AROUND THE SAME TIME, MARQUIS CAROMAN RUBIANO—who’d recently arrived in London and had dealings with people of the highest rank—disappeared. Not long after that, Madame Saint Amand, who’d been the darling of various noblemen in London, committed suicide. And also at this time, several foreign ambassadors in London were called home.
The cause of the fire at the asylum couldn’t be determined, but the doctor’s diary was found in his fireproof cabinet, and it was from this diary that the part of the story about Dr. Steward is derived.351 The doctor lived for a while longer after these events but never regained his sanity.
Morris told the police that he’d killed the Count, and the matter was investigated behind closed doors, leaving him acquitted.352
No trace was found of the Countess or the others who lived in Carfax with the Count. The house was left abandoned; when it was inspected, only the furniture remained. With the exception of three crates, the Count’s boxes were all retrieved—filled with gold coins and precious stones worth millions.
The premises still stand deserted; however, the possibility cannot be ruled out that the Count’s followers may still be hiding somewhere.