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diff --git a/36892-h/36892-h.htm b/36892-h/36892-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..f1e2187 --- /dev/null +++ b/36892-h/36892-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,7046 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of A Cabinet Secret, by Guy Boothby. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> + + p { margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + + p.bold {text-align: center; font-weight: bold;} + p.bold2 {text-align: center; font-weight: bold; font-size: 150%;} + + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; + } + h1 span, h2 span { display: block; text-align: center; } + #id1 { font-size: smaller } + + hr { width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; + } + + body{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + + hr.smler { width: 10%; } + + table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 5px; border: none; text-align: right;} + + .pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; + text-indent: 0px; + } /* page numbers */ + .mynote { background-color: #DDE; color: black; padding: .5em; margin-left: 20%; + margin-right: 20%; } /* colored box for notes at beginning of file */ + .block {margin: auto; text-align: center; width: 35em;} + .center {text-align: center;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + .right {text-align: right;} + .left {text-align: left;} + .tbrk {margin-bottom: 2em;} + + .poem {margin-left:10%; margin-right:10%; text-align: left;} + .poem br {display: none;} + .poem .stanza {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;} + .poem div {display: block; margin: 0; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of A Cabinet Secret, by Guy Boothby + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: A Cabinet Secret + +Author: Guy Boothby + +Illustrator: A. Wallis Mills + +Release Date: July 29, 2011 [EBook #36892] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A CABINET SECRET *** + + + + +Produced by Suzanne Shell, Martin Pettit and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries) + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<div class = "mynote"><p class="center">Transcriber's Note:<br /><br /> +A Table of Contents has been added.<br /></p></div> + +<hr /> + +<p class="bold2">A Cabinet Secret</p> + +<hr /> + +<div class="center"><img src="images/ill_01.jpg" width='531' height='700' alt="She stooped over me." /></div> + +<p class="bold"><span class="smcap">She stooped over me.</span><br /><br />'A Cabinet Secret.' <i>Page 118.</i><br /> +(<i>Frontispiece</i>.)</p> + +<hr /> + +<h1><span>A Cabinet Secret</span><br /><br /><span id="id1">By</span> <span>Guy Boothby</span></h1> + +<p class="center">Author of "Dr Nikola," "The Beautiful White Devil,"<br /> +"Pharos the Egyptian," "A Sailor's Bride," etc., etc.</p> + +<p class="tbrk"> </p> + +<p class="bold">With Illustrations by A. Wallis Mills</p> + +<p class="tbrk"> </p> + +<p class="center">London<br />F. V. White & Co.<br /> +14 Bedford Street, Strand, W.C.<br />1901</p> + +<hr /> + +<h2><span>INTRODUCTION</span></h2> + +<p>The Author deems it right to preface his work with the remark, that +while the War between England and the South African Republics forms the +basis of the story, the characters and incidents therein described are +purely fictional, and have no sort of resemblance, either intended or +implied, with living people. The Author's only desire is to show what, +under certain, doubtless improbable, conditions, might very well have +happened, had a secret power endeavoured to harass the Empire by taking +advantage of her temporary difficulties.</p> + +<hr /> + +<h2><span>CONTENTS</span></h2> + +<table summary="CONTENTS"> + <tr> + <td class="left">INTRODUCTION</td> + <td><a href="#Page_1">1</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="left">CHAPTER I</td> + <td><a href="#Page_29">29</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="left">CHAPTER II</td> + <td><a href="#Page_53">53</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="left">CHAPTER III</td> + <td><a href="#Page_74">74</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="left">CHAPTER IV</td> + <td><a href="#Page_99">99</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="left">CHAPTER V</td> + <td><a href="#Page_123">123</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="left">CHAPTER VI</td> + <td><a href="#Page_148">148</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="left">CHAPTER VII</td> + <td><a href="#Page_173">173</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="left">CHAPTER VIII</td> + <td><a href="#Page_199">199</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="left">CHAPTER IX</td> + <td><a href="#Page_228">228</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="left">CHAPTER X</td> + <td><a href="#Page_259">259</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="left">CHAPTER XI</td> + <td><a href="#Page_304">304</a></td> + </tr> +</table> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[Pg 1]</a></span></p> + +<p class="bold2">A CABINET SECRET</p> + +<hr class="smler" /> + +<h2><span>INTRODUCTION</span></h2> + +<p>Night was falling, and Naples Harbour, always picturesque, appeared even +more so than usual in the warm light of the departing day. The city +itself, climbing up the hillside, almost from the water's edge, was +coloured a pale pink by the sunset, and even old Vesuvius, from whose +top a thin column of black smoke was issuing, seemed somewhat less +sombre than usual. Out Ischiawards, the heavens were a mass of gold and +crimson colouring, and this was reflected in the calm waters of the Bay, +till the whole world was a veritable glow. Taken altogether, a more +beautiful evening could scarcely have been desired. And yet it is not +with the city, the mountain, or the sunset, that we have to do,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[Pg 2]</a></span> but +with the first movement of a conspiracy that was destined ultimately to +shake one of the greatest Empires, the earth has ever seen, to the very +foundations of its being.</p> + +<p>Though the world was not aware of it, and would not, in all human +probability, have concerned itself very much about it even if it had, +the fact remains that for some hours past two men, from a house situated +on one of the loftiest pinnacles of the city, had been concentrating +their attention, by means of powerful glasses, upon the harbour, closely +scrutinizing every vessel that entered and dropped her anchor inside the Mole.</p> + +<p>"Can anything have happened that she does not come?" asked the taller of +the pair, as he put down his glasses, and began to pace the room. "The +cable said most distinctly that the steam yacht, <i>Princess +Badroulbadour</i> passed through the Straits of Messina yesterday at seven +o'clock. Surely they should be here by this time?"</p> + +<p>"One would have thought so," his companion replied. "It must be borne in +mind, however, that the <i>Princess</i> is a private yacht, and it is more +likely, as the wind is fair, that the owner is sailing in order to save +his fuel."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[Pg 3]</a></span></p><p>"To the devil with him, then, for his English meanness," answered the +other angrily. "He does not know how anxious we are to see her."</p> + +<p>"And, everything taken into consideration, it is just as well for us and +for the safety of his passengers that he does not," his friend retorted. +"If he did, his first act after he dropped anchor would be to hand them +over to the tender mercies of the Police. In that case we should be +ruined for ever and a day. Perhaps that aspect of the affair has not struck you?"</p> + +<p>"It is evident that you take me for a fool," the other answered angrily. +"Of course, I know all that; but it does not make me any the less +anxious to see them. Consider for a moment what we have at stake. Never +before has there been such a chance of bringing to her knees one of the +proudest nations of the earth. And to think that if that vessel does not +put in an appearance within the next few hours, all our preparations may be in vain!"</p> + +<p>"She will be here in good time, never fear," his companion replied +soothingly. "She has never disappointed us yet."</p> + +<p>"Not willingly, I will admit," the other returned; "but in this matter +she may not<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[Pg 4]</a></span> be her own mistress. She is a beautiful woman, and for all +we know to the contrary, this English <i>milord</i> may be prolonging the +voyage in order to enjoy her society. Who knows but that he may carry +her off altogether?"</p> + +<p>"In that case his country should erect a memorial to him, similar to the +Nelson Monument," said the smaller man. "For it is certain he will have +rendered her as great a service as that empty-sleeved Hero ever did."</p> + +<p>The other did not reply, but, after another impatient glance at the +Harbour, once more began to pace the room. He was a tall, handsome +fellow, little more than thirty years of age, and carried himself with +soldierly erectness. The most casual observer would have noticed that he +was irreproachably dressed, and that his manners were those of one +accustomed to good society. His companion, on the other hand, was short +and stout, with a round bullet head, and closely cropped hair. He was +also the possessor of a pair of small twinkling eyes, and a neck so +thick, that one instinctively thought of apoplexy and sudden death in +connection with its owner. The room they occupied was strangely at +variance with the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</a></span> appearance of the younger and taller man. It was +little more than a garret, very dirty, and furnished in the poorest +fashion. But it had one advantage: it commanded a splendid view of +Naples Harbour, and, after all, that was what its present occupants +required. At last, the younger man, tired of his sentry-go up and down +the room, threw himself into a chair and lit a cigarette. For some +minutes not a word passed between them; all the time, however, the +shorter man remained at the window, his glass turned seaward, watching +for the smallest sign of the vessel they were so eagerly expecting. +Suddenly he uttered an exclamation which caused the other to spring to his feet.</p> + +<p>"What is it?" cried the latter; "what do you see?"</p> + +<p>"I fancy she is coming up now," his friend replied. "If you run your +glass along the sky-line, I fancy you will be able to detect a white +speck, with a tiny column of smoke above it."</p> + +<p>The other followed the directions given him, and, after a careful +scrutiny, gave it as his opinion that what his companion had said was +correct. Nearly an hour elapsed, however, before they could be quite +certain upon the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[Pg 6]</a></span> subject. At last the matter was settled beyond doubt, +and when a magnificent white yacht rounded the Mole and came to its +anchorage in the Mercantile Harbour, they prepared to make their way +down to the water-side in order to board her. Before they started, +however, the elder of the two men effected sundry changes in his attire.</p> + +<p>"Forgive the mummery," he remarked, as he took a somewhat clerical hat +and cloak from a peg, "but, as they say upon the stage, 'the unities +must be observed.' If our beautiful Countess has played her cards +carefully, Monseigneur should be of great benefit to us hereafter. It +would be a thousand pities to scare him away at the beginning. For this +reason it will be as well for you to remember that I am her Excellency's +lawyer, who has hastened to Naples in order to confer with her on a +matter of considerable importance, connected with her Styrian estates. +No suspicion will then be excited."</p> + +<p>By the time he had finished speaking he had donned the hat and cloak, +and when he had given another expression to his face—for the man was a +consummate actor—he was satisfied that he looked the part he was about +to play. After that they descended the narrow,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</a></span> rickety stairs together, +and passed out into the street. It was a warm afternoon, and in +consequence Naples was in her most unsavoury humour. The two men, +however, did not appear to trouble themselves very much about it. Side +by side they made their way through the crowded streets, almost in +silence. Each was thinking of the approaching interview, and of what was +to result from it. Reaching the Harbour, they chartered a boat and bade +the rower convey them to the white yacht which had just dropped her +anchor. The man obeyed, and in less than five minutes they were lying +alongside one of the most beautiful pleasure vessels that has ever +upheld the shipbuilding honour of the Clyde. The Port formalities had +already been complied with, and now the accommodation ladder was hanging +at the side in readiness for visitors. When they drew up at its foot, +the tall man, addressing the quartermaster on duty at the gangway, +enquired whether Madame la Comtesse de Venetza were aboard, and, if so, +whether she would permit visitors to pay their respects to her.</p> + +<p>It was noticeable that he spoke excellent English, with scarcely a touch +of foreign accent.</p> + +<p>The man departed with the message, to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</a></span> presently return with the report +that Madame would be pleased to see the gentleman if they would "come +aboard." They accordingly climbed the ladder, and followed the +quartermaster along the deck to a sumptuous saloon under the bridge. The +owner of the beautiful craft was in the act of leaving the cabin as they approached it.</p> + +<p>"Won't you come in?" he said, pausing to open the door for them. "The +Countess will be very pleased to see you."</p> + +<p>As he said this he glanced sharply at the two men, with an Englishman's +innate distrust of foreigners. He saw little in them, however, to +criticise, and nothing to dislike. They, on their side, found him a +tall, stalwart Englishman of the typical standard—blue eyes, ruddy +cheeks, close cropped hair, the latter a little inclined to be curly, +well, but not over dressed, and carrying with him an air of latent +strength that, in spite of his good-humoured expression, would have made +most people chary of offending him. When the two men entered the cabin, +he closed the door behind them and ran lightly up the ladder to the bridge.</p> + +<p>After his departure there was a momentary, but somewhat embarrassing, +silence. A<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</a></span> long shaft of sunlight streamed in through one of the +windows (for they resembled windows more than port-holes) and revealed +the fact that the lady, who was reclining in a long easy-chair, was +extremely beautiful. Despite the cordial message she had sent, her +visitors could scarcely have been welcome, for she did not even take the +trouble to rise to receive them, but allowed a tall grey-haired man, who +might very well have passed for her father, to do the honours for her.</p> + +<p>"My dear Luigi—my dear Conrad," he said, offering his right hand to the +smaller of the two men and his left to the other. "It is indeed kind of +you to be so quick to welcome us. The Countess is a little tired this +afternoon, but she is none the less delighted to see you."</p> + +<p>The scornful curl of the lady's lips not only belied this assertion, but +indicated that <i>miladi</i> was in a by no means pleasant temper. The +impatient movement of the little foot, peeping from beneath her dress, +said as much, as plainly as any words could speak.</p> + +<p>"We have been waiting for you all day," the younger man began. "There is +news of the greatest importance to communicate. Every hour that passes +is now so much time wasted."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span></p><p>Then, for the first time during the interview, the lady spoke.</p> + +<p>"You infer that I might have been quicker?" she said, with a touch of +scorn in her voice. "You evidently forget that, had it not been for this +English <i>milord's</i> kindness, I should not be here even now."</p> + +<p>It looked as if the younger man, while really uncomfortable, were trying +to act as if he were not afraid of her.</p> + +<p>"Is there not such a thing as the Oriental Express?" he asked. "Had you +used that, we might have met at Turin, and have saved a great deal of +trouble and valuable time."</p> + +<p>The lady turned impatiently from him to his companion.</p> + +<p>"What form does your news take?" she enquired. "Is it contained in a letter?"</p> + +<p>"No, <i>Excellenza</i>, it was to be delivered by word of mouth," the other +replied. "The Council, who were in Prague at the time, paid me the +compliment of trusting to my discretion, and despatched me immediately +to you. We heard that you were in Constantinople, and the Secretary +undertook to have a message transmitted to you there. Our friend, Conrad +here, is perhaps not aware that the Oriental Express is occasionally<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span> an +impossible medium. But, while condoling with you on that score, I must +congratulate your Excellency in having pressed the Duke of Rotherhithe +into your service."</p> + +<p>"Pray spare yourself the trouble," the lady replied. "I do not know that +I am particularly fond of obtaining hospitality, such as his, under +false pretences. It is sufficient for your purposes, is it not, that I +am here, and ready to do the Council's bidding, whatever that may be. +Perhaps you will be good enough to tell me what is expected of me?"</p> + +<p>"Is it safe for me to tell you here?" Luigi enquired, and as he said it +he looked anxiously about him, as if he feared the presence of eavesdroppers.</p> + +<p>"As safe as it will be anywhere," the lady answered. "It is an +Englishman's yacht, and, whatever we may say of them, they are not in +the habit of listening at keyholes. Now what have you to tell me?"</p> + +<p>The man hesitated once more before he replied. He was the chosen +mouth-piece of one of the most powerful organisations in Europe, and ere +now affairs involving death, and worse than death, had been entrusted to +him, and he had brought them to a satisfactory issue. As a rule, and +certainly when<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span> dealing with men, he did not know what fear was. In this +lady's presence, however, he was strangely nervous.</p> + +<p>"Come," she said, "you are a long time telling me. Is it so very +difficult to explain? Or am I to anticipate a repetition of the Palermo Incident?"</p> + +<p>Whatever the Palermo Incident may have been, it was certainly not a +pleasant recollection to either of the men before her; the elder man +became uncomfortable, while the younger moved uneasily in his seat.</p> + +<p>"You hit hard, madam," the elder man returned; "but, thank goodness, I +am not thin-skinned. That the Palermo affair was a mistake, I am quite +prepared to admit; it is possible, however, the success which will +doubtless attend this affair, will make ample amends for it."</p> + +<p>"You have not told me what the affair is," the lady replied. "Unless you +make haste, I fear I shall not be able to hear it to-night. It would be +as well for you to remember that I am not my own mistress, and that, in +return for his hospitality, my host has at least some claim upon my society."</p> + +<p>"I will not detain you longer than is absolutely necessary," the other +replied. "With your permission I will now explain my<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span> mission. Of +course, your Excellency is aware that the British Empire is on the eve +of a serious struggle with the two South African Republics. The +Republics in question have been arming for several years, and there can +be no sort of doubt that the war, which is now about to begin, will make +the most enormous demands upon the resources and capabilities of even +that great Empire. That the country, at least so far as its military +organisation is concerned, is not properly prepared for such an +encounter, admits of no doubt. Her armament is well known to be +deficient, if not defective; she possesses but few Generals whose +experience entitles them to the right of leading her troops as they +should be led against a foe which will have in its ranks some of the +best fighting men in the world; while the nature of the country in which +she will have to fight, and the peculiar tactics of the enemy, are +unfavourable to her in the highest degree. Apart from this, it has been +her boast that she occupies an isolated position in Europe, if not in +the world. France, Russia, Germany and Holland are avowedly +unfavourable; Spain remembers Great Britain's sympathy with America in +the Cuban affair;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span> Portugal will wait to see what turn events take +before she commits herself; while America will stand strictly neutral. +We all remember that the larger Republic has beaten her before: it is +possible that it may do so again. All these things having been taken +into consideration, it must be quite clear to an observant mind that if +England is ever to be humiliated, now is the time to do it. With this +end in view, the Council was summoned hastily to meet in Prague. The +result of their deliberations was the drawing up of a plan of action, +and as soon as this had been agreed upon, I was ordered to place myself +in communication with you. You were in Constantinople, and, as I have +said, a message was immediately despatched by the Secretary to you."</p> + +<p>"I received it, and am here. What am I to do?"</p> + +<p>"I can tell you no more than that you are to make your way to England at +once, <i>via</i> Rome and Paris. Von Rosendell is in Rome. He will meet you, +and give you full particulars of the scheme which has been proposed."</p> + +<p>"And when am I to leave Naples in order to meet him?"</p> + +<p>"As soon as possible," the other replied;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span> "there is no time to waste. I +was to invite you to make your arrangements at once, and to telegraph +the hour of your departure in the usual way."</p> + +<p>"In that case I need not detain you any longer," she answered with +chilling politeness. "Should it be necessary for me to communicate with +you, I presume the usual address will find you?"</p> + +<p>"But——"</p> + +<p>"But what? Is there anything else I am to hear?"</p> + +<p>"There is this—that I am to go with you," the younger man put in, +almost apologetically. "I received my orders from the Council this +morning. I hope you do not disapprove?"</p> + +<p>He looked at her almost beseechingly; the expression upon her face, +however, betrayed neither pleasure nor annoyance. Do what he would, he +could not prevent a sigh from escaping him as he became aware of it. All +day he had been hoping that she would be pleased when she heard that he +was to co-operate with her; now, however, his heart sank like lead. It +was just the sort of enterprise he liked. It was daring, reckless to a +degree; they would carry their lives in their hands, as they had so +often done before; indeed, the mere fact that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span> he was to share the +dangers with her had been the greatest pleasure he had known for months past.</p> + +<p>"If you are to accompany us," she said, scarcely looking at him, "you +had better hold yourself in readiness. It will be safer if we travel +apart during the time we are in Italy, and afterwards other arrangements +can be made so that we——"</p> + +<p>"We will leave you and return to the shore," interrupted the man called +Luigi, who did not altogether approve the turn affairs were taking. "I +have carried out my instructions, and so far as I am concerned, +individually, the matter is at an end."</p> + +<p>Five minutes later they had left the yacht, and the Countess de Venetza +was apologizing to the Duke of Rotherhithe for the intrusion of her +lawyer people on his yacht.</p> + +<p>"It is really too hard," she said pathetically; "they give me no peace. +When my husband died and I inherited his estates, he had no thought of +the trouble and anxiety the management of them would cause me. My +lawyers are perpetually grumbling because they cannot obtain interviews +with me. I often think that they look upon me as a sort of +Will-o'-the-Wisp, flickering about Europe, and impossible<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span> to catch. Why +they could not have transacted the business with my father instead of +bothering me with it, I cannot imagine. However, you will forgive me, +will you not?"</p> + +<p>The Duke, who by the way, was extremely susceptible, looked unutterable +things. He had first met the Countess in Algiers a year before, and had +fallen desperately in love with her before he had known her twenty-four +hours. The mere fact that she did not encourage his attentions only +served to attract him the more. They met at Cairo six months later—and +now, when he discovered that it was in his power to do her a service by +conveying her from Constantinople to Naples, he was only too glad to +avail himself of the opportunity.</p> + +<p>"It is a shame, indeed, that they should worry you so," he said +sympathetically, looking as he spoke into his fair friend's eyes in a +manner that would have carried consternation into the hearts of not a +few mothers in England. "They worry me at home in much the same way. As +I say to them, what's the use of employing lawyers and Estate Agents, +and all those sort of people, if they cannot do their work without your +assistance? You might just as well do it yourself in the first instance, +and save their salaries. But then,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span> you see, I am not so clever as you +are, Countess, and that makes all the difference."</p> + +<p>"What makes you think I am so clever, pray?" she enquired, looking up at +him with innocent eyes.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I don't know," he replied; "I've noticed it on lots of occasions. +Do you remember the day that plausible Greek beggar worried us so in +Constantinople, and you whispered something to him that sent him off +about his business like a shot out of a gun. And in Algiers, when that +Frenchman made himself so objectionable and you managed to send him to +the right-about after a few moments' conversation. How you did it I +never could understand, but it was jolly clever all the same."</p> + +<p>The Countess regarded him attentively for a moment. Was he really as +innocent as he made out to be, or had he noticed anything else? No; one +moment's examination was sufficient to convince her that, so far as he +was concerned, all was as it should be. Strolling to the port side of +the bridge, she looked down at the boat-load of musicians who were +strumming guitars, and bawling "<i>Finiculi Finicula</i>," with all the +strength of their Southern lungs.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span></p><p>"What a way in which to spend one's life," said the Duke, as he joined +her, and tossed some silver into the boat. "Fancy shouting that wretched +thing, week after week, and year after year! Italy is a funny +country—all bandits, soldiers, beggars and musicians. I suppose, if the +truth were known, each of those men belongs to some secret society or +another. Either the Cammoristi, or the Mafia, or some such organisation. +How would you like to be a conspirator, Countess, and be always in +terror of being caught?"</p> + +<p>The Countess's hand clenched the bar before her, and, for a moment, her +face turned deathly pale.</p> + +<p>"What an extraordinary question to ask," she began, fighting hard for +her self-possession. "Do you want to frighten me out of my wits? I am +afraid I should make the poorest conspirator imaginable. I should be too +deficient in courage."</p> + +<p>"I am not inclined to believe that," said the Duke, reflectively. "I +think you would have plenty of courage when it was required."</p> + +<p>"I am afraid you must think me an altogether remarkable person," she +returned. "If you go on in this way, I shall scarcely have presence of +mind enough to remain in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span> your company. Seriously, however, Duke, I +don't know how to thank you for the services you have rendered my father +and myself. But for your assistance we should not be in Naples now, in +which case we should have been too late to have joined the party with +whom I am proceeding to England."</p> + +<p>"You are going to England then after all?" he cried in great +astonishment and delight. "I thought you were only going as far as Rome?"</p> + +<p>"That was our original intention," she replied. "However, some letters +that we received to-night have altered our plans. But why do you look so +astonished? Are we poor foreigners not to be allowed to enter your country?"</p> + +<p>"It is not that," he said. "I was so pleased to hear that you intend +honouring us with a visit. When do you think you will reach England, and +where will you stay while you are there?"</p> + +<p>She shook her head.</p> + +<p>"Those are questions I cannot at present answer," she said. "It will +depend upon circumstances. As our arrangements stand at present, I think +it is extremely likely that we shall be in London in less than a week's time."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span></p><p>"And will there be any means of learning your whereabouts?" he asked. +"You will surely not be cruel enough to visit England without permitting +me to call upon you?"</p> + +<p>"Call by all means," she answered. "At present, however, I cannot tell +you what our address will be, for the reason that I do not know it myself."</p> + +<p>"But perhaps when you are settled you will let me know. You know my +house, I think?"</p> + +<p>"I will do so with pleasure," she replied. "Then you will come and see +me, and I shall be able to thank you again for the kindness you have +shown my father and myself in our present trouble."</p> + +<p>"It has been a very great pleasure to me," he said, "and I cannot thank +you sufficiently for honouring my yacht as you have done."</p> + +<p>At that moment the elder man, to whom she had referred as her father, +made his appearance on the bridge and came towards them.</p> + +<p>"My dear," he began, "has it not struck you that it is time for us to be +thinking of bidding His Grace farewell? Remember we have to start for +Rome by the early train to-morrow morning. It behoves us, therefore, to +make our preparations as soon as possible."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span></p><p>The Duke, however, would not hear of their leaving the yacht before +dinner, and in consequence it was quite dark when the Countess de +Venetza and her father, or, to be more correct, her reputed father, were +rowed ashore by four stalwart yachtsmen, steered by the Duke of +Rotherhithe himself. He would have accompanied them to their hotel, but +this the Countess would not permit.</p> + +<p>"You have done too much for us already," she said; "we cannot let you do +more. We will not say <i>adieu</i>, but <i>au revoir</i>, since, in all +probability, it will not be long before we meet again."</p> + +<p>"I hope, with all my heart, it may not be," he replied, and then the cab +they had engaged rattled away over the stones and was soon lost to view.</p> + +<p>The Countess's stay in Naples was a short one, for next morning she left +by an early train for Rome. According to the plan he had prepared, His +Grace of Rotherhithe, having made enquiries as to the trains leaving +Naples for the capital, was present on the platform when the first took +its departure. With an eagerness that could only be accounted for by his +infatuation, he scanned the faces of the passengers, but the lady for +whom he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span> had been so anxiously waiting was not among them. Greatly +disappointed by his discovery, he went off in search of breakfast, only +to return a quarter of an hour before the next train was due to leave. +Unfortunately, on this occasion, he was no more successful than before. +The train was well filled, but among the passengers there was not one +who bore any sort of resemblance to the lady he was hoping to see. So +anxious was he to make sure that he did not miss her, that, just before +the train started, he came within an ace of being run into by an invalid +chair, in which was seated a man closely muffled up with shawls. By the +side of the chair walked a nurse in English hospital uniform, who wore +large blue glasses, and carried more wraps and a couple of cushions upon +her arm. Even had he been aware of their identity, the Duke would have +found it difficult to recognise in the pair his guests of the previous +day. It was not the first time in their careers that they had been +compelled to adopt such disguises, and only that morning news had +reached them to the effect that, if they desired to get safely out of +Naples, disguises such as they had assumed would be imperative +necessities. A carriage, it appeared, had been reserved for the invalid<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span> +Englishman, and towards it they made their way. Having seated the old +gentleman in one corner, the nurse took her seat opposite him, and +busied herself preparing for the journey. It was not until Naples was +far behind, however, that she removed her spectacles and the invalid +discarded his wraps.</p> + +<p>"That was as narrow an escape as we have ever had," said the former. +"The Head of the Police was upon the platform, and I recognised two +detectives in the crowd. However, all is well that ends well, and if +Luigi's arrangements have been properly made, we should be in Paris +before they know we have left Naples, and in London forty-eight hours afterwards."</p> + +<p>"Then you still feel certain that they were aware of our presence in Naples?"</p> + +<p>"Luigi's message said there was no doubt about it. Though he did not +know it, they must have been watching him, and have followed him to the +yacht. It was foolish of him to run such a risk. Let us hope, however, +he will be able to get out of Naples without their laying hands upon him."</p> + +<p>Shortly after one o'clock the train reached Rome and they alighted from +it. Such travellers as had witnessed the arrival of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span> invalid at the +Neapolitan railway station, would have observed now that he seemed +greatly fatigued by the journey. He was even more muffled up than +before, while the nurse was, if possible, more assiduous in her +attentions than she had been at the southern station. It was noticeable +also that she was a poor Italian scholar. Indeed, her pronunciation of +such words as she <i>did</i> know was of the most erratic and elementary description.</p> + +<p class="center">* * * * *</p> + +<p>Later in the day, just as dusk was falling, an artist's model, in the +picturesque dress of the country, might have been observed making her +way slowly down the Via Sistina in the direction of the Piazza S. +Trinità de' Monti. She appeared to be familiar with the neighbourhood, +though, on the other hand, no one seemed to have any acquaintance with +her. She had reached the Casa Zuccheri, when she was stopped by a tall +artistic-looking man, who walked with great uprightness, and carried a +portfolio beneath his arm. For the benefit of the passers by, he +enquired in broken Italian, whether the girl could inform him as to the +locality of a certain artist's studio, whereupon she personally offered +to conduct him to it.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span> He thanked her courteously, and proceeded with +her in the direction indicated. They had no sooner left the vicinity of +the Via Sistina, however, than he turned to her and said, in the purest +Italian: "I was afraid you were not coming. You are very late."</p> + +<p>"I am aware of that," the girl replied. "I had a suspicion that I was +being watched. Now, what have you to tell me?"</p> + +<p>"You saw Luigi in Naples, I believe?"</p> + +<p>"He met me there, with Conrad," the girl answered. "I could not help +thinking that it was an imprudence on his part."</p> + +<p>"Luigi is always imprudent; and yet I cannot help feeling that he is +safer in his folly than we are in our care. He told you of the scheme +the Council had originated?"</p> + +<p>The girl nodded an assent.</p> + +<p>"He gave me to understand, however, that you would furnish me with full +particulars," she said.</p> + +<p>"I am prepared to do so now," her companion replied.</p> + +<p>As he said this, he led her from the main street into a dark alley, +where, having convinced himself that they had not been followed, he set +to work and told his tale. So anxious was he that there should be no +mistake<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span> about the matter, that when he had finished it he began it +again, only to repeat it a third time. The woman listened with rapt attention.</p> + +<p>"In conclusion," said he, "I might add that the money will be paid to +your credit at whatever London Bank you may select. One of the most +handsome residences, replete with all the necessaries, has been taken +for you in a fashionable quarter, and on your arrival in London you will +be left to act as your knowledge of the situation and the dictates of +the Council may determine. It is needless to caution you as to the risks +you may be called upon to run. The Council has, moreover, authorised me +to say that it places implicit trust in your discretion. Should you +require further advice, it will be furnished you at once, with any help +that may be considered needful."</p> + +<p>"In the meantime, Paris is the first stage," the girl answered. "You are +quite certain that this Englishman, Sir George Manderville, has not yet +returned to England?"</p> + +<p>"No, he is still there," her companion replied. "We have learnt, +however, that he will cross the channel on Friday next."</p> + +<p>"On Friday next?" she repeated. "In<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span> that case there is no time to lose. +At first glance it would appear that he is the key to the situation."</p> + +<p>"That is exactly the opinion of the Council," the man answered. "Now, +farewell, and may good luck attend you!"</p> + +<p>So saying they retraced their steps to the main street. At the entrance +to the alley they separated, the girl returning to the Via Sistina—the +man going off in an opposite direction.</p> + +<p>By the first train next morning the Countess de Venetza made an +unostentatious departure from Rome, for Paris, accompanied by her father +and her cousin, Conrad, Count Reiffenburg.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span></p> + +<h2><span>CHAPTER I</span></h2> + +<p>As a preface, I might explain that I have had the pleasure of knowing +Paris and De Belleville for more than twenty years. Both are, therefore, +old friends, the city and the man. The fact, however, remains, that De +Belleville, though a most charming companion, has one fault. Few people +would be prepared to admit it, but unfortunately, I am not only +compelled to recognise it, but to proclaim it to the world. As a friend, +he has not his equal—at least so far as I am concerned; he is certainly +not punctual, however. It is of that I complain. I have remonstrated +with him on the subject times out of number, but it makes no sort of +difference. If one has an appointment with him, he is invariably late, +but when he does put in an appearance, he will greet you with such +charming assurance, that you feel angry with yourself for having been +led into commenting upon the lapse of time.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span></p><p>On the particular afternoon which I am now about to describe to you, we +had arranged to meet at my hotel and then to go on together to call upon +the D'Etrebilles, who were just off to Cairo and the Upper Nile. He had +promised to be with me at three o'clock, and, as usual, at twenty +minutes past the hour he had not put in an appearance. Now, I flatter +myself that I am a punctual man in every respect, and when one is ready +to go out, a twenty minutes' wait is an annoyance calculated to test the +serenest temper. In my case it was certainly so, and, as I sat in the +picturesque courtyard of the hotel, you may be sure I called down the +reverse of blessings upon De Belleville's handsome head. Carriage after +carriage drove up, but not one of them contained my friend. I took a +third cigarette from my case and lit it, and as I did so, lay back in my +chair and amused myself watching my neighbours.</p> + +<p>To my thinking, there are few places more interesting (that is, of +course, provided one has a weakness for studying character) than a hotel +courtyard. In sheer idleness I speculated as to the nationality and +relationship of the various people about me. There were several probable +Russians, one or two <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span>undoubted Germans, two whom I set down as +Italians, one might have been a Greek, but the majority were undoubtedly +English. And that reminds me that, as I waited, I was the witness of an +amusing altercation between a cabman and an English lady of considerable +importance and mature years. Both were playing at cross purpose, and it +was not until the Hotel Commissionaire, the <i>deus ex machina</i>, so to +speak, appeared upon the scene and interposed, that the matter at issue +was satisfactorily adjusted.</p> + +<p>"Your pardon, Madame," he said, bowing low, "but ze man meant no harm. +It was his misfortune that he did not comprehend the words what Madame said to him."</p> + +<p>For a person who prided himself upon his tact, the poor fellow could +scarcely have said a more unfortunate thing. The matter of the +overcharge, Madame could have understood and have forgiven, but to be +informed in so many words that her knowledge of the French tongue was +deficient, was an insult not only to her intelligence, and to her +experience, but also to the money that had been spent upon her +education. Casting a withering glance at the unhappy functionary, she +departed into<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span> the hotel, every hair of her head bristling with +indignation, while the Commissionaire, shrugging his shoulders, went +forward to receive a tall, picturesque individual, who at that moment had driven up.</p> + +<p>The new-comer interested me exceedingly. In my own mind I instantly set +him down as a <i>dilettante</i> Englishman of good birth and education. He +looked the sort of being who would spend the greater part of his time in +foreign picture-galleries and cathedrals; who would carry his Ruskin +continually in his pocket, and who would probably end by writing a +volume of travels "<i>for private circulation only</i>." I should not have +been surprised had I been told that he dabbled a little in +water-colours, or to have heard that he regarded Ruskin as the greatest +writer, and Turner as the greatest painter, of our era. One thing at +least was self-evident, and that was the fact that he was a person of +considerable importance at this particular hotel. The Commissionaire +bowed before him as if he were a foreign potentate, while the <i>maître +d'hôtel</i> received him with as much respect as if he had been an American +millionaire. When he in his turn disappeared into the building, I +beckoned the Commissionaire to my side.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span></p><p>"Who is that gentleman that has just entered the hotel?" I enquired.</p> + +<p>"Is it possible that Monsieur does not know him?" the man replied, with +an expression of wonderment upon his face.</p> + +<p>His answer more than ever convinced me that the other was a very great +man, at least a German princeling, perhaps an Austrian archduke.</p> + +<p>"No," I said, "I do not know him. As a matter of fact, I do not remember +ever having seen him before. Who is he?"</p> + +<p>"He is Monsieur Dickie Bucks," answered the Commissionaire, with as much +respect as if he were talking of the Czar of all the Russias.</p> + +<p>My illusion vanished in a trice. "Dickie Bucks,—Dickie Bucks," I +repeated to myself. "Gracious heavens! what a name for such a man! And +pray who is Mr Dickie Bucks, for I assure you his fame has not yet reached me?"</p> + +<p>"Monsieur surely knows the great bookmaker," said the man, with an air +of incredulity. "He is the great bookmaker, the very greatest, perhaps, +in all England. Monsieur is not perhaps aware that there are races at Auteuil to-morrow."</p> + +<p>And so my <i>dilettante</i> Englishman, my artist,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span> my amateur author, was, +after all, nothing more than a famous betting man, who, had I spoken to +him of Ruskin, would probably have offered to lay me five to one against +him for the Lincolnshire Handicap, and would have informed me that there +was a general opinion in Sporting Circles that "Sesame and Lilies" was +not the stayer she was popularly supposed to be. Well, well, it only +proves how little our judgment is to be trusted, and how important it is +that we should not pin our faith upon externals.</p> + +<p>I was still moralising in this fashion when a smart equipage drove up to +the steps, and the Commissionaire once more went forward to do his duty. +In the carriage a lady and gentleman were seated, and it was evident, +from the fact that a man,—who until that moment had been sitting near +the hotel door—hastened forward to greet them, that their arrival had +been expected by one person in the hotel at least. As the trio I am now +about to describe to you are destined to play an extraordinary part in +the story I have to tell, I may, perhaps, be excused if I bestow upon +them a little more attention than I should otherwise feel justified in +doing. Out of gallantry, if for no other reason, it is only proper that +I should commence with the lady.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span></p><p>That she was not English was quite certain. It was difficult to say, +however, to what European nation she belonged. Her face, from the moment +I first saw it, interested me strangely. And yet, while it was +beautiful, it was not that which altogether attracted me. I say +<i>altogether</i>, for the reason that it owed more, perhaps, to its general +expression than to the mere beauty of any individual feature. It was a +countenance, however, that once seen would not be likely to be +forgotten. The eyes were large and thoughtful, and of a darkness that +suggested Southern birth. The mouth was small, but exquisitely moulded, +the lips full, and the teeth, when they showed themselves, delightfully +white and even. Her hair was black and, what is not commonly the case +with hair of that colour, was soft and wavy. Though it would have been +difficult to find fault with her attire, a fastidious critic might have +observed that it was not of the very latest fashion. In London, it is +possible it might have passed muster, but in Paris it was just one +pin-prick behind the acme of the prevailing mode. As I looked at her I +wondered who she might be. The eyes, at a hazard, might have been set +down as Italian, the hair as Spanish, the nose had a suggestion of the +Greek, while the sum<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span> total spoke for Southern France, or, at any rate a +country bordering upon the Mediterranean.</p> + +<p>As I have already said, her companions were two in number. The elder, +who had driven up with the lady I have been endeavouring to describe, +was a tall and handsome man of a little past middle age. He carried +himself with considerable erectness, might very well have once been a +soldier, and was possibly the lady's father. When he descended from the +carriage, I noticed that he was a little lame on his left leg, and that +he walked with a stick. Like his companion he was the possessor of dark +eyes, but with the difference that they looked out upon the world from +beneath white bushy eyebrows, a fact which, combined with his fierce +grey moustache, produced a most singular effect. He also was fashionably +attired, that is to say, he wore the regulation frock coat and silk hat, +but, as was the case with the lady, there was the suggestion of being +just a trifle behind the times.</p> + +<p>As much could not be said of the second man, the individual who had been +seated near the door awaiting their coming. So far as outward +appearances were concerned he was the pink of fashion, and not only of +fashion, but of everything else. Tall, lithe,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span> handsome, and +irreproachably turned out, from the curl of his dainty moustache to his +superbly shod feet, he appeared at first glance to be a typical +<i>boulevardier</i>. Yet when one looked more closely at him, he did not +strike one as being the sort of man who would idle his life away on the +pavements or in the clubs. I could very well imagine his face looking +out from beneath a helmet or <i>kepi</i>, under a <i>tarbush</i> with Arabi, or a +<i>sombrero</i> with Balmaceda—anywhere, in point of fact, where there was +vigorous life and action. He would certainly be a good shot, and, I +reflected, not very particular what he shot at, that is to say, whether +it was at man or beast, or both. For the moment, however, he was content +to hand his fair friend from her carriage with the most fastidious +politeness. They stood for a moment talking at the foot of the steps. +Then they ascended, and, entering the hotel, were lost to my sight; +whereupon I resettled myself in my chair with the reflection that they +were the most interesting people I should be likely to see that +afternoon, and then went on to wonder why De Belleville did not put in +an appearance. Then another carriage drove up, and a moment later he stood before me.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span></p><p>"I must offer you ten thousand pardons, <i>cher ami</i>," said he, as we +shook hands. "I fear I have kept you waiting an unpardonable time. +Forgive me, I implore you; I am prostrated with sorrow."</p> + +<p>The words were apologetic enough, but the face belied the assertion. A +more cheerful countenance could scarcely have been discovered in all +Paris. I had promised myself that I would give him a good rating for his +unpunctuality, but, as usual, I found that when he <i>did arrive</i> it was +impossible for me to be angry with him. De Belleville, as I have already +remarked, boasts the most ingratiating manners I know; is an ideal +companion, for the reason that he is never put out or, apart from his +unpunctuality, puts others out. He is one of the best hosts in Europe, +and regards life as life regards him, that is to say, with invariable +cheerfulness and goodfellowship.</p> + +<p>Having taken our places in the carriage, we set off for the +D'Etrebilles' residence in the Faubourg St Germain. Throughout the drive +my companion rattled on continually. He was well up, none better, in the +gossip of the day, and could use his knowledge to the wittiest effect. +Fortunately, the D'Etrebilles<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span> were at home, and appeared delighted to +see us. They were, moreover, kind enough to congratulate me upon my +acceptance of my new position in the English Cabinet.</p> + +<p>"As you are strong, be merciful," said D'Etrebille, with a smile. +"Remember, the peace of Europe is in your hands, and at the end of your +term of office we shall require it of you again intact."</p> + +<p>"A life-long study of European politics," said De Belleville, "has +convinced me that the peace of Europe is never so much assured as when +the various nations are struggling to be at each other's throats. This +is a point of which so many people, renowned for their political +perspicuity, seem to lose sight. Our very good friend and visitor, the +Czar, would have us disarm and turn our swords into ploughshares. By +this time, however, he must agree that, if only from a humanitarian +point of view, he has made a mistake. It may appear paradoxical, but +there is certainly nothing that promotes peace so much as war. I never +feel sure in my own mind that the next year will be a quiet one until I +am told that the military bloodhounds are about to be unchained. By the +way, what do you think of your country's prospects of war in South Africa?"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span></p><p>"If I am to judge the situation by your own theory, I should say that +the possibilities are remote," I replied. "From my own stand-point, +however, I am by no means so optimistic. The look-out is undoubtedly a +grave one, and, while I have the greatest faith in our strength to +assert our own supremacy, I cannot help thinking that matters may in the +end prove somewhat different to our expectations."</p> + +<p>Without wishing to pose as a prophet after the event, on looking back on +all that has happened, I cannot help being struck by the aptness of my +prophecy. This, however, is no place for such reflections. What I have +to do is to tell my story as quickly and concisely as possible, and, +above all, to avoid undue digressions.</p> + +<p>Strange indeed is the way in which a face or a voice once seen or heard, +if only for a moment, has the power of seizing and taking possession of +the memory, when there is little or no reason that it should not be +forgotten. It was certainly so in my case on this particular afternoon, +for, during the time I was with the D'Etrebilles, during our drive in +the Bois afterwards, and in fact for the remainder of the evening, the +face of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span> woman I had seen entering my hotel a few hours before, +haunted me continually.</p> + +<p>It went to the Opera with me, accompanied me to a supper at the +Amphitryon Club afterwards, and returned with me again to my hotel. The +memory of a pair of beautiful eyes, such as hers undoubtedly were, might +appear to many men a light burden to have placed upon them. By some +strange irony of Fate, however, it was otherwise with me. Instead of +being charmed by them, I dreaded them with a fear that was as +inexplicable as it was unpleasant. I laughed at myself for my folly, +ascribed my absurd condition to indigestion, and endeavoured by every +means in my power to drive the matter from my mind. I went to bed and +tried to sleep. I was not successful, however. When I closed my eyes, +the eyes of the woman were still there, gazing at me with a +steadfastness that produced a sensation almost describable as hypnotic. +I tried to picture other scenes, recalled the events of the day—De +Belleville's prophecies for the future—his witty remarks on Paris +topics—but without success. At last, unable to bear it any longer, I +rose from my bed, turned on the electric light, and, having donned a +dressing-gown, began to pace the room. I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span> had drunk scarcely any wine +that evening, so that my condition could not be ascribed to that source. +Nevertheless, an ill defined, yet none the less real, fear was steadily +taking possession of me. I could not remember ever having been affected +in this way before. Could it be that I had not the same power over my +intellect as of yore? In other words, was this the beginning of some +brain trouble that would eventually land me in a lunatic asylum? I knew +in my inmost heart that such was not the case. Yet how to account for +the eyes that haunted me so peculiarly, I could not say. Until I had +seen the woman's face that afternoon, I had been as rational and evenly +balanced a man as could have been discovered in the French capital. No! +it was all nonsense! My internal economy was a little out of gear, my +nerves and brain were indirectly affected, and this illusion was the +result. In that case the eyes, haunting as they were, would disappear +before the magic wand of Calomel.</p> + +<p>Being too wide awake to return to bed, I seated myself in a chair and +took up a book on the Eastern Question which I had been reading during +the day, and in which I was greatly interested. The fact that I did<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span> not +entertain the same views with regard to the Russo-Chinese-Japanese +<i>entente</i> as the author only added to my enjoyment of the work. I +remembered that when I had taken it up in the morning I had found it +difficult to lay it aside again; now, however, though I glued my eyes to +the pages by sheer will pressure, I was scarcely conscious of the +printed words before me. As I read, or rather tried to read, it appeared +to me that somebody was standing in the room, a few paces from my chair, +intently regarding me. More than once I involuntarily looked up, only to +find, as it is needless to state, that there was no one there. At last I +put down the book in despair, went to the window and, leaning my arms +upon the sill, looked out. Sleeping Paris lay before and around me, +scarcely a sound was to be heard; once the roll of distant +carriage-wheels, from the Rue de Rivoli, came up to me, then the +irregular striking of the clocks in the neighbourhood announcing the hour of three.</p> + +<p>As I stood at the window, I thought of the crisis which England was +approaching. Many years had elapsed since she had been involved in a +great war. In these days epoch succeeds epoch with incredible<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span> rapidity, +and public opinion has the knack of changing with each one. The +stolidity, the self-reserve, the faculty of being able to take the hard +knocks and yet continue the fight, that had characterised us at the time +of Waterloo and the Crimea, did that still exist? Then again, were we as +fully prepared as we might be? Were our Generals as competent as of +yore, or had the long spell of peace wrought a change in them also? They +were weighty questions, and a man might very well have been pardoned had +he asked them of himself with an anxious heart. Our "splendid isolation" +had been the jeer and taunt of the world. Would that very isolation +prove our downfall, if by any evil chance matters took a wrong turn with +us? For a moment I could see England as she would be were her armies to +be defeated in the present struggle. The croaking prophecies of her +enemies would have proved too true, and she would be at the mercy of the +yelping mob that had once only dared to bark and snap at her from a +distance. "O God! grant that such a thing may never come to pass," I +muttered, and, as the prayer escaped my lips, there shaped themselves in +the darkness in front of me, the eyes that had haunted me all the +afternoon and evening.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span> As I gazed into their soulless depths, a +sensation of icy coldness passed over me.</p> + +<p>"This will never do," I said to myself. "If I go on like this I shall +have to see a doctor; and yet how ridiculous it is. Why that woman's +eyes should haunt me so I cannot understand. In all probability I shall +never see her again, and if I do, it will only be to discover that she +is very beautiful, but in no respect different to other people."</p> + +<p>But while I endeavoured to convince myself that it was all so absurd, I +had the best of reasons for knowing that it was not so silly as I was +anxious to suppose. At any rate, I did not go to bed again, and when, +some hours later, my servant came to call me, he found me seated at my +table, busily engaged writing letters. Years seemed to have elapsed +since I had bade him good-night.</p> + +<p>The last day of my stay in Paris had dawned, and, after my experience of +the night, I began to think that I was not altogether sorry for it. A +cold tub, however, somewhat revived me, and when I left my room I was, +to all intents and purposes, myself once more.</p> + +<p>It is one of those little idiosyncrasies in my character which afford my +friends such an<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span> excellent opportunity for making jokes at my expense, +that when I go to Rome, Paris, Berlin, St Petersburg, or any other city +I may be in the habit of visiting, that I invariably stay at the same +hotel and insist on being given the same bedroom I have occupied on +previous occasions. For some reason a strange room is most obnoxious to +me. In Paris, worthy Monsieur Frezmony is good enough to let me have a +suite of apartments at the end of a long corridor on the first floor. +They boast an excellent view from the windows, of the gardens of the +Tuileries, and the whole suite is, above all, easy of access at any hour +of the day or night. On this particular occasion, having dressed, I left +my room and passed along the corridor in order to descend to the hall +below. I was only a few paces from the head of the stairs when a door +directly opposite opened, and a lady emerged and descended the stairs in +front of me. She was dressed for going out, but, for the reason that my +letters had just been handed to me and I was idly glancing at the +envelopes, beyond noticing this fact, I bestowed but little more +attention on her. She had reached the first landing, and I was some few +steps behind her, when the chink of something<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span> falling caught my ears. +Surely enough when I, in my turn, reached the landing I discovered a +small bracelet lying upon the carpet. I immediately picked it up with +the intention of returning it. But the lady was too quick for me and had +reached the courtyard before I could set foot in the hall. A carriage +was awaiting her coming at the foot of the steps, and she had already +taken her place in it when I approached her. For the reason that she was +putting up her parasol, it was impossible for me to see her face, but +when she lifted it on hearing my voice, I discovered, to my amazement, +that she was none other than the lady whose arrival I had witnessed on +the previous afternoon, and whose eyes had had such a strange effect +upon me ever since.</p> + +<p>"Permit me to ask if this is your property, madam?" I began, holding out +the bracelet as I spoke. "I had the good fortune to discover it on the +stairs just after you passed."</p> + +<p>"Ah, yes, it is mine," she answered in excellent French, and in a voice +that was low and musical. "I would not have lost it for anything. It was +careless of me to have dropped it. I thank you most heartily."</p> + +<p>She bowed, and at a signal from the Commissionaire, the coachman started +his horses,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</a></span> and a moment later the carriage had left the courtyard.</p> + +<p>For some moments after it had passed out of sight I stood looking in the +direction it had taken. Then turning to the Commissionaire who stood +before me, I enquired if it were in his power to tell me the name of the +lady to whom I had rendered so small a service.</p> + +<p>"She is Madame la Comtesse de Venetza," the man replied.</p> + +<p>"The Countess de Venetza?" said I to myself, "that tells me nothing. It +sounds Italian. At the same time it might be almost anything else."</p> + +<p>Circumstances forbade me that I should question the man further, though +the temptation was sufficiently great. Nothing remained, therefore, but +to withdraw and to derive what consolation I could from the fact that I +had spoken to her and knew her name.</p> + +<p>"The Countess de Venetza," I repeated, as I made my way up the steps +once more. The name had suddenly come to have a strange fascination for +me. I found myself repeating it again and again, each time deriving a +new sensation from it.</p> + +<p>Having procured a morning paper, I returned to the verandah, seated +myself in the place I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span> had occupied on the previous afternoon, when I +had first seen the Countess, and turned my attention to the English +news. If the information set forth there were to be believed, there +could be no sort of doubt that we were distinctly nearer the trouble +which had been brewing for so long. The wildest rumours were afloat, and +the versions printed in the Parisian papers were not of a nature +calculated to allay my fears. If what they said were correct there could +be no doubt that England was standing face to face with one of the +greatest dangers that had threatened her in her life as a nation. And +yet it was impossible to believe that the Might, Majesty, Dominion, and +power of Great Britain could be successfully defied by a rabble horde +such as we knew the Boers to be. But had we not the remembrance of '81 +continually with us to remind us that on another lamentable occasion we +had been too sanguine? This time, I told myself, it was vitally +necessary that it should be all going forward and no drawing back. If we +set our hands to the plough, it must be with a rigorous determination +not to remove them until the task we had set ourselves should be accomplished.</p> + +<p>At last I threw down my paper in disgust.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span> An overwhelming desire to +thrash every journalistic cur who yelped at the heels of the British +Lion was fast taking possession of me. For the first time since I had +known her, Paris was positively distasteful to me.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps monsieur will pardon me if I ask permission to glance at the +paper he has just thrown down," said a polite voice at my elbow. "I have +tried to obtain one at the hotel, but without success."</p> + +<p>Turning, I saw beside me the taller of the two men I had seen with the +Countess de Venetza on the preceding afternoon—the man with the bushy +eyebrows who had driven up with her in the carriage, and who was lame.</p> + +<p>"Take it by all means," I replied, handing it to him as I spoke. "I +doubt, however, if you will find anything in it but a series of insults +to England and her soldiers. That seems to be the <i>metier</i> of the +Parisian Press just now."</p> + +<p>"It is a thousand pities," the stranger replied, slowly and solemnly; +"and the more to be regretted for the reason that it does not voice the public sentiment."</p> + +<p>I had no desire to be drawn into a political controversy with a man who, +for all I knew to the contrary, might be an anarchist, a police<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span> spy, or +an equally undesirable acquaintance. I accordingly allowed him to seat +himself at some little distance from me and to peruse his paper in +peace. He was still reading it when a carriage drove up, bringing the +Countess de Venetza back to the hotel. Seeing her friend she approached +him, whereupon he rose to greet her, still retaining the newspaper in his hand.</p> + +<p>A few moments later another carriage drove up, and, when it came to a +standstill, the well-dressed individual who had waited in the verandah +on the previous afternoon, alighted. That he was much agitated could be +seen at first glance. I noticed also that he was doing his best to +conceal the fact. As he approached his friends, he raised his hat with +ceremonious politeness. Then he said something in an undertone which +would have been inaudible more than a few paces away. The effect upon +his comrades was electrical. The man gave a start of astonishment and +horror, while the woman turned deathly pale, and for a moment looked as +if she were about to faint. With an effort, however, she recovered her +self-possession, and as she did so I noticed out of the corner of my eye +(for the life of me I could not help watching them), that the man who<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span> +had brought this disconcerting intelligence turned quickly round as if +to satisfy himself that her agitation had not been noticed by any one +near at hand. Next moment they were walking slowly towards the main +entrance, the woman's hands clenching and unclenching at every step. It +was no business of mine, of course, but I felt as certain that the drama +I had seen acted in front of me was of vital importance to the trio, but +more especially so far as the woman was concerned. Had I known what the +communication was, it is just possible I might have been able to avert +what promised to be a great National calamity, and one which even now I +can scarcely contemplate without a shudder.</p> + +<p>How I came to know these things and how innocently I walked into the +trap that had been so artfully laid for me, you shall hear. Believe me, +if I say, without conceit, that the story is an exceedingly interesting one.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span></p> + +<h2><span>CHAPTER II</span></h2> + +<p>My arrangements were completed, and in spite of De Belleville's entreaty +that I should remain for at least another day, I was adamant in my +determination to leave Paris for England that night. In view of the +existing state of affairs there, it would be a truism to say that there +was much to be done before the assembling of Parliament; it behoved us +all, we knew, to put our shoulders to the wheel and to do our utmost to +help our country in her hour of need. Accordingly, the appointed moment +found me at the railway station, whither my servant had preceded me. +Williams is the best courier as well as the best servant in existence, +and when I reached the platform it was to find my compartment reserved +for me, my books and papers spread out to my hand, my cap and travelling +rug in readiness, and the faithful man himself on guard at the door. It +only wanted three minutes to starting time, and already the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span> various +functionaries were busying themselves with intending passengers.</p> + +<p>"It looks as if we shall have a full train, Williams," I said, as I +stood at the door gazing down the platform. "Let us hope we shall have a good crossing!"</p> + +<p>"The weather report is favourable, sir," he replied.</p> + +<p>I returned to the other end of the carriage to look for my cigar-case +and was in the act of cutting a weed when I heard Williams' voice raised +as if in expostulation.</p> + +<p>"I must beg your pardon, sir," he was saying in his curious French, that +no experience ever makes any better or any worse, "but this is a +reserved compartment."</p> + +<p>"But, my good fellow, there is no more room in the train," said a voice +I instantly recognised. "Pray speak to your master and I am sure he will +not deny our request."</p> + +<p>I walked to the door where this conversation was being carried on, to +discover the lady and the two men who have already figured so +prominently in my narrative, standing upon the platform.</p> + +<p>"I am afraid we are taking an unwarrantable liberty in asking such a +favour from you," the elder man began, "but by our carelessness we<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span> are +placed in a dilemma. We omitted to secure a compartment, and now the +train is so full that we cannot procure seats. It is most necessary for +us to cross to London to-night, and unless you will go so far out of +your way as to permit us to share your carriage with you, I fear we must +remain behind. The train is about to start even now."</p> + +<p>Though I had no desire for their company, courtesy forbade that I should +insist upon my rights. Nothing remained for it, therefore, but for me to +submit with as much graciousness as I could assume.</p> + +<p>"Pray step in," I said. "It is the fault of the Railway Authorities who +should provide sufficient accommodation for travellers. May I ask which +seat you prefer, madame?"</p> + +<p>With an expression of her thanks she chose the corner at the further end +of the compartment, and opposite the corner Williams had prepared for +me. Her companions followed her, and a moment later the train moved +slowly out of the station and our journey had commenced. That journey +will be remembered by two of our number, at least, so long as they can +recollect anything. I am not going to pretend that I felt at my ease for +the first part of it. Far from it. I fancy the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span> Countess must have +noticed this, for she did not address me for some time, vouchsafing me +an opportunity of becoming accustomed to the novelty of the situation. +Then, feeling that it was incumbent on me to do the honours of the +compartment, I offered her her choice of papers. She chose one, and, +when she had opened it, assured me that I was at liberty to smoke, +should I care to do so. Her companions had also made themselves at home, +so that by the time our train ran through Ailly-sur-Noye we might have +been said to have been on comparatively intimate terms with each other.</p> + +<p>"I have an idea that my father and I have had the pleasure of meeting an +old friend of yours lately," said the Countess, when the station to +which I have just referred was a thing of the past and we were speeding +on towards the sea.</p> + +<p>"Really!" I replied, with some little astonishment. "Pray, who might +that friend be?"</p> + +<p>"The Duke of Rotherhithe," she returned, and, as she said it, she neatly +folded the paper she had been reading and laid it on the seat beside her.</p> + +<p>"A friend of mine, indeed," I answered.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span> "I fancied, however, that he +was yachting in the Mediterranean?"</p> + +<p>"Exactly! He was! We met him quite by chance in Constantinople, and, +finding that we were anxious to reach Naples as quickly as possible, he +offered to convey us thither in his yacht. I remember that he spoke most kindly of you."</p> + +<p>"The dear fellow!" I replied. "We were at school together and afterwards +at the 'Varsity."</p> + +<p>So easily impressed is the human mind by former associations, that the +mere fact that the Countess de Venetza and her father had lately been +the guests of my old friend, Rotherhithe, was sufficient to make me +treat them in an entirely different fashion to what I had hitherto done. +Until that time I had rather prided myself upon being a somewhat +sceptical man of the world, but, now I was giving splendid proofs of my +peculiar susceptibility. There was, however, a grain of suspicion still +lingering about me. I accordingly proceeded to indirectly question her +concerning my friend, and, as I noticed that she answered without +hesitation or any attempt at concealment, my doubts faded away until +they vanished altogether. We talked of the <i>Princess Balroubadour</i> with<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span> +the familiarity of old friends; Rotherhithe's antipathy to those whom he +described as "foreigners" afforded us conversation for another five +minutes; while the Malapropisms, if I may coin a word, of his head +steward, were sufficient to carry us through two more stations without a +single break in the conversation. We discussed the various Ports of the +Mediterranean, ran up to Assuan in a <i>dahabiyeh</i>, and afterwards made a +pilgrimage to Sinai together. The Countess was a witty conversationalist +and, as I discovered, a close observer of all that went on around her. +Her father and cousin, beyond putting in a word now and again, scarcely +spoke, but seemed absorbed in their books and papers.</p> + +<p>At last we reached Calais, and it became necessary for us to leave the +train. It was a beautiful evening; the sea was as smooth as glass, while +there was not enough wind to stir the pennant on the steamer's masthead.</p> + +<p>"I am sure we cannot thank you enough for permitting us to share your +carriage," said the Countess as we left the train and prepared to go on +board the steamer. "Had it not been for your kindness, I fear we should +still be in Paris, instead of being well on our way to England."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span></p><p>I returned something appropriate to this remark, then, side by side, we +boarded the steamer.</p> + +<p>"Since you have been yachting with the Duke of Rotherhithe," I said, +when we had gained the deck, "it is only fair to suppose that you are a +good sailor, Countess?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes!" she answered, with a little laugh; "I am an excellent sailor. +But—forgive my asking the question—how did you become aware of my +identity?"</p> + +<p>"I happened to hear your name at the hotel this morning," I replied. "It +was told me after I had restored the bangle you so nearly lost."</p> + +<p>At this moment her father put in an appearance and caused a diversion by +enquiring after the safety of her jewel-case, which, it appeared, stood +in continual danger of being lost. A few seconds later the boat was +under weigh and we had said good-bye to French soil. As we left the +place of embarkation it seemed to me that my companion gave a little +sigh, and noticing that it was followed by a slight shiver, I enquired +whether she felt cold. She replied in the negative, though at the same +time she drew her furs a little closer round her.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span></p><p>"I wonder whether certain places affect you as they do me," she said, +when the French port lay well astern and we were heading for the white +cliffs of England. "It is strange that I never leave Calais without +undergoing a decided feeling of depression. I don't know why it should +be so; it is a fact, nevertheless."</p> + +<p>"I hope it is not the thought of visiting England that causes it?" I +replied with an attempt at jocularity. "You have visited our country +before, of course?"</p> + +<p>"Very often," she answered; "we have many friends in England."</p> + +<p>"In the list of whom I hope you will permit me some day to number +myself?" I continued with an eagerness that was not at all usual with me.</p> + +<p>"I shall be very pleased," she returned quietly, and then looked away +across the still water to where a French pilot cutter lay becalmed half +a mile or so away.</p> + +<p>An hour later we reached Dover.</p> + +<p>Just as we were entering the harbour, the Countess's father approached +me and thanked me effusively for my kindness in permitting them to share +my carriage from Paris.</p> + +<p>"But you must not let my generosity, such<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span> as it is, cease there!" I +replied. "I hope you will also share my carriage to London, that is to +say if the Countess is not already too tired of my society."</p> + +<p>"It would be ungenerous to say so if I were," she answered with a smile. +"But if you, on your side, do not feel that we have trespassed too far +already, I am sure we shall be only too glad to accept your kind offer."</p> + +<p>The Custom authorities having been satisfied as to the innocence of our +baggage, we took our seats in the carriage which had been reserved for +me. My indispensable Williams made his appearance with an armful of +papers, and then we started upon the last stage of our journey. When I +had handed the Countess a copy of the <i>Globe</i>, I selected a <i>Pall Mall</i> +for myself, and turned to the page containing the latest war news. From +what I found there, there could be no doubt that the situation was +hourly increasing in danger. There were complications on every side, and +the position was not rendered easier by the fact that a certain number +of prominent politicians were endeavouring to make capital out of the +difficulties of the Government.</p> + +<p>"I suppose there can now be no doubt as to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span> the probability of war?" +said Count Reiffenburg, looking up from his paper as he spoke.</p> + +<p>"None whatever, I should say," I answered. "If the papers are to be +believed the clouds are blacker and heavier than they have yet been. I +fear the storm must burst ere long."</p> + +<p>The Countess did not take any part in our conversation, but I fancied +that she was listening. Not feeling any desire to continue the +discussion with the younger man, I returned to my paper, leaving him to +follow my example. A few minutes later the Countess put down her +<i>Globe</i>, and sat looking out upon the country through which we were passing.</p> + +<p>"I see they have captured another notorious anarchist in Naples," I +said, after we had been sitting in silence for some minutes. "So far as +can be gathered from the report given here, the arrest is likely to +prove important in more respects than one."</p> + +<p>"Indeed," said the Countess, looking steadily at me as she spoke. "The +police are certainly becoming more expeditious in the matter of arrests. +The only difficulty they experience is the finding of any substantial +crime against their victims when they have brought about their capture. +Pray, who is this particular man?"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span></p><p>"An individual rejoicing in the romantic name of Luigi Ferreira," I +answered. "It appears that they have been endeavouring to lay their +hands upon him for some time past. Until now, however, he has managed to +slip through their fingers."</p> + +<p>"Poor fellow!" said the Countess, still in the same even voice. "I hope +it will not prejudice you against me, but I cannot help feeling a little +sympathy for people—however misguided they may be—who imperil their +own safety for the sake of bringing about what they consider the +ultimate happiness of others."</p> + +<p>Then, as though the matter no longer interested her, she returned to the +perusal of her paper. Her cousin had all this time been drumming with +his fingers in an impatient manner, so I thought, upon the glass of the +window beside which he sat. For my own part, I scarcely knew what to +make of this young man. Though he did not show it openly, I could not +help thinking that he was jealous of the attention I was paying his fair +cousin. As the idea crossed my mind I remembered the previous afternoon, +when I had sat in the portico of the hotel, speculating as to the +nationality and lives of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span> the people about me. How little I had thought +then that twenty-four hours later would find me seated with them in an +English railway carriage, discussing the fortune of another man with +whom neither I, nor they, for the matter of that—at least, so I then +supposed—had even the remotest connection.</p> + +<p>It was not until we were approaching the end of our journey that I spoke +to my <i>vis-à-vis</i> concerning her stay in London.</p> + +<p>"We shall in all probability remain in London for some three or four +months," she said. "I hope, if you can spare the time, that you will +call upon me. I have taken Wiltshire House, by the way, and shall be +most pleased to see you."</p> + +<p>I must confess that her announcement caused me a considerable amount of +surprise. All things considered, it was rather a strange coincidence, +for, only that morning, I had received a letter from my sister Ethelwyn, +who, as you are doubtless aware, is the Countess of Brewarden, in which +occurred the following significant passage (Ethelwyn, I might here +remark, is somewhat given to the florid style):—</p> + +<blockquote><p>"Existence is now altogether a blank! the dream of my +life—Wiltshire House—has vanished. Some rich<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span> foreigner has taken +it, and in consequence George (my brother-in-law) and I have +quarrelled desperately. He declares it is a good thing it is let, +as he couldn't think of it. He moreover avers that it would cost a +king's ransom to keep up. Nevertheless, I shall detest the +foreigner whoever she or he may be."</p></blockquote> + +<p>I can scarcely say how I derived the impression, but, until that moment, +I had not supposed my fair friend to be the possessor of any great +wealth. It was the more surprising, therefore, to hear that she was not +only a rich woman, but also that she was to be the temporary mistress of +one of the most beautiful and expensive dwellings in the Metropolis. +Needless to say, I did not let her become aware of the surprise she had +given me, but contented myself with thanking her and expressing the hope +that shortly I should be able to do myself the honour of calling upon her.</p> + +<p>"You won't allow your public duties to make you forget your promise to +come and see me, I hope," said the Countess, as we shook hands.</p> + +<p>"You may be quite sure that I shall not," I replied.</p> + +<p>"Then, <i>au revoir</i>, and many thanks for the kindness you have shown us."</p> + +<p>"It has given me the greatest possible<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span> pleasure," I answered, and, as I +said it, I had a guilty remembrance of my uncharitable feelings that +morning, when I had discovered that my privacy was destined to be +disturbed. Yet so pleasantly had the time passed, that I felt as if I +had known the Countess for years instead of hours.</p> + +<p>When I reached my house it was to find everything just as I had left it. +A cheerful fire blazed in my study, the latest evening papers lay, cut +and folded, upon a table beside my favourite chair; a subdued light +shone above the table in the dining-room adjoining, and everything +denoted the care and comfort which a master possessing good servants has +a right to expect. Having removed the stains of travel, and changed my +attire, I sat down to dinner, afterwards spent an hour skimming my +correspondence, then, to fill up the time, I ordered a cab and drove to +my favourite Club.</p> + +<p>Though I had only been absent from England a short time, and had not +been further than Paris, I discovered that I had a vast amount of news +to hear. Men imparted their information to me as if I had that day +returned from Central Africa or the Australian Bush. Young Paunceford, +the member for Banford, for which place his father had sat before him,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span> +was good enough to give me his views on the Crisis. His complaint was +that no one would listen to him, and, in consequence, he was only too +glad to find some one who required bringing up to date. That I happened +to be a Cabinet Minister as well as an old friend made no sort of difference.</p> + +<p>"By Jove, I envy you," he said, as he lit a fresh cigar. "I can tell +you, if you play your cards carefully, you'll be no end of a swell over +this business. Why on earth couldn't I have had such an opportunity?"</p> + +<p>"For the simple reason that you know too much, my boy," said a man in +the Guards, who happened to be sitting near. "Haven't you heard that a +little knowledge is a dangerous thing? They know Manderville's safe on a +secret, so they gave him the job. What's the use of a secret unless +there's some mystery about it. By the way, talking of mysteries, what's +this about Wiltshire House? Somebody tells me that it has been let to +the prettiest woman in Europe. Do any of you know anything about her?"</p> + +<p>Paunceford was as well informed upon this as upon all other subjects.</p> + +<p>"Of course," he replied; "the news is as old as the hills. I heard it +from Bill Kingsbury,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</a></span> who was in the agent's shop, or office—whatever +they call it—when the business was being arranged. But it's all +nonsense about her being the prettiest woman in Europe. Hailed from +Jamaica, I believe; has to own to curly hair and to just one touch of the tar-brush."</p> + +<p>"Paunceford seems to know all about her," said another man. "He always +is well informed, however, upon any matter, whatever it may be. If +there's going to be a war the House ought to vote a sum sufficient to +send him out, in order that he may keep the Authorities posted on the +progress of affairs. You've missed your vocation, Paunceford; you'd make +an ideal War Correspondent."</p> + +<p>"Too much imagination," said the man in the Guards; "military matters +must be taken seriously. But nobody has answered my question yet. Who is +this lady who has taken Wiltshire House?"</p> + +<p>"I have already told you," said Paunceford sulkily. "I never came across +such a set of unbelievers."</p> + +<p>"Elderly, coloured, and of West Indian origin?" said the Guardsman. "It +doesn't sound well."</p> + +<p>I could stand it no longer.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span></p><p>"For goodness sake," I put in, "don't go about the town spreading that +report. I assure you Paunceford is, as usual, altogether out of it."</p> + +<p>"How do you know that?" asked Paunceford suspiciously.</p> + +<p>"Because I happen to have had the good-fortune to travel with the lady +from Paris to-day," I replied, with just that little touch of +satisfaction the position warranted.</p> + +<p>"And yet you kept quiet about it," said another man. "Well, you are a +reticent beggar, I must say. Don't you know this has been one of the +mysteries of the town. My goodness, man, you shan't escape from this +room until you have told us all about her! Who is she? What is she? What +is her name? How much money has she? Above all, is she pretty?"</p> + +<p>"She is the Countess de Venetza," I replied. "Italian, I should say; +rich—since she has taken Wiltshire House; and as for her personal +appearance—well, when you see her, you will be able to judge of that for yourselves."</p> + +<p>"Excellent!" said the Guardsman. "I prefer Manderville's report to +yours, Paunceford. Is she married?"</p> + +<p>"A widow, I fancy," I replied.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span></p><p>"Still better! If she is kind to me I will make her reputation, and +Wiltshire House shall be the smartest caravansérai in London. Not +shooting in your wood, Manderville, I hope?"</p> + +<p>"I wish to goodness you men wouldn't spend your time so much in +inventing new slang," I answered. "But some of you seem to have nothing +else to do. Now that I have satisfied your curiosity, I shall go home to +bed. The early bird catches the early news. In these days one lives for +the morning papers."</p> + +<p>Paunceford saw another opportunity.</p> + +<p>"Talking of morning papers——" he began, but before he had finished the +sentence I had left the room.</p> + +<p>Being tired when I reached home I went straight to bed. Remembering my +experience of the previous night, I was determined that this one should +make up for it. To my disappointment, however, I discovered that, tired +though I was, sleep would not visit my eyelids. I was as wide awake when +I had been two hours in bed as I was when I entered my room. Once more, +as on the previous night, I was haunted with the remembrance of the +Countess's eyes; do what I would, I could not get them out of my mind.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span> +Tired at last of tumbling and tossing, and thoroughly angry with myself, +and the world in general, I rose, donned a dressing-gown, and went into +the small study that adjoins my bedroom. The fire was not quite +extinguished, and with some little coaxing I was able to induce it to +burn again. Taking a book I drew up my chair, seated myself in it, and +tried to read. I must have done so to some purpose, for after a time I +fell asleep. Possibly it may have been due to the fact that I had had no +rest on the previous night, and that my mind was naturally much occupied +with the gravity of England's situation, and the part I had to play in +the coming strife; at any rate, my dreams were not only vivid but +decidedly alarming. I dreamt that I was in a transport <i>en route</i> to the +Cape, and that the vessel struck a rock, and sank with all the troops on +board. There was no time to get out the boats, and, in company with some +hundreds of others, I was precipitated into the water. While we were +still struggling with the waves, a life-boat made her appearance, and, +to my intense astonishment, standing in the bows was no less a person +than the Countess De Venetza. What was stranger still, she carried in +her hand a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</a></span> heavy spear, or harpoon, with which, whenever a drowning man +approached the boat, she stabbed him in the back, laughing as she did +so. Then, by means of that wonderful mechanical ingenuity with which the +theatres of the land of dreams are furnished, the scene changed to a +lonely plain at the foot of a rugged mountain-range. A battle had been +fought upon it, and the dead and wounded still lay where they had +fallen. So real did it appear to me, that when I recognised here and +there the faces of friends, I found myself wondering what I should say +to their loved ones when I returned to England. Suddenly, in the weird +light, for the moon was shining above the mountain-peaks, there appeared +from among the rocks on the further side of the plain a woman, whose +face I instantly recognised. With stealthy steps she left her +hiding-place and descended to where the wounded lay thickest. In her +hand she carried the same spear that I remembered in my previous dream, +and with it she stabbed every man who remained alive. So terrible was +the expression upon her face as she did so, that I turned away from her +in loathing and disgust. When I looked again she was bending over the +body of a man who still lived, but who was bleeding<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span> from a deep wound +in his side. Picture my consternation when I discovered that he was none +other than the Guardsman who had been so persistent in his inquiries +that night concerning her. As I watched, for I was unable to move hand +or foot to save him, a low moan escaped his lips, followed by an appeal +for water. With the same expression of fiendish rage upon her face that +I had noticed before, she raised the spear, and was about to plunge it +into his breast, when with a cry I awoke, to find the sun streaming into +the room, and my respectable Williams standing before me.</p> + +<p>"Good gracious, Williams, how you startled me!" I said. "What on earth +am I doing here? Ah, I remember! I could not sleep, so I came in to get +a book. I suppose I must have fallen asleep over it. What news is there this morning?"</p> + +<p>There was an air of mystery about Williams that I knew heralded the +announcement of some extraordinary information.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," he said, "there is some important news. The papers do say +that 'War is declared.'"</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</a></span></p> + +<h2><span>CHAPTER III</span></h2> + +<p>During the week which followed my return to London, events followed +thick and fast upon each other. The now famous Ultimatum issued by the +enemy, though surprising enough at the time, was not altogether +unexpected. Its presumptuous tone, however, was the cause of general +comment. As a matter of fact, it was not until it became known that the +enemy, instead of waiting to be attacked in their own territory, had +invaded that of Her Majesty the Queen, that the first feeling of +amazement changed to one of anger, and, if the truth must be told, to +one of no little anxiety. Our Force at the front was well known to be +inadequate, and, as we had the best of reasons for being aware, a +considerable time would have to elapse before it would be possible for +it to be supplemented.</p> + +<p>In my new capacity as a member of the Cabinet, my knowledge of the +country in which<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</a></span> we were about to fight stood me in good stead; +consequently, I was kept busily employed after my return to England. The +situation, as I have already said, was one of considerable anxiety, but +as soon as it was announced that that popular soldier, Sir William +Woller, had been selected to proceed to the South, in order to take up +the Chief Command, the public fears were in a great measure allayed. +With perhaps but three exceptions, no more popular choice could have +been made, and I do not think I am breaking faith with my colleagues +when I say that we were all agreed upon this point. The decision was +arrived at on Wednesday afternoon, and orders were issued that the +General in question should sail from Southampton on the following +Saturday. On the Friday morning he was to be present at an important +Council at the War Office; in the afternoon he was to be received in +Audience at Windsor, and at eleven o'clock on Saturday morning he was +due to leave Waterloo for Southampton Docks.</p> + +<p>Now, Woller and I had been friends for many years, and immediately his +appointment was made known, I hastened to write him a letter of +congratulation. In it I said that if he should have sufficient time at +his disposal to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</a></span> allow me a chance of seeing him, before he left London, +I should like to shake him by the hand and wish him God-speed. He +replied to the effect that he would be dining with the +Commander-in-Chief on Friday evening, and informed me that I was to be +one of the party. In confirmation of this the next post brought me an +invitation which I hastened to accept.</p> + +<p>In due course Friday evening arrived, and the appointed hour found me at +the Commander-in-Chief's residence in Bruton Street. I had already been +informed that it was to be quite a small and friendly affair—as a +matter of fact, the guest of the evening, myself, and two other friends, +constituted the party. I was the first to arrive, Sir George Brandon +followed me, Berkeley Burroughes came next, and as soon as he had put in +an appearance, we only required Woller to make the number complete. He +was late, however. Eight o'clock struck, and still there was no sign of +him. Our host, in apologising for the delay, reminded us that, owing to +the multitudinous claims upon Sir William's time, it might be impossible +for him to avoid being just a little late. When, however, the clock upon +the mantel-piece stood at half-past eight, we began to look at each +other and to wonder what could have become of him.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</a></span> At last the +Commander-in-Chief was unable to bear the suspense any longer.</p> + +<p>"If you will excuse me," he said, "I will telephone to his house, and +find out at what time he left there. Woller is such a punctual man that +this delay is, to say the least of it, extraordinary."</p> + +<p>He left the room, and during his absence we kept up that desultory kind +of conversation with which one endeavours to cover the uneasiness caused +by the non-arrival of an anticipated guest. A few moments later the +Commander-in-Chief returned with a puzzled expression upon his face.</p> + +<p>"It becomes more inexplicable every minute," said he. "From what I can +gather Woller has not been seen at his house since he left it for +Windsor. It is really most singular, and I am at a loss to know what +construction to put upon it. However, if you have no objection, we will +give him another quarter of an hour's grace, and if he is not here then, +go into dinner."</p> + +<p>We waited the allotted time with what patience we could command, and +when it had expired, left the drawing-room and proceeded to the +dining-room, where we sat down to the long-delayed meal.</p> + +<p>I cannot pretend for a moment that the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</a></span> meal was a success. The +non-appearance of our old friend, the man who on the morrow was to leave +England on one of the most important errands she has ever intrusted to a +son, sat like a wet blanket upon us. If at the last moment he had been +prevented from coming, how was it that he had not sent a note of apology +and explanation to his host? Had he met with an accident, or been taken +suddenly ill, he would at least have given instructions that a telegram +should be sent. Woller, as we were well aware, was the pink of +politeness; he was also a strict disciplinarian, not only of others, but +also of himself. That he would, therefore, have treated with discourtesy +a man who besides being his senior officer was also his old friend, was +the most unlikely thing in the world. There were special reasons that +prevented us discussing the matter in all its bearings just then, but +that we were all equally disquieted by his absence was quite certain. I +was the first to leave the house, and I can remember that it was exactly +a quarter past eleven when the front door closed behind me. Up to that +moment no word of apology, excuse, or explanation had been received from +the missing man.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</a></span></p><p>"It's just possible that I may find a message from him awaiting me when +I reach home," I said to myself as I took my place in my brougham.</p> + +<p>I was destined to be disappointed, however.</p> + +<p>There were several letters and two telegrams lying upon my table, but +not one of any sort from Woller.</p> + +<p>"Are you quite sure that no messenger has called from Sir William +Woller?" I asked Williams, when he came to my dressing-room, a quarter +of an hour later.</p> + +<p>"No, sir, I am quite sure of that," he replied; "had any one called I +should have been informed of it."</p> + +<p>With that assurance I was perforce compelled to be content. I can give +you my word, however, that I was by no means easy in my mind concerning +Sir William's silence.</p> + +<p>Next morning, when I was in the middle of my breakfast, a note was +handed me from the Commander-in-Chief. It ran as follows:—</p> + +<blockquote><p>"<span class="smcap">Dear Manderville</span>,—Could you spare me ten minutes as soon as +possible after your receipt of this? I would call upon you myself, +but for various reasons, which I will explain to you when I see +you, I am unable to leave the house until I go down to Pall Mall."</p></blockquote> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</a></span></p><p>Here followed an assurance that the writer was very truly mine, his +signature, and a postscript to the effect that the bearer would wait for +an answer. I scribbled a hasty reply, saying that I would come round to +Bruton Street at once, and as soon as I had made my toilet, called a cab +and set off. On my arrival there I was shown direct to the +Commander-in-Chief's study, where I found him awaiting my coming with +considerable impatience.</p> + +<p>"It is very good of you to come so promptly," he said. "To tell you the +truth, I am very uneasy, and as we are both old friends of the man, I +thought I would consult you in an <i>ex-officio</i> capacity, before going to +the Secretary of State for War."</p> + +<p>"I am to gather from this, I suppose, that up to the present, you have +not heard anything of Woller," I answered, with a little sinking of the +heart, for I made sure that morning would dispel the mystery that +enveloped his behaviour.</p> + +<p>"You have guessed correctly," he said. "I have caused the most careful +enquiries to be made, and have learnt that he left Windsor by the 3.25 +train, reached Paddington at 4.2, entered a cab there, and has<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</a></span> not +since been heard of. Unfortunately, as nobody seems to have been aware +of his identity, the number of the cab was not taken, and, so far as we +are able to ascertain, none of the drivers in the station-yard at the +time appear to be able to recollect whose vehicle it was that he +employed. If you reflect that it has been arranged that he shall leave +London for Southampton at eleven o'clock this morning, and that an +enormous crowd will be at the station to see him off, it will at once +become evident to you that his non-appearance will be far from making a +good impression upon the public mind."</p> + +<p>"But what has become of him? He can't have vanished into space."</p> + +<p>"There are many other ways in which he might disappear," said my +companion gloomily.</p> + +<p>"Surely you don't suppose he has been the victim of foul play?"</p> + +<p>I put the question hesitatingly, for I knew the thoughts that were in my +own mind.</p> + +<p>"I scarcely know what to think," the other replied. "I can only confess +that I am alarmed, seriously alarmed, by his prolonged absence. Woller, +as you know, is a man who realises to the full the responsibilities +entailed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</a></span> by his present position. Duty with him is more than duty, it +is a matter of life and death; he knows that the eyes of England, of +Europe, and I might even say of the whole world, are upon him, and for +that reason alone I feel sure he would not cause us so much anxiety of +his own free will."</p> + +<p>"In that case, what do you intend doing?" I enquired, for I could well +foresee the terrible trouble to which the situation would give rise. "It +is now a quarter to ten, and in little more than an hour he will be +expected at Waterloo. If the crowd don't see him they will begin to +wonder, the man in the street will begin to talk, the newspapers will +take up the tale, and in a few hours we shall have entered on a new +phase of the situation."</p> + +<p>The Commander-in-Chief rose and began to pace the room.</p> + +<p>"I have already sent a special messenger with a letter to the Secretary +of State," he replied. "In it I have told him what I fear and also what +I have done. I shall consult the various heads of Departments as soon as +I reach Pall Mall, on the bare chance that one of them may be able to +elucidate the mystery.</p> + +<p>"At the same time I should communicate<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</a></span> with the railway authorities, if +I were you," I continued. "I should inform them that, owing to the fact +of his being detained by matters of the greatest importance, it is +possible that Woller may not be able to travel by that particular train."</p> + +<p>"That is a good idea," the Commander-in-Chief replied; "I will act upon +it at once. In the event of our receiving no news, that should be +sufficient to give us time to arrange some other plan. It will mean +delaying the vessel at Southampton, however, and—good gracious +me!—what a pile of difficulties it will land us in! The Colonial +Secretary must be informed, and the matter must come before the Cabinet. +As you said just now, if by any chance it should leak out and the Press +get hold of it, there is no telling where it will end."</p> + +<p>"You have communicated with Scotland Yard, of course?"</p> + +<p>"I sent a messenger to them shortly after midnight, that is to say, as +soon as I had found out that Woller had left Windsor, and that he had +not been to his Club, or to his own house. Their best men are at work +upon it, but so far without any satisfactory result."</p> + +<p>"And can his own servants throw any light upon the matter?"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</a></span></p><p>"None whatever!" the Commander-in-Chief replied. "When he left for +Windsor he informed them he should be back early, in order to dress for +my dinner in the evening. They say he appeared to be in the best of +health and spirits, and seemed greatly pleased with the arrangements +made for his journey to-day. Lord Laverstock accompanied him from the +Castle, and was the last to speak to him at Windsor Station. From the +conversation I have had with him by telephone, I gathered that Woller +was looking forward to his dinner with us last night. The guard of the +train corroborates the fact that he travelled to Paddington. For the +reason that the Railway Authorities expected him by the next train, +there was no crowd upon the platform to witness his arrival. On +alighting he simply called a cab and drove away. After that he vanishes completely."</p> + +<p>"There is no way, I suppose, in which we can make further enquiries concerning him?"</p> + +<p>"There is nothing so far as I can see. We are doing all that is +possible, but our position in the meantime is a most anxious and +unpleasant one. Now I shall hasten along to see the Secretary of State +for War, and hear what he thinks of the situation. He will<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</a></span> doubtless +consider it necessary to call an immediate meeting of the Council, when +the situation can be discussed in all its bearings."</p> + +<p>"Let us hope that he may be heard of before very long," I replied.</p> + +<p>So saying I left him and drove home again, feeling sadly upset by the +untoward turn events had taken. What could have become of poor Woller? +Had he been decoyed into some slum and murdered? A hundred fears for his +safety assailed me, each one equally probable and equally cruel.</p> + +<p>When I reached my house I found that the letters had arrived, and were +spread out upon my study table. Still thinking of Woller, I opened the +envelopes and scanned their contents. One was larger than the others, +and on opening it I found that it contained a card, upon which the +following words were printed:—</p> + +<blockquote><p>"The Countess de Venetza at Home on Wednesday, November the 21st, +from nine until eleven o'clock."</p></blockquote> + +<p>In the bottom left-hand corner was the address, "Wiltshire House."</p> + +<p>As I stood with the card in my hand, the memory of my first meeting with +the Countess came back to me. So rapidly had events<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</a></span> moved of late, that +it seemed as if a year had elapsed since I had last seen her. I recalled +the impression her dark haunting eyes had made upon me, and, +discourteous though it may be to say so, I must confess that a shudder +passed over me at the recollection. I placed the card upon my +mantel-piece, and, for the time being, thought no more about it. There +were other and more weighty matters than an invitation from a pretty +woman to be considered that day.</p> + +<p>Every one who has followed the progress of the war—and there are few +who have not—will recall the wave of consternation and dismay that +swept over England when the news became known that Sir William Woller, +the newly-appointed Commander-in-Chief for South Africa, had +disappeared, and could not be found. A thousand rumours, all of them +equally sensational, and all equally wide of the mark, flew about the +country; but despite the efforts of the police, the jibes of the Press, +the scarcely veiled sneers of Little Englanders and the openly-expressed +contempt of our Continental neighbours, not a trace of the missing man +could be discovered. A meeting of the Cabinet was immediately summoned, +with the result that General Grey-Mortimer, a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</a></span> gallant gentleman and an +experienced soldier, was at once despatched to the front, in temporary +command. In the meantime, the wildest excitement prevailed in England. +Transports were leaving the various ports every day, the Reservists were +called up, the Militia and Volunteers were being equipped and drilled, +if necessary, for active service. Plainly the heart of the country was +stirred to the very centre of its being.</p> + +<p>Such was the Public Temper at the time that few entertainments were +given by Society. Such as there were, and to which I was invited, I, for +the most part, declined. An exception was made, however, where the +Countess de Venetza was concerned. The temptation to see her play the +part of a hostess was more than I could resist, and for this reason, ten +o'clock on the night set forth upon her card found me mounting the +magnificent staircase of Wiltshire House. From the number of arrivals +and the crowding of the stairs, it was plain, despite the excitement of +that period, that her "At Home" was likely to be a crowded one. Her +beauty, her wealth, the fact that she was for the time being the +possessor of Wiltshire House, her famous team of black<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</a></span> Orloffs, behind +which she drove in the Park, had combined to make her one of the year's +sensations. The grandeur of her entertainments had quickly become +proverbial, and in consequence, to admit that one had not the <i>entrée</i> +to Wiltshire House, was to argue oneself unknown. Ascending the +staircase by my side, cool, calm and collected, as if the enormous +weight of responsibility he was then carrying were of no account, was no +less a person than the Colonial Secretary. When the history of the +century, and of this war in particular, shall come to be written, the +character of the Honourable Benjamin Castellan will shine prominently +out. The possessor of a serene imperturbability that nothing could +disturb, a keen observer, a born leader of men, and boasting that most +necessary of all qualifications, a firm belief in himself, a better man +for the arduous post he occupied could not have been discovered.</p> + +<p>"I was not aware that you knew the Countess," I said, as we climbed the +stairs together.</p> + +<p>"Nor did I that until a few days ago," he answered. "May I ask where you +made her acquaintance?"</p> + +<p>"In Paris," I replied. "We stayed at the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</a></span> same hotel. She and her father +had just returned from a yachting trip in the Mediterranean with the +Duke of Rotherhithe."</p> + +<div class="center"><img src="images/ill_02.jpg" width='533' height='700' alt="We were received by the Countess" /></div> + +<p class="bold"><span class="smcap">We were received by the Countess.</span></p> + +<p class="bold"><i>To face page 89.</i></p> + +<p>Now, I am sorry to have to confess it, but that little speech of mine +was destined to work an incalculable amount of harm. Castellan has +confessed to me since that he was at first inclined to be somewhat +distrustful of the Countess. When I informed him, however, that our +hostess had been the guest of such a well-known personage as the Duke of +Rotherhithe she figured in his eyes in a different light, with what +result you shall presently hear.</p> + +<p>On the broad landing at the head of the staircase we were received by +the Countess. A more beautiful figure than she presented at that moment +it would have been difficult to find. Perfectly dressed, carrying +herself with a graceful assurance as to the manner born, she made an +ideal hostess. If further evidence of her wealth were wanting, it might +have been found in the magnificent diamond tiara she wore upon her head, +in the broad collet of the same precious stones about her neck, and in +the beautiful bracelets that encircled her wrists. Only once before +could I recall such a display, and then the wearer was an<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</a></span> Emperor's +escort. As you may remember, when I first saw her in Paris, it had +struck me that her attire was just one little point behind the +"prevailing mode." Now, however, it was as near perfection as it was +possible for human hands to make it. She greeted Castellan first.</p> + +<p>"It is indeed kind of you, Mr Castellan, to come to me when every moment +of your time is of such value," she said, as she shook hands with him. +"I follow your doings with the greatest eagerness, and marvel that you +should have the strength to accomplish so much."</p> + +<p>"Have you ever discovered that stress of work promotes growth of power," +said the Colonial Secretary. Then, with one of his inscrutable smiles, +he added: "Pardon me, Countess, I had forgotten for the moment that your +power does not depend upon your work!"</p> + +<p>"Ah! I fear you intend a compliment," returned the lady with a smile. +"Must it remain for a foreigner to remind you of your own Milton?</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<div>'What is strength without a double share</div> +<div>Of wisdom? vast, unwieldly, burdensome,</div> +<div>Proudly secure, yet liable to fall</div> +<div>By weakest subtilities; not made to rule,</div> +<div>But to subserve where wisdom bears command.'"</div> +</div></div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</a></span></p><p>It was not difficult to see that the aptness of the quotation +astonished the Colonial Secretary. The purity of the Countess's English +was also a surprise to me; but for certain unmistakable indications it +would not have been thought that she was a foreigner. When Castellan had +passed on his way, she turned to me with a little gesture, as if she +were pleased to welcome an old friend.</p> + +<p>"Ah! Sir George," she said, "I am so pleased to see you. But I think I +should give you a scolding for not having been before."</p> + +<p>I hastened to excuse myself on the plea of over-work, and, having +obtained forgiveness and promised to amend my conduct in the future, I +passed on to shake hands with her father. When I had been again thanked +for my kindness in the matter of the French train, I followed the +Colonial Secretary into the ball-room. I had not been there many minutes +before I was greeted by a voice, which I instantly recognised, saying: +"How do you do, Sir George," and turning, I found myself face to face +with the handsome young Count Reiffenburg, Madame's cousin.</p> + +<p>"And how do you like London?" I enquired, after the usual polite +salutations had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</a></span> passed between us. "I think I understood you to say, on +the occasion of our crossing from Paris, that this was your first visit?"</p> + +<p>"I like it very much," he replied, "but, to be candid, not so much as +Paris. I trust that is not a rude thing to say in London?"</p> + +<p>"Every one is entitled to express his own opinion," I answered, somewhat +coldly, for I had taken an instinctive dislike to this young fellow. +"You must remember that you are seeing England at her worst just now. +The times are too anxious for us to be very gay."</p> + +<p>"You refer to the war, I suppose?" he answered. Then he added with what +I could not help thinking was intended for a sneer: "The war is the +sensation of the moment."</p> + +<p>"It naturally would be," I replied. "Though proverbially phlegmatic, we +still have sufficient feeling left to be patriotic; but perhaps your +sympathies are with the other side?"</p> + +<p>"One can scarcely help feeling some sympathy——"</p> + +<p>"My dear Conrad," said the Countess, who had come upon us unperceived, +"I really cannot let you talk politics in my ball-room. Go away and find +your partner at once. Prove to her that you have learned to valse in Vienna."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</a></span></p><p>She tapped him playfully on the arm with her fan, but for my own part I +could not help thinking that her words were not meant to be taken as +lightly as she had spoken them. At any rate, the young man muttered +something under his breath and left us.</p> + +<p>"Conrad is a foolish but a warm-hearted boy," said the Countess, looking +after him. "Because Messieurs les Boers don't wear uniforms, and are not +nice to look at, he calls them patriots fighting for their country, and +honours them as such."</p> + +<p>"I fear there are many like him," I replied. "I trust, however, +Countess, that we have the good fortune to possess your sympathy?"</p> + +<p>"Could any one help sympathising with the handsome British officers?" +she answered. "I have no doubt——"</p> + +<p>At that moment a sudden buzz of excitement ran through the room, and she +stopped without completing her sentence. It began near the door, and +quickly spread from group to group. Whatever the news was, it caused a +look of consternation to appear on every face.</p> + +<p>"What can be the matter?" asked the Countess. "I wonder what they are +all talking about?"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</a></span></p><p>As she finished speaking the Colonial Secretary came up to us.</p> + +<p>"I hope that you are not the bearer of evil tidings," said my companion +to him. At the same moment I noticed that her face was very white, and +that there was a frightened look in her eyes.</p> + +<p>"We have just received terrible intelligence," he replied. "The steamer, +<i>Sultan of Sedang</i>, with Sir Grey-Mortimer, his staff, and the first +Midlandshire Regiment on board, has been blown up at Madeira, and only +three men saved."</p> + +<p>The shock was so terrible, that for a moment I stood as if tongue-tied.</p> + +<p>"And Grey-Mortimer?" I asked, when I could speak.</p> + +<p>"Killed," was the reply.</p> + +<p>"Good Heavens! how terrible!" I said. "Are you quite sure it is true? +How did you hear the news?"</p> + +<p>"A message has just reached me from the Office," he replied. "There can +be no doubt about it!"</p> + +<p>"Woller first, now Grey-Mortimer," I said to myself. "What can it mean? +I shall go to the Admiralty and obtain full particulars."</p> + +<p>"I will accompany you," said the Colonial<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</a></span> Secretary. "Good-night, +Countess, and many thanks for your hospitality. I am sorry indeed that +this news should have reached us at such a time."</p> + +<p>"And I too," she answered. Then, turning to me, she continued: "I hope +you will come and see me again, Sir George?"</p> + +<p>As she said it, she looked into my face with a glance that would have +set many hearts, less susceptible than mine, beating with unusual +vigour. The memory of that look accompanied me down the stairs and +remained with me for some time after I was seated in the Colonial +Secretary's brougham. Then we set off to the Admiralty to learn the +details of the disaster. Alas! as Castellan had said, it proved only too +true. The steamship <i>Sultan of Sedang</i> had reached Madeira safely, and +had anchored in the Bay. Nothing of a suspicious nature occurred, nor +was any boat seen near the ship after dark. Suddenly a terrific +explosion was heard, and the great vessel was blown to pieces, the only +men who escaped with their lives being a stoker, a sergeant in the +Midlandshire regiment, and an officer's servant. At the time of +telegraphing, boats were out searching the Bay, while the most careful +investigation<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</a></span> as to the cause of the disaster was proceeding on shore. +The Colonial Secretary and I left the Admiralty when we had heard all +there was to be told, and proceeded into the street once more. The +coachman had been ordered not to wait, as we had decided to walk on home.</p> + +<p>Late as the hour was the alarming intelligence had spread like wildfire +through London, and already a considerable crowd had collected in +Whitehall. Fortunately, Castellan and I were able to slip out +unrecognised, and then we set off in the direction of Trafalgar Square. +The Colonial Secretary's residence, as all the world is aware, is in +Carlton House Terrace. At the corner of the small thoroughfare that +winds its way from Cockspur Street into Carlton House Terrace, we +stopped, and stood for some moments conversing there together. Then we +wished each other good-night, Castellan going down the narrow street of +which I have spoken, while I proceeded along Pall Mall and Piccadilly in +the direction of my own abode. My thoughts were the reverse of pleasant +as I strode along. A Cabinet Council had been summoned for the following +morning, and, with this sad intelligence to be brought before it, there +could be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</a></span> no doubt that it was likely to be a gloomy one.</p> + +<p>Next morning I rose early. I had a large amount of work to get through +before the meeting, which was to take place at eleven o'clock. At a +quarter to that hour I drove down to Whitehall, and made my way to the Foreign Office.</p> + +<p>"This is terrible news indeed, Manderville," said the Prime Minister, as +we shook hands. "Poor Grey-Mortimer and all those gallant men! I +scarcely like to think of the effect it will produce upon the country. +First, that succession of disastrous defeats, then Woller's +extraordinary disappearance, and now this new catastrophe. However, as +we shall have to discuss that directly, I will say no more at present. +Are we all here?"</p> + +<p>There was only one person who had not arrived, the Colonial Secretary.</p> + +<p>"It's not like Castellan to be unpunctual," said the Prime Minister. +"Doubtless, however, it won't be long before he puts in an appearance."</p> + +<p>When ten minutes had elapsed and still he did not come, a messenger was +despatched to the Colonial Office in search of him. It was not long +before he returned with the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</a></span>information that Castellan had not yet +arrived at his office. Close upon the heels of this message came another +from Mrs Castellan anxiously inquiring for her husband, who, it +appeared, had not come home on the previous night, nor had any +communication been received from him. As I heard this a great fear took +possession of me. I had said good-night to him in Cockspur Street, only +a few paces from his own front door, and had seen him walk in that +direction. How was it, then, that he had not reached it? Was he the +victim of a plot? Had he disappeared like Woller, never to be heard of again?</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</a></span></p> + +<h2><span>CHAPTER IV</span></h2> + +<p>Some idea of the wave of consternation which swept over England, when it +became known that the Right Honourable Benjamin Castellan, Secretary of +State for the Colonies had disappeared as mysteriously as Sir William +Woller had done before him, will be derived when I say that edition +after edition of the evening papers had been sold by three o'clock in +the afternoon. It was in every sense a grave national calamity, for, as +we all know, at this particular juncture in the country's history, +Benjamin Castellan, of all others, was the man who could least be spared.</p> + +<p>"You are sure, I suppose, Sir George, that Castellan intended going home +after you parted in Cockspur Street," the Prime Minister enquired, +looking at me along the table.</p> + +<p>"As certain as I am of anything," I replied. "He complained of feeling +tired, and <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</a></span>laughingly declared his intention of going to bed early, in +order that he might be fresh for our meeting this morning."</p> + +<p>"He did not seem depressed in any way, I suppose?" put in the First Lord +of the Admiralty.</p> + +<p>"He was naturally extremely downcast by the news we had received +concerning the <i>Sultan of Sedang</i>, but in no other sense," I answered. +"I am sorry now that I did not walk with him to his door as I originally +intended doing."</p> + +<p>"It is, perhaps, as well that you did not," asserted one of the others, +"for in that case we might have lost you too. Surely my Lord," he +continued, addressing the Prime Minister, "the Police Authorities should +be able to obtain some clue respecting his disappearance? Deserted as +the passage usually is at that hour of the night, for I have passed +through it myself, there <i>must</i> have been some one in the main +thoroughfares at either end who would have given the alarm had they +noticed anything out of the common."</p> + +<p>"It is not altogether certain that the crime, if crime it is—and of +that we have as yet no evidence—was perpetrated in the passage of which +you speak," said the Prime Minister;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</a></span> "but wherever, or however, the +deed was committed, the Police I am sure will do their utmost to unravel +the mystery. The mere fact that General Woller's disappearance has not +yet been accounted for is giving rise to a vast amount of uneasiness. +That the same fate should have befallen Mr Castellan will not be likely +to add to the public peace of mind. I am sure the Secretary of State for +the Home Department will do all that lies in his power to see that no +time is lost in bringing the offenders to justice."</p> + +<p>When the meeting broke up I made my way with all haste to Carlton House +Terrace, in order to assure my friend's wife of my sympathy, and to help +her in any way that lay in my power. Prostrated with grief though she +was, she consented to see me, and I was accordingly admitted to her presence.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Sir George!" she cried, hastening forward to greet me, "is it +possible that you bring news of him? Ah! I can see you do not."</p> + +<p>She threw herself into a chair with a little cry of despair, and for a +moment I scarcely knew what to say to comfort her.</p> + +<p>"We must hope for the best, Mrs Castellan,"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</a></span> I said at last, and then +added with an assurance that my heart was far from sharing—"no one +knows what the next few hours may bring forth."</p> + +<p>"But where can he be?" she cried—"and who can have been base enough to +harm him? I know that he has enemies, as every man who has made a great +name for himself must have, but I cannot think of one who would go so +far as to rob me of him. Oh! it is too cruel! too cruel!"</p> + +<p>We were still talking when news reached us that two members of the +Police Department had arrived, and were anxious for an interview.</p> + +<p>"I cannot see them," the poor lady declared. "I can tell them nothing +that they do not know!"</p> + +<p>"Then let me see them for you," I said. "I think I can answer any +questions they may ask, and at the same time it will spare you the pain +such an interview would entail."</p> + +<p>"God bless you for your kindness! You are a true friend."</p> + +<p>I thereupon left her, and followed my colleague's secretary along the +hall in the direction of the study.</p> + +<p>"This is a sad affair indeed, Mr Gedge,"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</a></span> I said, after we had left the +morning-room. "I presume you have never heard Mr Castellan say anything +as to his being shadowed by any one?"</p> + +<p>"Never," he replied; "though I will confess that I have suggested to him +on numerous occasions the advisability of having a companion with him +when he walked home late at night from the House. That, you remember, +was a favourite habit of his. He used to say that the fresh air revived +him after a long debate."</p> + +<p>"And he was quite right," I replied. "Now let us hear what the police +have to say."</p> + +<p>The two members of the Detective Force, who had been detailed to take +charge of the case, rose as we entered the room. They seemed somewhat +surprised at seeing me, but upon my informing them how I came to be +connected with the matter, willingly excused Mrs Castellan from +attendance.</p> + +<p>"Do I understand you to say that you were the last of his friends to see +Mr Castellan before his disappearance?" asked the taller of the two men, +who looked more like a burly Yorkshire farmer than a member of the +Scotland Yard Detective Force.</p> + +<p>"It would appear so," I replied. "We<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</a></span> left Wiltshire House on hearing +the news of the disaster to the <i>Sultan of Sedang</i>, drove to the +Admiralty to learn the latest particulars, and then, having dismissed +the carriage, strolled as far as Cockspur Street in each other's company."</p> + +<p>"And you parted at the passage that leads from Cockspur Street into +Carlton House Terrace, I believe?" said the other man. "You did not +happen to notice whether any person was following you, I suppose?"</p> + +<p>"I don't fancy either of us looked round during the whole distance," I +answered, with an inward wish that I had been suspicious enough to have +taken that simple precaution. "We had too much to occupy our thoughts +without observing the actions of other people."</p> + +<p>"And how long did you remain on the pavement? I should be obliged if you +would endeavour to be as accurate as possible, sir, in your answer to this question."</p> + +<p>I considered a moment before I replied.</p> + +<p>"Between eight and ten minutes I should say, certainly not more. I +remember comparing my watch with a clock above the shop window at the +corner, and remarking as I did so that I was nearly three minutes slow."</p> + +<p>"In that case you should be able to fix<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</a></span> the time of his leaving you to +within a minute or two," said the elder of the two men, taking a +note-book and pencil from his pocket as he spoke.</p> + +<p>"I can do so exactly. It was five minutes past twelve when we bade each +other good-night."</p> + +<p>"Was any one near you on the pavement while you were standing talking?"</p> + +<p>"No one, the street was almost deserted."</p> + +<p>"I notice that you say <i>almost</i> deserted, sir. Then there were other +people in sight. Do you happen to remember if any one was standing near +you—that is to say, within fifty feet or so?"</p> + +<p>"I recollect that there was a policeman on the opposite side of the +road. Two youths in evening dress, both far from sober, passed at the +moment that we stopped. Stay, now I come to think of it, there was an +old woman near us just before we said good-night to each other, and, if +my memory serves me, she disappeared down the narrow passage. It is +strange that I should have forgotten the circumstance."</p> + +<p>"An old woman? Can you give me a rather more detailed description of +her? Of what class was she?"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</a></span></p><p>"Of the very poorest, I should say, and half witted. She was in rags, +and was muttering some gibberish to herself. I am afraid I cannot tell +you any more about her."</p> + +<p>"That is rather a pity," said his companion. "I should like to have a +little conversation with that good lady."</p> + +<p>"You surely don't think she had anything to do with the Colonial +Secretary's disappearance?" I replied with some surprise. "Why, she +couldn't have had sufficient strength to harm a child, much less a +strong, active man such as Mr Castellan was."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps not, sir; it's just possible, however, that she may have had +friends to do the work for her. I don't say, of course, that she <i>had</i> +anything to do with it, but it is our duty to look after every detail, +and my experience has taught me that the most unexpected places often +provide the most likely clues. Let us suppose, for instance, that she +was only the decoy bird, and that the real perpetrators of the crime +were concealed in the passage. As soon as she had discovered Mr +Castellan, she passed into the lane and bade her confederates be on the +alert; then, when he appeared, they would be ready to effect his +capture. Doesn't that plot seem feasible enough, sir?"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</a></span></p><p>"Very feasible," I felt compelled to admit; "but your case, like the +proverbial figures, can be made to prove anything. However, if you think +the old woman had anything to do with it, what action do you propose to take?"</p> + +<p>"I shall try the street first, and endeavour to discover whether any one +heard a scuffle or cries for help last night. Then it's possible the +police on the beat may know something of the old woman, and be able to +give us an insight into her character and identity. In the meantime, if +Mrs Castellan will permit it, I will interview the servants and +endeavour to discover whether they noticed any suspicious characters +loitering about near the house."</p> + +<p>"I am sure Mrs Castellan will be only too pleased if you will do what +you deem necessary," I replied.</p> + +<p>The man thanked me, and the necessary orders were given for the servants +to be ushered into the room. One by one they were subjected to a +rigorous cross-examination at the hands of the two detectives. Neither +the butler nor any of the men-servants had noticed anything suspicious +in the front of the house, nor had they seen any old woman, answering to +my description, hanging about the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</a></span> premises. The housekeeper and cook +were equally positive in their assertions; indeed, the only person who +had noticed anything peculiar was a young housemaid, who declared that +she had seen two well-dressed men pass the house on three different +occasions during the day. Each time they used the small passage to which +reference has been so often made. When pressed to describe them more +accurately, she was unable to do so.</p> + +<p>"They were just ordinary gentlemen," she said, "dressed in frock coats +and silk hats, and they might have, or might not have, carried umbrellas +in their hands." Further than this she declared she could not go, not if +her life depended upon it.</p> + +<p>"What makes you so sure that they passed three times?" asked the smaller +of the two detectives.</p> + +<p>"Because I saw them first after breakfast, sir," the girl replied, "then +in the middle of the morning, and the last time just before dinner."</p> + +<p>This being all that could be extracted from her, the girl was dismissed +from the room, and Mr Castellan's valet was recalled. From him an exact +description of the clothes the missing man was wearing, and a record of +the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</a></span> jewellery he had about his person, was obtained.</p> + +<p>"This is no ordinary case of robbery," said the elder detective, "but it +is always as well to know these things. One never knows how useful they +may prove later on."</p> + +<p>After asking a few more questions, they thanked me for the information I +had given them and prepared to leave the house.</p> + +<p>"You will be sure to acquaint Mrs Castellan with any discovery you may +make?" I said. "I should like to be able to assure her of that?"</p> + +<p>"You may, sir. She shall know directly we hear of anything."</p> + +<p>Then they bowed themselves out, and I was at liberty to make my missing +colleague's wife acquainted with the result of our interview. I found +her still prostrated with grief and anxiety, a prey to the most +agonising thoughts. I did what I could to comfort her, though I felt +that my ministrations could do her no good. In my own heart I was quite +certain that Castellan had been spirited away by the same mysterious +agency that had deprived us of Woller. What that agency was, however, +was more than I, or any one of us, could determine. When I left Carlton +House Terrace<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</a></span> I drove to the Foreign Office, where I had a consultation +with the Prime Minister which lasted upwards of an hour, after which I +returned to my residence.</p> + +<p>I had intended going into the country that afternoon, but, in the light +of this new calamity, I changed my mind and resolved to remain in Town. +Accordingly, after lunch I drove to my office, and remained there until +towards evening. By three o'clock, as I have already said, the terrible +intelligence was known all over the town. In all my experience I cannot +remember a scene of greater excitement. Downing Street, in particular, +was filled with an enormous crowd, eager to learn the latest news. In +the public mind Castellan's disappearance figured as the work of an +enemy, very probably by reason of the prominent part he had played in +the history and development of the war. The wildest rumours were afloat +concerning the affair, and every edition of the evening papers contained +some new item connected with it. At four o'clock I bade my secretary +telephone to Scotland Yard and enquire whether they had any information +to impart. The reply was to the effect that their labours had so far +been entirely fruitless. As in poor Woller's case, not a trace of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</a></span> +missing man could be discovered. Castellan could not have vanished more +completely had he been caught up to the sky at the very moment that I +had said "good-bye" to him.</p> + +<p>"It is really most uncomfortable for every one concerned," my secretary +remarked. "If this sort of thing is to continue, one does not know who +the next victim may be."</p> + +<p>He was quite right; one certainly <i>did not</i> know. This much, however, +was quite certain: whoever the persons might be who perpetrated the +crime, they were past masters of their art. Their arrangements and the +general conduct of the affair was perfection itself, and against such +science it was almost impossible to guard. For my own part—and I don't +think my worst enemies can accuse me of cowardice—I must confess to a +distinct feeling of uneasiness when I reflected that this mysterious +individual, or band, might possibly try his, or their, hand upon me. The +suggestion emanating from Scotland Yard to the effect that we should +avail ourselves of the offer of police protection, I politely, but +firmly declined. The idea of being shadowed night and day by detectives +was more than distasteful to me.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</a></span></p><p>"Yet we do not desire to lose you, Sir George," said the Prime Minister +later, and in saying it he was kind enough to pay me a compliment which +my modesty will not permit me to repeat here. I owe him an apology in +this matter, however, for I now see that he was right. If I should have +to go through it all again, however, I feel that I should act as I did then.</p> + +<p>At half-past four o'clock I left the office—by the back door this time, +for I had no desire to be recognised by the crowd—and when I had +crossed the Horse Guards Parade, set off in the direction of Marlborough +House. As I walked along I thought of Castellan and of our meeting on +the previous night. How little he had dreamt when he had carried on his +airy badinage with Madame de Venetza that in less than three hours he +would be gone from the sight of men! This naturally led me to think of +the Countess. I recalled the expression upon her face, and the look in +her eyes, when she had invited me to visit her again, and though, as I +have said before, I do not in any way consider myself a lady's man, I am +willing to confess that the recollection of her condescension gave me +considerable satisfaction.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</a></span></p><p>Not feeling in the humour for Piccadilly, and the raucous voices of the +newsboys shouting—</p> + +<p class="bold">"DISAPPEARANCE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE<br /> +FOR THE COLONIES:<br />DISAPPEARANCE OF MR CASTELLAN!"</p> + +<p>I continued my walk across the green Park in the direction of Hyde Park +Corner. It was a beautiful evening, and in the twilight the Park +presented as peaceful a scene as the soul of man could desire. Reaching +the exit opposite Hamilton Place, I stood for a moment wondering whether +I should cross into Hyde Park or stroll leisurely home. What it was I +cannot say, but for some reason or another I had a strange desire for +the companionship of my fellow men or women. It may have been that the +sudden disappearance of Castellan had upset me more than I supposed. At +any rate, I was far from being myself. As I stood there an idea struck +me, and I wondered why it had not occurred to me before. What was there +to prevent my visiting the Countess that evening? She had declared that +she would be very glad to see me whenever I might call.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</a></span></p><p>My mind was no sooner made up than I crossed the road and steered a +course for Wiltshire House. On the way many friends would have stopped +me had I permitted them to do so, but I strode resolutely along, paying +no heed to them beyond returning their salutations. At last I reached +the Countess's house and learnt that she was not only at home but would +receive visitors. I found her in her boudoir seated before a bright +fire, though the day had been comparatively warm.</p> + +<p>"It is kind indeed of you to take pity upon my loneliness, Sir George," +she said, as she rose to receive me. "No one could be more welcome. I +have been feeling so very sad this afternoon, and now your society will cheer me up."</p> + +<p>"You have heard of Mr Castellan's disappearance, I suppose?" I remarked, +as I seated myself in the chair she indicated. "It has shocked you as it +has done all of us!"</p> + +<p>"Have you any way of accounting for it?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"None whatever," I replied. "The whole affair is shrouded in mystery. +The police are unable to discover the faintest clue to work upon."</p> + +<p>"It will have a very serious effect upon the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</a></span> country, will it not?" she +enquired. "He has played such a conspicuous part in politics of late!"</p> + +<p>"He will be missed, I fear," I answered, and stopped there, for I had no +desire to discuss current politics just then.</p> + +<p>Putting the topics of the day on one side, we at last came to the +duration of her stay in London.</p> + +<p>"I scarcely know how long we shall remain," she said. "I fancy my father +is growing tired of London already. The war is perhaps accountable for +it, but England is too sad just now. I do not like sad places. I prefer +the sun, the warmth, the glitter, and to have smiling faces about me. I +am afraid I must be peculiarly constituted, for the least thing is +sufficient to raise or depress me." Then suddenly brightening up, she +continued: "But there; what a foolish hostess I am to talk to you in +this fashion. I shall frighten you away, and then you will not come and +see me any more. I have no desire to lose so good a friend."</p> + +<p>Man of the world though I was, the compliment tickled my vanity, and I +hastened to reply in a suitable fashion. Then I congratulated her upon +the success which had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</a></span> attended her "At Home" on the previous evening.</p> + +<p>"In the matter of an 'At Home' it is not so very difficult to be +successful," she replied. "One has only to give <i>carte blanche</i> to one's +cook and house-steward, dress oneself in one's best, and stand at the +head of the stairs to receive one's guests with a conventional smile +upon one's face. A dinner is a somewhat more difficult affair, and +there, I think, without vanity, I may justly pride myself upon my +ability. A cosy little dinner for, let us say, not more than eight +people, each to be most carefully selected. Will you make one of them?"</p> + +<p>"I shall be delighted," I replied. "But may it not be a competition? My +man has ambition. Why not let me try to equal your effort, even if I +cannot excel it?"</p> + +<p>"Try, by all means. And the prize?"</p> + +<p>"The knowledge of success! What prize could be more worth winning?"</p> + +<p>"It is settled then?" she returned. "We are each to give a dinner and to +endeavour to outdo each other. I shall make my arrangements accordingly."</p> + +<p>After that we drifted into a discussion upon books, pictures, and, by +the natural transition<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</a></span> of things, came at last to music. On this +subject she was as well informed as upon every other.</p> + +<p>"It is my passion," she said in explanation. "My piano is the greatest +treasure I possess. I could not live without it."</p> + +<p>"I felt certain from the first that you were a musician," I replied. "I +wonder if I could induce you to play to me?"</p> + +<p>"I will do so with pleasure if you wish it?" she answered, and +accordingly crossed the room to the corner where the piano stood. +Prepared as I was to find her a good <i>pianiste</i>, I did not dream for a +moment that her talent was so great. As it was, she fascinated me from +the moment that her fingers touched the keys. In explanation I might +here remark that I am particularly susceptible to music, and now, under +her influence, I sat spell-bound. The work was Saint Saën's "Danse +Macabre," and in her hands the fierce madness of that remarkable +composition was brought out with more than its usual <i>diablerie</i>.</p> + +<p>In order to understand what is to follow, it must be remembered that I +was seated near the fire-place, and that her piano was at the further +end of the room, so that, placed as I was, I could not see my hostess.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</a></span></p><p>Having once felt the divine <i>afflatus</i>, she played on and on, without +stopping to enquire whether I was tired, wandering from master to master +as the fancy seized her. Such was the effect of the music upon me, that +in a short time I became scarcely conscious of mundane affairs. A +delicious languor was stealing over me, and little by little I felt my +eyes closing. The music appeared to be growing gradually fainter, until +it could scarcely be heard. I tried to rouse myself, but was unable to +do so. At last, even the inclination to battle with the feeling of +drowsiness left me, and I abandoned myself to my fate.</p> + +<p>Whether I fell asleep and dreamt what I am about to describe, or whether +the Countess, in the exercise of a deadly power which I feel convinced +she possessed, had hypnotized me, I cannot say. The fact remains, that +in my mind's eye, for my eyes were closed, I saw her rise from the +instrument and approach me. Then, she came closer, stopped, and stooped +over me until her eyes were close to mine. There was a light in them +that pierced my eyelids and penetrated to the centre of my brain.</p> + +<p>"It is useless for you to strive with me,"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</a></span> she said; "you are mine, and +must do my bidding."</p> + +<p>Then she began to question me on certain matters connected with the war +and with European politics. I appeared to be telling her secrets, so +vital in their importance, that to have breathed them aloud to the world +would have been to run the risk of causing the most serious +international complications. Yet, still powerless to resist, I answered +the questions as they were put to me, keeping nothing back. When she had +learnt all that she wanted to know, she moved away from me, and returned +to the piano. Then once more she began to play, the music growing louder +and more distinct as it progressed. Then I woke, to find her still +playing the same piece as when I had closed my eyes. When she had +finished it, she rose from her seat.</p> + +<p>"I think of all the great masters, I prefer Chopin," she said, as she +crossed the room. "Yes, I am certain that he stands first in my admiration."</p> + +<p>Her manner was so open, so sincere, that the suspicion I had been +tempted to entertain against her vanished in a trice. It was all +imagination, I told myself. Under the influence of her music I must have +fallen asleep and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</a></span> dreamt it all. Had I not good proof of this? Had it +really happened, it would have taken nearly a quarter of an hour for me +to impart the information she had asked of me. Yet the long hand of the +clock upon the mantel-piece had only advanced three minutes since I had +last looked at it. How comforting this assurance was to me I must leave +you to understand. It was the most singularly vivid dream, however, I +had had in my life, and, but for the evidence of the clock, and the +sincerity of the Countess's manner, I could have sworn that the incident +I have just described had really occurred. Yet there was another side to +the question. I had fallen asleep while paying an afternoon call, and +the idea disquieted me more than I cared to admit. Then a servant +entered with tea, and under the influence of the Countess's Pekoe and +fashionable chit-chat my powers of conversation returned to me. At last +I rose to take leave.</p> + +<p>"I fear I have paid you an unconscionably long visit," I said. "Your +beautiful music, however, must be blamed for my over-stepping the bounds +of politeness. I hope you will forgive me?"</p> + +<p>"It has been a pleasure to me to play to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</a></span> you," she answered. "One does +not always have such a sympathetic audience."</p> + +<p>With that I left her, and on reaching the street turned in the direction +of the Park.</p> + +<p>"I should have just time enough for a sharp walk before I dress," I said +to myself, and took my watch from my pocket and glanced at the dial. The +clock on the mantel-piece of the Countess's boudoir, when I had said +good-bye to her, had pointed to half-past five. My watch showed a +quarter to six. This was very singular, for I remembered looking at my +watch as I stood in the portico, after ringing the bell, and also my +laughing remark to the Countess to the effect that I was glad to have +found her at home at such an hour, glancing at the clock as I did so. +Yet now there was a difference of rather more than a quarter of an hour +between the two? What did this signify? Could the Countess's clock have +stopped while she was playing and then have gone on again of its own +accord? It was scarcely likely that, while I was asleep, she had risen +from the piano and had set it going, for going it certainly was when I +bade her good-bye. The remembrance of the dream I had had still weighed +heavily upon my mind, and, do what I would, I could<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</a></span> not throw it off. +Yet how absurd it was. Moreover, though I had more than once suspected +her of taking an interest in European politics, she had always denied +the fact to me. Besides, even if this were so, and granted that she had +the power, what reason could she possibly have had for extracting +secrets from me? At this point the remembrance of her eyes and the +singular influence they had had over me in Paris, returned to me.</p> + +<p>"What does it all mean?" I asked myself, as if in despair of arriving at +a definite conclusion.</p> + +<p>I was to find that out, however, in good time!</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</a></span></p> + +<h2><span>CHAPTER V</span></h2> + +<p>You will remember that in the preceding chapter I described to you the +conflicting emotions with which I viewed my now famous call at Wiltshire +House. Beyond remarking that I was quite at a loss to account for it, +and that the passing of time did not throw any further light upon the +mystery, I need say no more about it. There is so much to tell of vital +importance, that it behoves me to be economical of space. Needless to +say, the Colonial Secretary's disappearance continued to attract its +full measure of public attention. Despite the endeavours of the police, +however, no clue of any sort could be discovered, either as to his +present whereabouts, or as to the manner of his departure. Enormous +rewards were offered, but without success. He was gone, and that was all +that could be said about it.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, the most alarming telegrams were being received from the +Front. Day<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</a></span> after day the news of reverses filled the columns of the +Public Press, until it began to look as if the prestige of England would +be destroyed for ever and a day. Parliament had by this time assembled, +and questions innumerable were addressed to the Secretary of State for +War as to the reasons for the deplorable condition of affairs at the +Front. Public opinion was at fever heat, and only a small spark was +needed to bring about an explosion. Troops were pouring out of England +by every available boat, while the Home Defence Force was being +increased to its utmost limit. Never since the Crimea had such a state +of affairs been known, and never had the resources of the Empire been so +severely taxed. Then came the news of the loss of another transport at +sea, a catastrophe ascribed to the presence on board of a clock-work +infernal machine; this was followed by the stranding of the <i>Son of +Neptune</i>, with the 36th Lancers on board, at Las Palmas, by which the +horses and men, so badly needed at the seat of war, were detained on the +Island inactive until another vessel could be sent from England to pick +them up and convey them to their destination.</p> + +<p>By this time every one, save those whom<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</a></span> the most visible proof would +not convince, had arrived at the conclusion that we were fighting, not +only our ostensible and declared enemies, the two South African +Republics, but also another powerful yet mysterious foe, whose +machinations were responsible for the disappearance of Woller and the +Colonial Secretary, for the blowing up of the <i>Sultan of Sedang</i>, the +destruction of the <i>Son of Neptune</i>, and sundry other occurrences so +vividly and painfully impressed upon the public mind. Then, for upwards +of a fortnight, a respite was given us, and the British taxpayer was +able to take up his paper without finding the news of some new +misfortune, for which he would eventually be called upon to pay for both +in money and self-esteem, described in its columns. It was fortunate +that we could not foretell the even greater troubles that were still in +store for us.</p> + +<p>One memorable Friday morning, exactly a fortnight after my call at +Wiltshire House, a rumour ran through the town to the effect that +Woolwich Arsenal had been destroyed. Knowing the precautions that were +taken at that splendid institution to guard against such a thing, the +report was at first discredited. It was soon found, however, to be only +too true.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</a></span> A terrific explosion had taken place, a large number of +employees had been killed and wounded, while the works, then so vitally +necessary, were placed at a complete standstill. The lamentable +occurrence was reported to the House by the Home Secretary that +afternoon, and, as usual, the authorities declared there was no clue to +guide the police in their search for the author of the dastardly deed. +It was in vain that questions were asked in the House; in vain that +public orators demanded of the authorities that they should exercise +more care in guarding their institutions; in vain that the man in the +street forwarded his theories, and suggested remedies, to the Press. +England had a mysterious enemy who could think as well as act, and who, +when he has finished his work, left no trace behind to lead to his identification.</p> + +<p>In consequence of the excitement caused by the last disaster, the guards +upon all the public buildings were doubled, no precaution was omitted +that wisdom could dictate, and then we waited to see where the next blow +would fall. In this fashion another fortnight went by, during which an +incident of no small importance occurred. Quite by chance an explanation +was forthcoming as to how the news<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</a></span> of the series of disasters that had +been our portion in South Africa during the last few weeks reached our +shores. It was discovered that the cable, the only one then working, had +been cleverly tampered with, the wires milked, to use an American +expression, and a doctored version sent home for consumption. This was +corroborated by the mail reports, and despatches describing the course +of events in South Africa. Henceforth the most rigid precautions were +taken to guard against a repetition of this practice, and then once more +we sat down to wait.</p> + +<p>I had seen nothing of the Countess for some time. The fright I had +received on the last occasion that I had called upon her, was still +sufficiently impressed upon my memory to make me a little chary of +allowing her to obtain so much influence over me. As will doubtless be +agreed, this was a somewhat contradictory decision on my part, for in +arriving at it, I had no excuse to offer, save that I entertained for +her a mixture of admiration and, I might almost say, of innate distrust. +The admiration was easily accounted for; the distrust was somewhat more +difficult to explain. Was she not the bosom friend of many of the +greatest people in the land? She was to be met everywhere, and was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</a></span> as +well known a personage in London Society as Royalty itself. Her father, +it appeared, had left England for the Continent, and it was doubtful +when he would return. Her cousin was still with her, and was to be +encountered at every social gathering of importance. Young, handsome, +and the reported possessor of considerable wealth, it was small wonder +that he found himself in request, when so many young men were absent +from England. I have stated that I did not care for the young Count +Reiffenburg, and now I will go even further by saying that the more I +saw of him the less I liked him.</p> + +<p>At this point in my story it is necessary for me to describe a +circumstance, which, though at the time it puzzled me considerably, can +now be very easily explained. It occurred on a night when the House sat +scarcely so late as usual. As a matter of fact it was but little after +midnight when I set off to walk home. For a time after the disappearance +of the Colonial Secretary, I had declined to be shadowed by a detective, +but now, hearkening to the voice of Prudence, I had consented to be +shadowed by a detective whenever I took my walk abroad. Since I am fond +of walking, particularly at night, I am afraid my<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</a></span> own particular shadow +had rather a hard time of it. He never complained, however, but, +faithful to his duty, kept me continually in view, obtruding himself +upon my notice as little as possible. The feeling engendered by the +knowledge that a man is continually behind one, watching all one does, +is the reverse of pleasant. However, like everything else in life, one +gets used to it, and after a time I took no notice of it. On this +particular occasion, the night being so beautiful, the moon was full, I +remember, I strolled leisurely home, my thoughts centred on the debate +that had taken place that night. There is a solemnity about Trafalgar +Square at midnight, particularly when viewed by the light of the moon, +that is far from being its principal characteristic by day. As I passed +the spot where I had said good-bye to poor Castellan a few weeks before, +I could not suppress a shudder.</p> + +<p>Leaving Cockspur street behind me, I passed on to Piccadilly, afterwards +proceeding by way of Berkeley Square to my abode. By the time I reached +my own door I was in the full enjoyment of the night. It seemed a pity +to shut oneself up in the house when it was so lovely outside. I +therefore waited until my faithful follower came up to me, and then<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</a></span> +informed him that I intended going on for a further stroll.</p> + +<p>"There is not the least necessity for you to come," I said. "You may go +home to bed as soon as you like."</p> + +<p>"I think I would prefer to accompany you, sir," the man replied. "I am +on duty all night, and if anything were to happen to you, it would be my fault."</p> + +<p>"Very well, then," I answered, "come along."</p> + +<p>So saying, we resumed our walk, with the difference that on this +occasion I kept the man beside me. He proved an interesting companion, +having seen life under a variety of aspects, and in so doing had +naturally come in contact with many strange characters. What was more, +he had the faculty of being able to put them before you in a novel and +interesting light. He had been three times to America in search of +criminals, once to India, and once to Australia.</p> + +<p>By the time I had heard his experiences in the last-named country we had +reached Park Lane, and were drawing near Wiltshire House. At the corner +we called a halt, while I felt in my pocket for a match for my cigar. We +were standing in deep shadow, Wiltshire House being on the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</a></span> further side +of the road, and in the full light of the moon. Having found a match, I +was about to strike it, when the figure of a man on the opposite side of +the street attracted my attention. The moonlight was so bright that I +could see him quite distinctly. He was of the poorest class, evidently a +street loafer of the description to be seen any night stretched out on +the grass of the Park. My astonishment may be imagined, therefore, when +I saw him deliberately ascend the three steps leading to the side door +of Wiltshire House. He paused for a moment, then the door was softly +opened to him, and he passed inside. Scarcely able to believe the +evidence of my eyes, I turned to the man beside me and enquired if he +had noticed it? He admitted that he had.</p> + +<p>"What does it mean?" I asked. "Is it a case of burglary, do you think?"</p> + +<p>"It looks like it, sir," he replied. "Whatever it is, he has got a +confederate inside."</p> + +<p>"What do you think had better be done?" I enquired. "The Countess de +Venetza is a personal friend, and I cannot allow her house to be robbed +without making an effort to prevent it."</p> + +<p>"We had better call the policeman on the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</a></span> beat," the man replied; "after +that we can arouse the household. There shouldn't be much difficulty in +securing the fellow. If you wouldn't mind keeping your eye on that door +for a few minutes, sir, I'll go off and find the constable."</p> + +<p>I willingly agreed to watch the door, and the detective departed on his +errand. In something less than five minutes he returned, bringing two +policemen with him. The men had evidently been informed of my identity, +for they saluted respectfully, and one of them enquired what I wished +done in the matter.</p> + +<p>"I think the better plan would be to call up the house-steward and +inform him of what we have seen," I replied. "You will then be able to +search the house and effect the capture of the burglar."</p> + +<p>Leaving us to guard the door through which the old man had entered, one +of the policemen went round to the front of the house. The other +ascended the steps and rang the bell. To his first summons there was no +response, so he rang again. The bell echoed in the basement of the great +house, this time to some purpose, for a few minutes later a shuffling +footstep was heard within. Then the key turned in the lock and the door +was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</a></span> opened on the chain to the extent of a few inches.</p> + +<p>"Who's there?" asked a man's voice.</p> + +<p>"Police," answered the officer. "I'm here to warn you that there's a man +has just got into the house. Somebody let him in at this door."</p> + +<p>"Man got into the house?" was the alarmed response. "You don't mean +that, I hope, policeman?"</p> + +<p>"I do," replied the constable. "You had better let us come in and have a +look round. We've been watching the house and he hasn't come out yet. My +mate's round at the front, and there's a detective officer here. Get a +candle and we'll go through the rooms with you."</p> + +<p>The thought that he was to be called upon to assist in the arrest of a +burglar was too much for the old man. He tremblingly invited the officer +to lead the way down the stairs to the basement. While they were absent +we remained at the door, expecting every minute to hear the sound of a +scuffle from within. Five minutes or so later they ascended once more +and the constable shook his head.</p> + +<p>"Wherever else he is, sir," he said, addressing me, "he's not down there."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</a></span></p><p>The words had scarcely left his lips before the door at the further end +of the passage opened, and the Countess herself stood before us. Much to +my astonishment I saw that she was in full evening dress. Her appearance +was so entirely unexpected that I could only stare at her in surprise.</p> + +<p>"What does this mean?" she enquired, with a haughtiness that sat well +upon her. "Why, surely it is Sir George Manderville! What can have +happened? This is rather a late hour for a call, Sir George!"</p> + +<p>I explained what had occurred, told her of the man I had seen enter by +the side door, and whom I was perfectly certain had not come forth again.</p> + +<p>"Then he must be in the house now," she cried in a voice of alarm. "Who +can it be, and who could possibly have let him in?"</p> + +<p>"Some dishonest member of your household," I replied. "It would be as +well if you were to find out who that person is. In the meantime, let me +beg of you to permit the officers to search the house."</p> + +<p>To this she willingly assented, at the same time bidding the steward +rouse the housekeeper.</p> + +<p>"While the search is proceeding won't you<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</a></span> come to my boudoir, Sir +George?" she said. "I have been sitting there reading since I returned +from the theatre, and I am quite sure that the wretch, whoever he may +be, is not in that part of the building."</p> + +<p>I followed her to the room in question, which was on the other side of +the house, and we were about to enter it, when the sound of a footstep +upon the stairs attracted my attention, and I looked up, to see her +cousin, Count Reiffenburg, descending towards us.</p> + +<p>"What is the matter?" he asked. "Why, Sir George Manderville, I did not +expect to find <i>you</i> here!"</p> + +<p>I briefly explained the situation to him, whereupon he remarked, with +that curious smile upon his face:—"It seems that you are destined +always to prove our benefactor. But while we are talking here the man +may make his escape. I think I will go round with the police, and see if +I can be of any assistance to them."</p> + +<p>He left us, and for something like ten minutes the Countess and I waited +for the sound that was to proclaim the capture of the intruder. But no +such good fortune rewarded us. If the man were in the house—and of this +I had no doubt—he had managed to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</a></span> conceal himself so effectually that +the police could not find him. In the meantime the housekeeper had put +in an appearance, and was despatched to interrogate the female +domestics, and discover, if possible, who it was that had opened the +door. She returned with the information that she had found all the +maid-servants in bed and asleep, while the steward was equally certain +that none of the men under his charge had anything to do with the +occurrence. At last, after searching the house, the police were +compelled to confess that they were at a loss to understand what had become of him.</p> + +<p>"But there can be no doubt about his being here," I declared; "I +distinctly saw him enter. He was an old man, very ragged, with long grey +hair, and stooped as he walked. The detective officer who was with me at +the time can also corroborate what I say, if necessary."</p> + +<p>"That is not necessary, for of course we accept your word," said +Reiffenburg with elaborate politeness. "The question is: if, as you say, +he entered, where is he now? He cannot have vanished into space, and we +have searched every corner without success."</p> + +<p>"Then he must have an accomplice in the house who is hiding him," I +returned. "If<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</a></span> both exits have been guarded, he cannot have got out."</p> + +<p>By this time I was beginning to wish that I had had nothing to do with +the matter. The Countess, however, was profuse in her thanks to me, for +what she described as "a most considerate and friendly act."</p> + +<p>Seeing that I could be of no further use to her, I apologized for my +intrusion and bade them good-night.</p> + +<p>"Should we by any chance manage to secure the fellow, I will let you +know," said Reiffenburg, as we stood together at the front door. "I +fear, however, <i>we shall not be so fortunate</i>."</p> + +<p>There was a sneer in his voice, for which I could have kicked him. +However, I kept my temper, and murmuring something to the effect that I +was glad to have been of service, I took my departure, and the door +closed behind me.</p> + +<p>"That was one of the most extraordinary affairs I have ever known," I +said to the detective, as we turned our faces homewards. "I am quite at +a loss to account for it."</p> + +<p>The detective stopped suddenly and looked at me.</p> + +<p>"The lady and gentleman are particular<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</a></span> friends of yours, sir, I +understand, and I don't know in that case whether I ought to tell you +what is in my mind. But I fancy I could throw a rather unexpected light +upon the affair."</p> + +<p>"Speak out, then, by all means," I answered. "What was it you noticed?"</p> + +<p>"This, sir," he said, and as he spoke he took from his pocket a small +piece of black matter about half the size of a pea. He handed it to me +and asked if I had seen it before. I informed him that I was quite sure I had not.</p> + +<p>"It only bears out, sir, what I was saying as we came down Park Lane, +just before we reached Wiltshire House. If it weren't for little things, +that they overlook, we shouldn't be able to lay our hands on half the +criminals we want. Now mind you, sir, I don't mean to infer by that that +your friend Count Reiffenburg is a criminal. Not at all; that would be a +very wrong thing to say. He's probably been playing a practical joke, as +gentlemen will. The fact, however, remains that he gave himself away +with that little lump of black stuff, just as surely as Bill Coakes of +the Minories did when he gave his sweetheart the silk handkerchief<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</a></span> that +he picked up in old Mrs Burgiss's bedroom. He didn't think it was of any +importance, but she wore it, quarrelled with a girl over it, the police +came to hear of it, and Bill was caught. So it was just that slip that +brought him to the gallows."</p> + +<p>"I do not understand you," I replied, still holding the tiny bit of +black stuff in my hand. "What is the connection between this substance +and Count Reiffenburg?"</p> + +<p>"It's the key to the whole puzzle, sir," he said, and took it from me.</p> + +<p>Turning his face away, he put his hand to his mouth, and then wheeling +round again, parted his lips and showed me his teeth. The eye-tooth on +the right-hand side was missing. He put up his hand once more, and lo! +it was restored to its place.</p> + +<p>"That's what I mean, sir," he said. "Now I noticed, when the gentleman +came downstairs, that one of his eye-teeth were missing. He wanted to +make himself look old, I suppose, and when he had taken off the other +pieces, had forgotten to remove that one. Then he must have remembered +it, for his hand went up to his mouth, and next minute it was on the +floor, where I managed to get hold of it."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</a></span></p><p>"Do you mean to infer that the old man we saw enter the house was the +Count Reiffenburg?" I asked, aghast.</p> + +<p>"That is my belief, sir," said the man; "and I feel certain that if I +were allowed to search his bedroom, I should find my suspicions corroborated."</p> + +<p>"But what possible reason could he have for masquerading as a pauper +outcast, and who let him in?"</p> + +<p>"As to his reason, sir, I can hazard no sort of guess," he continued. +"But it was the lady herself who let him in."</p> + +<p>"How on earth do you know that?"</p> + +<p>"By a process of simple reasoning, sir. Did you happen to notice that, +when we returned to the hall after our search of the first section of +the house, the gentleman carried a book in his hand?"</p> + +<p>"Now that you mention the fact I <i>do</i> remember it," I answered. "But +what has the book to do with it?"</p> + +<p>"A great deal," he answered. "You may not be aware of the fact, but +there's a small sitting-room near that side door—a tiny place where the +housekeeper does her accounts. The book, when we first searched the +room, was lying upon the table."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</a></span></p><p>"May not the housekeeper have been reading it before she went to bed?"</p> + +<p>"The housekeeper is an Englishwoman, sir, and not very well educated. I +should call it remarkable if she knew Italian, and little short of +marvellous if she read Dante in the original. Now, sir, when Count +Reiffenburg entered the lady's boudoir, he brought that book with him +and placed it on one of the tables. He wouldn't have done that if it had +been the property of the housekeeper, would he? No, sir! Count +Reiffenburg was out, and the young lady, who is his cousin, I think I +understood you to say, sir, sat up for him in order to be near the door. +That's the way I read the riddle."</p> + +<p>"And I must confess that you have a certain amount of probability on +your side," I answered. "At the same time, if I were you, I should say +nothing about the discovery. It can serve no good purpose to bruit it +abroad. Do you think the two policemen noticed anything of the kind?"</p> + +<p>The detective gave a scornful little laugh. "I don't think you need have +much fear on that score, sir," he answered. "I doubt very much whether +the man who went round<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</a></span> with me noticed the book at all. His theory was +that the fellow we saw enter was one of the servants who had been out +late, and not a burglar at all."</p> + +<p>By this time we had reached my own residence, and I bade the man +good-night upon the steps. Having let myself in, I went to my study to +deposit some papers I had brought with me from the House, then to my +bedroom and to bed. The incident at Wiltshire House annoyed me, if only +for the reason that I could not understand it. What could the young +Count Reiffenburg have been doing—if it were he, as the detective +declared—wandering about London in that attire? That in itself was bad +enough, but it was made much worse by the knowledge that his beautiful +cousin had been conniving at his escapade. One thing was quite certain; +if I had entertained a dislike for Reiffenburg before, it was doubled +now. At last, tired by my long day and the events that had concluded it, +I fell asleep, and did not wake until I opened my eyes to find Williams +standing beside my bed, overcome with excitement and horror.</p> + +<p>"What is the matter, man?" I cried. "What makes you look like that?"</p> + +<p>"There's terrible news, sir," he faltered.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</a></span> "There's been a lot lately, +but this is the worst of all."</p> + +<p>"What is the matter, man?" I cried for the second time. "Don't stand +there trembling. Tell me what has happened."</p> + +<p>"I scarcely know how to tell you, sir," he answered, his voice almost failing him.</p> + +<p>"Then give me the paper and let me look for myself," I said, and took it +from him. On the page before me, in large type, was an announcement that +made me feel sick and giddy:—</p> + +<p class="bold">"ASSASSINATION OF THE PRIME MINISTER!"</p> + +<p>My horror was greater even than Williams's had been. I read the heavy +black lines over and over again, as if unable to grasp their meaning. +The Prime Minister dead! My old friend and Chief murdered! Could it be possible?</p> + +<p>When I had recovered my composure a little, I took up the paper, and +tried to read the account there set forth. There had only been time for +the insertion of a short paragraph, but its importance was such that it +would ring throughout the world. It ran as follows:—</p> + +<blockquote><p>"It is with a sorrow that cannot be expressed in words, that we +record the fact that the Right <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</a></span>Honourable, the Earl of Litford, +Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, and Prime Minister of +England, was assassinated soon after midnight. The Prime Minister +was last seen alive by his private secretary, in the study at his +residence at Grosvenor Square. He had left the House of Lords +early, but, with the exception of a slight headache, appeared to be +in the best of health and spirits. The presumption is that he was +stabbed in the back, but how the wound was inflicted, and by whom, +are matters which, at present, cannot be explained."</p></blockquote> + +<p>I could find no words to express my horror and surprise. It was only a +few hours since he had congratulated me upon my speech in answer to the +accusations of certain members of the Little Englander Party; now +England was bereft, by as foul an act as had ever been committed in the +annals of crime, of one of her greatest statesmen and of one of her noblest sons.</p> + +<p>Craving further particulars, I dressed with all speed, and then drove to +his residence in Grosvenor Square. Leaving my cab, I walked towards the +well-known house, before which a large number of people had collected. +Recognising me, they allowed me to pass, and so I gained the front door +of the house I had so often entered as the friend and colleague of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</a></span> the +dead man. I was shown into the morning-room, where presently I was +joined by the secretary, who, as the newspapers had reported, had been +the last to see him before the tragedy took place.</p> + +<p>"Tell me about it," I said, after we had greeted each other.</p> + +<p>From his narrative I gathered that the dead man, on his return from the +House, after spending half-an-hour with his wife, went to his study. His +secretary followed him there, to ascertain if he could be of any further +assistance to him. He found him seated at the table writing, and was +informed by him that he required nothing more, and that it would not be +very long before he himself retired to rest.</p> + +<p>"Was the window in the study open?" I asked.</p> + +<p>"No," he answered; "it was closed, and the shutters were barred. That +was at half-past eleven. At half-past twelve, wondering why her husband +did not come upstairs, Lady Litford went in search of him. Her horror +may be pictured when she discovered him, seated in his chair, quite +dead. He had been stabbed to the heart from behind."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</a></span></p><p>"And were there no traces of any one having entered the room?"</p> + +<p>"Not one. The police have taken possession of it, but so far they have +been unable to discover any trace of the assassin's entry or the means +by which he effected his departure."</p> + +<p>"And Lady Litford? How does she bear up under the blow?"</p> + +<p>"So bravely, that it makes one's heart ache to see her."</p> + +<p>Then, at my request, he conducted me upstairs, and I was permitted to +gaze upon the face of the dead man. It was as peaceful as in life's +serenest moments, calm and dignified—the face of a man who has done his +duty to his Sovereign and his country, and whose life has been given in +her service. Then, with a sorrow in my heart greater than I had known +for many years, I looked my last upon the face of the dead, and I left the room.</p> + +<p>When I had sent a message of deepest sympathy to the widow, I bade the +secretary good-bye, and left the house. So awe-struck was the crowd by +the magnitude of the tragedy, that scarcely a sound came from it, +though, as if in proof of sympathy, here and there a hand was stretched out to me.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</a></span></p><p>"He was a good man and a proper gentleman," said a burly costermonger. +"It's a pity we hadn't more like him."</p> + +<p>It seemed to me that that homely speech was as fine an eulogium of the +dead as could have been spoken by the most cultured tongue.</p> + +<p>I often wonder now what I should have done, had I known the part I had +unconsciously played in that terrible drama. At that moment, lying, no +one knew where—perhaps in the crevice of some paving-stone, or carried +into the water-table by a passing shower—was a small piece of black +wax, which, could it have spoken, would have been able to tell a tale +without its equal for treachery and villainy in all the world. How I +became aware of this, you will learn as my story progresses.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</a></span></p> + +<h2><span>CHAPTER VI</span></h2> + +<p>The catalogue of woes, which it has been my ill-fortune to be compelled +to chronicle, is indeed a long one, but of all the items I have set +down, none had had such a terrible effect upon the public mind as the +assassination of the Prime Minister. Expressions of genuine sorrow +poured forth from every side, and party feeling, for the time being at +least, was forgotten. Even the most antagonistic of the Continental +journals, though perhaps rejoicing in their hearts at Great Britain's +misfortune, admitted that she was passing through a time of severe +trial, and while they prophesied our ultimate downfall, showed very +plainly their admiration for our fortitude. Indeed the self-control of +the nation at this particular period was a little short of marvellous. +The war was draining her of her best blood; those at the helm of the +Ship of State were being one by one mysteriously done away with; she had +been the victim of a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</a></span> vast scheme of false intelligence, her great +arsenal had been blown up and the supply of munitions of war thereby +seriously imperilled at the most critical juncture; a large proportion +of her army were prisoners in the enemy's hands, and three other +portions were locked up in beleaguered towns. Yet, with it all, she +continued the struggle with as much determination as she had first +entered upon it. The bull-dog tenacity permeated all classes; it was +shared by the peer, the country squire, the small farmer, the tradesman +and the artizan; it was voiced by the Prime Minister, and echoed by the +costermonger. Whatever it might cost, England was resolved to win in the +end. That end, however, was still far off, and much blood would have to +be spilt and a large amount of money spent before we should be able to +call ourselves the victors.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, troops were still pouring out of England, and more were +hastening to her assistance from Australia and Canada. Even in these +loyal portions of the Empire, however, strenuous efforts were being made +by some mysterious power, upon which it was impossible to lay hands, to +undermine their affection for the mother country. Treasonable pamphlets +were distributed broadcast; an infernal machine<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</a></span> was discovered on board +a troop-ship on the point of sailing from a Queensland port; another was +discovered on board a transport in Sydney harbour; while a third vessel, +owing to the wilful carelessness of the captain, who was afterwards +arraigned on a charge of High Treason, but was acquitted for want of +sufficient evidence, was put ashore, with all her troops on board, on +the coast of South Australia. It was in Canada, however, that the +trouble was worst. Its proximity to the United States favoured the +Fenian propaganda, and, despite the loyalty of the French Canadians—of +which no one felt a doubt—an attempt was made to induce them to swerve +in their allegiance to the Empire. Such was the state of affairs when +Lord Litford's successor took up the reins of office.</p> + +<p>It must not be thought that, because they achieved no result, the police +were lax in their attempts to discover the perpetrator or perpetrators +of that cruel crime. To employ again that well-worn phrase, not a stone +was left unturned to arrive at an understanding of the manner in which +the deed was done. One thing was quite certain, it had been carefully +planned; but then so had the disappearance of Woller and the Colonial +Secretary. The<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</a></span> destruction of Woolwich Arsenal was a work of devilish +ingenuity; while the blowing up of the transport <i>Sultan of Sedang</i> at +Madeira was arranged to a nicety. In the case of the Prime Minister, the +servants and members of his household were interrogated, but were all +dismissed from the case as being beyond suspicion. They unitedly +declared that, to the best of their belief, no stranger had entered the +house up to the time of their going to bed, nor had any suspicious +person been seen in its vicinity during the day. Moreover, the police on +duty in the Square had been instructed to keep a watchful eye upon the +house, and they were able to affirm that they had seen no one loitering +near the Prime Minister's residence from the earliest hours of morning +until the time that the news of the tragedy was made known. Yet the fact +remained that some one <i>had</i> entered the house, and had been able to +make his way unobserved to the library, where the crime was committed, +and afterwards to get out again undiscovered. Needless to say, a large +reward was offered by the authorities for any information which would +lead to a conviction; but though a multitude of communications were +received in answer to it, from all sorts and conditions of people, not +one was of any value.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[Pg 152]</a></span></p><p>On the Friday following the assassination of the Prime Minister, and +the day before the funeral, according to custom I took a constitutional +in the Park before going down to my office. As a matter of fact I was +somewhat earlier than usual, and for that reason, with the exception of +a few riders in the Row, and the customary bicycle contingent, the Park +was comparatively empty. I entered by the Grosvenor Gate, walked as far +as the Barracks, and then retraced my steps towards Piccadilly, passing +along the north bank of the Serpentine. I had several difficult problems +to work out that day, and one of them was occupying my mind as I walked +beside the lake. Suddenly a voice I recognised fell upon my ear, and I +looked up to find, seated a few paces distant from me, no less a person +than the Countess de Venetza. She was engaged in an earnest conversation +with a dark, foreign-looking individual, an Italian, without the shadow +of a doubt. The Countess did not see me at first, but, as soon as she +did, she said something hurriedly to the man beside her and came forward +to greet me.</p> + +<p>"You are out early, Sir George," she began. "The Park is delightful at +this time of the day, is it not?"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[Pg 153]</a></span></p><p>"Delightful indeed," I replied. "I did not expect, however, to have the +pleasure of meeting you in it."</p> + +<p>"I walk here almost every morning," she answered. And then, after we had +uttered a few commonplaces, she continued: "And now, while I think of +it, let me apologize to you for my rudeness in having omitted to thank +you again for the great service you rendered us on the occasion of the +burglary at Wiltshire House. Had it not been for your prompt action, we +should have been more seriously robbed, while it is quite possible that +something worse might have happened."</p> + +<p>"You say that you might have been '<i>more seriously robbed'?</i>" I +returned. "Am I to understand, then, that the man was found in the house after all?"</p> + +<p>"He was not found <i>in the house</i>," she replied. "But we have discovered +by what means he effected his escape from it. While Conrad and the +police were looking for him downstairs, he was hidden in a dressing-room +adjoining that which used to be my father's apartment, at the back of +the house. When they ascended the stairs he opened the window and +lowered himself down to a roof below. Then he must have made his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[Pg 154]</a></span> way +through the mews at the back and reached safety again. In proof of this +a small silver ornament, one of the few missing things, was found next +day in the guttering of the roof."</p> + +<p>If this were so, then the detective's statement to the effect that the +man who had entered the house was none other than young Reiffenburg was +altogether beyond the mark, and would only serve to show the folly of +judging by purely circumstantial evidence.</p> + +<p>"In that case, who do you suspect of having admitted him to the house?" +I enquired, for this was a point of considerable importance.</p> + +<p>"An under-footman," she replied, "who has since been discharged. His +behaviour struck Conrad as being rather suspicious at the time, but it +was not until other things were found to be missing, that we derived a +real knowledge of his character."</p> + +<p>"I am rejoiced to know that the mystery has been solved," I said. "But +pray forgive me, Countess; see, I have driven your friend away."</p> + +<p>She gave a start before she replied.</p> + +<p>"He is not my friend," she answered somewhat hurriedly, "merely a +begging compatriot. The poor fellow is a teacher of music,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[Pg 155]</a></span> who puts +forward his art as a claim upon my bounty. He is anxious to return to +Italy, but cannot do so for want of means."</p> + +<p>Now there was one point about this speech that I did not understand. As +I had approached the seat, I distinctly heard the foreigner say +authoritatively in Italian: "It is the order of the Council and must be +obeyed." Of course the words might have meant anything, but the tone was +certainly one of authority. It struck me as being peculiar that an +impoverished music-master, soliciting the Countess's assistance, should +address her in such a tone. Why I should have bothered myself with the +fellow's affairs I cannot say. The impulse, however, was irresistible.</p> + +<p>"To be stranded in a strange country is a hard fate," I said. "Since I +am also a devotee of his beautiful art, will you not permit me to assist +you in your work of benevolence. If you will furnish me with the man's +name and address, I will see that he is helped to attain his object."</p> + +<p>As I said this I could not help thinking that I detected a frightened +look in her face.</p> + +<p>"Oh, no, you must not do that," she said hurriedly. "He is a very proud +man, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[Pg 156]</a></span> would only accept help from me because I am a compatriot and +happen to know something of his family. I feel sure that he would be +extremely angry with me if he knew that I had said anything to you upon +the subject."</p> + +<p>"I am sorry that you will not let me assist him," I said. "I have no +desire, however, to hurt his feelings. Forget that I said anything about it."</p> + +<p>"Ah! now I have offended you," she continued, with a look of pain upon +her face. "Forgive me, I am very thoughtless. Had we been speaking my +own Italian it would have been different. Your English is so hard, so unsympathetic."</p> + +<p>Her voice was so full of entreaty, her whole demeanour so expressive of +sorrow, that I almost repented me of the trick I had endeavoured to play +upon her. What did it matter to me whether the man were an old friend, +or only the stranger she had represented him to be? I accordingly begged +her to say no more upon the subject, assuring her that I was not in the +least hurt at her declining my offer. This seemed to soothe her, and +presently, when we had walked some little distance beside the water, her +cheerfulness returned. She had been amusing herself<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[Pg 157]</a></span> of late, so she +informed me, by working out a sketch for the dinner-party to which she +had invited me. It was to be an unique affair of its kind.</p> + +<p>"All that remains to be settled is, when shall it be?" she asked. "How +would Thursday next suit you?"</p> + +<p>"Impossible, I am afraid," I answered. "I have promised to go to +Aldershot on Wednesday, to be present next day at an inspection of the +men who are to sail on Saturday for the South."</p> + +<p>"Then would the Wednesday following suit you?"</p> + +<p>"Admirably," I replied. "It would be more convenient for a variety of reasons."</p> + +<p>"Then it is settled that we are to dine together on Wednesday week at +eight o'clock. You will not forget?"</p> + +<p>"Is it likely that I should be guilty of such rudeness?" I asked, and +then added, with what was for me unusual gallantry, "I shall count the +days that must elapse before the time can arrive."</p> + +<p>"I am hopeful of being able to get the Duke of Rotherhithe to meet you," +she said. "Do you know that he is in England?"</p> + +<p>"I was not aware of it," I answered; "but I am very glad to hear it, nevertheless."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[Pg 158]</a></span></p><p>I did not say that one of my reasons for being glad was that I hoped to +be able to obtain from him some particulars concerning my fair friend. I +remembered the statement she had made during our journey from Paris +together, to the effect that she and her father had been yachting with +Rotherhithe in the Mediterranean. If they were on such intimate terms it +was more than likely that my old friend would know more about her than +any one else in our world of fashion would be likely to do.</p> + +<p>When we reached Hyde Park Corner we paused for a few moments. I do not +think she could ever have looked more beautiful than she did then, +certainly never more dangerous.</p> + +<p>"I wonder if, after we part, we shall ever meet again?" she said, with +what was almost a touch of sadness in her voice.</p> + +<p>"Are you, then, thinking of leaving England soon?" I asked in some +surprise, for until that moment she had not spoken of terminating her visit.</p> + +<p>"I do not think we shall remain very much longer," she replied. "I have +duties abroad that are calling for my attention."</p> + +<p>"I hope when you go that you will be able<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[Pg 159]</a></span> to say you have enjoyed your +stay with us?" I said.</p> + +<p>"I should have," she replied, "had it not been for this dreadful war. +But as things are, how could one enjoy oneself?"</p> + +<p>Had I known then all that I now know, I should have realized the double +meaning contained in her remark. But more of that anon.</p> + +<p>At last we bade each other good-bye, and separated, she crossing the +Park in the direction of Wiltshire House, while I passed out and made my +way over Constitution Hill towards Pall Mall.</p> + +<p>On the Wednesday following the event I have just described, I +accompanied the Commander-in-Chief and several other members of the +Government to Aldershot, to inspect the large body of troops then about +to leave for the front. We were to be the guests of Lord Beckingdale +during the time we were there, and were to return to London on the +Thursday evening after the inspection. We accordingly left Waterloo +together, proceeded by train to Farnborough, and then drove to Lord +Beckingdale's residence by coach. It was a glorious afternoon, and the +change from London to the country was delightful. I commented upon this, +whereupon <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[Pg 160]</a></span>Beckingdale, who is one of my oldest friends, began to rally +me on my preference for the Metropolis.</p> + +<p>"I thought you would get over it in time," he said with one of his +hearty laughs. "Why don't you marry, George, and settle down in the +country? You would make an ideal Squire."</p> + +<p>"I should be bored to death in a week," I replied. "Besides, who is +there that would take pity on me? I am not so young as I was, and I am +afraid that I have had my liberty too long to make a good husband."</p> + +<p>As I said this the image of the Countess rose before my mind's eye, +though why it should have done so at this particular moment is more than +I can say. Though I admired her intensely, my admiration went no +further. She was a delightful hostess and an exceedingly clever woman, +but I should no more have thought of making her Lady Manderville than I +should have tried to jump from the Clock Tower of the Houses of +Parliament into the river.</p> + +<p>At that moment we were descending a steep hill, through a closely-wooded +plantation. We were half-way down, when I happened to catch sight of a +man standing among the trees, some<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[Pg 161]</a></span> fifty yards or so from the road. +Strange to say, he was watching us through a pair of field-glasses, and +was evidently much interested in our movements, though it looked as if +he himself had no desire to attract attention. Then he disappeared +amongst the brushwood, and, for the time being, I thought no more about him.</p> + +<p>On reaching the Park, we were most cordially received by Lady +Beckingdale, and partook of afternoon tea with her in the hall, which is +one of the most charming features of that beautiful house. A stroll +round the grounds, and a visit to the stud farm afterwards, wiled away +the time until the dressing gong sounded. Then we returned to the house, +and made our way to our various rooms. Before commencing to dress I went +to the windows and looked out. The gardens on that particular side of +the house slope upwards until they reach the small paddock which +separates them from the woods behind. Now I have a fairly sharp eye, and +a faculty of noticing, which sometimes stands me in good stead. On this +particular occasion I was watching the evening light upon the trees in +the plantation opposite, when suddenly I saw a brace of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[Pg 162]</a></span> pheasants fly +quickly out, followed by half-a-dozen more. They had evidently been +disturbed by some human being.</p> + +<p>"Just give me my glasses for a moment, Williams," I said, and in a trice +he had handed me the pair I had brought down for the inspection next +day. Seating myself in the window, I brought them to bear upon the spot +where the birds had flown out. For a moment I could see nothing. Then I +thought I could detect what looked like a grey trouser-leg, peeping out +beneath the branches of a fir. I called Williams to my side and handed +him the glasses, directing him where to look.</p> + +<p>"What do you make of it?" I asked.</p> + +<p>"It looks as if there's somebody hiding there, sir," he answered. "Yes, +sir, I'm sure of it," he added a few moments later. "If you will look +now, you will be able to see him creeping away."</p> + +<p>I took the glasses again and once more turned them upon the spot. What +he had said was quite correct; the figure of a man dressed in a grey +suit could just be distinguished disappearing into the deeper part of +the wood. It immediately occurred to me that the man I had seen that +afternoon,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</a></span> when we were on our way to the Park, had also been dressed +in grey. Could this be the individual who had watched us then? And if +so, what were his reasons for behaving in this mysterious fashion? I did +not like the idea of it, remembering as I did the dangerous condition of +the times, and the manner in which so many of my friends had been attacked.</p> + +<p>"Keep what you have seen to yourself, Williams," I said; "I will speak +to Lord Beckingdale myself about it when I go downstairs. If the man is +a poacher, or has any dishonest reason for being there, he will know +what to do in the matter."</p> + +<p>Williams promised to obey my instructions, and when I had dressed, I +made my way downstairs to find our host and the Commander-in-Chief +standing before the fire-place, in which a cheerful fire was burning.</p> + +<p>"By the way, Beckingdale," I said, when I had answered the remark one of +them made to me as I descended the stairs, "who is the man in your +plantation with the grey suit and field-glasses."</p> + +<p>"Man with grey suit and field-glasses?" he repeated, with a look of +surprise on his face. "I have many friends who are the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</a></span> happy possessors +of both articles. But what makes you ask me such a question at the +present moment?"</p> + +<p>"For a good and sufficient reason," I replied, and went on to tell him +of the two occasions that afternoon upon which I had seen the person in question.</p> + +<p>"What a singular thing!" he said, when I had finished. "I wonder who the +fellow is, and what his idea can be in watching the house? As you are +aware, the place is being patrolled by police to-night, and I think I +had better inform them of the circumstance. After the terrible events of +the last few weeks it does not do to run any risks. Can you describe the man?"</p> + +<p>I furnished him with as accurate a description of the fellow as it was +possible to give, whereupon he departed in search of the officer in +command of the police. When he returned we joined the ladies in the +drawing-room, and then went in to dinner. It was not until the ladies +had withdrawn and cigarettes were lighted, that the subject of the grey +man was introduced. A small piece of paper was handed to our host by the +butler. He glanced at it and then looked across the table to where I sat.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[Pg 165]</a></span></p><p>"Here is the police report," he said. "It informs me that they have +scoured all the plantations round the estate with the assistance of the +keepers, but have not been successful in discovering the man you saw. No +doubt he was some prying celebrity hunter, who has taken himself off, to +Aldershot probably, where he will have no opportunity of seeing you to-morrow."</p> + +<p>This brought a round of questions from the others, who, with the +exception of the Commander-in-Chief, had not heard of the incident. When +each man had settled the question to his own satisfaction, the subject +was dropped, and we rose from the table to return to the drawing-room. +Here we indulged in music and conversation until half-past ten o'clock, +smoked in the billiard-room for another hour, and at half-past eleven +bade each other good-night in the gallery that ran round the hall, and +retired to our respective rooms. By this time the character of the night +had changed. A boisterous wind had risen, and heavy rain was driven +tempestuously against the window-panes. It certainly did not look very +promising for the inspection on the morrow. I inquired from Williams +whether anything further had been<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[Pg 166]</a></span> heard concerning the man we had both +seen in the plantation opposite the house.</p> + +<p>"Not that I know of, sir," he replied; "I did not hear it mentioned. But +there's one thing that's been on my mind ever since you spoke to me +about it to-night, and I must own that it puzzles me. I don't say it's +right, of course; at the same time I've got a feeling that I'm not so +very far wrong."</p> + +<p>"What is it?" I enquired with interest, for Williams is a staid and +circumspect individual, and is not in the habit of committing himself to +a rash statement.</p> + +<p>"It is just this, sir. When you sent me down to the Commander-in-Chief's +residence with that note this morning, there was a man walking on the +opposite side of the street who, to the best of my belief, was dressed +just as this man was—that is to say, in a grey suit and a soft black hat."</p> + +<p>"There is nothing very remarkable in that," I answered, a little +disappointed. "You would probably find a dozen men dressed in a similar +fashion in a short walk through the West End."</p> + +<p>"I beg your pardon, sir, but I thought the coincidence worth +mentioning," Williams replied<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[Pg 167]</a></span> in rather a crestfallen way. Then he bade +me good-night and I retired to rest.</p> + +<p>That night I slept like a top, and did not wake until Williams entered +my room next morning. He informed me that the rain had passed off, that +it was a fine day, and then busied himself with preparations for my +toilet. These were barely accomplished, and I was in the act of +commencing to shave, when the handle of my door turned, and Beckingdale, +almost beside himself with excitement, entered the room.</p> + +<p>"Great Heavens! Manderville," he cried in a voice which, had I not seen +him, I should scarcely have recognised as his, "a most awful thing has +happened. The Commander-in-Chief is missing."</p> + +<p>"Missing?" I echoed, as if I scarcely understood the meaning of the +word. "What do you mean?"</p> + +<p>"I mean that his valet came to my man, Walters, about half an hour ago, +and told him that he had knocked repeatedly on the door of his master's +bedroom and could get no reply. My man came to me with the story, and +when I had tried the door myself with the same result, I gave orders +that it should be broken in. You may imagine our feelings when we<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[Pg 168]</a></span> +discovered the room to be empty. The bed had been slept in, it is true, +but there was not a trace of the man we wanted. What was more, the +windows were shut. The police are now searching in all directions. What +on earth shall we do? The inspection is at eleven o'clock, and it is +most unlikely that we shall have the good fortune to find him before then."</p> + +<p>Terrible as the situation was, I could not help recalling the fact that +I had taken part in just such another interview on the morning of +Woller's disappearance, when the Commander-in-Chief had asked my advice +as to what should be done to find the missing man before that identical hour.</p> + +<p>"Help me if you possibly can," cried Beckingdale, who, like myself, was +quite overwhelmed by the magnitude of the misfortune. "Though I know I +am not to blame, I cannot help reproaching myself for having permitted +this to happen in my house. How can it have been managed, and who can have done it?"</p> + +<p>I shook my head.</p> + +<p>"The same mysterious power that is responsible for Woller's +disappearance and for the Prime Minister's death," I said. "But who is +there amongst us who can say what<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[Pg 169]</a></span> that power is. Good Heavens!" I +cried, as the consequences rose before me, "the Commander-in-Chief gone! +I can scarcely credit it. Surely some one must have heard something? +What room is beneath his bedroom?"</p> + +<p>"The dining-room, unfortunately," Beckingdale replied, "and as ill luck +would have it, the room adjoining it on the right is empty, while +M'Innister occupies that on the left. The latter says he heard nothing +suspicious, but that's easily accounted for, by reason of his deafness +and the storm we had. But what on earth can have become of him? I would +give anything to have him before me now. How cheerful he was last night, +and how sanguine as to the ultimate end of the war! This will prove +another bitter blow to the nation."</p> + +<p>"And it has had enough already," I replied. "We had better telegraph to +the War Office and Scotland Yard at once."</p> + +<p>"I have already done that," he said. "I have also sent a special +messenger to the commanding officer down here, informing him of the +occurrence, and asking him to send out troops to scour the country in +the hope of discovering some trace of the missing man.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[Pg 170]</a></span> I do not see +what else we can do at the present."</p> + +<p>Then a thought struck me. What about the grey man whom Williams declared +he had seen on the previous morning near the Commander-in-Chief's +residence, whom I had seen watching us through field-glasses, on our way +to Beckingdale Park, and whom Williams and I had both seen in the +plantation opposite the house when I went up to dress for dinner? I +recalled the fact of his presence to Beckingdale.</p> + +<p>"I have not forgotten him," he said. "Directly I heard that they could +not get into his room, a suspicion of what might be in store for us +flashed through my mind, and I said to myself, 'If anything has happened +to him, I shall say that Manderville's grey man is mixed up in the +business.' As soon as the worst was apparent, I spoke to the police upon +the subject, and they have once more made an effort to find him or to +hear of him, without success. The grey man is as mysteriously missing as +the Commander-in-Chief himself, and as to the part he played in the +other's disappearance, it seems to me that we are likely to remain as +ignorant as we are of everything else. Now, dress as<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[Pg 171]</a></span> quickly as you +can, there's a good fellow, and come down to my study. We must hold a +council together, and see what's to be done."</p> + +<p>I did as he desired, and when I was ready I made my way to his study.</p> + +<p>When I reached it I found Beckingdale and the one other guest awaiting +my coming. The terrible effect that had been produced by the news of the +morning was to be seen on their faces. For upwards of an hour we +discussed the question in all its bearings, but eager as we were to do +all that lay in our power to render assistance to the missing man, we +were obliged to confess that we were unable to do anything. By this time +wires were pouring in from all parts, and it is quite certain that the +powers of the little village telegraph office had never been so severely +taxed before. At ten o'clock it was decided, by unanimous consent, that +the inspection should be abandoned in the absence of the Commander-in +Chief, and accordingly, at half-past ten, we returned to town. It is +needless for me to say that it was a miserable journey. Our spirits were +as low as it was possible for the spirits of human beings to be. On +reaching Waterloo we drove direct to the Foreign<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[Pg 172]</a></span> Office, where a +Cabinet Council had been hastily called together. When it was over I +drove home. The streets echoed to the cries of the newsboys:—</p> + +<p class="bold">"DISAPPEARANCE OF THE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF!<br /> +<br />DISAPPEARANCE OF THE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF!"</p> + +<p>That evening a new sensation was added to the already long list when it +was known that the notorious anarchist, Luigi Ferreira, had managed to +escape from prison some days before, and was supposed to have crossed +the Channel and to be in London. Had I only known then that he was the +man I had seen talking so excitedly to the Countess in the Park, a few +mornings before, and that at that very moment he was occupying a room at +Wiltshire House, as a supposed invalid, how speedily might retribution +have descended upon him.</p> + +<p>Unfortunately, however, I did not know!</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[Pg 173]</a></span></p> + +<h2><span>CHAPTER VII</span></h2> + +<p>The state of mind into which England was plunged by the news of the +disappearance of the Commander-in-Chief cannot be fittingly described by +a pen so weak as mine. It was not that we had lost anything of our +former courage, or that we had resigned all hope of coming out victors +in the struggle. We were as resolved as ever to carry this war through +to the bitter end, yet the news clanged like a death knell upon a +thousand hearts. Of my own feelings I will not speak. That expressed by +the nation voices my own. I was sad, how sad few can guess, but despite +my sorrow I declared that the war must go on—that the end should be +reached. And now to turn to a brighter subject.</p> + +<p>On the Tuesday before the day I was due to dine at Wiltshire House, I +had the good fortune to receive a visit from an old friend. He was none +other than the Duke of Rotherhithe, the gentleman who had been obliging<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[Pg 174]</a></span> +enough to convey the Countess de Venetza and her father from +Constantinople to Naples on a certain memorable occasion, and who was +known to entertain a great admiration for her. Having had a somewhat +busy morning, I did not reach home until after two o'clock. I had +scarcely sat down to lunch, before Thompson, my butler, informed me that +the Duke of Rotherhithe was anxious to see me.</p> + +<p>"My dear fellow, this is friendly of you," I said, as we shook hands a +few moments later. "You are just in time for lunch. I have only this minute commenced."</p> + +<p>"You couldn't offer me anything better," he replied. "I have eaten +nothing all the morning. By Jove! how good it is to see your face again, +old man, and what a swell you have become, to be sure, since I saw you +last—Cabinet Minister, and I don't know what else besides. You'll be +Premier before you've done."</p> + +<p>"Not quite so high as that," I answered. "I have my ambitions, I will +admit, but I am afraid that the Premiership is scarcely the one that +will be likely to be realised."</p> + +<p>One thing was quite certain: Rotherhithe was in the most excellent +spirits. His honest,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[Pg 175]</a></span> manly face was wreathed in smiles, and had an +artist been present he might have used it for the personification of +Happiness. Throughout the meal he laughed and joked continually, +recalled old days, old escapades, long since forgotten on my side, and +vowed that we were both of us growing younger instead of older. That +there was something unusual about it all I could plainly see, but what +that something was I had not then the least idea. My suspicions, +however, were aroused very soon.</p> + +<p>"By the way," I said, when we had finished lunch, "let me tell you that +I have lately had the pleasure to be of some service to an old friend of yours."</p> + +<p>"An old friend of mine?" he said, with what I could not help thinking +was pretended surprise. "Who is the friend?"</p> + +<p>"The Countess de Venetza," I replied. "The lady whose wealth and beauty +have made her such a prominent figure in London Society of late. She +told me that she had been yachting with you in the Mediterranean, and +spoke quite feelingly of your kindness to herself and her father. Do you +mean to tell me that you don't recollect her?"</p> + +<p>"Recollect her? of course I do," he said, still<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[Pg 176]</a></span> with the same sheepish +look upon his face. "Oh yes, I remember her well enough. And so you've +been kind to her, have you?"</p> + +<p>Here he laughed in a foolish fashion to himself.</p> + +<p>"Umph!" I said to myself, "surely he cannot have been idiotic enough to +have——"</p> + +<p>I stopped myself abruptly. I knew very well that I should hear all the +news he had to tell quite soon enough.</p> + +<p>At last Thompson and the men left the room, and an expression of great +solemnity took possession of my friend's countenance. What was more, he +drew his chair a little closer to mine.</p> + +<p>"My dear old fellow," he said, laying his hand on my arm, "we have been +friends many years. In point of fact I don't know of a man whose good +wishes I should so thoroughly appreciate. By Jove, old fellow, I am the +happiest being in the world! So happy, in fact, that I'm dashed if I +know whether I am standing on my head or my heels!"</p> + +<p>"Let me reassure you then," I said dryly. "You are standing on your +heels at the present moment."</p> + +<p>"Confound your silly jokes," he said angrily. "Any one but a Cabinet +Minister would have<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[Pg 177]</a></span> seen that I was speaking metaphorically. Now I want +to tell you that——"</p> + +<p>"If you are going to be confidential," I replied, "let us adjourn to the +smoking-room. I shall give you much better attention over a cigar, and +you will doubtless prove more eloquent."</p> + +<p>We accordingly adjourned to the room in question, where I produced a box +of cigars, furnished the Duke with a light, and then, when we had seated +ourselves, bade him commence his tale. I have often noticed that when a +man who is anxious to be communicative is invited to begin his +confidences, he finds that his stream of loquacity has dried up. It was +so in Rotherhithe's case. He hummed and hawed, gazed very steadily at +the ceiling for some seconds, and finally rose from his chair and began +to pace the room.</p> + +<p>"You may remember," he began in the tone of a man addressing a public +meeting, "that you and several other of my friends have continually +endeavoured to impress upon me that it is my bounden duty, not only to +myself, but to the name I bear, to marry and settle down. You can't +grumble, therefore, if I take you at your word."</p> + +<p>"You couldn't do better," I said reflectively,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[Pg 178]</a></span> examining the ash of my +cigar as I spoke. "There is only one objection to the scheme so far as I can see."</p> + +<p>"Objection?" he cried, firing up as usual. "What sort of objection can +there be to such a thing?"</p> + +<p>"It is just possible you may marry the wrong girl," I said quietly. "You +must admit that <i>that</i> would be a very decided one."</p> + +<p>"I am not likely to be such an idiot," he returned. "What is more, I am +not about to marry a girl."</p> + +<p>I was becoming more and more convinced that my suspicions were correct.</p> + +<p>"In that case, the objection is removed," I said. "And now let me offer +you my heartiest congratulations. I sincerely hope you may be happy."</p> + +<p>"But hang it all, you haven't asked me yet who the lady is! You might +have done that."</p> + +<p>"If I wanted to waste time I might very well have done it," I replied. +"There is no need, however, seeing that I already know who she is."</p> + +<p>"The deuce you do! Then who is she?"</p> + +<p>"The Countess de Venetza," I answered, shaking the ash of my cigar into +the tray<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[Pg 179]</a></span> beside me. "I had my suspicions at lunch, and you afterwards +confirmed them. I presume I am correct?"</p> + +<p>"Quite correct," he said in a tone of relief. "And, by Jove, don't you +think I am a lucky man? Isn't she simply beautiful?"</p> + +<p>I offered no reply to the first question. On the second point, however, +I was fortunate enough to be in a position to reassure him. Whatever +else she might be, or might not be, the Countess was certainly very beautiful.</p> + +<p>"I shall have her painted by Collier," he continued, "or another of +those artist fellows. She will be in black velvet, holding the folds of +a curtain in her hand, and I'll hang it in the gallery at the old place, +with all the other family pictures round her. There'll not be another +there to equal her."</p> + +<p>In my own heart I wondered what those stately old ladies in frills and +brocades would say to the new-comer. I did not mention the fact, +however, to Rotherhithe. In his present condition he was ready to take +offence at anything, at least where she was concerned.</p> + +<p>"And when will the wedding take place?" I enquired. "And where?"</p> + +<p>"I can't quite say," he replied; "there's such a lot to be settled +first, you see. I want<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[Pg 180]</a></span> her to let it be in London, but, so far, she +hasn't given me a definite answer."</p> + +<p>"And her respected father? What has he to say upon the subject?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, he's pleased enough. I had a telegram from him this morning. +Between ourselves, I think foreigners overdo it a bit, don't you?"</p> + +<p>"They certainly express their feelings somewhat more warmly than we +usually do," I said, as if in explanation of my own conduct; "but in +this case one feels justified in launching out a little. Might I ask how +long you have known the lady?"</p> + +<p>I put the question listlessly, seeing that the chance of my learning a +little of her past history was a poor one.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I have known her a long time," he answered vaguely. "We were +together in Cairo and Algiers, and other places. What a fellow you are, +to be sure, to ask questions! Does it mean that you think——"</p> + +<p>He stopped and glared at me, but I soothed him down.</p> + +<p>"My dear fellow," I said, "I think nothing at all, except that the +Countess is a most charming lady, and that you will doubtless live a +most happy life together. I am sure I hope you may."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[Pg 181]</a></span></p><p>He looked at me queerly for a moment, and then brought his hand down +with a whack upon my shoulder.</p> + +<p>"By Jove! Do you know, I believe you have been in love with her +yourself," he said. "Now own up!"</p> + +<p>"It is very possible," I answered, feeling that my only safety lay in +answering as I did. "I have been in love with her ever since I have +known her, and with all due respect to you, I shall remain so after she +has become Her Grace the Duchess of Rotherhithe. If you are jealous, you +will have to forbid me the house."</p> + +<p>He laughed uproariously, his confidence quite restored by my candour. +Then, with an assurance that I had better not let him catch me flirting +with her, he informed me that it was time for him to be off, as he had +promised to call at Wiltshire House that afternoon.</p> + +<p>"One last question," I said, as we walked towards the door, "and I mean +it seriously. What does cousin Conrad say to the arrangement?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know what he says in the least, and what is more I don't care," +he replied, an angry look coming into his face. "Between<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[Pg 182]</a></span> ourselves, +George, I don't like that young fellow. I shall take care, once I am +married, that he doesn't enter my doors."</p> + +<p>"I think you would be wise," I said, and there the matter dropped.</p> + +<p>When he had gone, I sat myself down to consider the situation. It +displeased me for more reasons than one. Rotherhithe was my old friend. +I was exceedingly fond of him, and I had no desire that his married life +should prove a failure. Yet what reason had I for supposing that it +would? It is true I had seen a good deal of the Countess lately, but not +sufficient to be able to declare that I knew her intimately. She was a +beautiful woman, an excellent hostess, the possessor of great wealth, +and—though beyond her father I knew nothing of her family—evidently of +gentle blood. This much was in her favour, yet there were other things +which rankled in my memory, and which, had I aspired to the honour of +her hand, I should have wanted explained to me. How was it that no one +had ever heard of her before she appeared to dazzle all London? Was +Count Reiffenburg really her cousin? Who was that mysterious foreigner +who had plainly been threatening her on the morning that I had met her +in the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[Pg 183]</a></span> Park? And last, but not least, what was the real story of that +old tramp's entrance into Wiltshire House on the night of the supposed burglary?</p> + +<p>The most alarming question, and the most difficult of all to decide, was +whether it was my duty to say anything to Rotherhithe upon the subject. +He was, in the main, an easy-going, happy-go-lucky fellow, not +overburdened with brains, but in every other respect a high-minded +English gentleman. Yet I knew him well enough to feel sure that in a +case like this he would have been the first to resent—and, looked at +from his own light, quite rightly too—any aspersion that might be +thrown upon the character of the woman he loved. That he <i>was</i> in love +with her there could be no sort of doubt. One had only to look into his +face to see it. But <i>I</i> was also fond of him, and if I knew there were +anything hidden from him which he ought to know, was it not my duty, as +his friend, to risk his anger, and the possible rupture of our +friendship, in order to make him acquainted with it?</p> + +<p>For the remainder of the day I debated this question seriously with +myself, but try how I would I was quite unable to arrive at a +satisfactory decision regarding it. This much,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[Pg 184]</a></span> however, I <i>did</i> +do—common politeness demanded it of me: I sat down and wrote a note of +congratulation to the Countess. Though I knew in my heart it was a +somewhat traitorous proceeding, yet, when the note had been despatched, +I must confess I felt easier in my mind. A twinge of conscience, +however, still remained to plague me. If only I had not taken the walk +that night, or if only I had been too late to see the old man enter the +house, I should have been able to regard the whole affair, if not with +pleasure, at least with a measure of equanimity. Now, however, it was otherwise.</p> + +<p>Next morning a charming little note arrived from the Countess, thanking +me for my good wishes, and referring to herself as one of the most +fortunate women in the world. As a letter it was delightful; as an +expression of the writer's true feelings, well—I was not quite so +satisfied as to its genuineness. Charming though the lady undeniably +was, and sympathetic to an eminent degree, I found it extremely +difficult to imagine her in love. If by chance she were so, however, +Rotherhithe was certainly the last man whom it would have been with. The +news of his engagement had caused quite a stir, even at that time of +almost<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[Pg 185]</a></span> daily sensations, in the fashionable world. In consequence of +it, however, those who had hitherto been inclined to hold a little aloof +from her, as one whose antecedents were not sufficiently well known to +warrant the intimacy, now that the Duke had, so to speak, stood sponsor +for her, were prepared to admit her into their inmost circle.</p> + +<p>As for Rotherhithe he conducted himself like an amiable lunatic, +frequented Wiltshire House to an extent that almost bordered on the +indecent, and was making plans for the future with the impetuous +recklessness of a fifteen-year-old schoolboy. His beautiful home in the +Midlands was to be prepared for occupation, a new yacht was to be built +that would be the finest of her kind, while Rotherhithe House, in +London, was to be refurnished and decorated throughout. Altogether, as +somebody said, the Duke's love-affair would be likely to prove the +costliest hobby he had indulged in since his majority. But as I have +said before, if he desired to marry the Countess, and was convinced that +his happiness lay in that direction, it was no business of mine to contradict him.</p> + +<p>From the tone I have adopted in speaking of this matter it may be +surmised that I was jealous of Rotherhithe's success. Allow me to +assure<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[Pg 186]</a></span> you, most emphatically, that such was not the case. I am quite +prepared to admit that I admired the Countess, as not only a beautiful, +but also an exceedingly clever woman. As I have once or twice remarked, +however, I am a confirmed bachelor, and I do not think it would be in +the power of the fairest daughter of Eve to induce me to change my state.</p> + +<p>It was in this frame of mind that I entered the portals of Wiltshire +House on the evening of the Countess's dinner. In some ways my interest +had departed from it. I was merely a looker-on at a game which was being +extremely well played, and, knowing something of the rules by which it +is governed, I was able to appreciate the importance of the various +moves, while being in no way dependent upon their skill.</p> + +<p>The Countess, looking like the Queen of Beauty, received me in the +drawing-room. Rotherhithe had already arrived, and, as was plainly to be +seen, was ensconced on the summit of happiness.</p> + +<p>"I am glad you should be the first to arrive," she said, as if her +<i>fiancé</i> counted for nothing, "and, while I have the opportunity, I must +thank you once more for your charming<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[Pg 187]</a></span> letter, and for the kindly +sentiments it expressed."</p> + +<p>"It was awfully nice of you, by Jove!" put in the Duke, and then added +with boyish <i>naïveté</i>: "Manderville always knows how to do and say the +right thing. He's a past master of tact."</p> + +<p>I happened to be looking at the Countess's face as he said it, and +if—as I feel sure I did—I read it correctly, it spoke volumes.</p> + +<p>"She does not care about him an atom," I said to myself; and then I +added, "if that's so, God help my poor old friend!"</p> + +<p>A few moments later, when we were nearly at the end of our stock of +commonplaces, the other guests arrived. So far as they were concerned, +the dinner was likely to prove a success. Besides the Countess, +Rotherhithe, and myself, there was Lady Deeceford, who, besides being +one of the prettiest women in England, is also one of the wittiest; +Deeceford himself, who had just returned from the Pamirs, and who, while +being one of the geographical lions of the day, was also a well-informed +man of the world; Montague Wordley, the dramatist, whose wit was a +puzzle, even to himself; and pretty Mrs Van Hoden, the American<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[Pg 188]</a></span> +actress, famous alike for her beauty and her talent. These, with Lady +Susan Pedthorpe, whose powers are too well known to need description, +completed the list.</p> + +<p>The honour of escorting our hostess into dinner was given to me, while +Rotherhithe gave his arm to Lady Deeceford; the latter's husband took +Lady Susan; Wordley, Mrs Van Hoden. To attempt a description of the meal +to which we sat down would be impossible; let it suffice that it was +unique in every sense of the word. Looking back over a period of more +years than I care to think about, I am unable to recall one +entertainment that in any way equalled it. The whole thing was original +from end to end. The earth seemed to have been ransacked for our +delectation. The wines were of the choicest vintages, and the waiting +was all that could be desired. By reason, I suppose, of what followed +later, every detail of the entertainment is indelibly impressed upon my +memory. I can recall the smallest items connected with it. The +Countess's Southern beauty, Rotherhithe's jovial countenance, Mrs Van +Hoden's rippling laugh, the perfect modulation of Lady Susan's voice, +even the glitter of a splendid sapphire on one of Lady<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[Pg 189]</a></span> Deeceford's +shapely fingers, are as deeply engraved upon my memory as if it were but +yesterday. One thing, I must confess, surprised me, while at the same +time it added to my pleasure. That was the absence of our hostess's +cousin, Reiffenburg. Unable to account for it, I was later on induced to +enquire after him.</p> + +<p>"He has gone into the country," she replied. "He has heard of some +shooting that would appear to be perfection, and he has gone to prove +it. Conrad is rapidly becoming Anglicized."</p> + +<p>"Consequently, discovering a fine day, he enquires what he shall kill," +I put in.</p> + +<p>"That pleasant illusion, I fear, is fast passing away," said Deeceford +from across the table. "With the abolition of bull-baiting, +badger-drawing, cock-fighting, and similar sports, the old order has +changed. Fox-hunting is deteriorating before the steady advance of +barbed wire; deer-hunting is declared to be an inhuman sport, while +pigeon-shooting is fast becoming a purely mechanical performance, played +with an inverted saucer and a spring."</p> + +<p>The conversation drifted into another channel, and after that nothing +more was said about the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[Pg 190]</a></span> Count Von Reiffenburg's absence. Personally, I +could not help feeling sure that the reason the Countess had advanced to +account for it was far from being the correct one. As I have said +elsewhere, I had long ago arrived at the conclusion that the young man +entertained a more than cousinly regard for the lady; his absence from +the dinner, therefore, was merely an arrangement to ensure his not +meeting his more successful rival. The engagement by this time was known +throughout London, so that I was only voicing a popular sentiment, at +dessert, when I proposed the health and happiness of the affianced pair. +The Countess murmured her thanks, while Rotherhithe declared that it was +jolly good of us to wish them luck, and, by way of adding to the general +cheerfulness, hoped that we should all be as friendly after his marriage +as we had been before. Then the ladies left the room.</p> + +<p>Half an hour later we joined them in the drawing-room, where I was +fortunate enough to be able to induce the Countess to play to us. She +complied without hesitation, and, if the truth must be told, her music +was to me the greatest pleasure I received that evening. As I listened +to her,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[Pg 191]</a></span> I could not help recalling that memorable afternoon when she +had played to me before. After she had finished, a famous musician, then +in London, and whom she had induced to come to her house, played to us +superbly. To me, however, his performance was insipidity itself compared +with that to which I had just listened. At a quarter to twelve the +various carriages were announced, and the guests departed until only +Rotherhithe and I were left.</p> + +<p>"Well, Sir George," said the Countess, as she stood before the +fire-place, one dainty hand up on the mantel-piece and a pretty foot +resting upon the brass bar of the fender, "I hope I have succeeded in +demonstrating to you the fact that, even at the close of the Nineteenth +Century, it is possible to be original in one of the most prosaic +actions of life."</p> + +<p>"You have certainly given us a delightful proof," I answered. "When my +turn arrives, I fear I shall find it difficult to equal, much less to +eclipse, your effort."</p> + +<p>"I thought nothing was impossible to a Cabinet Minister," put in +Rotherhithe, who had, of course, been informed of our rivalry. "We shall +look forward to seeing what you can do."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[Pg 192]</a></span></p><p>"I fear you will be disappointed in the result," I replied. "And now I +must be going. Good-night, Countess. When I say that you have eclipsed +even yourself to-night, I cannot pay you a greater compliment."</p> + +<p>"Praise from Sir George Manderville is praise indeed," she quoted +demurely. Then she added with gracious kindness—"Good-night."</p> + +<p>I held out my hand to Rotherhithe, but he did not take it.</p> + +<p>"Look here, George," he said, "if you are willing to walk home, I'll +tell you what I'll do—I'll come with you. Broughams are not much in my +line. If we walk we can smoke a cigar together."</p> + +<p>I would far rather have gone home by myself, but it was impossible to +put Rotherhithe off. I accordingly consented, though I knew very well +what the result would be. Being anxious to leave them alone for a +moment, I strolled into the hall, where Rotherhithe presently joined me. +We donned our hats and coats and set off, my shadow picking me up at the +foot of the steps according to custom.</p> + +<p>"Well, old fellow," said Rotherhithe, slipping his arm through mine +after we had turned<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[Pg 193]</a></span> the corner, "what do you think of her? Isn't she +simply perfect? Don't you think I'm the luckiest fellow on earth?"</p> + +<p>"Three questions in one breath," I said; "how on earth do you expect me +to answer them? Of course you're a lucky fellow, and of course we all +envy you your happiness." Then, with an air of seriousness, I continued, +"I suppose, Rotherhithe, you are quite convinced that she is the one +woman in the world for you?"</p> + +<p>"Convinced?" he replied, with a short laugh at the absurdity of the +question, "of course, I am convinced. Why, my dear old chap, if I were +to hunt the whole world over, I shouldn't find her equal. You've no idea +how good she is. What's more, do you know, she's the soul of caution. +She's got what I lack—the business instinct."</p> + +<p>"Indeed!" I said, for this side of the Countess's character had never +been revealed to me. "So she is business-like, is she?"</p> + +<p>"I should think she is. Why, when I spoke to her of what I thought of +doing at Rotherhithe House, that is to say, of pulling a lot of it down, +you know, and rebuilding it, to say nothing of redecorating and +refurnishing it throughout, she wouldn't<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[Pg 194]</a></span> hear of it. 'Wait,' she said, +'and let us see how we like it. It will be quite time enough when we +have been married a few years to think of making changes in what has served so long.'"</p> + +<p>"A very sensible remark too," I replied. "I am glad she is not going to +lead you into useless expenditure. It's no business of mine, I know, but +that collet of diamonds must have cost a fortune?"</p> + +<p>"Thirty thousand pounds," he answered. "But it's worth every penny of it +to see it round her neck. She is passionately fond of diamonds. They are +the only stones she cares for."</p> + +<p>Decidedly I began to think the Countess was a business woman. Had I +aspired to the honour of her hand, she would perforce have had to be +content with a single string of pearls. Collets of diamonds, costing +thirty thousand pounds, are the peculiar gifts of millionaires. Now +Rotherhithe, I knew, while a rich man, was far from being overburdened +with money. I wished that he had not done it, though why I should have +done so, it would have puzzled me to say.</p> + +<p>When we reached my house, I invited him to accompany me inside; he would +not hear of it, however.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[Pg 195]</a></span></p><p>"No," he said, "I'll be getting home now; late hours don't agree with +me. But before we part, old friend, there's one thing I want to say to +you. I'm going to make a rather big settlement on my wife that is to be, +and I want to know if you have any objection to my putting you down as +one of the trustees? If you could manage it, I should be more than +grateful to you. Should anything happen to me, there is nobody else I +know who would look after her interests so well."</p> + +<p>I scarcely knew what answer to make. The proposal was one that did not +commend itself to me for several reasons. But what objection could I +raise to it? I was his friend, and presumably hers also. It would be +only natural that he should ask me, and, in the ordinary course of +things, it would be only natural that I should accept. For some vague +reason, however, events seemed to be moving outside the ordinary course +of things, so I determined not to give him an answer then.</p> + +<p>"Don't disappoint me, there's a good fellow," he went on. "You can have +no idea what importance I attach to your acceptance of the position."</p> + +<p>"Let me have until to-morrow morning to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[Pg 196]</a></span> decide," I replied. "It is not +my habit, as you are aware, to do anything in a hurry, and I should like +to think it over before giving my consent. There are many things to be +considered. You may be sure, however, that if I can possibly convince +myself that I shall be really serving your interest and hers by acceding +to your request, that I shall do so. If I did not think so, I should ask +you to find some one else at once, and trust to our old friendship to +make you believe that I am right."</p> + +<p>"Very good, then, we will leave it like that, and you shall give me an +answer to-morrow. And now good-night, George. You may not think so, but +this has been the happiest evening of my life." Here we shook hands.</p> + +<p>"Let us hope," I said, "that this is only the beginning of your +happiness. You will possess a wife of whom you are sure to be proud; you +have rank, wealth, and innumerable friends. What more could any man +desire? Good-night!"</p> + +<p>He waved his hand to me in farewell, and then set off down the street. +When he had disappeared, I beckoned my shadow to me, and bade him +good-night also. Then I, in my turn, retired from the world.</p> + +<p>Not feeling in the humour for bed, I went<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[Pg 197]</a></span> to my study and, contrary to +my usual habit, lit another cigar. I had a variety of papers to look +through, so I seated myself in a comfortable chair and set to work to +peruse them. It was a useless endeavour, however, for try how I would to +rivet my attention upon them, I found my thoughts reverting continually +to the entertainment I had been present at that evening. For more than +an hour I remained in my study, then, feeling that I should be better in +bed, I went upstairs. I had scarcely reached my dressing-room, however, +before the sound of a bell reached my ears. A few minutes later there +was a tap upon the door, and Williams entered with a note. I took it +from him, and looked first at the address and then at the back. Greatly +to my surprise I found that it was from Rotherhithe, to whom I had said +good-bye on the pavement outside the house an hour or so before. The +contents ran as follows:—</p> + +<blockquote><p><span class="smcap">Dear George</span>,—Something terrible has happened. For the sake of our +old friendship I implore you to come to me at once. I am sending my +carriage to fetch you. For Heaven's sake don't delay a moment +longer than you can help. Ever your friend,</p> + +<p class="right"><span class="smcap">Rotherhithe</span>.</p></blockquote> + +<p>What on earth could be the matter? I asked<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[Pg 198]</a></span> myself. Had the Countess +changed her mind or had Rotherhithe met with an accident? Not knowing +what might be asked of me, I changed my dress clothes for a morning suit +as quickly as possible, informed Williams of the fact that I was going +to Rotherhithe House, and then descended the stairs.</p> + +<p>A brougham with servants in the well-known Rotherhithe livery, was drawn +up beside the pavement, and in it I took my place. The door was then +closed and we set off.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[Pg 199]</a></span></p> + +<h2><span>CHAPTER VIII</span></h2> + +<p>As the brougham sped on its way through the almost deserted streets, I +sat and wondered as to what it could have been that had induced +Rotherhithe to send such an urgent message to me. That something serious +had happened I had not the least doubt, for the Duke was a self-reliant +man, and at no time given to the display of emotion. Taking the letter +from my pocket again, I endeavoured to read it by the light of the lamps +we passed, but it was impossible. The fear that underlay everything was +that Count Conrad had returned to town, had met Rotherhithe, and that +there had been trouble between them.</p> + +<p>After we had been driving for something like five minutes, a most +curious thing happened. I was trying to make out an object in the street +through which we were passing, when suddenly I found myself in total +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[Pg 200]</a></span>darkness. Putting my hand up to the right-hand window to see what had +occasioned it, I found that a sheet of iron had interposed itself +between me and the glass. The same thing had happened in front and on +the opposite side, though how it had been arranged, I could not for the +life of me discover. Then I tried the doors, but the handles refused to +turn. I felt that I was trapped indeed, and to make matters worse, a +villainous smell of gas was fast taking possession of the carriage. I +shouted for assistance with all the strength of my lungs, but no help +came. I tried to force the panels of the carriage, but it was a useless +endeavour. Still the sickening smell of gas increased, until I felt +that, unless I could get into the fresh air without delay, I should be +suffocated—as a matter of fact my senses were already leaving me. Was +this how Woller and Castellan had died? I asked myself, for in my own +heart I felt that my last hour had come. Scarcely conscious of what I +was doing, I believe I stood up and struggled with the door, but with as +little success as before. Then I fell back upon the cushions and became +oblivious to everything.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[Pg 201]</a></span></p><p>How long I remained in this condition I cannot say; I only know that my +next waking thought was the realisation of a spasm of acute pain. It was +as if every muscle of my body were being drawn by red-hot pincers. My +brain whirred as though to the rattle of a thousand pieces of machinery, +while an indescribable nausea held me in its grip. I could not have +lifted my head, or have opened my eyes, had my life depended upon my +doing so. For what seemed an interminable time, I lay like this, totally +unconscious of my surroundings, and, indeed, of everything else save my +agony. After a time, however, my senses began to return to me, and I was +able to reduce my thoughts to something like order.</p> + +<p>At first I had no recollection of what had transpired since I had left +home, but little by little it all came back to me. I recalled the letter +I had received from Rotherhithe, and the haste with which I had complied +with the summons it contained. I remembered the drive through the +lamp-lit streets, the sudden darkness that had descended upon me, the +overpowering smell of gas, and the sensation, which I could compare to +nothing, save that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[Pg 202]</a></span> of approaching death, which I had experienced when I +fell back upon the street.</p> + +<p>At last I opened my eyes and looked about me. Had I found myself in a +vault, I doubt whether I should have been more surprised. As it was, my +astonishment was the greater at finding myself in a comfortable +bed-room, not very large, it is true, but cheerful to an eminent degree. +The furniture was useful, but not luxurious; it consisted of a wash-hand +stand, a chest of drawers, a toilet table, two chairs, and the bed upon +which I was lying. There were also two pictures, I remember; one, of +German origin, in colours, represented the sale of Joseph to the +Ishmaelites, and the other, a print of Exeter Cathedral, in which the +façade of that fine building was entirely out of the drawing. There was +a fire-place, but no fender; a skylight, but no other window. A strip of +Dutch matting covered the floor on the left-hand side of the bed, and +when I have recorded that fact, I think I have given you a description +of everything in the room.</p> + +<p>As for myself, when I had taken these things in, I closed my eyes and +tried to rest.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[Pg 203]</a></span> The clang and whir still echoed in my brain, and when I +endeavoured to lift my head I discovered that I was as weak as a baby. +Though I tried hard to arrive at an understanding of the situation, the +attempt was far from being a successful one.</p> + +<p>That I was the victim of that same mysterious power which had abducted +Woller, Castellan and the Commander-in-Chief, I had not the least doubt; +but if they had taken me off, where was I now, and what were they going +to do with me? Was I to be retained as a perpetual prisoner, or were +they only keeping me until a good opportunity presented itself for doing +away with me? Either theory, as I think you will agree, was of a nature +calculated to render me sufficiently uncomfortable.</p> + +<p>After a time I must have fallen asleep again, for I remember opening my +eyes and feeling much stronger than when I first woke. What was more, I +was also conscious of a decided sensation of hunger. From the waning +light in my room, I gathered that the day was far advanced, and I +groaned aloud as I thought of the trouble my absence must be causing my +friends. It seemed to me I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[Pg 204]</a></span> could hear the cries of the newsboys in the +streets as they shouted:—</p> + +<p class="bold">"DISAPPEARANCE OF ANOTHER CABINET MINISTER!"<br /> +<br />"SIR GEORGE MANDERVILLE MISSING!"</p> + +<p>I could picture the anxiety of my own household, and Rotherhithe's anger +when he discovered, as discover he certainly would, the use that had +been made of his name. Then an overwhelming desire to find out something +concerning my whereabouts took possession of me, and I rose from the bed +upon which I had hitherto been lying. As I did so a handful of money +fell from my pocket. Instinctively, I felt for my watch; it was still in +its accustomed place. It was certain, therefore, that robbery had no +part in the business.</p> + +<p>With tottering steps I approached the door, only to find, as I expected, +that it was locked. I looked at the skylight above my head and reflected +that by placing a chair on the chest of drawers it might be possible to +reach it; in my present weak state, however, such a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[Pg 205]</a></span> feat was out of the +question. Even this brief inspection of my surroundings taxed my +strength severely, and I accordingly once more laid myself down to rest.</p> + +<p>I had one source of comfort, however. Captive though I was, I should at +least be able to solve a problem which the great world had given up as +hopeless. In other words I should be able to fathom the mystery that +surrounded the disappearance of General Woller, of the Colonial +Secretary, and also of the Commander-in-Chief. I should know something +of the members of that power which had for so long a time past been +exercising its malignant influence upon England. The unfortunate part of +it was that when I had obtained the knowledge it would be of no use to me.</p> + +<p>All this time the feeling of hunger, to which I have already alluded, +was gradually growing stronger; imprisonment was bad enough in its way, +but imprisonment combined with starvation was intolerable. Unable at +last to bear it any longer, I rose from my bed, and beat upon the door +with my fists in the hope of attracting attention. Loud, however,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[Pg 206]</a></span> as +was the noise I made, it elicited no response. The house might have been +deserted for all the answer I received. I beat upon the panels again and +again, continuing my efforts until I was exhausted. Still no attention +rewarded me. At last, tired out by my efforts, I returned to my bed and +sat down upon it. I had scarcely done so, before the sound of footsteps +in the corridor on the other side of the door reached my ears. A key was +placed in the lock and turned, the door opened, and a man entered the room.</p> + +<p>It would be difficult for me to express the surprise I felt at seeing +him. You will be in a position to realize something of my feelings, when +I say that the man before me was no less a person than the impoverished +music-master I had seen appealing to the Countess de Venetza in the +Park, and whom I had offered to help. That I was not deceived I was +quite certain. I should have known him anywhere by reason of his +extraordinary dark eyes and hair.</p> + +<p>"Good afternoon, monsieur," he said in French, with an assurance that +showed me he was aware of my familiarity with that language.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[Pg 207]</a></span> "What may +I have the pleasure of doing for you?"</p> + +<p>His calm insolence surprised me. I had expected rough treatment, +possibly abuse; to be a prisoner and yet to be treated with such +elaborate politeness was not at all what I had pictured for my portion.</p> + +<p>"I desire to be set at liberty at once," I replied, with as much +firmness as I could muster up. "If you have had a hand in this business, +which it seems only right to suppose, let me inform you that it is +likely to prove an expensive amusement for you. What treatment you may +afterwards receive at my hands will be estimated by the expedition you +show in releasing me."</p> + +<p>"I sincerely trust, monsieur, that no violence has been used towards +you," he said. "The instructions were merely to bring you here with as +little inconvenience to yourself as possible. You may rest assured that +if those instructions have not been complied with, the offenders will be +punished. In the meantime, perhaps it is possible that I can be of some +service to you?"</p> + +<p>"You can provide me with food," I answered<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[Pg 208]</a></span> angrily; "and, since my +watch has stopped, perhaps you will be good enough to tell me the time."</p> + +<p>"I will do so with pleasure," he said. "If Monsieur will permit me, I +will arrange that dinner shall be served at once; at the same time I +will inform him as to the state of the clock."</p> + +<p>Having said this he bowed and left me.</p> + +<p>Ten minutes or so later I again caught the sound of footsteps in the +corridor, the key was turned in the lock, and the door opened. This time +he carried in his hand a tray, upon which were set out the various +necessaries for a meal. He laid the table in silence, and then again +withdrew. When next he returned he brought with him a number of covered +dishes, and, what was more, an ice-bucket, in which stood a bottle of champagne.</p> + +<p>"I trust Monsieur will find everything to his satisfaction," he said, as +he removed the covers. "If the cooking is not exactly what Monsieur has +a right to expect, perhaps he will remember the inconveniences under +which we are labouring. Should he need anything further, there is a +bell, which Monsieur has not noticed,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[Pg 209]</a></span> beside the fire-place, and the +summons will be instantly obeyed."</p> + +<p>"But, my good fellow," I cried, "this sort of thing is all very well in +its way, you know, but——"</p> + +<p>"If Monsieur will take my advice, he will dine before his food gets +cold," the man replied. "The kitchen is in the basement; the viands +have, therefore, been already some time upon the road."</p> + +<p>I saw that it was useless to argue, or to attempt to extract any +information from him. I accordingly allowed him to bow himself out +without further words. When he had gone, and the door had been locked +behind him, I approached the table and lifted the covers. On the first +dish was a pheasant roasted to a nicety; the potato chips were +exquisitely crisp, the bread-crumbs just what they should be.</p> + +<p>"It is very evident that they do not intend to starve me," I said to +myself as I drew up my chair. "If ever I get out of this mess, what a +tale I shall have to tell! Last night the guest of the Countess de +Venetza at Wiltshire House: to-night the guest of——well, of whom? Can +it be possible that this is the head-quarters of a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[Pg 210]</a></span> secret society, and +that my unfortunate friends are concealed in it?"</p> + +<p>This should have afforded me food for reflection, but, strangely enough, +it did not interfere with my enjoyment of the meal. I could not remember +ever to have tasted so delicious a bird. Never before had I drunk +champagne with such a keen appreciation of its delicacy. When at last I +put down my knife and fork I was a different man, and was able to look +my affairs in the face with a greater amount of equanimity than I had yet felt.</p> + +<p>By this time night was drawing in and very soon it would be dark. I +accordingly rang my bell in order that the table might be cleared. The +summons was answered with a sufficient promptness to suggest the idea +that the man who had brought the meal to me had been waiting outside.</p> + +<p>"I trust his dinner has been to Monsieur's satisfaction," he said, as he +placed the various articles upon the tray.</p> + +<p>"Upon that score I have no fault to find," I replied. "And now perhaps +you will be kind enough to let me have a little talk with you?"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[Pg 211]</a></span></p><p>"It will give me the greatest pleasure to talk with Monsieur, provided +he does not touch upon forbidden subjects," he answered. "Should he do +that, my lips will be immediately sealed."</p> + +<p>"I have yet to find out what those forbidden subjects are," I said, +affecting a coolness I was far from feeling. "I presume you mean with +regard to my detention here?"</p> + +<p>"Exactly," he replied. "It is with regard to the reason for the +detention of Monsieur that I am unable to speak with him."</p> + +<p>"I know how I got here," I returned. "What I want to know is, who +brought me, and what is to be done with me?"</p> + +<p>He only shook his head.</p> + +<p>"My lips are sealed. I must beg that Monsieur will put no further +questions to me upon this matter."</p> + +<p>Seeing that it was useless to do so, I complied with his request, +contenting myself by asking him if it would be possible to procure me a +lamp and a book. He replied to the effect that it would give him the +greatest pleasure, and once more left the room, as usual taking care to +lock the door behind him.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[Pg 212]</a></span> Presently he returned, carrying a lamp in one +hand, and in the other half a dozen books, which he placed upon the table.</p> + +<p>"I fear our stock of literature is not extensive," he said. "Doubtless, +however, Monsieur will find something here to interest him. Should he +require anything further, perhaps he will ring the bell. Our desire, as +I said before, is to do all that we can to ensure Monsieur's comfort."</p> + +<p>"But not his happiness," I replied; "otherwise he would scarcely be here."</p> + +<p>"Once more I must remind Monsieur that we are treading upon dangerous +ground," he said.</p> + +<p>Without another word he bade me good-night, and left me to derive what +amusement and instruction I could from the collection of books he had +placed upon the table.</p> + +<p>They were, in truth, a motley assortment, comprising two volumes of +sermons by a Divine who had flourished at the commencement of the +century, a book of poems by a lady of whom I had never heard, "Cæsar's +Commentaries" in the original, and the second volume of "Pride and +Prejudice," with the label of a seaside<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[Pg 213]</a></span> circulating library upon the +cover. I chose the last-named for preference, and not having read it +before, and knowing nothing of what had taken place in the previous +chapters, endeavoured to interest myself in it. The result, however, +scarcely justified the labour. Heaven forbid that I should belittle a +work that has given pleasure to so many thousands, but that night I was +not only unable to derive any satisfaction from it, but found that it +produced a feeling that might almost be described as one of prolonged +bewilderment. After a time I exchanged it for one of the volumes of +sermons, only to be equally bemused. The worthy divine's style was, if I +may so express it, of the bigoted, yet argumentative, order. Never +before had my own spiritual outlook appeared so ominous. I could plainly +see that I had nothing to hope for in my present or future state. Almost +in fear I closed the book and placed it with its fellows. Then I rose +from my seat, and crossed to the door and examined it. It was as +securely fastened as before.</p> + +<p>Not a sound reached me from the other portions of the house; so quiet +indeed was it,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[Pg 214]</a></span> that had I not had evidence to the contrary, I could +have believed myself its sole occupant. Having convinced myself that I +was not likely to be disturbed, and making as little noise as possible, +I placed one of the chairs upon the chest of drawers. By standing upon +the latter I found that I was just able to reach the skylight. I tried +to open it, but a few attempts were sufficient to show me that it had +been made secure from the outside, doubtless in preparation for my +coming. So far, therefore, as that exit was concerned, my escape was +hopeless. Bitterly disappointed, I descended from my perch, and pushed +the table back to its original position in the corner. It looked as if I +were destined to remain a prisoner. In a very dejected state of mind I +threw myself upon the bed, and it is not to be wondered at if my dreams +that night were of a disturbed and depressing condition.</p> + +<p>Punctual to the stroke of eight o'clock my gaoler entered the room, +bringing with him the various articles necessary for my toilet.</p> + +<p>"In case Monsieur would like to see what the world thinks of his +disappearance," said the man, with his usual politeness, "I have +brought<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[Pg 215]</a></span> copies of several of the morning papers. Monsieur will see that +it has caused quite a sensation in England."</p> + +<p>He said this with such respect and civility that had a stranger who was +not aware of the real state of the case been present, he would have +found it difficult to believe that the man was in any way concerned in the affair.</p> + +<p>I am inclined to think that an experience such as mine has never +befallen another man. Here I was in captivity—if not in the heart of +London, at any rate in one of her Suburbs—sitting down to peruse, in +cold blood, a newspaper account of my own abduction. The first I picked +up recorded the fact that I had been present at a dinner at Wiltshire +House, on the previous evening, and that I had returned to my own abode +afterwards. My servant, Williams, had given evidence as to the receipt +of a note by me, which purported to have been written by the Duke of +Rotherhithe. In it the latter asked me to come to him at once. "His +Grace sent one of his carriages," Williams remarked in conclusion, "and +when my master got into it, that was the last I saw of him." Then came +Rotherhithe's<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[Pg 216]</a></span> vehement declaration that the letter was a forgery, and +his most positive assertion, corroborated by his head coachman, that not +one of his horses or carriages had left the stables after his return +from Wiltshire House. "The fact therefore remains," said the writer, at +the termination of his article, "that the disappearance of Sir George +Manderville must be relegated to that catalogue of inexplicable crimes, +to which so many of our foremost men have fallen victims of late."</p> + +<p>The reports in the other papers were, for the most part, couched in +similar language.</p> + +<p>As soon as I was dressed, my breakfast was brought to me, but while I +had no fault to find with the cooking, I scarcely touched it. I was +turning over in my mind a scheme for making my escape, which had +suddenly occurred to me, and which, I could not help thinking, possessed +a considerable chance of being successful. What was to prevent my +springing upon my gaoler when he next entered the room, overpowering +him, and then rushing out? Even if I did not succeed in getting away +from the house, I might at least be able to attract the attention of +people<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[Pg 217]</a></span> in the street, and thus be able to induce them to communicate +with the Authorities. The idea seemed feasible enough, but I had not +only to remember that my keeper was a muscular fellow, but that he would +be fighting for what he knew to be a desperate cause. So far as strength +went, however, I felt convinced I was his equal. Besides, I should have +the advantage of taking him off his guard, which would be many points in +my favour. At any rate I was prepared to try. This settled, the next +thing to be decided was when would be the best time to put the plan into +execution. Should I make the attempt when he returned to take away my +breakfast things, or at mid-day when he brought my lunch? To do so at +night would, I knew, be useless, since there would not be so many +passers-by, and if the windows were dark—and I had every reason to +suppose they would be—I should stand but little chance of being seen, +and the <i>raison d'être</i> of the whole affair would be gone. At last, on +the principle that there is no time like the present, I determined to +strike while the iron was hot, and to tackle him when he next entered +the room. I made my plans accordingly.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[Pg 218]</a></span></p><p>In order to reach the table at the further end of the room, it would be +necessary for him to go round at the foot of the bed. It was while he +was there that the attempt must be made. Having got him down, I would +endeavour to take the key from him and reach the door before he could +sound the alarm or get upon his feet again. After that I must act as +circumstances dictated. On this occasion he was somewhat more dilatory +than usual. At last, however, I heard his footsteps in the corridor +outside, then the key was inserted in the lock, and a moment later he +had entered the room.</p> + +<p>Having closed the door behind him, he passed round the bed on his way to +the table. My heart by this time was beating so furiously that it seemed +impossible that he could fail to hear it. I had been careful to observe +in which pocket he placed his key, for I knew that upon my finding that +all my hopes depended. An hour seemed to have elapsed before he was +bending over the table, engaged in collecting the various articles upon +it. On this particular occasion he was in a somewhat more taciturn mood +than usual, a fact for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[Pg 219]</a></span> which I was not altogether sorry, for had he +addressed me, my nervousness must surely have aroused his suspicions.</p> + +<p>At last the moment for action arrived, and I rose from my seat upon the +bed. I had scarcely taken a step forward, however, before he turned, +and, divining my intentions, prepared to receive me. This was more than +I had bargained for, but I had gone too far to turn back. He muttered +something in Italian which I did not catch, then I was upon him, had +caught him by the throat, and the struggle had commenced.</p> + +<p>As a youngster I had won some little notoriety among my companions as a +wrestler. The tricks I had learnt then stood me in good stead now. The +man, as I have said, was muscular and heavy, but I soon found that I was +quite his match. We rocked to and fro, turned over a chair, and on +several occasions came perilously near the table. So tight was my grip +upon his throat that, though he made two or three attempts, it was +impossible for him to give the alarm. How it was that the noise we made +did not attract the attention of the other inmates of the house,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[Pg 220]</a></span> I am +at a loss to understand. Little by little I began to get the upper hand +of him. Then putting forth all my strength, and bringing into play a +certain trick that had been an especial favourite in younger days, I +threw him heavily backwards. The ruse was a complete success, and so +violent was the fall, and with such force did his head strike the floor, +that he lay insensible.</p> + +<p>As soon as I had recovered my own equilibrium, I knelt beside him and +searched his pocket for the key. Having obtained it, I went to the door, +unlocked it, and got into the passage outside. One glance was sufficient +to show me that the house was of the typical suburban pattern: +reception-rooms on the ground floor, bed-rooms on the next, and +servants' quarters under the roof. My room was at the top of the house, +and probably had once been a housemaid's apartment.</p> + +<p>Once in the corridor I paused, to lock the door, thus making my captor +doubly secure, after which I made my way towards a door at the further +end of the passage, to find it locked. I tried another with the same +result, after which only one remained. Turning the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[Pg 221]</a></span> handle of this I +entered, to discover that the window of the room looked over the back, +upon a long strip of garden, at the end of which were some high +trees—limes if I remember correctly. Escape from the house by this room +was plainly impossible. There was nothing for it, therefore, but for me +to descend the stairs and try my fortune elsewhere. If the rest of my +gaolers were not aware that the man who waited upon me was prisoner in +my room, it was within the bounds of possibility, I argued, that they +might mistake my step for his.</p> + +<p>Accordingly, I wasted no time, but descended the stairs, keeping a sharp +look-out over the banisters as I did so. I had reached the next floor in +safety and was preparing to descend to that below, when the sound of a +door being closed in the basement caused me to hesitate. It was followed +by a man's laugh, and a moment later, some one, who I could not see, +began to ascend the stairs. In another second he would have turned the +corner and have seen me. I can assure you it was one of the most anxious +moments of my life. To go on was impossible; to go back more dangerous +still. I had only<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[Pg 222]</a></span> two seconds' grace in which to act, but which door +should I choose? Having selected that immediately opposite me, I softly +turned the handle and entered the room—to make a discovery which for a +moment deprived me not only of the power of locomotion, but even of +thought. My readers will appreciate this when I say that, standing +beside the fireplace, with one elbow resting on the mantel-piece, and a +cigarette between his lips, <i>was no less a person than Conrad +Reiffenburg</i>; while seated in a comfortable chair, her dainty feet +resting on the brass fender before her, was his cousin, <i>the Countess de Venetza</i>!</p> + +<p>"So you have managed to escape from your room, have you?" said Conrad +with the utmost coolness, and without any apparent surprise. "I wonder +how you did that?"</p> + +<p>"You here?" I said, addressing the Countess, and disregarding him +altogether. "What on earth does this mean? Have I gone mad?"</p> + +<p>She was quite equal to the emergency. There was not a tremor in her +voice when she replied.</p> + +<p>"Not at all mad, my dear Sir George. It simply means that you have to +thank me for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[Pg 223]</a></span> saving you from a terrible death. Quite by chance I became +aware that there was an anarchist plot in preparation against yourself +and certain other members of your Government. To have revealed my +knowledge to the Authorities would have been to implicate several of my +dear, but misguided, friends, while to have appealed to them for mercy +would have been as useless as it would have been dangerous. I therefore +took what I deemed the next best course, and removed you out of the +reach of harm."</p> + +<p>"Can this be true?" I asked, for the whole thing seemed too wildly improbable.</p> + +<p>"You surely would not doubt the Countess's word," Conrad put in.</p> + +<p>I paid no attention to him, however.</p> + +<p>"But if there was a plot against me, why did you not warn me?" I +continued. "I could then have taken steps to insure my own safety."</p> + +<p>"Impossible," she replied. "You would have communicated with the Police +at once. No, the only thing was to act as we did, and I think, since you +are still alive, that you have every reason to be thankful that we +adopted such prompt measures."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[Pg 224]</a></span></p><p>I remembered the precautions that had been taken to prevent my leaving +the brougham, and the peculiar smell of gas which had caused me to lose +consciousness. No; I felt convinced in my own mind that the story the +Countess had told me was pure fiction—that is to say, so far as any +desire went to save me from harm. However, I was wise enough to control +myself, and to appear to credit her assertion.</p> + +<p>"And now that the danger is over, when shall I be at liberty to go into +the world again?" I asked.</p> + +<p>"To-night your freedom shall be restored to you," she answered. "I have +every reason to suppose that you will be quite safe now."</p> + +<p>This was agreeable news indeed, if only I might credit it. But by this +time my suspicions were so thoroughly aroused, that I did not feel +inclined to trust anybody.</p> + +<p>What was I to do? I had no desire to return to my prison, yet if I ran +to the window, there was still a long strip of garden between the house +and the street, and it was likely that my cries, even supposing I were +permitted to get so far, would not be heard by the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[Pg 225]</a></span> passers-by. I had +already noticed that Conrad's hand was in his coat-pocket, and my +imagination told me what that pocket contained. Then the sound of some +one descending the stairs reached my ears, and next moment my gaoler +burst furiously into the room. His relief at seeing me was evident, but +he seemed unable to understand how it was that he found us conversing so +quietly together. He looked from one to the other of us as if for an explanation.</p> + +<p>"I have put the situation before Sir George," said the Countess, "and I +have also told him that the danger is over now, and that to-night he +will be at liberty to go where he pleases."</p> + +<p>"And for the present what is to become of me?" I enquired, before the +man could say anything.</p> + +<p>"We shall be delighted if you will give us the pleasure of your +company," said the Countess. "Forgive me for not having asked you to sit down before."</p> + +<p>Having by this time made up my mind as to how I should play my part, I +did as she suggested, and for the rest of the morning<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[Pg 226]</a></span> remained in the +room, conversing with her on a hundred different subjects, and acting +for all the world as if our meeting had been of the most casual +description. At one o'clock luncheon was served, and we sat down to it, +still on as friendly terms as ever. As I had noticed with regard to the +previous meals of which I had partaken in the house, the cooking was +perfect, the wines excellent, and the waiting all that could be desired.</p> + +<p>On one point, by this time, my mind was quite made up. As soon as I +escaped from captivity, I would open Rotherhithe's eyes as to the true +character of his <i>fiancée</i>. One thing, I must confess, puzzled me +considerably. I could not understand why, if they had been at such pains +to secure me, they should be willing to liberate me so soon. I was +destined to be better informed on this point, however, before very long.</p> + +<p>During the progress of the meal the Countess chatted with me as +pleasantly as if we were sitting in her dining-room at Wiltshire House. +It was significant, however, that Rotherhithe's name was never once +mentioned. When the meal was at an end<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[Pg 227]</a></span> she gave us permission to smoke, +and accordingly, after our coffee had been handed to us, Conrad +proffered me his cigarette case. How was I to know that the coffee had +been drugged, and that within a quarter of an hour of my drinking it, I +should be lying fast asleep in my chair, beyond all knowledge of my +surroundings. The Countess had scored another trick.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[Pg 228]</a></span></p> + +<h2><span>CHAPTER IX</span></h2> + +<p>Of all that occurred after I became unconscious I am quite ignorant. +From the moment of my closing my eyes until six o'clock next morning my +mind is a perfect blank. All I remember is, that little by little I +became aware of a strange oscillation. It was as if my bed were being +tossed violently about, to the accompaniment of a noise like the +groaning of a thousand tormented souls.</p> + +<p>"It will go off if I lie still," I said to myself. But instead, every +moment, it grew worse. At last, when I could bear it no longer, I opened +my eyes and looked about me. What I saw was calculated to afford me +considerable astonishment. I had imagined myself to be lying in the room +whence I had escaped, what I supposed to be a few hours before. I was +not there, however. The place in which I was lying was the cabin of a +ship, and was some<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[Pg 229]</a></span> nine feet long by six in width. Opposite the bunk in +which I lay, was the customary brass-bound port-hole, with a cushioned +settee, or locker, below it. The door was at the foot of the bed; a +wash-hand stand with a mirror above it stood against the bulkhead, there +was a narrow strip of faded carpet upon the floor, and when I have noted +these things I have furnished you with a detailed description of the +cabin. What the name of the vessel was and how I had got there were +questions I could not answer. One thing, however, was quite certain; +whatever else she might be, the ship was not a good sea boat. She rolled +abominably, and from the pounding noise on deck I gathered that she was +taking aboard more seas than was altogether comfortable. With my head +clanging like a ship's bell, I managed to scramble out of my bunk and +approach the port-hole. Constantly blurred though the glass was by the +waves that dashed against it, I was able to convince myself that there +was no land in sight. All I had before me was a confused, tumbling mass +of water, an expanse of cloud-covered sky, and once, when we rose upon a +particularly heavy sea, the fleeting picture of a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[Pg 230]</a></span> barque making +extremely bad weather of it, three miles or so distant.</p> + +<p>Turning from the dismal scene, I tried the door, to find, as I had +expected, that it was locked. It was evident from this that though a +decided change had come over my affairs, I was still a prisoner. The +situation was both dispiriting and perplexing; my head, however, ached +too much to allow me to worry over it for very long. I accordingly +climbed back into my bunk and composed myself for sleep once more. +Success must have crowned my efforts, for when I woke again, the +comparative steadiness of the vessel convinced me that the weather had +taken a turn for the better. From a ray of sunlight that danced in and +out through the port-hole, it was plain that clouds, which had hitherto +covered the sky, had disappeared, and that there were hopes of better +weather. My headache had almost left me, and I felt that if I could +procure something to eat I should be almost myself once more. On looking +at my watch I found to my annoyance that it had stopped at five minutes +to six, so that I was unable to tell what the hour was. Once more<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[Pg 231]</a></span> I +climbed out of the bunk, and this time seated myself upon the settee.</p> + +<p>I had not been there many minutes before the sound of voices reached my +ears. The speakers were in the saloon, so I gathered, and one of the +voices sounded strangely familiar to me. I tried to locate it, but for a +time was unable to do so. Then in a flash it occurred to me, and I +wondered that I had not recognised it before. It was the voice of Senor +Sargasta, the Countess's father, or at any rate her reputed father.</p> + +<p>"I am still in their clutches," I said to myself, with something that +was very like despair, as I realised the meaning of this new discovery, +"but how on earth did they get me aboard this boat, and what are they +going to do with me now that they have got me here?"</p> + +<p>The question was beyond me, however. I was compelled to leave it unanswered.</p> + +<p>A few seconds later I heard the sound of footsteps approaching my cabin. +Then the door was unlocked and opened, and the grey-haired, +military-looking man, who had driven up with the Countess to the hotel<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[Pg 232]</a></span> +in Paris, and who had been introduced to London society as her parent, +entered the cabin. Behind him was the young Count Conrad, with the same +supercilious smile upon his face.</p> + +<p>"Good-morning, my dear Sir George," said the elder man, with one of his +extraordinary bows. "I am rejoiced to find that your adventure of last +night has had no ill effect upon you. Allow me to offer you a hearty +welcome to this gallant vessel. I fear that she has not behaved herself +altogether as she might have done since you have been on board, but the +North Sea is at the best of times a discourteous host."</p> + +<p>"So I am in the North Sea, am I?" said I to myself, as I registered that +piece of information in my mind. Then I continued aloud, "You have +played me a scurvy trick between you, and one that, if I ever get out of +this, will be likely to cause you a considerable amount of trouble."</p> + +<p>The smile widened on Conrad's face. Evidently he thought the possibility +of my regaining my freedom was a very remote one.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[Pg 233]</a></span></p><p>"I am desolated to think that we should have so much inconvenienced +you," Sargasta replied. "But, alas, we had no option. However, we must +do our best to make your stay with us as pleasant as is compatible with +the circumstances. Doubtless you are hungry after your long fast. If so, +will you permit me to conduct you to the saloon, where you will find +that a meal has been prepared for you."</p> + +<p>"You give me my liberty on board, then?" I said, with some surprise.</p> + +<p>"Since we are clear of the coast, and provided of course that you do not +abuse it, we will do so to a certain extent," he replied. "Should you +give us a cause to regret our decision, nothing will remain but for us +to confine you to your cabin once more. Pray let me lead the way."</p> + +<p>With a feeling of vague bewilderment, almost impossible to describe, I +followed them into the saloon, where I discovered, as he had said, that +a meal had been arranged for me. In spite of my sorry position, I found +that I possessed an excellent appetite and, in order that they might<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[Pg 234]</a></span> +not think that they had overawed me, I fell to work upon the joint +before me with an avidity that I flatter myself considerably surprised +them. Meanwhile the steamer rolled incessantly, until it looked as if +even the fiddles upon the table would be unable to keep my plate and +glass in position. Fortunately, I am an excellent sailor, otherwise I am +doubtful whether I should have been able to continue my meal. During its +progress the older man had seated himself near me, as if to make sure +that I did not cut my throat, or do myself any other mischief with the +knife I held in my hand. When I had finished he pointed to the deck above.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps you would like to take a little fresh air," he shouted +politely, for the noise below was such that we could scarcely make each +other hear. "If so, permit me to be your escort."</p> + +<p>In reply, I bowed and followed him along the saloon to the small +companion ladder which led to the deck above. It was a fine scene that +met our gaze as we opened the door and stepped out. I have already said +that the violence of the gale had abated somewhat,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[Pg 235]</a></span> but there was still +a sufficiently high sea running, to make it difficult to retain one's +footing without holding on to something. After the stuffiness of my +cabin, however, the pure air was vastly refreshing. As I stood in the +hatch I took stock of the vessel. She could not have been more than +fifteen hundred tons, and was as ancient a tub as could be safely +trusted to put to sea. She was the possessor of an old-fashioned poop, +from which two brass-railed ladders led down on either side to the deck +below. On the small bridge forrard I could catch a glimpse of the +officer of the watch, pacing to and fro, but at the distance I was from +him, it was impossible to say whether I was acquainted with him or not.</p> + +<p>"Let us walk aft," bellowed the old gentleman in my ear.</p> + +<p>I accordingly turned and staggered with him as far as the taffrail, then +forward again to the sheltered side of the deck. Here a surprise, to +which my discovery of the Countess in that suburban house was as +nothing, was in store for me. You will realize what I mean when I say +that, comfortably stretched<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[Pg 236]</a></span> out on deck-chairs on the lee side of the +hatch were three men, who one and all uttered exclamations of +astonishment on seeing me. As for me, I stood clutching the rails, and +staring at them as if they were spirits from the grave come to mock at +me. The man nearest to me was none other than the Commander-in-Chief, +who had disappeared so mysteriously from Lord Beckingdale's residence on +the night before the Aldershot review; next to him, with a rough +sou'wester tied under his chin, was the Honourable Benjamin Castellan, +Secretary of State for the Colonies, who had vanished shortly after I +had said good-night to him in Cockspur Street, and whom I had thought +never to see again; while furthest from me, and nearest the poop ladder, +a stubby grey beard covering his usually well-shaven chin, was my old +friend, General Woller, who had apparently been caught up into space at +Paddington Station, after his return from audience at Windsor. The +Colonial Secretary was the first to speak.</p> + +<p>"Good Heavens, Manderville," he shouted, "is it you, or your ghost?"</p> + +<p>"It is I, Manderville," I answered, as if<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[Pg 237]</a></span> the assertion were necessary. +"But you—we thought you were dead. How in the name of all that's +wonderful, did <i>you</i> get here?"</p> + +<p>By this time they were all on their feet, holding on to the rail of the +hatch by one hand, shaking my hand by the other.</p> + +<p>"That's too long a story to tell you now," said the Commander-in-Chief. +"The question is, how did you get here?"</p> + +<p>I could furnish them with no answer to that question, but referred them +to the men who had kidnapped me. Meanwhile, the old Italian stood a few +paces away, holding on to the rail and watching us. Even by this time I +had not recovered from my surprise. In London we had all looked upon +them as dead men, and now to find them my companions on a small steamer +on the high seas, was almost too great a surprise.</p> + +<p>"It seems beyond belief to find you here," I said, as we made our way +back to the shelter of the companion hatch, where there was comparative +silence. "The almost universal belief in England is that you have been +murdered by Anarchists."</p> + +<p>"We might as well have been," Woller<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[Pg 238]</a></span> replied gloomily. "Until Castellan +came, I was alone upon this tub, and you can imagine the sort of life I led."</p> + +<p>"I can imagine all sorts of things," I replied. "But I want to hear your +story. The others have doubtless told you how completely your +disappearance puzzled us, Woller? We traced you as far as Paddington, +and then lost sight of you altogether. It was said that you had taken a +cab in the station yard and had driven away in it, but no trace of the +driver could ever be discovered, in spite of the large rewards we offered."</p> + +<p>"No one saw me drive away from Paddington," he answered, "for the simple +reason that I walked from the station. They must have mistaken me for +some one else. The scheme which brought about my destruction was, I must +admit, a singularly ingenious one, if there is any comfort to be derived +from that fact, and yet it was simplicity itself. As you are aware, the +train by which I left Windsor, after stopping at Slough, does not do so +again, except for ticket collecting, until it reaches Paddington. I +should here mention that before leaving London that morning for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[Pg 239]</a></span> +Windsor, I had received a note from my old friend, Mrs Marchingham, who +is a great invalid, and whose son is at the Front, asking me if I could +possibly spare the time to call upon her in order to wish her good-bye. +On receipt of her letter I telegraphed to her saying that I would make +every endeavour to comply with her request. It would have been strange +had I not, for we had been playfellows as children, and had always been +on the most affectionate terms."</p> + +<p>"One moment," I said, for an idea had struck me. "If you telegraphed to +her, how was it that the Department did not make us aware of the fact? +We caused every enquiry to be made."</p> + +<p>"Because I signed the telegram with my Christian name, and I am quite +certain that no one recognised me at the Post-Office," he replied, and +then continued his story.</p> + +<p>"Well, as soon as I reached Paddington on my return from Windsor, I +alighted from the train, and remembering that Exminster Terrace, where +my old friend's residence is situated, is only a short distance from the +station, I did not take a cab. On reaching the house, the front<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[Pg 240]</a></span> door +was opened to me by a neat maid-servant, who informed me that Mrs +Marchingham was at home, and was expecting me. I accordingly followed +her upstairs to the drawing-room where I waited, while the maid informed +me that she would acquaint her mistress of my arrival. I might here +explain that the drawing-room is a double one, and that the portion into +which I was shown was at the back of the house, and overlooked the +garden. The double doors were closed and heavy curtains draped either +side of the window. Having no thought of treachery, I was standing +beside the fire, waiting for my old friend to make her appearance, when +two men suddenly emerged from behind the curtains, and pointed revolvers +at me. One was the young Count Reiffenburg, cousin to the famous +Countess de Venetza, of Wiltshire House, the other I had never seen +before. In answer to my demands to be informed what their conduct meant, +they told me that I was their prisoner, that Mrs Marchingham was abroad, +and that they were her tenants for the time being. The letter I had +received was a forgery. Had there been the least chance of escape, or +had it been possible<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[Pg 241]</a></span> for me to defy them, I should have done so, but +one glance was sufficient to show me that the case was hopeless. That +night I was drugged, and when I recovered my senses I found myself on +board this vessel, though how I got here I cannot say. Such is the +unvarnished record of my adventures."</p> + +<p>Turning to the Colonial Secretary, I asked him to make me acquainted +with his story.</p> + +<p>"I am afraid that mine is rather more prosaic," he answered. "You will +remember that on the night of my disappearance you and I walked together +as far as Cockspur Street. There we stood talking upon the pavement for +a short time, after which I wished you good-night and went down one of +the side streets leading to Carlton House Terrace. I do not know whether +you can recall the occurrence, but just before we bade each other +good-night, an old woman passed us?"</p> + +<p>I admitted that I remembered the fact, whereupon he continued:</p> + +<p>"That old woman's presence in the passage had escaped my memory when I +entered it. I had not advanced twenty paces, however, before I saw her +turn and come towards me.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[Pg 242]</a></span> I was quite prepared for her to beg, and I +was not disappointed. She implored me to give her a trifle in order that +she might obtain a lodging for the night. Producing a coin, I was about +to hand it to her, when something was slipped over my head from behind, +and tightened round my neck. In such cases thought is quicker than +action, and in a flash I realized that I was being garrotted. I have a +vague recollection of being picked up and carried into a house close by, +and then my senses left me and I remembered no more until I found myself +on board this ship. My astonishment at finding Woller here to greet me +may be better imagined than described. One night we came to anchor off +the coast, though at what particular spot I cannot say, and next morning +we discovered that the Commander-in-Chief had become one of our party. +Now you had better ask him for his story."</p> + +<p>I was about to do so when Sargasta who, as I have said, had all the time +been standing near us, stated that it was time for us to return to our +cabins. I wondered at the ready obedience that was given to his orders, +but my wonderment did not last long,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[Pg 243]</a></span> when a man stepped from a spot +alongside the mizzen-mast and I saw that he carried a rifle in his hand. +We accordingly descended the companion ladder in single file, and once +more entered the saloon. It was then that I discovered that two of our +state cabins were on one side and two on the other, all of which when we +were in them were kept securely locked.</p> + +<p>When I was once more a prisoner in my cabin, I sat myself down upon the +locker and endeavoured to appreciate my position. In whatever way one +looked at it, it was far from being an enviable one. What our fate was +to be it was difficult to see. Was it possible our captors intended to +maroon us in some desolate region, or did they intend doing away with us +altogether on the High Seas? In the latter case we should perish without +a chance of helping ourselves, and our friends would remain in ignorance +of our fate for ever. If we could only manage to communicate with the +outside world, it might then be possible to capture the diabolical woman +who was at the head of the affair. I felt that I could almost meet death +complacently were I able<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">[Pg 244]</a></span> to bring about that happy circumstance. When I +thought of all that had happened to me through her agency, I was nearly +beside myself with contempt for having allowed myself to be so easily trapped.</p> + +<p>So old-fashioned was the vessel that when darkness fell, instead of the +electric light, an oil lamp was inserted in the receptacle outside the +door. It had not been there very long before the door was unlocked, and +a man whom I had not before seen, informed me that supper was upon the +table. Eager to meet my comrades once more, I hastened into the saloon +to find the Commander-in-Chief seated on one side of the table with +Conrad beside him. I was invited to take my place on the other side, +next to that occupied by Senor Sargasta. The violence of the sea had +abated considerably, though the use of the fiddles had still to be +retained. I looked about me for a sign of the Colonial Secretary and +Woller, but as they were not present, I came to the conclusion that our +gaolers were adopting, what must have struck them as being a very +necessary precaution, namely, dividing our party into two portions. +This<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">[Pg 245]</a></span> proved to be the case, for from that time forward, we were not +permitted to take either our meals or our exercise together. The +Commander-in-Chief and I were to be companions; the Colonial Secretary +and Woller following suite. By this course the danger of any rising on +our part was reduced by one half, while the strain of guarding us was +not nearly so great.</p> + +<p>During the progress of the meal, scarcely a word was spoken. We waited +upon ourselves, and it was only when something that did not happen to be +on the table was required, that the man who had called me to the meal +made his appearance. After supper was over, we were informed that we +might go on deck if we pleased, and, needless to say, we eagerly +embraced the opportunity. Having donned our hats, we once more made our +way to the companion ladder.</p> + +<p>It was a brilliant moonlight night; scarcely a cloud was to be seen in +the sky, while the wind and sea were abating every hour. Arm-in-arm we +began to pace the deck, at the same time noticing the fact that the man +with the rifle was as usual stationed near the poop-rail.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">[Pg 246]</a></span></p><p>"It is evident that no precaution is to be omitted," said the +Commander-in-Chief, with a bitter laugh. "I wonder what our friends in +England would say if they could see us now?"</p> + +<p>"I wonder what they would say," I replied, "if they knew who was at the +bottom of it all? I suppose the Countess de Venetza is still giving her +charming little dinners at Wiltshire House, and is still talking so +regretfully of the losses England has sustained by reason of the +disappearance of her prominent officials. Heaven send that Rotherhithe +finds her out in time!"</p> + +<p>"What do you mean?" my companion asked. "Why should he find her out?"</p> + +<p>Then I remembered that Rotherhithe's engagement to the Countess had been +announced since the Commander-in-Chief's disappearance, whereupon I made +him acquainted with the facts of the case, and in doing so gave him a +description of the dinner at Wiltshire House, which had been the +preliminary to my capture.</p> + +<p>"If we could only find some means of making the world aware of what we +have discovered," he said, after a few moments' silence.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">[Pg 247]</a></span></p><p>"That's what I was thinking this afternoon," I replied. "It appears to +be impossible, however. If we were to throw a message overboard, it is a +million to one against its being picked up or believed, while if we were +in any way to attempt to attract the attention of a passing vessel, we +should in all probability be dead men before they could come to our assistance."</p> + +<p>"Be careful not to speak too loud," said my companion. "That fellow at +the rail possesses sharp ears. You may be sure he will report anything +he may regard as suspicious in our conversation or behaviour."</p> + +<p>"By the way," I said, "I have not yet been told how your capture was +effected. Had the man I saw in the wood, and whose presence I reported +to Beckingdale, anything to do with it?"</p> + +<p>"I am quite sure he had," was the reply. "In point of fact I incline to +the belief that he was the ringleader in the whole affair. Taken +altogether, it was not a very brilliant piece of work, and I have never +ceased to be angry with myself for having been taken in so easily. But +that is our general complaint.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">[Pg 248]</a></span> In its simplicity, however, lay its +greatest chance of success. I can see that now."</p> + +<p>"My own affair was simple enough. Observe how it succeeded. Now give me the details."</p> + +<p>"You shall have them. Doubtless you remember the fact that I was paying +my first visit to Lord Beckingdale's new house. I had stayed at his old +residence before it was burnt down, but had never been there since the +restoration. That will be sufficient to account for my ignorance of its +general plan. On the night of which I am speaking, I was located, as you +will recollect, in the South Wing. Where Beckingdale's own quarters were +I have no idea, and, as you may suppose, since then I have had no +opportunity of finding out. I forget whether I mentioned the fact to you +that I had brought a new man down with me. Poor old Simmons no longer +felt equal to his work, and in consequence I had been compelled to +engage a new man—a thing I hate doing. The fresh importation, however, +seemed a very quiet and respectable fellow, and he had just completed +his first month's service with me, when my visit to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">[Pg 249]</a></span> Aldershot was +arranged. On the evening in question I was tired, and dismissed him as +quickly as possible. I don't think my head had been upon the pillow for +more than five minutes before I was fast asleep. How long I slept I have +no idea, I only know that I suddenly awoke to find my servant standing +beside my bed, looking as if he himself had been hastily aroused from sleep.</p> + +<p>"'What is it?' I asked as soon as I was able to say anything. 'What +brings you here at this hour of the night?'</p> + +<p>"'A message from his Lordship, sir,' the man replied in a low voice. +'His servant called me up to come and tell you that his Lordship would +be glad if you would go to him as soon as possible in his study. A +messenger has arrived from London with most serious intelligence. The +other gentlemen have been roused, and his Lordship begs that you will +not lose a moment in joining them. He would ask you to be as quiet as +possible, in order that the ladies may not be alarmed.'</p> + +<p>"'Have you any idea what the news is?' I enquired, as I got out of bed, +for I thought it was just possible that Beckingdale's servant<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250">[Pg 250]</a></span> might +have said something to him when giving him the message.</p> + +<p>"'No, sir,' he replied; 'I have no notion, except that it is very +serious. His Lordship's man, sir, went so far as to say that all London +is in an uproar.'</p> + +<p>"Without more ado I sprang from my bed and commenced dressing. In a very +few minutes I was sufficiently presentable to proceed on my errand.</p> + +<p>"'Where did you say Lord Beckingdale is?' I asked, as we prepared to +leave the room.</p> + +<p>"'In his study, sir,' the man replied. 'If you will allow me I will take you to him.'</p> + +<p>"Bidding him step quietly so that the rest of the household should not +be disturbed, I followed him from the room, and down the passage in the +direction of the hall. A faint glimmer of light illumined the passage, +so that we were able to make our way along it without the assistance of +a lamp or candle. Having reached the gallery, my man did not descend by +the stairs to the hall below, but branched off down a side passage into +a portion of the house I had not yet penetrated. Having passed along +another corridor, we <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251">[Pg 251]</a></span>approached a door before which he paused. Still +with the utmost respect, he opened it very quietly, and bowed as if for +me to enter. Never for a moment suspecting such a thing as treachery, I +did so, and, a moment later, had received a blow on the head, and was +lying upon the floor, insensible. I can leave you, Manderville, to +estimate the daring of the trick that had been played upon me. I have no +doubt that it was with the deliberate intention of taking part in it +that that wretched valet had entered my service. Little did I think, +when I congratulated myself upon having secured him, that he was +ultimately to bring about my ruin."</p> + +<p>"But do you mean to tell me that, while we were all asleep, the very man +whom I had seen watching the house from the plantation, and against whom +I had warned Beckingdale, had entered it and taken possession of one of +the rooms, in order to kidnap his most important guest?"</p> + +<p>"I do mean it," he replied. "Improbable, impossible, though it may +appear, it was certainly the case."</p> + +<p>"And what happened to you afterwards?<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252">[Pg 252]</a></span> Remember the house was guarded by +the police, and that, as soon as your disappearance was made known, the +country for miles around was scoured in search of you."</p> + +<p>"It was not of the least use, for I did not leave the place until two +days later," he replied. "As a matter of fact, for more than forty-eight +hours I lay concealed, wishing myself dead, between the roof and the +ceiling of that quaint old summer-house on the little knoll at the +further end of the lake. How they got me there I cannot say, but that I +was there and was prevented from making my presence known, even though +my friends searched the room below for me, is as true as I am talking to +you now. Then, when the search must have lost some of its energy, I was +brought down in the dead of the night, carried through the wood, and +placed in a conveyance of some sort, which immediately drove away with +me. Shortly before daybreak we arrived at a house standing a good +distance back from the road. From what I could see of it, it was a +ramshackle old place, but the man who owned it, or at any rate the +individual who came out to meet<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_253" id="Page_253">[Pg 253]</a></span> us, seemed to be on familiar terms with +my guards. He helped them to escort me into the house, and, if I am not +mistaken, he himself locked the door of the small room in which I was to +be confined for the next twenty hours. At the end of that time, still +powerless to help myself, I was once more brought downstairs and placed +in the cart. Again we drove off, and, for six hours, I suffered every +imaginable torture. My hands and feet were tightly bound, and my mouth +was secured so that I could not utter a cry for help. The cords used +lacerated my wrists and ankles, while my head ached from the violence of +the blow it had received on the night of my abduction. At last the cart +stopped, and one of the men sprang out. A voice asked a question in +Italian, then there was the sound of some one moving away, after which +not a word was spoken for upwards of half-an-hour. At the end of that +time the man who had absented himself returned and said in English, "It +is all right." An interval of whispering followed, and then I was lifted +out and placed upon the ground.</p> + +<p>"'Not a word as you value your life,' said a voice, which I recognised +as belonging to Count<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_254" id="Page_254">[Pg 254]</a></span> Reiffenburg. 'If you speak, you're a dead man.'</p> + +<p>"Another man took his place beside me and we entered a small field, +crossed it, and then passed through a thick pine wood, which in its turn +led up to some sandhills, whence we could see the moonlit waters of the +Bay. A fishing-boat was being put out, and towards it my captors hurried +me. Where the place was or whither they were taking me, I could not +imagine, nor did I dare to offer any expostulation. I merely took my +seat in the boat and waited to see what would happen. A quarter of an +hour or so later, under the influence of a steady breeze, we were +outside the Bay, making for the open sea. As the sun was in the act of +rising, we saw a steamer heading in our direction. It proved to be this +vessel, and when we were alongside, I was immediately transferred to +her, Reiffenburg returning to the shore. You must picture for yourself +my surprise at finding Woller and Castellan aboard her. Now you know my +story. If any one had told me a month ago that I should figure in such +an affair, I should not have believed them."</p> + +<p>"Another illustration of the old saying<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255">[Pg 255]</a></span> that the unexpected always +happens," I replied.</p> + +<p>"If we are fortunate enough to see our friends again, we shall have some +extraordinary stories to tell," said the Commander-in-Chief. "The +question is, however, shall we ever see them again?"</p> + +<p>"That remains to be proved," I answered. "We must put our wits to work +to see what can be done."</p> + +<p>The words had scarcely left my lips, before young Reiffenburg appeared +upon the scene and abruptly informed us that our promenade was at an +end, and that it behoved us to return to our cabins, in order that our +companions, who had just finished their meal, might take our places. We +followed his instructions, and made our way slowly to the saloon below, +half hoping that we should have a chance of exchanging a few words with +our friends. They were not there, however, having been ordered to their +cabins so that we should not meet. There was nothing for it, therefore, +but to bid each other good-night, and to retire to our respective +state-rooms with as good grace as possible.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256">[Pg 256]</a></span></p><p>Next morning, after breakfast, we were allowed on deck again for an +hour, also after luncheon, and again in the evening. During the progress +of the latter meal I was struck by the expression on the +Commander-in-Chief's face. It was as if he were suffering from a severe +attack of suppressed excitement. He fidgeted uneasily in his seat, and +seemed to experience great difficulty in eating the food set before him. +This excitement found vent while we were in the companion ladder on our +way to the deck above. Half-way up he took me by the arm and said in a +hoarse whisper—</p> + +<p>"My God! Manderville, quite by chance to-day, I have discovered the most +diabolical plot ever hatched by mortal man."</p> + +<p>"Then be careful," I returned, "that they do not suspect you of knowing +it. Wait until we are safely out of ear-shot before you say anything to +me on the subject."</p> + +<p>When we reached the deck we found the sentry on guard as usual. We +accordingly walked aft, and had paced the poop two or three times before +I would permit the Commander-in-Chief to unfold his tale. Then leaning +upon the taffrail,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_257" id="Page_257">[Pg 257]</a></span> and looking at the white streak of our wake, I asked +him what he had discovered.</p> + +<p>"The most villainous plot, imaginable," he replied. "You will remember +that Reiffenburg left the saloon before we had finished luncheon this +afternoon, and that I was the first to go up on deck. You will also +recall the fact that the fellow with the rifle kept close to us while we +were on deck, so that it was impossible for me to tell you what I had +heard. On reaching the top of the companion, I found Reiffenburg and the +dark man who acts as steward, and yet who seems to be on such familiar +terms with them, in close conversation beside the door."</p> + +<p>"What were they talking about?"</p> + +<p>"Even now I can only hazard a conjecture," he answered. "What I heard +Reiffenburg say was this, word for word: '<i>Fully wound up she will run +for an hour. Then will come the explosion. Sixty minutes exactly after +it has been placed in the stokehole, it will blow the bottom out, and +she will go down like a stone.</i>' On hearing this the other paused for a +moment, then he said:</p> + +<p>"'When do you think it will be?'</p> + +<p>"'<i>The day after to-morrow</i>,' Reiffenburg<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_258" id="Page_258">[Pg 258]</a></span> replied. '<i>If all goes well, +and she keeps to the arrangement, she should be in sight.</i>' When he had +said this he strolled away towards the poop ladder, while the other took +up his position, with his rifle, alongside the mizzen-mast, preparatory +to our coming on deck."</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_259" id="Page_259">[Pg 259]</a></span></p> + +<h2><span>CHAPTER X</span></h2> + +<p>For some minutes after the Commander-in-Chief had finished speaking, I +stood staring down at the white whirl of water below me, wrapt in what I +might term, for want of a better simile, an overwhelming bewilderment of +terror. There could be no doubt that the construction he had placed upon +what he had heard was a correct one. Yet it seemed beyond belief, as I +reviewed it in my mind, that there could exist men in the world, so +base, so callous, as to even contemplate putting such a scheme into +execution. And yet, what other construction could we place upon it?</p> + +<p>"Are you quite sure that you have told it to me exactly as you heard +it?" I said, trying to speak calmly. "As you are aware, the mere +substitution of one word for another, or the change of a sentence, might +make all the difference."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_260" id="Page_260">[Pg 260]</a></span></p><p>"Oh no," he said, "I am absolutely certain that I have repeated the +conversation word for word as I heard it. In fact, I should be prepared +to stake my life upon it."</p> + +<p>"Very well. Now let us look at the matter from every point of view. You +say that Reiffenburg asserted that a certain something, when fully wound +up, would run for an hour. Is that not so?"</p> + +<p>The Commander-in-Chief nodded.</p> + +<p>"In that case," I continued, "we may believe ourselves to be right if we +describe that something as a clock-work machine. We may also be sure +that if the explosion to which he referred is to take place, it will be +when the machine has run for the allotted time. In other words, it is an +anarchist bomb, of superior construction and capable of being set, like +an alarum clock, to go off at a given time. The mere fact that it is to +be placed in the stoke-hole, shows that it is to be used on board a +steamer, and it is scarcely likely to be on any other than this boat. +Putting all these things together, we arrive at this conclusion: The day +after to-morrow another vessel is due to join us. Our captors<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_261" id="Page_261">[Pg 261]</a></span> and the +crew of this boat will leave her and go aboard the new-comer, having +previously set the machine going, and——"</p> + +<p>"And we shall be left locked in our cabins to drown like rats in a +trap!" said my companion in an awed whisper.</p> + +<p>"That, I take it, is the idea," I answered slowly.</p> + +<p>"My God! Manderville, how can you speak so quietly. Don't you realise +what an awful position we are placed in?"</p> + +<p>"I realize it perfectly," I answered. "I am trying to think what we can +do to save ourselves."</p> + +<p>The situation was so terrible that for a few moments I stood looking +across the waste of water, seeing nothing but a man locked in his cabin, +knowing that the ship was sinking, and battling vainly for life. "The +day after to-morrow! The day after to-morrow!" The words rang in my +brain like the tolling of a funeral knell.</p> + +<p>"Surely there must be a way out of it if we can only find it," I +said—"some manner in which we can thwart these murderous ruffians. Let +us put our wits to work with all speed,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_262" id="Page_262">[Pg 262]</a></span> and see whether or not we can +find a loophole of escape."</p> + +<p>"I have been doing that all the afternoon," the Commander-in-Chief +replied, "but so far without any success. If we are locked in our +cabins, I don't see how it will be possible for us to do anything. A +mouse confined in a trap, when a servant-girl plunges it into a bucket +of water, is not more helpless than we shall be."</p> + +<p>"Come, come, old friend," I said, "you must not give way like that."</p> + +<p>"I don't think any man can accuse me of cowardice," he replied, "but I +must confess that when I think of what may happen the day after +to-morrow, my courage fails me."</p> + +<p>"But it's not going to happen," I answered. "Make up your mind to that. +As I said just now, there must be a way out of it, and we've got to find +it. In the meantime, we must endeavour, if possible, to let the others +know the position of affairs, though how that's to be managed, I must +confess I don't quite see. It is not possible to approach their cabins, +and, according to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_263" id="Page_263">[Pg 263]</a></span> the new arrangement, we are not allowed to come into +personal contact with them."</p> + +<p>"Could it not be managed by means of the port-holes?" my companion +enquired. "Your cabin and that occupied by Castellan adjoin, I believe?"</p> + +<p>"That is so," I replied, "but I could not reach a quarter of the +distance that separates his port-hole from mine, and I have nothing in +my cabin to assist me. But we must think it over and see what can be +done. Now we had better begin to pace the deck again, or they may grow suspicious."</p> + +<p>With that we set out, and for upwards of an hour religiously patrolled +the poop. At the end of that time we were ordered below, and when my +cabin door was locked upon me, I sat myself down on my locker and put my +brains to work. The first point to be decided, as I have said above, was +how we were to communicate with the others; the second and all +important, was to find a means of escape from the doom that had been +prepared for us. At last, my head in a whirl, I turned into bed and +endeavoured to divert my mind from the burden it carried.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_264" id="Page_264">[Pg 264]</a></span> The attempt +was useless, however, as may be easily understood. Think of what I +would, my thoughts invariably came back to the same subject. I recalled +that night in Paris, when the eyes of the woman we had known as the +Countess de Venetza had exercised such a strange effect upon me. I +remembered the nameless horror they had inspired in me, and the +sleepless nights I had had in consequence. I also recalled our first +meeting and our crossing to London together. Who would have dreamt then +that that meeting would have ended in this terrible fashion?</p> + +<p>Hour by hour the night wore on until the faint, weird light of dawn +crept into the sky. We might now say that <i>to-morrow</i> we should know our +fate. Then, tired of tumbling and tossing in my bunk, I left it, and +stood at the open port-hole, watching the great, grey waves go by. There +was a fair sea running, and, in consequence, the steamer was rolling heavily.</p> + +<p>"If only I could find some means of communicating with Castellan," I +said to myself for the hundredth time. "He and Woller might put their +wits to work, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_265" id="Page_265">[Pg 265]</a></span> possibly hit upon a scheme that would save us." Then, +in a flash, as is generally the way, an idea occurred to me. If I were +permitted a chance of carrying it out, it was quite within the bounds of +possibility that it might succeed.</p> + +<p>Taking my letter-case from my pocket, I selected a clean half-sheet of +note-paper, and wrote upon it a letter to the Colonial Secretary. In it +I told him what the Commander-in-Chief had discovered, and what our +suspicions were. I begged him to tell Woller, and between them to try +and think out a scheme for our deliverance. When I had finished, I made +the note into a cocked hat and slipped it into my pocket. I might here +remark, that the doors of the various cabins opened directly into the +saloon, and that at the foot of each door there was the space of nearly +an inch. My object, therefore, was to get the note under the door +without our gaolers observing what I was doing. At first glance this +would appear a difficult matter to accomplish, but I had every +confidence in my plan, and was determined to make the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_266" id="Page_266">[Pg 266]</a></span> attempt. As good +fortune had it, Castellan's cabin was almost directly behind my seat in +the saloon, and this was a point in my favour. Having settled upon an +idea for delivering this note, I was in a fever to put it into +execution. It seemed as if the breakfast hour would never arrive, but at +last the door was unlocked, and I was informed that the meal was upon +the table. Now or never must my scheme be carried out.</p> + +<p>As I have said, the ship was rolling heavily, and for this reason I +clutched at the rail running along the side of the saloon, while with my +left I made a feint of reaching the back of the seat at the table. Then, +abandoning the rail, I staggered forward, just as the ship was finishing +her downward roll. The natural consequence was that I lost my footing as +she came up again, and found myself lying in a heap upon the floor of +the saloon, just before Castellan's cabin. While in this position, it +was quite easy to push the note underneath the door without attracting +attention. This accomplished, I staggered to my feet and to my position +at the table, flattering myself that the whole thing had been so natural +that the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_267" id="Page_267">[Pg 267]</a></span> suspicions of our captors could not possibly have been +aroused. Our meal at an end, I followed the Commander-in-Chief to the deck above.</p> + +<p>"Well," I said, when we reached the taffrail, "have you anything to tell me?"</p> + +<p>"Nothing," he answered lugubriously. "I lay awake all night puzzling my +brains, but without success. If only we could communicate with +Castellan, I feel sure he would be able to work out some scheme."</p> + +<p>"It is already done," I replied. "I managed to get a note to him this morning."</p> + +<p>"You did," he said, with a look of incredulity upon his face. "Then how +on earth did you manage it?"</p> + +<p>"By giving myself a bump which I shall remember for some hours to come," +I replied. "You observed the fall I had in the saloon, when trying to +reach the breakfast-table?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I noticed it," he answered; "but what had that to do with it?"</p> + +<p>"Everything in the world," I said. "Perhaps it did not strike you that +my fall took place outside Castellan's cabin door. That was when I got +the note to him. If you did not see it,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_268" id="Page_268">[Pg 268]</a></span> it is more than probable that +the others did not. In that case, we need have no fears in that direction."</p> + +<p>"There is the making of a strategist in you," he said, with the first +smile upon his face I had seen there since he told me his dreadful news.</p> + +<p>"Many thanks. Now the next thing to consider is, how is Castellan to reply."</p> + +<p>"He'll find a way," my companion replied. "Never fear, Castellan is a +resourceful man, and all I hope is that he'll find a way of getting us +out of this hole. If we could only manage to get out of our cabins, +there might be some chance for us, but so far as I can see, there is not +the slightest possibility of being able to do that. What is more to the +point, did you observe that they are making assurance doubly sure by +putting a padlock on each cabin door?"</p> + +<p>"No, I did not notice it," I replied. "How do you know it?"</p> + +<p>"Because the carpenter was at work on my door before breakfast," he answered.</p> + +<p>If this were so, our case was indeed hopeless, for while we might be +able to force the lock, it would be impossible to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_269" id="Page_269">[Pg 269]</a></span> break through both +lock and staple. When we returned to the saloon, I found that what my +companion had said was only too true. The man had placed the necessary +fittings on each of my friends' cabin doors, and was just commencing on +mine. He stood aside to let me pass, and as he did so, I noticed that +behind the flap of his tool basket, and less than a couple of inches +from the door, lay a small gimlet, which doubtless he had been using for +the work he had been engaged upon. As I saw it, a longing to possess it, +such as I never had for anything in my life, came over me. If only I +could get it into the cabin unobserved, it would be worth more to me +than a hundred times its weight in gold. Was it possible, however, to +secure it? I had only a second in which to hit upon a scheme, but that +was sufficient. Putting my hand to my waistcoat, I gave a tug at the +cord which carried my eye-glass. It snapped and the glass rolled away +across the floor towards the spot where the man was standing. He stooped +to pick it up, but before he had time to stand upright again, I had +given the gimlet a push with my foot, and it was inside the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_270" id="Page_270">[Pg 270]</a></span> cabin. When +the man returned the glass to me, I gave him a coin for his trouble, +thanked him, and then walked into my cabin and shut the door. Once that +was closed behind me, I picked up my treasure and thrust it under the +mattress of my bunk. The question the next few minutes would have to +decide was whether the loss would be discovered, and if so, whether the +man would accuse me of taking it. So invaluable would it be to me, that +I felt as though I would have fought the world for its possession. I +could plainly hear him driving in the last screws, and afterwards +placing the tools he had been using in his basket with the others. A +moment later the padlock was placed on the door and locked, and then my +hearing told me that he was leaving the saloon. When all was safe, I +took the gimlet from its hiding-place once more, and regarded it with an +interest that, I can assure you, no article of that description had ever +inspired in me before. Now, if only it were not discovered that I had it +in my possession, I felt that I should be able to make my escape from +the cabin when the proper time arrived.</p> + +<p>When we went on deck after luncheon, I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_271" id="Page_271">[Pg 271]</a></span> informed the Commander-in-Chief +of my good fortune, and of the use I intended putting it to. His delight +was as sincere as my own, and we were about to discuss the possibilities +it opened up for us, when I felt compelled to take off the yachting cap +Reiffenburg had lent me on the morning after my arrival on board. +Hitherto it had been tolerably comfortable, now it did not fit at all. A +nasty lump was pressing upon my forehead, and in order to discover what +occasioned it, I lifted the strip of leather inside, to find a piece of +paper there that had certainly not been in the cap when I had last worn +it. One second's consideration was sufficient to convince me that this +was Castellan's method of conveying a message to me. He must have worn +my cap when on deck, and have placed the strip of paper in a place where +he knew I should be well-nigh certain to find it.</p> + +<p>Leaning on the taffrail, with our backs turned to the sentry, I opened +it and eagerly scanned the contents. It ran as follows:—</p> + +<blockquote><p>"<span class="smcap">Dear Manderville</span>,—Your letter astounded me. The plot you speak of +only serves to show what a set of fiends we have fallen in with. +Since<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_272" id="Page_272">[Pg 272]</a></span> receiving it, I have been puzzling my brains for a solution +of the difficulty, but so far have discovered no plan that could +have the remotest prospect of success. As you will by this time +have noticed, our enemies have taken double precautions to ensure +our remaining prisoners. Unless we can manage to force our way out +at the last moment, I fear that our fate is sealed. Should any idea +occur to either of us, I will communicate with you again by the +same means that I have employed on this occasion. God bless you +both, and may He help us in our trouble.—Your friend,</p> + +<p class="right">B. C."</p></blockquote> + +<p>When we had read it I tore it into small pieces and threw the fragments +overboard. Half an hour later, when we went below, I wrote him a brief +note in which I told him to be of good cheer, for I thought I had hit +upon a scheme which might very possibly prove successful. This, when +next we were on deck together, I placed in the hat, and on the following +morning had the satisfaction of finding it gone.</p> + +<p>Try, if you can, to imagine with what feelings we greeted the dawn of +the day that was to mean so much for us. Who knew what the end of it +would be? The mere idea was quite bad enough, but the uncertainty as to +when the event we dreaded would take place<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_273" id="Page_273">[Pg 273]</a></span> was much worse. It might not +be until towards evening, or it might be at any moment. I was well aware +that to carry out the plan I had proposed to myself—namely, the boring +holes with the gimlet round the lock and the hasp and staple that +secured the padlock, would take a long time, and, if left until the last +moment, would be useless. On the other hand, for all our sakes, I dared +not begin the work while there was even the remotest chance of our +enemies discovering it. I was not afraid of their looking behind the +door, for the simple reason that when I was out of the cabin, it was +invariably hitched back, by means of a brass catch, to the end of the +bunk—and there would be no reason for them to examine it. Yet if the +point of the gimlet should chance to penetrate the smooth surface round +the lock on the other side, detection would be certain, and the plot +would fail by reason of it. Therefore, when we returned from our morning +spell on deck, I embraced a momentary opportunity that presented itself, +and measured the exact thickness of the door. Then when the latter was +closed upon me and I was alone, I was able to mark the gimlet to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_274" id="Page_274">[Pg 274]</a></span> +correspond. Having allowed a sufficient margin to ensure the point not +going quite through the door, I mapped out my plan of operations, and +set to work. The gimlet was not a large one, nor was its point +particularly sharp. The labour was therefore prodigious; the tiny +box-handle cut and blistered my hand, my face streamed with +perspiration, but still I worked on and on, remembering always that not +only my own life, but the lives of my companions, depended upon my +exertions. By mid-day more than three-parts of the work was +accomplished. As a memento of the occasion, large blisters covered the +palm of my hand, while every muscle of my arm ached as if I had been +placed upon the rack. That no suspicions should be aroused, I removed +every particle of sawdust from the floor, and dropped it out of the +port-hole, to be carried away by the breeze. By the time I was summoned +to the luncheon only some twenty holes remained, and these I resolved to +complete as soon as we returned from our airing on deck.</p> + +<p>During the progress of the meal, it was easily to be seen that something +unusual was going on. Our guards were unmistakably<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_275" id="Page_275">[Pg 275]</a></span> excited, and I will +do the older man, Sargasta, the credit of saying that he appeared +sufficiently alive to his own villainy to have no desire for +conversation with either the Commander-in-Chief or myself. Conrad, on +the other hand, was even more flippant than usual. I noticed also that +both men watched the deck uneasily, as though they were momentarily +expecting news from that quarter. If this were so, they were destined to +be disappointed, for the meal ended as uneventfully as it had begun.</p> + +<p>According to custom, we had left our chairs and were proceeding to the +door at the further end of the saloon, in order to take our usual +promenade, when a hail reached us from the deck above. Conrad's face—he +was standing in front of us at the time—turned as pale as the cloth +upon the table, and when he ordered us back to our cabins, a second or +so later, it was in a voice so unlike his own that I scarcely recognised +it. As for myself, a sudden, and peculiar, feeling of composure had come +over me. I felt sure the vessel they were expecting was in sight, and +that in a short time they would be on their way to board her, leaving us +to meet, with what fortitude we<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_276" id="Page_276">[Pg 276]</a></span> might, the miserable death they had +arranged for us.</p> + +<p>To have let them have the least suspicion that we were aware of what +they were about to do, would have been madness on our part, for in that +case they would either have killed us outright, or have taken the +precaution of making our cabins so secure, that we could not possibly +escape from them in time. Once in my cabin I went to the port-hole and +looked out. As I expected, I had interpreted the hail from deck aright, +for, coming swiftly towards us, was a handsome vessel of the yacht type. +Already, as I could tell from the revolutions of the screw, we had +slackened our pace, and were doing but little more than crawl through +the water. If we were to save ourselves we had not a moment to lose. +Going to the bunk and procuring my gimlet, I set about the completion of +my task with feverish energy. The blisters in the palm of my hand burnt +like fire, my arm still ached from its morning exertion, but I kept +steadily on, remembering that every turn of the little point was +bringing us one revolution nearer safety. Only pausing now and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_277" id="Page_277">[Pg 277]</a></span> again to +look out of the port-hole, in order to note the vessel's progress, I +continued the work until only some half-dozen holes were required to +finish the task. In the saloon outside perfect silence reigned, and I +could guess why—they were either preparing the machine, or making ready +to leave the ship. It seemed to me that I could hear the ticking of the +clock-work of the bomb. What if it were already in the stoke-hole, and +had been running for half-an-hour? Another half-an-hour might elapse +before I should be able to open the door. This thought sent the sweat of +pure terror rolling down my face, and caused me to work with feverish +haste. At last I could see the new-comer without moving from the door. +She was still little more than a mile away, and was signalling our +vessel. Overhead the tramp of feet was to be heard, followed by the +whine of a rope running through a sheave. A moment later a boat was +lowered, and lay for a moment in full view of my port-hole, before she disappeared.</p> + +<p>By this time I had thrown caution to the winds, and was boring my holes +right through the door, and out on the other side. I had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_278" id="Page_278">[Pg 278]</a></span> just finished +the last but one, and was about to withdraw the gimlet, when, without +warning, the frail shaft broke off near the handle, and the little +instrument, which a moment before had been our connecting link with +life, lay at my feet as useless as a straw. I gazed at it for a moment, +and then threw the handle from me with a gesture of despair. If I had +not already done enough to make the door yield, my work would be of no +avail. Suddenly a voice from the deck above called through the skylight +in the saloon, "Conrad."</p> + +<p>"Well?" cried the voice of Reiffenburg in answer from his cabin on the +port side; "what is it?"</p> + +<p>"What are you about that you do not come? Don't you know that the time is half gone?"</p> + +<p>On hearing this, I sank back upon the locker almost beside myself with +terror. My suspicions were correct after all. <i>The machine had already +been running for half-an-hour.</i> A few seconds later a light step sounded +in the saloon and went clattering up the ladder. I waited a few moments, +and then, with agonizing curiosity, got on to my feet and looked out of +the port-hole once more. I was just in time<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_279" id="Page_279">[Pg 279]</a></span> to see three boats leave +the side, and push off in the direction of the stranger. Reiffenburg, +Sargasta, and the man who had waited upon us, were in that nearest me; +the rest were filled with the officers and crew. As they drew further +away they looked back at our doomed vessel, while Reiffenburg, upon +whose face I can quite imagine that devilish smile to be playing, took +off his hat and waved it to us, as if in ironical farewell. Then I +sprang off the locker, and, seizing the handle of the door, pulled with +all my strength. To my horror it stood the test. I tried again, with the +same result, and then fell back against the wash-hand-stand, hopeless, +for the moment, to the very centre of my being. All the time a little +voice within me was telling me that in the stoke-hole the wheels were +going round remorselessly, ticking off the seconds that separated us +from death. Not more than a couple of minutes could have elapsed since +the men had deserted the ship, but to me they seemed like hours. Then, +gathering all my strength together, for one great effort, I once more +gave the door a terrific pull. This time I was more successful, for the +wood cracked.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_280" id="Page_280">[Pg 280]</a></span> Another crash followed, the door gave way under the +strain, and I found myself stretched on my back upon the floor. <i>I was free!</i></p> + +<p>Regaining my feet I did not hesitate. I had arranged the whole plan in +my mind beforehand, and did not waste a second considering what should +be done. Shouting to my companions that I would free them in a few +minutes, I rushed along the saloon, down the little alleyway, past the +steward's cabin, and so on to the main-deck. Before a man could have +counted twenty I was standing among the polished wheels and rods of the +engine-room. "Heaven send they remained true of their decision to place +it in the stoke-hole," I said to myself as I descended the narrow ladder +that led to the furnace-room below.</p> + +<div class="center"><img src="images/ill_03.jpg" width='449' height='700' alt="Clutching it in my arms" /></div> + +<p class="bold"><span class="smcap">Clutching it in my arms.</span></p> + +<p class="bold"><i>To face page 281.</i></p> + +<p>It is strange how, in moments of such awful mental anguish, the mind +will revert from the matter in hand to some apparently trivial subject. +On this occasion I remembered how, many years ago, the Chairman of a +great Steamship Company had been kind enough to take me over one of +their new vessels, and had shown me the engine-room and the stoke-hole +below. How little I had thought then that my next visit to a similar<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_281" id="Page_281">[Pg 281]</a></span> +place would be in search of an infernal machine that was intended to +take my life! Rung by rung I descended the ladder and at last found +myself in the stoke-hole. The furnaces were still alight, the men not +having taken the trouble to draw the fires. Their rakes and shovels lay +just as where they had thrown them down, but not a trace of the object I +was searching for could I discover. Like a madman I ran hither and +thither, hunting high and low: indeed it was not until I was almost +giving up the search in despair, and was going off to look elsewhere, +that my diligence was rewarded. Then, in a corner, I made out a black +object, in shape not unlike a large band-box. That it was the bomb there +could be no doubt, for when I placed my ear to its side, I could +distinctly hear the ticking of the clockwork within. Clutching it in my +arms, regardless of what would happen should the allotted time expire +while I was carrying it, I climbed the ladder, passed through the engine +room, and into the alley beyond. A mist was clouding my eyes, my breath +came in heavy gasps, but I heeded nothing save the necessity for getting +that devilish contrivance overboard, and out of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_282" id="Page_282">[Pg 282]</a></span> harm's way. Reaching +the bulwarks on the starboard side, that is to say, on the side opposite +to that on which the strange vessel was lying, I raised it high above my +head and threw it from me. It struck the water with a splash, a few +bubbles followed it, and then it was gone. So far as that was concerned, we were saved.</p> + +<p>Having thrown the machine overboard, I made my way to the saloon as +quickly as possible. Much still remained to be done. I could imagine +with what impatience my companions were awaiting my return; being in +ignorance of what was going on, their anxiety must have been greater +than mine. Hastening to the Captain's cabin on the port side, which +during our term on board had been occupied by Sargasta, I flung open the +door and hurried in, to find a scene of the wildest confusion. Clothes, +papers, and books were strewn about the floor in hopeless disorder, but +the articles which I had come in search of, the keys of my friends' +cabin doors, also those of the padlocks, lay in a bunch before me upon +the table. I picked them up and hastened into the saloon once more. In +but little longer time than it takes to tell, the doors were opened, and they were at liberty.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_283" id="Page_283">[Pg 283]</a></span></p><p>"And the machine?" cried Castellan, while the others looked the +question.</p> + +<p>"Overboard," I answered. "I hastened to get it out of the way, before +coming to relieve you."</p> + +<p>"God bless you, Manderville," said Woller, taking my hand. "You have +saved our lives!"</p> + +<p>"There can be no doubt of that," put in the Commander-in-Chief. "And +now, what is to be done?"</p> + +<p>"We must get away from that boat over there," I answered. "Castellan, +you have always had a liking for mechanics and engineering, do you think +you could undertake the engines?"</p> + +<p>"I think I could manage them at a pinch," he replied. "At any rate, I am +quite willing to try."</p> + +<p>"And you?"</p> + +<p>"I must go to the wheel," I answered. "Whatever happens, we must give +that vessel yonder a run for her money. Now let us be off, but be sure +to keep out of sight as you cross the deck. They'll be waiting and +watching for the explosion."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_284" id="Page_284">[Pg 284]</a></span></p><p>"In that case, Heaven be thanked, they are doomed to disappointment," +said Woller.</p> + +<p>"Now, Castellan," I said, "if you can do us the favour of setting this +crazy old tub going again, we shall be grateful." Then turning to Woller +and the Commander-in-Chief, I added: "I am sure, gentlemen, you will, +for once in your lives, condescend to officiate as stokers."</p> + +<p>Both were quick to express their willingness to do all that lay in their +power to help, and then we left the saloon and, keeping under cover of +the bulwarks, made our way along the main deck to the midships of the +vessel. In the alleyway at the entrance to the engine-room we paused for +a moment, and Castellan held out his hand, which I took without a word. +The others followed suit, and then I sped on towards the ladder leading +to the bridge. Reaching the wheel-house in front of the chart-room, for +I had no intention of going upon the bridge itself, I shouted down the +tube to the engine-room, to know how soon it would be possible for them +to put her ahead.</p> + +<p>"I am starting her now," was the reply. "I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_285" id="Page_285">[Pg 285]</a></span> am afraid, however, that it +will be some time before I can get much out of her."</p> + +<p>True to his word, a moment later the vessel began to draw slowly ahead, +but her speed was so slow as to be scarcely perceptible. As I stood at +the wheel I wondered what they were doing on board the other vessel. +Fully half-an-hour had elapsed since they had left the ship, and yet +there had been no explosion. I could distinguish the boats lying +alongside her, and could well imagine how puzzled their occupants must +feel. Then a thought came into my mind which almost brought my heart +into my mouth. What if they should suppose that something had gone wrong +with the mechanism of the bomb, and should return to the vessel to make +sure of our destruction by scuttling her themselves? Under the impulse +of this new fear I applied my mouth to the speaking tube again.</p> + +<p>"For Heaven's sake, get all the speed you can on her," I cried. "I am +afraid of their coming back."</p> + +<p>"We are doing our best," was the reply. "The pressure is rising steadily."</p> + +<p>I prayed that it might rise in time to save<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_286" id="Page_286">[Pg 286]</a></span> us, and turned my attention +to the wheel once more. Then a sudden and very natural curiosity came +over me to discover, if possible, our whereabouts on the seas. When I +had first come on board they had talked about the North Sea, but I had +now quite convinced myself that this was not the case. At the slow pace +at which she was travelling, the vessel required little or no watching, +so, leaving her to her own devices, I went out of the wheel-room by the +starboard door, in order that I should not be observed by the people on +board the other vessel, and so entered the old-fashioned chart-room. I +quite expected to find the chart there with the run marked out upon it, +and I was not disappointed. The navigator, whoever he was, must have +been both a careful and conscientious man, for I found that he had +pricked off his run up to mid-day. I found it very easy, therefore, to +settle our position. It proved to be as I expected. We were not in the +North Sea at all, and, so far as that chart was concerned, had never +been there. Our true position was three degrees, or thereabouts, west of +Achil Head, on the west coast of Ireland. I had just convinced myself on +this<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_287" id="Page_287">[Pg 287]</a></span> point, when I chanced to look out of the window on the port side. +Almost before I had time to think, I was back in the wheel-room once more.</p> + +<p>"The boats are returning," I shouted down the tube, in a voice that +might have been heard a couple of hundred yards away, and then added +illogically—"can you do nothing?"</p> + +<p>I looked again, and sure enough two of the boats were heading directly +for us. It was plain that they had noticed something suspicious, either +from the smoke escaping from the funnel, or the splashing of the screw +astern, otherwise they would not have deemed it necessary to send a +second boat. They must have guessed that we had escaped from our cabins, +and that we had taken charge of the ship.</p> + +<p>For a moment a feeling of exultation seized me as I thought of the +disappointment and rage which must be filling their hearts. The feeling, +however, was short-lived. Let them once get aboard, I reflected (and I +did not see how we were to prevent them), and the end, so far as we were +concerned, would be the same as though the bomb I had thrown overboard +had been allowed to do its deadly work. I looked<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_288" id="Page_288">[Pg 288]</a></span> out again, to discover +that the leading boat was now less than a quarter of a mile away; so +close indeed was she that I could plainly see the men in her—the dark +man, who had officiated as steward, in the bows, and Sargasta and Conrad +in the stern. Every stroke of the oars was bringing her nearer, and +already the man in the bows was getting his boat-hook ready to hitch on +to the accommodation ladder. In another two or three minutes at most, +they would have been aboard. Then in a voice which at any other time I +should not have recognised for my own, I shouted down the tube—"For +Heaven's sake, give her steam. They are close alongside." Then came back +the answer I shall not forget as long as I live: "It's all right now, I +can let her go."</p> + +<p>I had scarcely withdrawn my ear from the tube before I felt a throb run +through the vessel, and she was going ahead at a speed that could +scarcely have been less than eight knots an hour. Throwing prudence to +the winds, I ran out to the deck and looked at the boats, now lying +motionless upon the water some considerable distance astern. One of the +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_289" id="Page_289">[Pg 289]</a></span>occupants of the first boat was standing up watching us through a pair +of glasses. Then, realizing that it was hopeless for them to think of +catching us, the boat's head was turned, and they pulled back at a fast +pace towards the yacht. That it would be necessary for the latter to +remain in order to pick them up was quite certain, and in this lay our +chance of obtaining a good start. Through the medium of the +speaking-tube I shouted words of encouragement to the engine-room below. +It needed only a glance over the side to be assured that our speed was +materially increasing. If only we could manage to keep it up until +nightfall, it was just possible we might manage to escape after all. At +one time and another I have sailed many an exciting race, but never one +for such a big stake as that we were now contesting. It was nearly five +o'clock by this time, and the afternoon was rapidly drawing in. In half +an hour it would be dark, then, if we were not overhauled and captured +before, our opportunity would come. Kind, however, as Providence had so +far been, even greater good fortune was still in store for us. I +remember that I had just<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_290" id="Page_290">[Pg 290]</a></span> called down to the engine-room to know if one +of them could come up to me for a consultation. The Commander-in-Chief +was selected, and it was not long before he made his appearance before +me, collarless, with his shirtsleeves rolled up, and begrimed from head +to foot with coal-dust.</p> + +<p>"Where is she?" he asked, as soon as he reached me.</p> + +<p>In answer I led him to the door of the wheel-room and pointed astern.</p> + +<p>"She has got the boats aboard, and will be after us in a few minutes," I +said. "Let us hope that we shall be able to show them a good pair of +heels. Can she do any more than her present running?"</p> + +<p>"Not very much," my companion replied. "We are all inexperienced down +below, you know. If you could see Castellan's face as I saw it just now, +you would see the very picture of anxiety. He says he doesn't know at +what moment he may turn a wrong handle and blow us to pieces."</p> + +<p>"I trust he will not do so just yet," I answered. "Tell him we are all +agreed that he is doing splendidly. And now let us see<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_291" id="Page_291">[Pg 291]</a></span> how our friend, +the enemy, is get—— Why, what's this? what's become of the yacht? I +can't see her!"</p> + +<p>We stood at the wheel-house door straining our eyes, but we could see no +sign of the yacht. Providence had sent to our assistance one of those +extraordinary fogs which spring up so quickly on the west coast of +Ireland, and this was the stroke of Good Fortune to which I have already +referred. A moment before the sea had been as open as a mill pond; now +it was covered with an impenetrable blanket of mist.</p> + +<p>"If we don't run into anything, or anything doesn't run into us, I fancy +we shall be able to give her the slip, after all," I said. "Now the +matter to be settled is the course we are to pursue. Shall we continue +as we are going, that is to say, parallel with the coast, or shall we +bring her head due west and make for the open sea?"</p> + +<p>"There can be no doubt that under the present circumstances, the open +sea is the right place for us," my companion replied. "The western coast +line of Ireland is proverbially treacherous, and if this fog continues,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_292" id="Page_292">[Pg 292]</a></span> +we ought to have plenty of sea-room about us."</p> + +<p>"I agree with you. And the others, what do they say?"</p> + +<p>"They are willing to fall in with anything we may decide," he answered.</p> + +<p>"In that case, let us steer for the open sea," I said, and put the wheel +over as I did so.</p> + +<p>The vessel's head turned slowly round, and when I had got her into the +position I wanted, I resigned the wheel to my companion, telling him to +keep her as she was going, while I went into the next cabin to look at +the chart. On examining it, I was relieved to find that, according to +the course we were now steering, and the speed at which we were +travelling, it would be all straightforward sailing for some hours to come.</p> + +<p>By this time the vessel was encompassed in a white shroud, so that it +was impossible to see more than a few yards ahead. As an example, I +might remark that from the wheel-house even the foremast was invisible. +Not a sound was to be heard save the throbbing of the engines and the +dripping of the moisture<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_293" id="Page_293">[Pg 293]</a></span> upon the deck. Nevertheless, regardless of +consequences, we steamed steadily on, trusting to the good fortune which +had followed us so far to keep any vessel out of our way.</p> + +<p>When I returned to the wheel-room, the Commander-in-Chief left for +below, promising, on his arrival there, to send Woller to the cuddy in +search of food. The necessity for husbanding our strength, in view of +the work we had before us, was apparent to all. That the General was +successful in his search was proved by the fact that when he joined me a +quarter of an hour later, he brought with him a bottle of claret, some +excellent ham, and enough bread and cheese to have satisfied two men, +with appetites bigger than my own. After he had left me, I lighted the +lamps in the binnacle and then fell to work upon the food.</p> + +<p>So far as that night is concerned there is little else to chronicle. +Hour after hour, that is to say until ten o'clock, we continued our due +westerly coast, and then left the fog behind us, as suddenly as it had +overtaken us. Overhead the stars shone brilliantly, while the sea, save +for the long Atlantic swell, was as smooth<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_294" id="Page_294">[Pg 294]</a></span> as glass. Though I searched +the waste of water as far as my eye could reach, not a sign of a vessel +could be discovered. Having satisfied myself upon this point, I made the +wheel secure and set off in search of the ship's lights. These I +discovered in the forecastle, and when I had placed them in position I +lighted them, and then returned to the wheel-room. I had not been there +many minutes before the sound of a footstep on the deck outside +attracted my attention, and a minute later Castellan stood before me. No +one would have recognised in the figure he presented, the trim, +well-dressed Colonial Secretary of a few months before.</p> + +<p>"All well so far, Manderville," he said cheerily; "but I can tell you +it's terribly anxious work below. I've just run up to obtain a breath of +fresh air and to see what you are doing. I am afraid you must be very tired."</p> + +<p>"Not more tired than you are, I expect," I answered. "I intend bringing +her head round to south-west in a few minutes; that should put us in the +track of ships by daylight. Our luck will have deserted us indeed, if we +cannot find one and get them to take us aboard. Do you<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_295" id="Page_295">[Pg 295]</a></span> think you can +manage to hold out below until then?"</p> + +<p>"We must," he replied; "there is nothing else for it. This has been a +terrible day, Manderville. We ought to be thankful that we have come so +well out of it."</p> + +<p>"Hear, hear, to that," I answered.</p> + +<p>"And now I must be getting back to the engine-room," he said. "Call +through the tube if you want anything, won't you?"</p> + +<p>I promised to do so, and then with another good wish, he bade me +farewell and disappeared.</p> + +<p>When he had gone I brought the vessel's head round to the course +indicated, and then settled myself down to a long night's vigil. How +wearying it was I must leave my readers to imagine. The night was +bitterly cold, but I was so wrapt up in what I was doing, that I paid +small heed to that. At regular intervals I left the wheel-room and went +to the bridge above, to make sure that no vessel was in sight. Then I +would return to my post and remain there for another quarter of an hour. +It was wearying work, and more than once I was so nearly over-powered by +sleep that it<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_296" id="Page_296">[Pg 296]</a></span> became necessary for me to stamp my feet and pinch myself +in order to keep awake. At last, after what seemed an eternity of +waiting, the first signs of approaching day were to be observed in the +sky. Then a faint grey light overspread the sea, touching the little +waves until they had the appearance of frosted silver. When it was quite +light I left the wheel and made my way up to the bridge. Still no sail +was in sight, and for all I could see to the contrary, ours might have +been the only vessel upon the ocean.</p> + +<p>At seven o'clock, when I was beginning to feel faint for want of food, I +spoke through the tube to Castellan, asking him to send one of his +companions in search of a meal. He informed me that Woller would go +immediately, and on hearing that I returned to my post. I had not been +there many minutes, before I heard a shout outside, and Woller, excited +beyond measure, made his appearance at the wheel-house door.</p> + +<p>"A ship! a ship!" he cried. "A man-of-war, if I'm not mistaken, and not +more than five miles away!"</p> + +<p>Before he could say anything more I was out<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_297" id="Page_297">[Pg 297]</a></span> on the deck beside him, +holding on to the rail and watching a large black man-of-war coming up +hand-over-hand. She was certainly not more than five miles distant, and +every moment brought her nearer. Hastening to the engine-room tube, I +called to Castellan to stop our vessel; then, asking Woller to take the +wheel, I ran aft to the signal-locker in the companion hatch. To pick +out the Union Jack and to bend it on the peak halyards occupied scarcely +more time than it takes to tell. Then I ran it up to half-mast as a +signal of distress, and having done so, went aft to the taffrail and +waited for the other vessel to come up to us.</p> + +<p>She made an imposing picture in the bright morning light as she came +cleaving her way through the water, and when I remembered all that her +coming meant to us, I could have kissed her very decks in thankfulness.</p> + +<p>Returning to the bridge I found Castellan, the Commander-in-Chief, and +Woller awaiting me there. Not a word passed between us for some moments. +We stood gazing at the Queen's ship in silence, waiting to see what she +would do. Then a stream<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_298" id="Page_298">[Pg 298]</a></span> of signals broke out at her mast-head, but as +it was impossible for us to interpret them without the necessary code, +we were obliged to disregard them. She must have understood this, for +she gradually drew closer until she was less than half a mile distant, +when she came to a standstill.</p> + +<p>Shortly after we distinctly heard a boat piped away, saw it leave her +side, and watched it come towards us. A large lump was steadily rising +in my throat as I saw the blue-jackets at the oars and the officer +seated in the stern, and I felt that I was getting perilously near +making a fool of myself. Churning the water under her bows into +snow-white foam, the boat drew alongside. Then the handsome young +officer ascended the accommodation ladder. We had by this time descended +to the main deck to receive him. That he did not recognise us (and he +might very well not have done so) was evident from the fashion in which +he addressed us.</p> + +<p>"Well, my men," he began, glancing from one to the other of us, as if to +satisfy himself as to which was the leader, "what is the meaning of your +distress signals? From what<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_299" id="Page_299">[Pg 299]</a></span> I can see of her, your boat looks right +enough."</p> + +<p>"There is no fault to be found with the boat," I answered, realizing in +an instant the position of affairs. "The truth is, we want to be taken +off her. It is impossible to work her with only four men."</p> + +<p>"But what has become of the rest of the crew?" he asked, looking round +as if he expected to see them somewhere about.</p> + +<p>"They left her yesterday," I answered, unable, despite the gravity of +the situation, to refrain from mystifying him. The youth was so full of +his own importance, and so inclined to be overbearing that I could not help myself.</p> + +<p>"And pray what rank do you four hold on board her?" he asked, evidently +not a little surprised by our appearances.</p> + +<p>"We are passengers," said the Commander-in-Chief, "and, as my friend +says, we are extremely anxious to leave the ship and go aboard your vessel."</p> + +<p>"That's all very well," he answered curtly, "but I don't think it will +do. The skipper wouldn't hear of it, don't you know. But for the +present, what are your names?"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_300" id="Page_300">[Pg 300]</a></span></p><p>Here was the opportunity for which I had been waiting.</p> + +<p>"This gentleman is the Right Honourable Benjamin Castellan, Secretary of +State for the Colonies," I said, pointing to Castellan, "this is the +Commander-in-Chief of the British Army, and my friend on your left is +Sir William Woller, who some little time ago was appointed +Commander-in-Chief of the British forces in South Africa."</p> + +<p>"Stow that," the officer answered angrily. "You'd better not play the +fool with me. What do you take me for?"</p> + +<p>At the same time I noticed that he looked curiously from one to the +other of us as if he could not altogether trust his own judgment. Then +he added: "You know very well that the four gentlemen you speak of are dead."</p> + +<p>"You will find, my friend, when you come to know us better, that there +is likely to be a difference of opinion on that score," said the +Commander-in-Chief quietly. "My own is that they are very much alive."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps it would be as well for one of us to write a note to the +Captain," Castellan put<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_301" id="Page_301">[Pg 301]</a></span> in. Then turning to the lieutenant, he +continued: "I think it would be better for you to believe our story, my +friend. What you have been told, as you will admit when you have heard +all we have to say, is quite correct. That we are the people in question +I shall soon hope to convince you. Will you accompany us to the saloon, +or do you prefer to remain here?"</p> + +<p>He came with us to the cuddy, and when we had found paper and ink in the +captain's stateroom, Castellan sat down and wrote a note to the +commander of the ship. This was despatched by the boat that had brought +the lieutenant, and in less than half-an-hour Captain Breatford was +ascending the steps of the accommodation ladder. In the meantime we had +made ourselves as presentable as possible, and had quite succeeded in +convincing the lieutenant of the truth of our story. He was profuse in +his apologies for his manner towards us, but we bade him think no more +about it. He might very well have been forgiven for not having recognised us.</p> + +<p>I must leave you to imagine the captain's surprise at finding us in such +a strange <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_302" id="Page_302">[Pg 302]</a></span>position. He prophesied a tremendous sensation in England +when our story should become known.</p> + +<p>"You are quite certain, I suppose, that it was off Achil Head that you +parted company with the yacht?" he asked when he had heard our adventures.</p> + +<p>"Quite certain," I replied. "But if you would care to convince yourself +on that score, and will come with me to the chart-room, I will show you +the chart worked out by the officer of the watch up to noon yesterday."</p> + +<p>He did so, took certain notes, and then invited us to accompany him to +the warship. The necessary officers and crew had already arrived to take +possession of our own vessel, and when all was ready, we bade the old +tub farewell. She had been the theatre of one of the most singular +adventures of the Century, and, but for the fact of my having obtained +possession of that gimlet, might now have been lying at the bottom of +the ocean, with us locked up in her.</p> + +<p>On board the man-of-war a consultation was held, and as a result the +captain decided to set off at once in search of the mysterious yacht,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_303" id="Page_303">[Pg 303]</a></span> +and afterwards to land us at a port whence we could easily reach London.</p> + +<p>"In the meantime, gentlemen, permit me to offer you the best hospitality +in my power," he said. "I think, in being permitted to rescue you, I +should deem myself the most fortunate man in the British Navy to-day. To +rescue four such gentlemen is not a chance that falls to a man's lot +very often."</p> + +<p>Needless to say we quite agreed with him.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_304" id="Page_304">[Pg 304]</a></span></p> + +<h2><span>CHAPTER XI</span></h2> + +<p>The tale of our adventures has occupied a long time in the telling. +There remains but little more to be added. What there is, however, I +venture to think may be of interest to you.</p> + +<p>According to the captain's arrangements, we explored the sea for a +considerable distance round Achil Head, but without discovering any sign +of the yacht. The peasantry, we learnt, had seen nothing of her, and it +was not until we reached the little harbour of Gallisheen that we learnt +how swift, and entirely unexpected, had been her fate. How it happened +no one will ever know, though it is conjectured that the fog was +responsible for the catastrophe. At any rate, the fact remains, that, +when little more than eight miles from Gallisheen, she went ashore on +that terrible coast, and in less than an hour became a total wreck.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_305" id="Page_305">[Pg 305]</a></span></p><p>You would be quite justified in asking how we knew that it was the same +vessel. Let me explain. When we landed to make enquiries concerning the +wreck, an old man informed us that only one body had been recovered, +that of a woman. If we cared to inspect it, he added, it was at that +moment lying in his cabin awaiting burial. Impelled by a feeling that +was something more than curiosity, we entered the rough hut on the +cliff. I think we all knew what we should see. When we came out into the +sunlight again, Castellan, whose face was very pale, put his hand on my +shoulder.</p> + + +<div class="center"><img src="images/ill_04.jpg" width='531' height='700' alt="I think we all knew what we should see" /></div> + +<p class="bold"><span class="smcap">I think we all knew what we should see.</span></p> + +<p class="bold"><i>To face page 305.</i></p> + +<p>"Manderville, old friend," he said, "Shakespeare was right when he said +that 'there are more things in heaven and earth than are dreamt of in +our philosophy.' That woman lying in the hut planned our ruin, and but +for you she would have accomplished it. Now she is dead, while we are +alive. There is a moral in it, if one cared to look for it."</p> + +<p>"And Conrad, Sargasta, and the other man, what can have become of them?"</p> + +<p>"Drowned, you may be sure," he answered, in the same curious voice. +"Poor wretches! they have received their punishment sooner<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_306" id="Page_306">[Pg 306]</a></span> than they +expected. When all is said and done, we can afford to forgive them."</p> + +<p>As he finished speaking we heard the snarl of the waves on the rocks +below. They were telling their own tale, and I shuddered as I heard it.</p> + +<p class="center">* * * * *</p> + +<p>The outburst of excitement, the <i>furore</i>, I might say, which greeted our +arrival in London will be well remembered by every one; for this reason +it is not necessary for me to touch upon it here. How Woller completed +his journey to the Cape after all, and the great things that he +accomplished when he got there, are also known to every one.</p> + +<p>I think it only right, however, in conclusion, to add that, in giving +this record of our strange adventures to the public, I have done what I +consider to be my duty; and with the hope that no public men will ever +again be called upon to endure so much, I make my bow, and bid my +readers a polite farewell.</p> + +<p class="center">THE END.</p> + +<hr class="smler" /> + +<p class="center">PRINTED AT THE EDINBURGH PRESS, 9 AND 11 YOUNG STREET.</p> + +<hr /> + +<div class="block"><p class="bold">LIST OF</p> + +<p class="bold2">POPULAR NOVELS, &c.,</p> + +<p class="center">PUBLISHED BY</p> + +<p class="bold">F. V. WHITE & Co.,</p> + +<p class="bold">14 BEDFORD STREET, STRAND,<br />LONDON, W.C.</p> + +<hr class="smler" /> + +<p class="bold">SIX SHILLING NOVELS.</p> + +<p class="center">In 1 Vol., Cloth Gilt. Price 6/- each.</p> + +<p><b>An Eye for an Eye.</b> By <span class="smcap">William Le Queux</span>.</p> + +<p><b>The Goddess—A Demon.</b> By <span class="smcap">Richard Marsh</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Brothers of the Chain.</b> By <span class="smcap">Geo. Griffith</span>.</p> + +<p><b>The Shield of His Honour.</b> By <span class="smcap">Richard Henry Savage</span>.</p> + +<p><b>The Princess of Copper.</b> By <span class="smcap">Archibald Clavering Gunter</span>.</p> + +<p><b>The Flick of Fortune.</b> By <span class="smcap">Thomas Parkes</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Town Lady and Country Lass.</b> By <span class="smcap">Florence Warden</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Daunay's Tower.</b> By <span class="smcap">Adeline Sergeant</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Wiles of the Wicked.</b> By <span class="smcap">William Le Queux</span>.</p> + +<p><b>The Footfall of Fate.</b> By Mrs <span class="smcap">J. H. Riddell</span>.</p> + +<p><b>The Plain Miss Cray.</b> By <span class="smcap">Florence Warden</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Vanity's Price.</b> By <span class="smcap">E. Yolland</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Love's Guerdon.</b> By <span class="smcap">Conrad H. Carroder</span>.</p> + +<p><b>The Wooing of Monica.</b> By Mrs <span class="smcap">L. T. Meade</span>.</p> + +<p><b>A Voyage at Anchor.</b> By <span class="smcap">W. Clark Russell</span>.</p> + +<p><b>In Full Cry.</b> By <span class="smcap">Richard Marsh</span>, Author of "The Beetle."</p> + +<p><b>Blake of Oriel.</b> By <span class="smcap">Adeline Sergeant</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Annie o' the Banks o' Dee.</b> By <span class="smcap">Gordon Stables</span>, R.N.</p> + +<p><b>Henry Massinger.</b> By Mrs <span class="smcap">Robert Jocelyn</span> (the Hon. Mrs <span class="smcap">Jocelyn</span>).</p> + +<p><b>Her Marriage Vow.</b> By <span class="smcap">C. V. Rogers</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Warned off.</b> By Lord <span class="smcap">Granville Gordon</span>.</p> + +<p><b>The House of Mystery.</b> By <span class="smcap">Richard Marsh</span>, Author of "The Beetle."</p> + +<p><b>Miriam Rozella.</b> By <span class="smcap">B. L. Farjeon</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Merely Players.</b> By Mrs <span class="smcap">Aylmer Gowing</span>.</p> + +<p><b>The Evolution of Daphne.</b> By Mrs <span class="smcap">Alec M'Millan</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Mistress Bridget.</b> By <span class="smcap">E. Yolland</span>.</p> + +<p><b>The Attack on the Farm.</b> By <span class="smcap">Andrew W. Arnold</span>. (Illustrated).</p> + +<p><b>The Bride of God.</b> By <span class="smcap">Conrad H. Carroder</span>.</p> + +<p><b>"Divil-May-Care."</b> By <span class="smcap">May Crommelin</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Forbidden Banns.</b> By <span class="smcap">Annabel Gray</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Romance of the Lady Arbell.</b> By <span class="smcap">Alastor Graeme</span> (Mrs <span class="smcap">F. T. Marryat</span>).</p> + +<p><b>Belling the Cat.</b> By <span class="smcap">Perrington Primm</span>.</p> + +<p><b>The Gods Saw Otherwise.</b> By <span class="smcap">F. H. Mell</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Sarolta's Verdict.</b> By <span class="smcap">E. Yolland</span>.</p> + +<p><b>The Honour of Vivien Bruce.</b> By Mrs <span class="smcap">J. H. Needell</span>.</p> + +<hr class="smler" /> + +<p class="bold">Novels at Three Shillings and Sixpence.</p> + +<p class="center">In 1 Vol., Cloth Gilt, Price 3s. 6d. each.</p> + +<p><b>The Married Miss Binks.</b> By <span class="smcap">John Strange Winter</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Aletta: a Tale of the Boer Invasion.</b> By <span class="smcap">Bertram Mitford</span>.</p> + +<p><b>For Right and England.</b> By <span class="smcap">Hume Nisbet</span>.</p> + +<p><b>The Girl at Riverfield Manor.</b> By <span class="smcap">Perrington Primm</span>.</p> + +<p><b>The Empire Makers.</b> By <span class="smcap">Hume Nisbet</span>.</p> + +<p><b>If Sinners Entice Thee.</b> By <span class="smcap">William Le Queux</span>.</p> + +<p><b>John Ames—Native Commissioner.</b> By <span class="smcap">Bertram Mitford</span>. (Illustrated).</p> + +<p><b>The Weird of Deadly Hollow.</b> By the same Author. (Illustrated).</p> + +<p><b>The Ruby Sword.</b> By the same Author. (Illustrated).</p> + +<p><b>Briton or Boer?</b> By <span class="smcap">George Griffith</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Gambles with Destiny.</b> By the same Author.</p> + +<p><b>The Great Pirate Syndicate.</b> By the same Author.</p> + +<p><b>The Destined Maid.</b> By the same Author.</p> + +<p><b>For Liberty.</b> By <span class="smcap">Hume Nisbet</span>. (With Frontispiece).</p> + +<p><b>The Revenge of Valerie.</b> By the same Author.</p> + +<p><b>Handsome Phil.</b> By Mrs <span class="smcap">J. H. Riddell</span>.</p> + +<p><b>A Splendid Sin.</b> By <span class="smcap">Grant Allen</span>.</p> + +<p><b>A Sweet Sinner.</b> By <span class="smcap">Hume Nisbet</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Comrades of the Black Cross.</b> By the same Author.</p> + +<p><b>The Eye of Istar.</b> By <span class="smcap">William Le Queux</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Whoso Findeth a Wife.</b> By the same Author.</p> + +<p><b>Scribes and Pharisees.</b> By the same Author.</p> + +<p><b>In Vallombrosa.</b> By <span class="smcap">Adeline Sergeant</span>.</p> + +<p><b>The Great War in England in 1897.</b> By <span class="smcap">William Le Queux</span>. (Illustrated).</p> + +<p><b>Zoralda.</b> By <span class="smcap">William Le Queux</span>. (Illustrated.)</p> + +<p><b>The Romance of Golden Star.</b> By <span class="smcap">George Griffith</span>. (Illustrated).</p> + +<p><b>The Rebel Chief.</b> By <span class="smcap">Hume Nisbet</span>. (Illustrated by the Author).</p> + +<p><b>A Desert Bride: a Story of Adventure in India and Persia.</b> By <span class="smcap">Hume +Nisbet</span>. (With Illustrations by the Author).</p> + +<p><b>A Bush Girl's Romance.</b> By <span class="smcap">Hume Nisbet</span>. (With Illustrations by the +Author).</p> + +<p><b>The Queen's Desire: A Romance of the Indian Mutiny.</b> By <span class="smcap">Hume Nisbet</span>. +(With Illustrations by the Author).</p> + +<p><b>Two Cousins and a Castle.</b> By Mrs <span class="smcap">Lovett Cameron</span>.</p> + +<p><b>A Handful of Trumps.</b> By <span class="smcap">J. James Hewson</span>.</p> + +<hr class="smler" /> + +<p class="bold">ONE SHILLING NOVELS.</p> + +<p class="center">In Paper Covers. Also in Cloth, 1s. 6d.</p> + +<p><b>The Soldier and the Lady.</b> By <span class="smcap">John Strange Winter</span>.</p> + +<p><b>The Binks Family.</b> By the same Author.</p> + +<p><b>The Sentimental Maria.</b> By the same Author.</p> + +<p><b>Two Husbands.</b> By the same Author.</p> + +<p><b>In the same Regiment.</b> By the same Author.</p> + +<p><b>A Seaside Flirt.</b> By the same Author.</p> + +<p><b>A Gay Little Woman.</b> By the same Author.</p> + +<p><b>The Troubles of an Unlucky Boy.</b> By same Author.</p> + +<p><b>Grip.</b> By the same Author.</p> + +<p><b>The Same Thing with a Difference.</b> By the same Author.</p> + +<p><b>I Loved Her Once.</b> By the same Author.</p> + +<p><b>I Married a Wife.</b> By the same Author.</p> + +<p><b>Private Tinker</b>, and other Stories. By <span class="smcap">John Strange Winter</span>.</p> + +<p><b>The Major's Favourite.</b> By the same Author.</p> + +<p><b>The Stranger Woman.</b> By the same Author.</p> + +<p><b>Red Coats.</b> By the same Author.</p> + +<p><b>A Man's Man.</b> By the same Author.</p> + +<p><b>That Mrs Smith.</b> By the same Author.</p> + +<p><b>Three Girls.</b> By the same Author.</p> + +<p><b>Mere Luck.</b> By the same Author.</p> + +<p><b>Lumley the Painter.</b> By the same Author.</p> + +<p><b>Good-bye.</b> By the same Author.</p> + +<p><b>He went for a Soldier.</b> By the same Author.</p> + +<p><b>Ferrers Court.</b> By the same Author.</p> + +<p><b>Buttons.</b> By the same Author.</p> + +<p><b>A Little Fool.</b> By the same Author.</p> + +<p><b>My Poor Dick.</b> By the same Author. (Illustrated by <span class="smcap">Maurice +Greiffenhagen</span>.)</p> + +<p><b>Bootles' Children.</b> By the same Author. (Illustrated by <span class="smcap">J. Bernard +Partridge</span>.)</p> + +<p><b>The Confessions of a Publisher.</b> By same Author.</p> + +<p><b>Mignon's Husband.</b> By the same Author.</p> + +<p><b>That Imp.</b> By the same Author.</p> + +<p><b>Mignon's Secret.</b> By the same Author.</p> + +<p><b>On March.</b> By the same Author.</p> + +<p><b>In Quarters.</b> By the same Author.</p> + +<p><b>A Guide Book for Lady Cyclists.</b> By Mrs <span class="smcap">Edward Kennard</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Continental Chit Chat.</b> By <span class="smcap">Mabel Humbert</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Piscatorial Patches.</b> By <span class="smcap">Martin Pescador</span>.</p> + +<p><b>A Near Thing.</b> By <span class="smcap">H. Cumberland Bentley</span>.</p> + +<p><b>The Portrait of a Woman.</b> By <span class="smcap">Cosmo Clarke</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Railway Sketches.</b> By <span class="smcap">Mary F. Cross</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Briton or Boer?</b> By <span class="smcap">George Griffith</span>.</p> + +<hr class="smler" /> + +<p class="bold">SIXPENNY NOVELS.</p> + +<p class="center">COPYRIGHT SERIES.</p> + +<p><b>Truth Tellers.</b> By <span class="smcap">John Strange Winter</span>.</p> + +<p><b>The Day of Temptation.</b> By <span class="smcap">William Le Queux</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Briton or Boer?</b> By <span class="smcap">George Griffith</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Beautiful Jim.</b> By <span class="smcap">John Strange Winter</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Army Society.</b> By <span class="smcap">John Strange Winter</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Scribes and Pharisees.</b> By <span class="smcap">William Le Queux</span>.</p> + +<p><b>The Rebel Chief.</b> By <span class="smcap">Hume Nisbet</span>.</p> + +<p><b>The Bushranger's Sweetheart.</b> By <span class="smcap">Hume Nisbet</span>.</p> + +<p><b>The Ruby Sword.</b> By <span class="smcap">Bertram Mitford</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Garrison Gossip.</b> By <span class="smcap">John Strange Winter</span>.</p> + +<p><b>A Voyage at Anchor.</b> By <span class="smcap">W. Clark Russell</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Blake of Oriel.</b> By <span class="smcap">Adeline Sergeant</span>.</p> + +<p><b>Mrs Bob.</b> By <span class="smcap">John Strange Winter</span>.</p> + +<p><b>The Lodge by the Sea.</b> By Mrs <span class="smcap">Lovett Cameron</span>.</p> + +<p><b>The Girls at the Grange.</b> By <span class="smcap">Florence Warden</span>.</p> + +<p><b>The Great War in England.</b> By <span class="smcap">William Le Queux</span>.</p> + +<p><b>A Sweet Sinner.</b> By <span class="smcap">Hume Nisbet</span>.</p> + +<p><b>The Other Man's Wife.</b> By <span class="smcap">John Strange Winter</span>. (<i>Shortly</i>).</p> + +<hr class="smler" /> + +<p class="bold">MISCELLANEOUS.</p> + + +<p><b>GOOD FORM: A Book of Every-Day Etiquette.</b> By Mrs <span class="smcap">Armstrong</span>, Author of +"Modern Etiquette in Public and Private." <i>Limp Cloth</i>, <b>2s.</b></p> + +<p><b>LETTERS TO A BRIDE, Including Letters to a Débutante.</b> By Mrs <span class="smcap">Armstrong</span>. +<i>Cloth Gilt</i>, <b>2s. 6d.</b></p> + +<hr class="smler" /> + +<p class="bold">14 BEDFORD STREET, STRAND, W.C.</p></div> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of A Cabinet Secret, by Guy Boothby + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A CABINET SECRET *** + +***** This file should be named 36892-h.htm or 36892-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/6/8/9/36892/ + +Produced by Suzanne Shell, Martin Pettit and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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