The last time that Spatola visited
Hume was upon the night of the murder. He evidently went to regale the
numismatist with music; for the delicatessen dealer, Berg, saw under
his coat what was evidently his violin. During the course of the
concert, Hume probably resumed his sneers; unable any longer to bear
it, the Italian apparently struck him down, and then in blind rage of
resentment, smashed and otherwise destroyed every one of the Wayne
portraits he could find."
Fuller came in with another newspaper just about this time and
Ashton-Kirk showed him the story.
"The _Standard_, then, seems to ignore the theory held by Osborne and
Stillman that the murder was done in an attempt to steal the portrait
found partly cut from the frame," said the assistant after studying
the account. Then, inquiringly, he added: "What do you think of it,
sir?"
"As a piece of sensational writing, I have no fault to find with it,"
said the investigator. "But the _Standard's_ young man is no deep
thinker. The single fact that Hume was a lover of real music should
have shown him that his theory was wrong."
Fuller considered a moment.
"I don't think I quite get that," said he.
"It is simple enough. Hume being sensitive to harmony, asked Spatola
very frequently to play for him; and, according to Brolatsky, paid him
rather well for each performance.
Pages:
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123