Chapter XIV. A Consultation

by Agatha Christie

　　Nothing was more surprising and bewildering to Tuppence than theease and simplicity with which everything was arranged, owing toSir James's skilful handling. The doctor accepted quite readilythe theory that Mrs. Vandemeyer had accidentally taken anoverdose of chloral. He doubted whether an inquest would benecessary. If so, he would let Sir James know. He understoodthat Mrs. Vandemeyer was on the eve of departure for abroad, andthat the servants had already left? Sir James and his youngfriends had been paying a call upon her, when she was suddenlystricken down and they had spent the night in the flat, notliking to leave her alone. Did they know of any relatives? Theydid not, but Sir James referred him to Mrs. Vandemeyer'ssolicitor.Shortly afterwards a nurse arrived to take charge, and the otherleft the ill-omened building."And what now?" asked Julius, with a gesture of despair. "I guesswe're down and out for good."Sir James stroked his chin thoughtfully."No," he said quietly. "There is still the chance that Dr. Hallmay be able to tell us something.""Gee! I'd forgotten him.""The chance is slight, but it must not be neglected. I think Itold you that he is staying at the Metropole. I should suggestthat we call upon him there as soon as possible. Shall we sayafter a bath and breakfast?"It was arranged that Tuppence and Julius should return to theRitz, and call for Sir James in the car. This programme wasfaithfully carried out, and a little after eleven they drew upbefore the Metropole. They asked for Dr. Hall, and a page-boywent in search of him. In a few minutes the little doctor camehurrying towards them."Can you spare us a few minutes, Dr. Hall?" said Sir Jamespleasantly. "Let me introduce you to Miss Cowley. Mr.Hersheimmer, I think, you already know."A quizzical gleam came into the doctor's eye as he shook handswith Julius."Ah, yes, my young friend of the tree episode! Ankle all right,eh?""I guess it's cured owing to your skilful treatment, doc.""And the heart trouble? Ha ha!""Still searching," said Julius briefly."To come to the point, can we have a word with you in private?"asked Sir James."Certainly. I think there is a room here where we shall be quiteundisturbed."He led the way, and the others followed him. They sat down, andthe doctor looked inquiringly at Sir James."Dr. Hall, I am very anxious to find a certain young lady for thepurpose of obtaining a statement from her. I have reason tobelieve that she has been at one time or another in yourestablishment at Bournemouth. I hope I am transgressing noprofessional etiquette in questioning you on the subject?""I suppose it is a matter of testimony?"Sir James hesitated a moment, then he replied:"Yes.""I shall be pleased to give you any information in my power. Whatis the young lady's name? Mr. Hersheimmer asked me, Iremember----" He half turned to Julius."The name," said Sir James bluntly, "is really immaterial. Shewould be almost certainly sent to you under an assumed one. But Ishould like to know if you are acquainted with a Mrs.Vandemeyer?""Mrs. Vandemeyer, of 20 South Audley Mansions? I know herslightly.""You are not aware of what has happened?""What do you mean?""You do not know that Mrs. Vandemeyer is dead?""Dear, dear, I had no idea of it! When did it happen?""She took an overdose of chloral last night.""Purposely?""Accidentally, it is believed. I should not like to say myself.Anyway, she was found dead this morning.""Very sad. A singularly handsome woman. I presume she was afriend of yours, since you are acquainted with all thesedetails.""I am acquainted with the details because--well, it was I whofound her dead.""Indeed," said the doctor, starting."Yes," said Sir James, and stroked his chin reflectively."This is very sad news, but you will excuse me if I say that I donot see how it bears on the subject of your inquiry?""It bears on it in this way, is it not a fact that Mrs.Vandemeyer committed a young relative of hers to your charge?"Julius leaned forward eagerly."That is the case," said the doctor quietly."Under the name of----?""Janet Vandemeyer. I understood her to be a niece of Mrs.Vandemeyer's.""And she came to you?""As far as I can remember in June or July of 1915.""Was she a mental case?""She is perfectly sane, if that is what you mean. I understoodfrom Mrs. Vandemeyer that the girl had been with her on theLusitania when that ill-fated ship was sunk, and had suffered asevere shock in consequence.""We're on the right track, I think?" Sir James looked round."As I said before, I'm a mutt!" returned Julius.The doctor looked at them all curiously."You spoke of wanting a statement from her," he said. "Supposingshe is not able to give one?""What? You have just said that she is perfectly sane.""So she is. Nevertheless, if you want a statement from herconcerning any events prior to May 7, 1915, she will not be ableto give it to you."They looked at the little man, stupefied. He nodded cheerfully."It's a pity," he said. "A great pity, especially as I gather,Sir James, that the matter is important. But there it is, shecan tell you nothing.""But why, man? Darn it all, why?"The little man shifted his benevolent glance to the excited youngAmerican."Because Janet Vandemeyer is suffering from a complete loss ofmemory.""What?""Quite so. An interesting case, a very interesting case. Not souncommon, really, as you would think. There are several verywell known parallels. It's the first case of the kind that I'vehad under my own personal observation, and I must admit that I'vefound it of absorbing interest." There was something ratherghoulish in the little man's satisfaction."And she remembers nothing," said Sir James slowly."Nothing prior to May 7, 1915. After that date her memory is asgood as yours or mine.""Then the first thing she remembers?""Is landing with the survivors. Everything before that is ablank. She did not know her own name, or where she had come from,or where she was. She couldn't even speak her own tongue.""But surely all this is most unusual?" put in Julius."No, my dear sir. Quite normal under the circumstances. Severeshock to the nervous system. Loss of memory proceeds nearlyalways on the same lines. I suggested a specialist, of course.There's a very good man in Paris--makes a study of thesecases--but Mrs. Vandemeyer opposed the idea of publicity thatmight result from such a course.""I can imagine she would," said Sir James grimly."I fell in with her views. There is a certain notoriety given tothese cases. And the girl was very young--nineteen, I believe.It seemed a pity that her infirmity should be talked about--mightdamage her prospects. Besides, there is no special treatment topursue in such cases. It is really a matter of waiting.""Waiting?""Yes, sooner or later, the memory will return--as suddenly as itwent. But in all probability the girl will have entirelyforgotten the intervening period, and will take up life where sheleft off--at the sinking of the Lusitania.""And when do you expect this to happen?"The doctor shrugged his shoulders."Ah, that I cannot say. Sometimes it is a matter of months,sometimes it has been known to be as long as twenty years!Sometimes another shock does the trick. One restores what theother took away.""Another shock, eh?" said Julius thoughtfully."Exactly. There was a case in Colorado----" The little man'svoice trailed on, voluble, mildly enthusiastic.Julius did not seem to be listening. He had relapsed into hisown thoughts and was frowning. Suddenly he came out of his brownstudy, and hit the table such a resounding bang with his fistthat every one jumped, the doctor most of all."I've got it! I guess, doc, I'd like your medical opinion on theplan I'm about to outline. Say Jane was to cross the herringpond again, and the same thing was to happen. The submarine, thesinking ship, every one to take to the boats--and so on.Wouldn't that do the trick? Wouldn't it give a mighty big bump toher subconscious self, or whatever the jargon is, and start itfunctioning again right away?""A very interesting speculation, Mr. Hersheimmer. In my ownopinion, it would be successful. It is unfortunate that there isno chance of the conditions repeating themselves as you suggest.""Not by nature, perhaps, doc. But I'm talking about art.""Art?""Why, yes. What's the difficulty? Hire a liner----""A liner!" murmured Dr. Hall faintly."Hire some passengers, hire a submarine--that's the onlydifficulty, I guess. Governments are apt to be a bit hideboundover their engines of war. They won't sell to the firstcomer.Still, I guess that can be got over. Ever heard of the word'graft,' sir? Well, graft gets there every time! I reckon thatwe shan't really need to fire a torpedo. If every one hustlesround and screams loud enough that the ship is sinking, it oughtto be enough for an innocent young girl like Jane. By the timeshe's got a life-belt on her, and is being hustled into a boat,with a well-drilled lot of artistes doing the hysterical stunt ondeck, why--she ought to be right back where she was in May, 1915.How's that for the bare outline?"Dr. Hall looked at Julius. Everything that he was for the momentincapable of saying was eloquent in that look."No," said Julius, in answer to it, "I'm not crazy. The thing'sperfectly possible. It's done every day in the States for themovies. Haven't you seen trains in collision on the screen?What's the difference between buying up a train and buying up aliner? Get the properties and you can go right ahead!"Dr. Hall found his voice."But the expense, my dear sir." His voice rose. "The expense!It will be colossal!""Money doesn't worry me any," explained Julius simply.Dr. Hall turned an appealing face to Sir James, who smiledslightly."Mr. Hersheimmer is very well off--very well off indeed."The doctor's glance came back to Julius with a new and subtlequality in it. This was no longer an eccentric young fellow witha habit of falling off trees. The doctor's eyes held thedeference accorded to a really rich man."Very remarkable plan. Very remarkable," he murmured. "Themovies--of course! Your American word for the kinema. Veryinteresting. I fear we are perhaps a little behind the times overhere in our methods. And you really mean to carry out thisremarkable plan of yours.""You bet your bottom dollar I do."The doctor believed him--which was a tribute to his nationality.If an Englishman had suggested such a thing, he would have hadgrave doubts as to his sanity."I cannot guarantee a cure," he pointed out. "Perhaps I ought tomake that quite clear.""Sure, that's all right," said Julius. "You just trot out Jane,and leave the rest to me.""Jane?""Miss Janet Vandemeyer, then. Can we get on the long distance toyour place right away, and ask them to send her up; or shall Irun down and fetch her in my car?"The doctor stared."I beg your pardon, Mr. Hersheimmer. I thought you understood.""Understood what?""That Miss Vandemeyer is no longer under my care."