CHAPTER 9

TOO YOUNG TO DIE

Torquay, 7 August 1909.

Dear Mrs. Parret,

my picture is almost finished: the shadow in the darkness, which I could use as this incredible summer's image. But there is something strange.. it is like if there was something lacking.. something I could not see clearly, but which menaces the shadow from the darkness.

I feel like if there was something, which I am not able to see clearly, something of very important and ultimate for inquiries.. something that is very near me, but which I cannot see, because it disappears when I turn around my head!

Anyway, yesterday was the pain's day for poor Count Girodelle: during the police exams on the countess Diane's body, I saw him crying like a child who has lost his mom; and after, he spoke clearly to the police officer, saying he wanted his wife was buried with a great funeral in France, in their family's grave, instead of in an unknown cemetery of a little English seaside town!

"She was too young to die" he added.

The police officer authorized him to take the corpse away only after few days, when all exams will have been completely finished.

So, he will be forced to stay here some days yet; and he disliked it so much! He did not fail to show it.

Like what? Like this! He was sitting in the hotel's living room, receiving all other guests' condolences, in a considered sorrow appearance; but when Will Scarlett of Locksley approached him, he stood up suddenly, angry, and burst "As if I didn't know that it has been you! You had an affair with my wife! You'll pay for it, Locksley!".

But Will remained quiet, and confined himself to tell him that Locksley was his brother's title, and he was just the younger son, so he wanted to be named just Scarlett. Then, he asked the Count to withdraw his accusations, because he had no evidence; so, Girodelle answered "I saw you with her in the garden, that night!". So, Robin came forward in order to protect his brother, but the Count stopped him, saying "Your brother can speak himself, he is not a child!".

But Will did not speak at all: he simply left the room.

But his position was not reassuring at all, in my opinion.

So, later I searched for him everywhere, in order to clear up what really happened, that infamous night; I found him in a little pub, smoking a cigar, and I sat down in front of him, without ceremony.

"Sir, I imagine you know the reason which brought me to you", I began,

"Yes, my lady: you want to question me about what that French Count told about me",

"Yes, that's right! And, for your safety, it will be better if you will give me true answers; since, you are in great trouble!".

He nodded, and I began.

"Did Count Girodelle tell the truth? Was the person with the Countess in the garden really you, that night?",

"Yes, he did: that man was me; but it is different from what you are thinking!",

"What do you mean?".

He sighed, then whispered "What I am going to tell you, was a secret, that the Countess herself wanted to be hidden; so, I ask you to keep the secret too, please",

"I'll do", I answered,

"Countess Girodelle had no affair with me.. she had an affair with my brother!",

"Robin?",

"Yes. But she felt guilty because of it.. and she had settled to break it off; that's why we met in the garden, that night: she asked me to tell her decision to my brother, because she was lacking in courage to do it herself",

"Lacking in courage? Why?",

"She had fallen really in love with him: she would never have been able to look in his eyes, and to tell him "Goodbye!"; so, she asked me to do it myself".

After a while in silence, I saw in his eyes, and said "Since now, you, and above of all your brother, are strongly suspected; do you know, don't you?",

"Yes, I do",

"So, I must ask you: where were you, yesterday morning?",

"Robin and me.. were wandering around, on the seaside",

"So, you have no witnesses!",

"That's right",

"Mr. Scarlett.. I am very sorry, but I am forced to report everything to the police officer; but we will keep the secret",

"Thank you".

Then, I left.

And now, I was able to understand Count Girodelle's strange behavior on the stairs, that night: he had seen them.

Back to the hotel, I met my cousin Susan; and this time, I was not able to confine myself to ask her about her weak health: she knew something, and I needed to know what! So, I took her arm, and I brought her in her room, in spite of her remonstrances.

Then, I began my questions.

"My dear cousin.. you must understand.. your silence makes the murderer's safety grows, so he will go on killing more and more.. you have been attacked yourself.. the police needs to know your suspicions, we could save another life more..",

"I know nothing. I told you. Those ones were only my thoughts, stupid thoughts!",

"Everything can be goodly, now! Speak, Susan, please!".

She took her head in her hands "All that I felt is that.. the man who assailed me was taller than me, of course!",

"How can you tell this thing? Did you see him?",

"No",

"So?",

"It.. It seemed to me that his arm was higher than my head!".

I whispered. "Thanks, Susan. But you have to tell me the most important thing: whom do you suspect?".

She kept silent, so I pressed her "Locksley? Do you suspect Locksley, don't you?".

But she amazed me: she burst out sobbing!

"Save it, Marian! Stop it! I do not want to blame innocent people! Please, leave me alone, now!".

No more. Going on would have been useless, and even harmful.

Returning to the central hall, I met the police boss, who took me in a separate place, and told me that the exams have revealed that the Countess had been killed in the morning, around 9.00 A.M., without a doubt; so, both Gisborne and Count Girodelle were out of suspicion, since the first one was at the golf club (and I checked it, as you know), and the second one remained in the hotel's hall all the morning.

At dinner time, we sat with the Littles, since poor Count Girodelle passed all evening time in his room; either Susan or George were very silent, so it was my turn to make seem the conversation alive; after dinner, Susan and me sat together on a sofa in the living room, meanwhile George was playing card with Fanny and John Little, and Susan wanted to show me she had taken back her self-control: she revealed she knew about the Countess's affair with Robin of Locksley.

"Once she told me how tortured she was, because of her betraying against her husband; and she had settled to leave him, and to tell him in a secret meeting, which they would have had in the morning, when she was killed, instead: she told me in the evening before being killed".

The evening before being killed.. it was after the meeting with Will in the garden; so, Diane had changed her mind, and had found the courage to talk to Robin herself, I thought.

"Poor angel in a white coat!", whispered Susan.

In front of several signs, Robin of Locksley seems to be guilty.

But there is something of strange in all the story, like I told you; everything seems to be too easy..

I will tell you more.

Good night, my dear friend,

Marian Dubois.