。 So far as is known； Mr。 Crashaw
had no trouble or anxiety of any kind。 This painful suicide； it will be
remembered； is the fifth of the kind in the last month。 The authorities at
Scotland Yard are unable to suggest any explanation of these terrible
occurrences。〃
Austin put down the paper in mute horror。
〃I shall leave London to…morrow；〃 he said； 〃it is a city of nightmares。
How awful this is； Villiers！〃
Mr。 Villiers was sitting by the window quietly looking out into the
street。 He had listened to the newspaper report attentively； and the hint
of indecision was no longer on his face。
〃Wait a moment； Austin；〃 he replied； 〃I have made up my mind to
mention a little matter that occurred last night。 It stated； I think； that
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Crashaw was last seen alive in St。 James's Street shortly after ten？〃
〃Yes； I think so。 I will look again。 Yes； you are quite right。〃
〃Quite so。 Well； I am in a position to con