Free Who Killed Charmian Karslake? by Annie Haynes Page B

shot.
    At last the doctor drew himself up and taking off his pince-nez polished it industriously for a minute.
    The inspector replaced the covering over the dead face and led the way out of the vestry, treading softly.
    In the body of the chapel he paused and looked at Dr. Brett.
    â€œWell?”
    â€œIt is not Lotty Carslake,” the doctor said slowly. “But –”
    The inspector looked at him. “Yes? But –”
    â€œIt is not Lotty Carslake I am pretty sure,” Dr. Brett went on. “But I have an odd feeling of familiarity with that poor dead face, as if somewhere I had seen it before.”
    â€œIn Hepton?” the inspector questioned sharply.
    Dr. Brett raised his eyebrows. “In Hepton presumably. Most of my life has been spent here. But I cannot say more. I cannot place my recollection at all.”
    â€œBut you are quite definite in your statement that it is not Miss Lotty Carslake?”
    The inspector fancied that the other’s eyes did not meet his quite frankly.
    Dr. Brett paused a moment before replying. “As definite as it is possible to be with regard to a girl I have not seen for seventeen years, not since she was sixteen.”
    â€œThe points of difference?” the inspector suggested.
    The doctor hesitated. “Lotty Carslake’s hair was much fairer, her complexion was not so good, and her features were not so regular, larger I think.”
    â€œIt seems to me that the passage of time might account for most of that,” the inspector rejoined thoughtfully.
    â€œI don’t think so,” Dr. Brett dissented. “In fact, in my own mind, I am sure that this poor thing is no Carslake.”
    â€œBut you are equally sure that you have seen her before?”
    â€œNo, I could not say that.” The doctor spoke ponderously. “But I have a haunting feeling that the face is not entirely strange to me. More I could not say.”
    The inspector looked profoundly dissatisfied.
    â€œDo you think that this sense of familiarity of which you speak may be accounted for by the portraits of Miss Karslake which have been appearing in the papers of late, ever since Charmian Karslake came to England. You may even have seen her act?”
    The doctor shook his head. “Certainly I have not. Haven’t been inside a theatre for years, and never was very keen on them. No, I feel that my recollection goes further back. I tell you what, inspector, I will go home and have a look at my old case book. That may revive my memory.”
    â€œOne more question,” said the inspector, detaining him. “Was Miss Lotty Carslake – were Mrs. Carslake and her daughter friendly with the people here – the Penn-Moretons?”
    â€œThey knew them, of course.” The doctor smiled in a curious fashion. “But when you ask if they were friendly, inspector, you show that you have very little knowledge of the ramifications of county society. No doubt, the Penn-Moretons knew the Carslakes by sight, possibly to bow to. Anything further would be out of the question.”
    â€œBut the young men of the two families?” the inspector suggested.
    â€œI never heard that there was any friendship or even acquaintanceship between them,” the doctor said decidedly. “Of course the Carslakes were rather older than the Penn-Moretons.”
    The inspector considered a minute. “I suppose they would be. Well, I am much obliged to you, Dr. Brett, you have been of real help to me.”
    â€œNot much. I wish I could have been of more,” the doctor said as they left the chapel. “Oh, well, you know where to find me when you want me, inspector.”
    The inspector went back to the house. As he neared the front door Harbord came out and, after a glance round, crossed the garden to meet him.
    â€œI am glad that you have come back sir,” he began, “one of the maids is telling a curious tale this morning. It may be of some