The Investigation

In the courtyard, another rider appeared, it was Sir Riley. He listened in a daze to the page who told him the news. After the page finished, he stumbled up to the Princess’s room. Doctor Harrison knew him quite well. Sir Riley often visited him in the evening. He knew that Sir Riley loved Jewel with all his heart.

“Come in.”

Sir Riley stepped in and saw Jewel and dropped on his knees beside the bed. He reached his hand out and stroked her hair.

“Jewel,” he muttered, lovingly.

He knelt there some time, oblivious to the doctors. Finally, Doctor Harrison reached out and tapped Sir Riley’s shoulder. “Riley, you had best go.” The doctor said quietly.

“Is there anything that I can do to help?”

The doctor shook his head. Sir Riley turned to the door. As he did so, he saw the note. Picking it up, he slipped it into his pocket. The doctors went back to work.

In a little while, there was a knock.

“Humph, is everybody in the entire kingdom going to come and visit?” Doctor Brownly muttered.

He opened the door. A lieutenant stood there. “Sorry to intrude, but we wish to investigate the premises.” The soldier told him, “Perhaps we will find a clue as to who the murderer is.”

“Just a moment.” Said Doctor Brownly.

He turned and spoke to the other doctors. Then Doctor Harrison turned to the lieutenant.

“Very well, we will move the Princess to another room.”

Carefully Jewel was transported to the room across the corridor. The soldiers began to search the room.

“Lieutenant!” called a soldier, standing near the window.

“Yes?”

The soldier held up a piece of black cloth. “It was caught on the trellis, sir.”

“Ah, the trellis!” exclaimed the lieutenant.

He leaned out the window and studied the ivy. It was broken and wilted in places. Then the lieutenant turned to a solider.

“Find the Princess’s maid and bring her to me. I wish to question her.” The lieutenant ordered.

The soldier disappeared. Just a moment later, Doctor Harrison stood in the doorway. “Lieutenant?”

“Yes, doctor?”

“There is a note on the desk.”

“A note?”

“Yes.”

Doctor Harrison turned towards the desk, and then stopped in surprise. “Why, it’s not there!”

“Not there? What did it say?” asked the lieutenant.

“Well, I think it went like this, ‘Revenge! – The Caped Avenger.’”

The lieutenant nodded. “If I interpret correctly, it’s ‘The Black Caped Avenger’”

“Why do you think that?” Inquired the doctor.

The lieutenant held up the piece of black cloth.

“You think that’s part of his cape?”

“Yes. It was caught on the trellis outside the window.”

The soldier stepped in with the maid, Elise.

“Ma’am, was this window unlocked last night?”

“Why, yes, it was. The Princess likes to sleep with it open. But, I believe she did not do so last night. But the window was unlocked.

“Thank you.”

The maid left the room.

“So, that’s how he got in.” muttered the lieutenant, “In the window, and out again. His cape must have caught on the trellis as he climbed down.”

“I suppose that’s what happened.” Said the doctor.

“Doctor, could I have the dagger?” asked the lieutenant, “I know it probably won’t have any fingerprints, but perhaps we can trace the owner. Though, we probably won’t be able to.”

The doctor left and in a moment returned with the dagger.

“Thank you.”

The lieutenant continued his search of the room.

“If only I had that note.” The lieutenant murmured, “We just might be able to trace the handwriting.”

They completed their search and left.

End of Chapter Four