THE ARDLAMONT MYSTERY
to be introduced as Mr. Scott, "the engineer about the engines
of the yacht Alert.^93
Mr. Hambrough did not appear at dinner, and though I understood
he was staying in the house, / had at this time never seen him^ and did
not know but what he was a guest similar to myself, and it never
crossed my mind that he was the real owner and that Monson was his
tutor. ... I subsequently ascertained that Mr. Hambrough was away
fishing that evening and did not return until very late that night—past
midnight.
Scott is corroborated by the governess as to Cecil's absence.
Next morning he was introduced to the boy by Monson: " Mr.
Scott—Mr. Hambrough." There is an old play of Philip
Massinger with the attaching title: Believe as You List. We
will leave it at that.
Mr. Comrie Thomson ridiculed to the jury the suggestion
that Scott was there for any sinister purpose, and maintained
that his disappearance was the greatest misfortune that could
have befallen the defence. But the question is: Why did he
flee and hide himself before there 'was any question of foul play'?
And why, if all were fair and above board, did Monson so
persistently lie, even to his own law agent, concerning his
knowledge of the stranger ? The Solicitor-General argued that
Scott was a party to the drowning plot j that his was the hand
that cut the plug-hole; that he was on the shore beside the
second boat in case his accomplice should need assistance;
and that next day, knowing what had really happened in the
wood, his nerve failed him and instead of staying to support his
friend's story, he absconded—remaining, as we know, in con-
cealment until the trial was safely over. The observations of
the Lord Justice-Clerk upon this matter suffered a disadvantage
from which we are exempt; that the identity of Scott with
Davis had not been established. His Lordship was of opinion
that Scott could have no conceivable interest in Hambrough's
death, and if the Crown theory were correct must have been
there as a hired assassin; a view for which in his judgment
there was no basis. " No doubt his presence there is mysterious
in many ways, but, gentlemen, it is for the Crown to solve
the mystery." Had his Lordship allowed us to hear what
Davis said to Sidney Russell on i6th August, peradventure
it would have lightened our darkness.
335