The Caravan Crime by Fergus Hume — Read

When examination was made, and the bodies recovered from under the ruins of the car, Randolph proved to be as dead as the proverbial door-nail. But, strange to say, Bollard still breathed. How so heavy a man could fall from so great a height and yet remain alive, it was impossible to explain. Nevertheless, although unconscious, he had not passed away, and Helder had him carried back into the house. Miss Spine, in an agony of grief at the loss of her lover and the shattering of her hopes, took charge of his broken remains. She had his body taken to London, and it was buried at Kensal Green, where her family possessed a vault. For all her frivolity and faults, the woman really and truly loved the man, and mourned him sincerely all her days. But after she left Sarley Grange with the body of her beloved, none of those concerned in the case ever saw her again. She held aloof from them, and shut herself up to indulge in her grief, which was heartfelt and genuine.

Helder, still holding to his duty as the representative of the law, returned to Sarley Grange to keep watch and ward over his prisoner. It was his hope that Bollard would live to be tried and condemned for his double crime of killing Randolph as well as Lady Hamber. But, along with Mrs. Tremby, the man's niece prayed that he might die, without recovering consciousness. And likewise prayed her brother and her lover. Bollard had done evil that good might come of it; and wrongly as he had acted, it could not be denied but what his mad actions had been dictated by love. It was to save his dead sister's children from shame and disgrace that he had sinned so deeply.