Arthur Havelock, focusing on the new evidence found in books and records, decided to pay special attention to Lord Livingston's recent meetings with a mysterious man. He found several mentions of secret meetings in the lord's diary, but the details remained sparse and often veiled. Lord Livingston seemed to be hiding from everyone, including his family, who exactly came to his mansion.
Havelock began by searching for information about the lord's last visitor. It was mentioned in the lord's diary that this man often came in the evening hours and stayed late into the night. He didn't leave any names or specific descriptions, which made the task difficult.
At the mansion, Havelock asked the servants to provide all available information about recent visits in order to find out who this mysterious guest might be. He also checked the guest register entries, but found that they were incomplete and did not contain the necessary information.
Havelock decided to talk to Lord's close associates and find those who might have seen or heard something important. One such employee was Christian Bennett, an old employee of the mansion who had been with Lord Livingston for many years.
Havelock found Bennett in the garden, where he was performing his duties. When the detective started talking to him, Bennett showed obvious concern, but soon became more open, realizing that his cooperation could help the investigation.
"I saw the lord receiving guests,— Bennett admitted. — But this man, who has been coming in recent months, has always been in the shadows. I've never seen his face or heard his name. The only thing I can say is that he always came at sunset and left in the dead of night.
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"Are you sure he didn't leave any traces?" Havelock asked.
Bennett shook his head.
— I tried to find out more, but all I found out was that his visits were very careful. He never left any traces and always came in a closed carriage.
Havelock took note of this information and decided to conduct additional searches. He asked Bennett to contact the other servants and try to find out if there were any unusual events or details that could shed light on the identity of the secret guest.
Havelock continued the investigation, interviewing other witnesses. One of them, a carriage driver named James Clayton, said that he drove a certain person to the mansion several times, who always demanded to be driven through the back entrance.
"He's always been very secretive,— Clayton said. — Even I didn't see his face. He paid a good amount and always left generous tips.
Clayton also mentioned that he saw the man take an antique pendant out of his pocket when he entered the mansion. This pendant could be associated with those objects and symbols that have already been investigated by the detective.
Based on the information gathered, Havelock assembled a team to discuss new evidence. He understood that the secret guest could be a key player in solving the crime. For further action, the detective decided to take the following steps:
1. **Pendant Analysis**: Havelock decided to analyze the pendant mentioned by Chauffeur Clayton to determine its origin and possible significance. This could provide a clue to the identity of the mysterious visitor.
2. **Search for information about ancient symbols**: Since the pendant could contain symbols related to occult practices, Havelock will turn to experts on ancient symbols and rituals.
3. **Continuing the search**: He also planned to re-interview the servants and other witnesses to find additional details that could help identify the secret guest.
As Havelock continued his research, he began to see that the investigation was taking on new layers of complexity. Lord Livingston's secret meetings and the secrecy with which they were conducted indicated that the lord was involved in something deeper and more dangerous than simple family or financial discontent.
The more the detective delved into the case, the clearer his conclusion became: solving the secret guest and his intentions could be the key to solving not only the murder, but also the entire network of dark forces associated with Lord Livingston.
Havelock felt that he was on the verge of a discovery that could change everything. With each new piece of evidence and evidence, the investigation became more intense and layered. It is time to act decisively and use all available resources to find out the truth.